Image Credit: Rowing New South Wales
The Schoolgirl Four has been a closely contested race in previous years at what is now the NSW All Schools Regatta, producing exciting racing between various new and returning crews. A great deal of athletes on this year’s scene are returners, suggesting that racing will be as close as ever. St Catherine’s School are returning strong in numbers after yet another Henley Royal Regatta campaign, but will it be enough to topple the reigning national champions of Queenwood? Or will there be a regional upset, with contests coming from all across the state and the return of Kinross Wolaroi and Canberra Grammar to the race course?
Ascham School
The schoolgirl four entry for the Ascham School will be their first foray into sweep rowing in recent years, and under the guidance of their well-versed Head Coach Lizzi Chapman, the program has certainly expanded. After successful seasons representing their respective clubs, Yabsley and Koczkar will bring some solid racing experience to the crew. Yabsley collected two medals at last season’s National Championships, and Koczkar took home silver in the U16 scull at last season’s State Championship. If the girls can succeed in bringing their proven racing skills from sculling into the sweep boat, their crew could make for fierce competition.
Canberra Grammar School
The Canberra Grammar girls squad has seriously taken off in recent years. Their schoolgirl first eight achieved fourth at last season’s State Championships, proving their capability as the program grows. Robertson and Griffiths return from that eight this season into their top four, coached by Kendall Brodie OLY. A number of athletes from their U17 quads are making the step up into the sweep boats, and if they can come out on top here, it could signal great things as the season progresses.
Kinross Wolaroi School
In these last few years, any and all Kinross performances have been ones to watch, and strong signs are emerging that this year will be the same for the school from Orange. Searle, Wong and Staniforth are returners from last year’s schoolgirl eight, as well as the first and second schoolgirl quads at last season’s National Championships. They came away with a variety of medals at the Schoolgirl Head of the River and, significantly, the State Championships, where they took home gold and bronze in the fours. The addition of Staniforth and Reidy, who took home bronze in the U17 single scull at Nationals, into the already tried and tested powerhouse of Searle and Wong will certainly be one to watch out for.
Queenwood School
Queenwood enters the All Schools Championships as reigning national champions in this event, and with a swathe of returning athletes from their winning four, as well as last year’s second four and schoolgirl eight, they are sure to be looking for back-to-back victories. As with their entries in the eights, the fours can be expected to be fairly evenly matched. It will be interesting to see both the depth of the program and how they perform in the sweep boat early in the season. They tackled last year’s Independent Schools Regatta in a similar form in the schoolgirl quad and came away with two medals from three boats in the A-final, with just six seconds between the 12 athletes. So, clearly, they have remarkable depth, but can they get the job done this time around?
Roseville College
The four from Roseville could equally be one to watch this weekend, with three returning athletes from last year’s Head of the River gold medal combination. Kelly and Franklin will move into the boat, having both appeared in the U17 eight last season. After picking up bronze in this event at last year’s regatta and facing much of the same competition from Kinross and St Catherines, the girls from Roseville will undoubtedly want to close the gap between them and the top of the podium.
St Catherine’s School
St Catherine’s have been able to hold much of their competition in New South Wales at arms length for the last two years, and it’s very possible they remain capable of holding their lead in the new season. Four athletes return from last year’s eight, which achieved a trifecta of gold medals at the NSW Head of the River, State Championships, and National Championships, and of course followed by their second Henley campaign in as many years. Baker will return for her third season in the senior boats of the program, with the rest of her crew returning for a second year in the top boat. Their second four comprises three athletes stepping up from last year’s second eight, and Borthwick moves in from the year 10 eight. Few doubt these girls will be pushing for another undefeated domestic season.
Predictions
It’s hard to disregard the pedigree of the St Catherine’s boats, which return to the course for 2024. However, the same can be said for the girls from Queenwood, who have as much history of success behind them in this boat class. But Kinross Waloroi and Canberra Grammar will also be eager to present a strong challenge to their city competition.
The mixture of athletes between their own program’s boats could see predictions turned on their heads, but with last year’s results in consideration, it would take a huge upset to stop the St Catherine’s girls from standing on top of the podium. If anyone was going to make it happen, Queenwood and Kinross are best positioned to pull it off. Canberra Grammar have the potential to push into the medals with well-executed race, and their experience should be enough to hold off Roseville and Ascham.
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