In the final hit-out before the Schoolgirl Head of the River, the 2025 IGSA regatta will be a fascinating insight into this field’s form in the season’s final two weeks.
Loreto Normanhurst
A programme on the build in 2025, Loreto Normanhurst will have a point to prove on Sunday after a quiet last few races. The girls from Normo shocked many at the start of the season, placing second in the first three events at the end of 2024. Since returning to Sydney after their traditional January camp on Lake Burley Griffen, Loreto have been a bit quieter, failing to reach the A-final at the NSW Championships. Hopes can be buoyed, however, by the performance of stroke seat Patricia Boland, who took a bronze in the U19 single and gold in the U19 double at that regatta. With a young but certainly talented combination, it remains to be seen whether this programme on the rise is waiting to peak at the right time or has perhaps shown its speed too early in the season.
Pymble Ladies College
Building on a mixed but successful 2024, Pymble Ladies College took the 2025 season by the scruff of the neck with a pair of dominant victories at the first two races of the season. It was surprising to some that we saw Pymble finish on the third rung of the podium at the NSW Championships. The girls from Sydney’s upper north shore will arrive at the IGSA regatta with an unchanged lineup but a revised seating order. New head coach Harry Randell is known for building throughout the season, as are Pymble, who started 14 seconds off the pace last year and ended with a brilliant silver at nationals. If they’re choosing to peak at this regatta, they will be right there contesting for the win. However, with only two weeks until the Schoolgirl Head of the River, I suspect they may not be ready to reveal their hand.
Queenwood
The only school to have podiumed at every Head of the River since 2009, Queenwood are an interesting prospect in this matchup. The girls from Mosman had a slow start to the season, but showed some speed at State Championships, finishing fifth in a very competitive field, ahead of Loreto Normanhurst and third out of the crews entered in this race. Four of this crew, Zara Taylor, Grace Bennett, Gemma McLaren, and Eva Tompson, convincingly won the U19 coxed four at that regatta in what was an absolute clinic in the skill of mid-race rhythm. Interestingly, their closest competition was half the Pymble crew, who led out of the blocks but were no match from the 750m onwards. Never one to be counted out, if Queenwood can build upon their last outing, they could trouble some of the leading crews at this event.
St Catherine’s
The reigning national champions in this boat class, St Catherine’s are undoubtedly the crew to beat in IGSA rowing at the moment. St Cath’s experienced an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, trailing behind Pymble and Normo in the opening exchanges. However, this can be explained by a longer 2024 season, culminating in a Henley Royal Regatta quarterfinal race. Despite this start, the Waverley girls have returned from camp in Canberra firing on all cylinders. Whilst they couldn’t match Kinross at States, they led the remainder of the field by four seconds after reigning in a fast-starting Pymble. With five returners from last year’s all-conquering combination, these girls will be comfortable coming into this race with momentum behind them.
Prediction
The schoolgirl eight field was turned on its head at the NSW Championships, where we saw St Catherine’s re-emerge as the dominant crew in the competition. While I think we are set for more twists and turns in the lead-up to nationals, I can’t see anyone finding a sudden turn of speed at this point in the season. With Schoolgirl Head of the River so close, I suspect most crews will still be a few days out from beginning their taper and may carry heavy legs into this race. As such, I can’t see anyone overcoming St Catherine’s at this event. The race for silver will be interesting, though. Pymble are the most likely winner in that contest, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a challenge from Queenwood or possibly Normo.
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