The schoolgirl quad event is one of the pinnacles of junior women’s sculling. The NSW All Schools Championships will be the first significant test of the season, pitching the main competitors for this event against each other. Smaller regattas from the beginning of the season have shown varied results, as each school begins to work out who their top quad will be, promising exciting racing this weekend.
Canberra Girls Grammar
Canberra Girls Grammar has not been seen at a NSW regatta this season, but they will be certain to leave an impact on their out-of-state opposition. With Charlotte Bowen returning from the schoolgirl quad that won the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships and having been a member of the ACT Pathways Squad in 2024, it is clear that this crew has individual talent to rely on, as well as the confidence that comes from their previous success. They have wins at the BMRC/Daramalan Regatta and CGGS/CGS Regatta already under their belt this year, and as such, it would be surprising if this crew did not make the podium this weekend.
Roseville College
Roseville College have had a strong start to the 2025/2026 rowing season. A win at the Sydney Girls High School Regatta and second place at the Loreto Kirribilli Regatta should fill them with confidence for their first major challenge of the season. Having been in the lower end of the A-final at the 2025 NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River may not fill them with confidence, but with a strong returner from last year in Annabel Eburne, and having recently changed their head coach, we may be looking at a much stronger Roseville College quad this year.
MLC School
The MLC School appears poised to put out a strong showing in the schoolgirl quad this year. A win by over ten seconds at the 2025 Loreto Normanhurst regatta should fill them with confidence coming into the All Schools Championships. They have not yet faced any of the crews mentioned above this season, but a fourth-place finish at the NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River in 2025 illustrates that they can compete against tough opponents.
Other Contenders
Other crews, such as the Tara School and Redlands, have also put in strong showings at the beginning of this season, and are always ready to push upwards towards the podium. Moreover, Kinross Wolaroi, although they tend to prioritise their eight, may send a strong crew that is capable of winning a medal this weekend. Thus, the contenders for the medal positions are numerous.
Prediction
It seems clear that Canberra Girls Grammar will take the win this weekend; their depth and strength have made them a powerhouse in this event for many years, and they will likely continue to be so. Second place is less certain, but the MLC School appears to be a step ahead of the other competitors for now. Finally, my prediction is that Roseville College will take bronze, with Redlands and the Tara School able to uproot this order at any moment.
