Schoolgirl Single
The schoolgirl single is always a fiercely competitive event, and the 17 entries in this event will ensure that the racing at the 2026 Head of the Lake is no different. Charlotte Bowen from Canberra Girls Grammar will certainly take the win, coming in off the back of an impressive fifth-place finish in the Schoolgirl Single at the New South Wales Rowing Championships.
The lower medal places in this race will be much more contested. Furthermore, an interstate challenge from Isobel Campbell of Redlands is not to be counted out either, who has had many A-final finishes this season. It would be surprising to see her missing from the podium this weekend. Tahlia Turnbull of Merici College won the B-final of the U19 single at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships, making her another key contender.
The final will most likely end in Bowen winning, with second place and third place going to Turnbull and Campbell, respectively. However, single scull races can be upturned quickly, and the other sculler from Canberra Girls Grammar, or the top athletes from Radford and Canberra Grammar, may be able to uproot this order to take third place.
Schoolgirl Quad
The schoolgirl quad will undeniably be a showdown between Canberra Girls Grammar, Redlands, and Radford. The top three crews from the 2025 ACT Head of the Lake will be on the podium again this year, with only the order yet to be determined. Although the final of the schoolgirl quad was cancelled at the NSW Rowing Championships last week, all three of these quads won their heats with ease, and we will look forward to seeing the rematch in the final this weekend. Canberra Girls Grammar are always dominant in the quad, and having won the schoolgirl quad at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships, I expect them to top the podium this weekend. Radford came sixth in the same final at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships, and having been only a few seconds slower in their heat at the NSW Rowing Championships last week, it seems likely that they will take the silver medal. Whether Redlands can upend last year’s order to finish second remains to be seen, but it is more than likely that they will take a respectable third-place finish.
Schoolgirl Eight
The schoolgirl eight is an exciting event at any regatta, but this weekend at the ACT Head of the Lake, there seems to be only one entry. Canberra Girls Grammar will follow up its win in the eight at last year’s regatta with another win this year. A B-final finish at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships in the Schoolgirl Eight speaks to their merit, given the sculling-focused nature of their program. I am sure they will use this race as an opportunity to practice in a different boat class and decide whether the eight is a boat they want to take to the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships.
