This year, the schoolgirl coxed quad has a competitive 17 entries at the Normanhurst Regatta. Split into two divisions, the competition will be tough, with Redlands showcasing their depth by entering four crews, and five other schools entering two boats each. Last year’s winners, Canberra Girls Grammar School, have chosen not to journey up the Hume this early in the season, leaving a gap to be filled at the top of the podium, but who will it be?
Ascham
Ascham will be a strong contender to win this year, having built well over the past two seasons. Hitchens and Bugg made up half of the crew that came fifth in a competitive field in the schoolgirl coxed quad at the National Championships earlier this year, the only crew from that A-final to enter this weekend. The results don’t stop there; that same quad also gained a second place at the New South Wales Schoolgirl Head of the River in March. With the experience of those two in the boat, they are sure to contend for a top spot.
Pymble Ladies’ College
Pymble Ladies’ is one of the top schoolgirl programs in New South Wales and in the country. Winners in the under-17 women’s eight at The National Championships and fourth in the schoolgirl eight. They have demonstrated their ability to produce results in sweep boats on a national level; now it’s time to see what they can do with sculling.
Queenwood
A silver in the Championship women’s under-17 coxed quad at the New South Wales State Champs last season shows that Queenwood can produce solid sculling results. They have also proven time and time again to be strong at sweep, getting a silver in the under-19 women’s eight at the National Championships and a bronze in the under-17 women’s eight. They will be hoping to repeat their sculling performance from State Champs last season in this quad.
Mosman
Winners of division two in this event last year, Mosman, will be looking to repeat this year with another victory in the schoolgirl coxed quad. With three medals in women’s sculling at The National Championships, including a silver in the under-19 women’s quad, and four more in the men’s sculling. Mosman has a robust junior sculling program, consistently performing at the top end of Australian junior sculling. Despite this quad not being their top boat, I’m sure they will be performing at the top of their game at this regatta.
My Prediction
With the healthy number of entrants and depth, it promises to make the racing even more competitive than last year. So what are my predictions? In third place, Queenwood, with a top sweep program and success already in the quad at state champs, looks like they might fight their way into the top three. In second place, with one of the strongest junior sculling programs in the country, Mosman, which has produced a high standard of scullers over the last few years, I expect a very competitive crew from them to challenge for the top position. And finally, my top spot goes to Ascham, with half of the quad having been so successful last season, it’s hard to see them not bringing on the other members of the quad to a victory.
