Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association Head of the River 2024
All Hallows’ School will enter Saturday’s famous Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association Head of the River looking to have fun and embrace the pressure which comes with being reigning champions - story here.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The All Hallows’ School First Eight rowing squad will look to defend their 2023 drought-breaking Head of the River title on Saturday when they take to the water on Wyaralong Dam.
The decorated Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association regatta, a hotbed of female sporting talent, was first staged in 1990.
HOW ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL RECLAIMED THE CaSSSA CUP SWIMMING
It was spawned by a conversation in 1989 when a year 8 student at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Debra Elliot, asked her father Tony if he could teach her to row. The BSRA has since flourished over the last 35 years.
On Saturday, reigning champions All Hallows’ School will be the crew to beat in the Eights after winning eight of nine races this season.
Last year All Hallows’ were crowned both Head of the River champions and state champions at the 2023 Queensland Schools Rowing Championships.
Saturday’s First VIII crew is: Abby Collins, Claudia Munn, Ameila Gallagher, Danielle Watt, Gabby Ryan, Estella Sands, Phoebe Cannon, Gracie Gascoigne and Nell Murphy.
The squad has also seen individual success with Ryan, Watt, Collins and Gascoigne all representing Queensland at under-19 level.
All Hallows’ First Eight coach Richard Powell, a two-time Olympian, said the group had overcome multiple adversities to continue a golden era in the proud schools history.
“The girls have handled these setbacks and interruptions well and are focused on delivering their best performance of the season on Saturday,” he said.
All Hallows’ rowing co-captain Eloise Stone said the unity and cohesion within the squad had spearheaded those involved in the whole rowing program to unprecedented success over the last 18 months.
“It feels like we are so together, everyone’s supporting each other, we’re all backing each other up,” Stone said.
Stone’s fellow co-captain Nell Murphy said the rowing program participants were also having fun.
“I think something that’s really great this year is that a lot of the girls are really having fun and it’s not just about the hard work and wanting to win, it’s actually enjoying the sport and that’s why we are here,” Murphy said.
Both Stone and Murphy lauded coach Powell and director of rowing Paul Brown for the environment which has helped the squad to flourish.
“I think a big thing is that Mr Powell sees us as people not just athletes.
“He takes time to understand who we are as people and our own unique characteristics,” Murphy said.
Stone added about Mr Brown: “He is very great with what he does, he just knows how to run a shed, but not just a shed, more a family.”
So what will it take for All Hallows’ to defend their Head of the River title come Saturday?
Ms Murphy said the squad needed to embrace the pressure.
“I think that it’s important to feel the pressure but just observe it,” she said.
“You need to want to win, but you don’t need to win.”
In another glowing endorsement of the All Hallows’ School rowing program, Grade 9 student rower Isabel Pattinson has taken schoolgirls rowing by storm this year by breaking two records in her age group.
Pattinson set a new 1000m indoor record for the Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association (BSRA) - and then a week later broke the 2000m Australian record.
She was largely surprised by her achievements.
“I knew what these records were and we were working towards the BSRA record for the 1000
[meter] but then I did it at the competition and they were like ‘it’s an Australian record’. So it kind of just crept up on me,” she said.
However, she said the 2000m record was less of a surprise.
“I had done some previous (attempts) and I had seen the record and I knew that
I could break it, so it was just a matter of going out and videoing it so that it was official,” she said.
Pattinson, who only began rowing in 2023, said her new records had instilled more confidence and belief in her.
All Hallows’ School recent follows the Olympic bronze medal winning performance by old girl Caitlin Cronin, who placed third as the stroke of the women’s quadruple scull at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Meanwhile, the St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School’s campaign will be spearheaded by 16 senior students - including Isabel Robinson, the granddaughter of Tony Elliot who we mentioned earlier in the story as the man responsible for helping start the BSRA.
The St Margaret’s senior rowers were: Agatha Walker (third VIII), Alice Baxby (first VIII), Allie Gladman (senior four), Annie Kidd (second VIII), Ava Mulholland (first VIII), Charlotte Jackson (senior 4), Georgia Price (Second VIII), Grace Turnbull (First VIII), Isabel Robinson (Third VIII), Lucy Dunning (senior 4), Maya Fletcher (cox senior 4), Olivia Feltham (senior 4), Olivia Richardson (First VIII), Sophie Manly (cox First VIII), Tiffany Wang (third VIII), Zara Fraser (third VIII).
St Margaret’s Head of Rowing, Jack Armitage, said the college rowing program was a proud moment for the students.
“Being part of a rowing program with such strong ties to the school’s identity profoundly impacts these students’ lives,’’ he said.
“It fosters a deep sense of belonging and pride, as they become integral to a cherished tradition.
“This connection not only enhances their athletic skills but also cultivates personal growth, resilience, and leadership.
“The values and experiences gained through rowing will shape their future endeavors, equipping them with confidence and a strong sense of community that extends far beyond their time at school.
Brisbane Girls Grammar School Rowing Coordinator and Health and Physical Education Teacher, Caitlin Hockings, said the rowing program at BGGS was a “fantastic asset for our students, offering far-reaching benefits that extend beyond the sport itself’’.
“While there are the physical advantages of rowing – such as strength, endurance, and coordination, the BGGS rowing program encourages students to embrace the values of teamwork, leadership and perseverance,’’ Hockings said.
“Balancing intense training schedules with academic responsibilities cultivates resilience and adaptability, qualities that are crucial in both personal and professional contexts.
“I think it is important to always look beyond the boat, the experiences and self-development this sport equips our students with are attributes necessary for navigating challenges in all areas of life.”
BGGS’s VIII senior crews revealed here.
First VIII: Astrid Coates, Sophie Crane, Rosie Dodd, Willa Dunbar, Holly Fleming, Pia Hatzipetrou, Georgia Mackay, Astrid Thomas, Cate Ward. Coaches: Andy Botting and Lachie Johnston
Second VIII: Mia Agnew, Holly Clark, Lucy Goodall, Emily Parker, Ruby Robinson, Evie Sayer, Isabelle Scheimer, Meena Warner, Charlotte Zentveld. Coach: Warwick Agnew.
Third VIII: Claire Agnew, Grace Agnew, Isabella Byrne, Caitlin Holmes, Clare O’Quinn, Emme Poulsen, Sophie Schellin Ida, Charlotte Serisier, Lauren Von Hoyer Davies. Coach: Gary Townsend
BGGS’s first VIII crew includes Astrid Thomas.
A Year 12 student, she represented Australia at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in Genoa.
This was after Thomas broke the 2009 Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association record by 12 seconds earlier this year.
Originally published as Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association Head of the River 2024
Sweet 16! Smart, dangerous Next Gen Sevens player you need to know about
There are former elite netballers, touch footballers, the daughter of a gun and a teens with speed. New faces and rising stars you need to know about in the Next Gen Sevens series. SQUADS
Splash not crash! Aussies vital intel ahead of women’s America’s Cup
Watching and listening to teammates race in the youth America’s Cup has provided crucial intel for Australia’s first women’s team - including how not to make too much of a splash.