Geelong Grammar, Sacred Heart College and Kardinia International College among gold medal winners at 2025 Head of the Schoolgirls
Geelong Grammar head into this weekend’s APS Head of the River buoyed by strong performances from several of its female crews at the prestigious Head of the Schoolgirls' regatta.
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Geelong Grammar will look to capitalise on its impressive Head of the Schoolgirls success at this weekend’s APS Head of the River.
The school secured a top 10 ranking at the three-day Head of the Schoolgirls regatta on the Barwon River, claiming a gold, silver and bronze.
Leading the charge for gold on Sunday was Grammar’s open second VIII, featuring Izzi O’Connor, Paige a’Beckett, Lulu Polglase, Rose Jones, Eda Philip, Sienna Baillieu, Annabel Osmond, Alice Bowler and cox Jemima Hines.
The crew cruised to a gold-medal A final victory in 4:55.87 across a 1500m Barwon River course, close to five seconds ahead of St Catherine’s and Loreto-Toorak in second and third.
With a number of the group Year 12 students, coach Sophie Browne said it was fantastic way to mark those students’ final year of school.
“They absolutely deserve to finish their season like this,” Browne said.
“They’ve worked so hard.”
Though Head of the Schoolgirls is rated the pinnacle of competitive Victorian schoolgirls’ racing, Grammar’s girls crews still have plenty to row for at Saturday’s Head of the River, with a combined 22 Grammar boys and girls crews ready to compete while Geelong College will have 29 in action.
“Having the experiences here at Head of the Schoolgirls this weekend, has been something that’s really positive and encouraging (ahead of Head of the River),” Browne said.
Browne said Grammar’s strong retention of Year 12 students this year had made a big difference, their girls open first VIII winning a bronze in Sunday’s A final behind winners St Catherine’s and a total of five of its 11 crews in A finals, with their Year 10 second VIII winning a silver.
Browne believed the Year 10 victory was another positive sign, considering Grammar’s boatshed doesn’t get time to develop many of their rowers in Year 9 while away at the Timbertop campus.
“The attitude the whole boat shed has, the whole Geelong Grammar light blue army, has to get on with it and have that resilience and strength, is hopefully one of the reasons of why we are where we are this Head of the Schoolgirls,” she said.
SMITH GOES BACK-TO-BACK
Sacred Heart College’s Rio Smith‘s unbeaten season remains in tact, with her latest Head of the Schoolgirls gold medal success a confidence-boost heading into next week’s Australian Rowing Championships in Tasmania.
Smith will race both the under-17 (for Corio Bay) and schoolgirl single scull, as well as a double scull with Gippsland Grammar’s Lily Canfield – who also won Head of the Schoolgirls gold in a division 1 open quad on Sunday.
Smith, who coach Jeff Watt described as “a real talent”, won HOSG gold last year as a bottom-ager in a Year 10 double with Laura Ahearn.
This year, returning in a single scull, Smith said she felt immense relief crossing the line first in the 1000m A final in 3:58.04.
“Very happy with the work I’ve put in and for all my family and friends and coaches supporting me, I couldn’t have done it without them,” Smith said.
DUO END SEASON ON A HIGH
Kardinia International College students Violet Walsh and Skye Quirk have ended their season on a high with Head of the Schoolgirls’ gold.
The duo, who train out of Corio Bay Rowing Club, took out the Year 9 division 1 double scull A final over 1000m in 3:53.68, more than six seconds faster than their rivals.
“Crazy” and “unbelievable” were words Walsh and Quirk used to describe the win, particularly considering both are 13 and bottom-agers in the field.
The pair were forced to navigate tricky conditions in Sunday’s final, after calmer waters on Friday and Saturday.
“I think it’s how we approach the race, how we prepare mentally as well as physically, what we know we need to do in order get through the race without any complications,” Quirk said of their success.
Walsh and Quirk are long-time friends, having known each other since kindergarten, which helped hasten their connection on the water in their first season in the same double.
Coach Ian Bridgwater praised Walsh and Quirk’s focus and communication.
“The first time they got in a double together, they were talking, which is so important with no cox,” Bridgwater said.
Preview: Rio chases Head of the Schoolgirls gold
Rio Smith couldn’t believe it when she won gold at the prestigious Head of the Schoolgirls in a double.
Twelve months on and on the eve of another HOSG regatta, another gold medal doesn’t seem like so much of a stretch for the Year 10 Sacred Heart College rower.
Undefeated in the single scull across the state in both Year 10 and under-17 level, Smith will hope to extend her run at HOSG on her home Barwon River, starting Friday.
Then it’s all eyes on the national championships in Tasmania a week later.
If this season has taught Smith anything though, focusing on the single scull over doubles has highlighted just how hard the mental hurdles are when alone in the boat.
“That’s a very hard thing I’ve experienced in the single, but it does make you very strong and very resilient,” Smith, 15, said.
Winning gold as a Year 9 student in the Year 10 double scull division 1 final alongside the older Laura Ahearn, then Year 10, meant the pair were unable to defend their title.
Instead Ahearn, now in Year 11, will step into an open double scull with Lola Thomas this weekend.
Smith instead switched her focus to the single scull, her hard work over the off-season paying off in the competitive season, the teen currently undefeated.
“It’s been really rewarding to see the hard work I’ve put in through winter pay off, and I’m really excited to see how Head of Schoolgirls goes,” she said.
Fuelling Smith quest for gold this weekend will be her pride feels rowing in the blue and white for Sacred Heart College – Smith’s younger sister Eden also set to compete, coxing several Sacred Heart Year 9 quad scull crews.
“I love racing for Sacred Heart, I love representing Sacred Heart,” the older Smith said.
“I do a lot more training out of Corio Bay (Rowing Club), but it still feels very nice to be connected to the school and get to race for them.”
- Head of the Schoolgirls starts Friday from 8am, with the final race on Sunday expected to start 3.39pm. The prestigious eight open division 1 final will run from 3.33pm Sunday.
40+ names to watch at Head of the Schoolgirls
Geelong College
Geelong’s biggest contingent of rowers, there will be 21 crews proudly rowing for the Pegasus this weekend.
Along with Geelong Grammar, Geelong College’s first open VIII crew will be fighting for a place in the A final and a shot at the ultimate Schoolgirls’ honour.
Putting in the hard work for the Pam Westendorf-coached crew has been Eva Chalmers, Millie Agar, Emme Smith, Eliza Clancy, Ruby-Jane Roberts, Stella Benson, Hannah Dunton, Mackenzie Pugh, with cox Audrey Jansz, who will need to be at their best to take on the likes of defending champions Loreto-Toorak.
Meanwhile, the Geelong College’s Year 9 division 1 coxed quad scull – featuring Grace Jarman, Mylen Van Delden, Coco Young, Phoebe Whitehead and cox Phoebe Johnston – featuring will look to go better than its bronze medal at last month’s Junior and Inter Schoolgirls State Championships.
In the lower grades, the College’s Year Division 3 coxed quad scull – made up of Alice Garland, Clementine Chettle, Catherine Westcott, Lulu Pearson and cox Minnie Lovejoy – will look to add another major win to their resume, taking home gold at the Inter Schoolgirls State Championships.
Geelong Grammar
Eleven crews will represent Grammar, led by its first open VIII, featuring Sacha Laidlaw, Lily James, Chloe Fitzgerald, Manon Pirenc, Madison Sonego, Audrey Semjaniv, Miranda Worswick, Zoe Reed and cox Lucia Church.
Meanwhile, a strong chance to make it to the finals will be Geelong Grammar’s Year 10 division 1 coxed four crew, featuring Lexi Giagnorio, Loulou Proctor, Hettie Robson, Harriet Clancy and cox Heidi Calvert-Jones, following their gold medal success at the Interschool state titles.
Sacred Heart College
An even 10 crews will wear the navy blue, with Rio Smith looming as a strong gold medal chance in the Year 10 division 1 single scull.
Smith is undefeated for both school and club this year, including winning gold at interschools and the state titles.
Kardinia International College
Among Kardinia International College’s five crews, the pairing of Violet Walsh and Skye Quirk has been a fruitful one this season.
Lining up in the Year 9 division 1 double scull field, Walsh and Quirk scorched the field at interschools, winning their A final by more than 14 seconds over their next best rival.
Quirk, meanwhile, is coming in off strong form at this month’s state titles for Corio Bay, winning gold in both the under 15 single and double scull.
Clonard College
A trio of Shields will chase HOSG success forClonard College.
Aurora Shields will be vying for success in the open division 1 single scull field, while Angelique and Adeline Shields will go head-to-head in the Year 10 division 1 single scull.
Matthew Flinders
Matilda Murray will carry Matthew Flinders’ Head of the Schoolgirls hopes, the school’s lone entry eyeing a strong campaign in the open division 1 single scull field.
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Originally published as Geelong Grammar, Sacred Heart College and Kardinia International College among gold medal winners at 2025 Head of the Schoolgirls
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