Miracle by Ladies’ College oarswomen on Beira Waters
Captain Mitali Wickramage and vice captain Hayaa Hassen receiving the Marie Musaeus Higgins Trophy from Swarnamali wijesinghe
Ladies’ College celebrated 25 years in rowing with one of the most sensational and unexpected wins in the history of their annual rowing encounter against Musaeus College held on the Beira Lake last month.
The team, captained by 18-year-old Mitali Wickramage, beat their rivals by 39-13, thus retaining the Marie Musaeus Higgins Trophy.
This staggering win came as a shock to many a rowing pundit as this young squad of 20 girls, included 11 15-year-olds and two 14-year-olds in their ranks and was written off against a strong Musaeus team. In a special year for Ladies’ College rowing, which had its origin 25 years back in 1998, when a few girls approached the principal to start a rowing team, culminated in the establishment of an official team in 1999 and Sarah Caffoor was appointed the first rowing captain of the school. In the ensuing years, the school has entrenched itself as a powerhouse in women’s rowing in the country.
The year started well for the girls from Flower Road by rowing their way to be joint champions at the Junior National Championship and concluded the season with their win at the LC-MC Regatta, which was their 12th win in the series to the five won by Musaeus and the one draw in 2006.
The 18th LC/MC regatta kicked off with Bimaya Raddalgoda winning the B Scull event for the Ladies’ team with a timing of 4mins, 30secs, followed by close wins in the B Pair for Turanya Basnayake and Tihana de Saram and in the A Pair for Letara Munipura and Hayaa Hassen in an identical time of 4mins, 13secs.
Sanindi de Silva and Hayaa Hassen clocked 4mins, 5secs on their way to win the B Double Scull event followed by a win for Ranithi Samarasooriya, Anika Perera, Iyannah Karunaratne, Shamaali Ellawala and Jessica Sivapragasam in the C Fours event in 4mins, 11secs.
Next up was the B Fours event where Kehansa Madugalle, Tihana de Saram, Turanya Basnayake, Sanindi de Silva and Ananya Kirtisinghe finished with a timing of 4mins, 8secs, to confirm the victory for the Ladies’ girls.
The final race of the day was the A Fours event, the prestigious Boat Race where Letara Munipura, Hayaa Hassen, Bimaya Raddalgoda, Mitali Wickramage and Tanisha Cooray led from the start to win it for Ladies’ in 3mins, 59secs to round off one of the most famous wins for Ladies’ College this year.
Further, Janumi Weragama (A Scull), Chantelle Perera and Vinugi Jayasinghe (A Double Scull) rowed their hearts out with Hana Irfan and Acacia Nanayakkara completing the crew of 2023.
Vice captain Hayaa Hassen was adjudged the most outstanding rower at the regatta for her three wins. The team was coached by Sharen Kannangara, ably supported by assistant coaches, gym instructors and fitness coaches along with teachers-in-charge Lilamani de Sayrah and Sonali Jayasekera.