Musaeus regain Higgins Trophy after six years
View(s):The final race of the day, the ‘A’ Four event, sealed Musaeus’ victory. Competing on the inside course, the Musaeus team, consisting of Yenushka Premaratne, Sanindie Mendis, Sithesh Sundararaj, Senumi Hewavithanage, and Inaya Jayakody (cox), secured a dramatic win with a time of 04:03.82secs. They narrowly outpaced the Ladies’ crew, comprising Hayaa Hassen, Letara Munipura, Sanindi de Silva, Thuranya Basnayake, and Tanisha Cooray (cox), who fought valiantly but fell short.
Musaeus also dominated the ‘B’ Four race, where Hesandi Perera, Thara Caldera, Sahanya Rajapaksha, Sarah Martino, and Sineli de Silva (cox) rowed their way to victory. Their timing of 04:07.12secs after a thrilling finish saw them edge past Ladies’ rowers Shamaali Ellawala, Vinugi Jayasinghe, Kehansa Madugalle, Iyannah Karunaratne, and Ananya Kirtisinghe (cox). The contest was intense, but Musaeus managed to clinch the win, further extending their lead.
However, Ladies’, led by Hayaa Hassen, did not go down without a fight. In the ‘C’ Four race, their team, made up of Anika Perera, Chantelle Perera, Meha Balendra, Ranithi Samarasooriya, and Jessica Sivapragasam (cox), gave their school something to cheer about. Competing on the outside course, they clocked a time of 04:26.18secs to beat the Musaeus crew of Nethumi Rajapakse, Hansalee Collure, Senudi Mendis, Venudi Peiris, and Senola Shridharan (cox), securing a much needed victory.
The regatta also featured some thrilling double scull races. In the ‘A’ Double Scull event, Musaeus’ Sanindhie Mendis and Senumi Hewavithanage secured a hard-fought victory over Hayaa Hassen and Senindi de Silva of Ladies’, finishing with a time of 04:16.60secs. On the other hand, Ladies’ Janumi Weeragama and Sheraya Perera outpaced Musaeus’ Nikini Aluthge and Isini Rajapakse in the ‘B’ Double Scull race, winning with a time of 04:15.13secs after an extremely close contest.
In the ‘B’ Scull race, McKaella Karunaratne of Ladies’ added to her school’s points tally by defeating Binuli Edirisooriya of Musaeus with a time of 04:36.70secs, displaying impressive individual skill.
Musaeus continued their supremacy in the ‘B’ Pair event, where Sarah Martino and Sahanya Rajapaksha rowed to victory against Hayaa Hassen and Letara Munipura of Ladies’, finishing with a time of 04:10.53secs. However, Ladies’ bounced back in the ‘A’ Pair race, as Sanindi de Silva and Thuranya Basnayake defeated Musaeus’ Thara Caldera and Yenushka Premaratne in another close contest, finishing with a time of 04:10.53secs.
The final individual event, the ‘A’ Scull race, saw Musaeus’ vice captain, Sanindhie Mendis, claim victory. She completed the race with a time of 04:25.19secs, outpacing Ladies’ Sheraya Perera, cementing her team’s overall success and becoming the Oarswoman of the Regatta.
Musaeus last won the Regatta in 2018 under the leadership of Mayathi Weerakoon. After 19 encounters, the overall tally now stands with Ladies’ College leading with 12 wins, Musaeus College with six, and a tie. This victory narrows the gap, giving Musaeus a boost as they aim to close in on their rivals in future regattas.
| Results | |
| ‘A’ Scull:Sheraya Perera 4:37.52 (Ladies) beat Sanindhie Mendis 4:26.19 (Musaeus)
‘A’ Pair: Sanindi de Silva (S) adn Turanya Basnayake (B) LC 4:10.53 beat Thara Caldera (B) and Yenushka Premaratne (S) 4:19.77 (Musaeus) ‘B’ Pair: Sahanya Rajapaksha (B) and Sarah Martino (S) MC 4:15.97 beat Hayaa Hassen (S) adn Letara Munipura (B) 4:29.22 (Ladies) ‘B’ Scull: McKaella Karunratne 4:36.70 (Ladies) beat Binuli Edirisooriya 4:49.22 (Musaeus) ‘B’ Double Scull: Janumi Weragama (S)/Sheraya Perera (B) 4:15.13 (Ladies) beat Nikini Aluthge (B)/Isini Rajapakse (S) 4:21.35 (Musaues) ‘A’ Double Scull: Sanindhie Mendis (B)/Senumi Hewavitharanage (S) 4:16.6 (Musaeus) beat Hayaa Hassen (S)/Sanindi de Silva (B) 4:20.50 (Ladies) ‘C’ Four: Anika Perera (S), Meha Balendra (2), Chantelle Perera (3), Ranithi Samarasooriya (B), Jessica Sivapragasam (Cox) 4:26.18 (Ladies) beat Nethumi Rajapakse (B), Hansalee Collure (2), Senudi Mendis (3), Venudi Peiris (S), Senola Shridharana 4:32.51 (Musaeus) ‘B’ Four: Shamaali Ellawala (S), Vinugi Jayasinghe (2), Kehansa Madugalle (3), Iyannah Karunaratne (B), Ananya Kirtisinghe (Cox) 4:03.16 (Ladies) beat Hesandi Perera (B), Thara Caldera (2), Sahanya Rajapaksha (3), Sarah Martino (S), Sineli de Silva (Musaeus) 4:07.12. ‘A’ Four: Sithesh Sundararaj (B), Senumi Hewavithanage (2), Sanindhie Mendis (3), Yenushka Premaratne (S), Inaya Jayakody (C) 4:03.82 (Musaeus) beat Letara Munipura (3), Hayaa Hassen (2), Sanindi de Silva (S), Turanya Basnayake (B), Tanisha Cooray (Cox) 4:06.53 (Ladies) |