The 4th annual Ladies-Musaeus Regatta at CRC today

REGATTA: The Annual Ladies-Musaeus Regatta is now established in the country’s rowing calendar as another benchmarking event of the sport. The growing number of girls taking to the sport from other schools and the keen contests seen at the recently concluded National Rowing Championship bears witness to this growth.

The girls averaging about 16 to 17 years from both schools seem to have learnt from the high levels of competition displayed by the boys of Royal and S. Thomas’ College who are going on their 34th Annual Regatta.

Teams from both schools have been seen training diligently on and off the water and they have had exposure to each other at the Bolgoda Sculling Championship, Joe’s Sculls, few events conducted by the Colombo Rowing Club and the most recently concluded National Championships.

The Musaeites however had one additional event in their run up to the LC/MC, as it is popularly referred to now, by their participation at the Annual International Schools’ Regatta in Calcutta early in the season.

These girls went on to record a resounding victory at the Calcutta regatta winning one Gold and two Silver medals.

Meanwhile, the girls of Ladies showed their prowess at the Nationals being adjudged National Champions. Both teams are equally matched with talent and experience. A distinct advantage is observed with the Ladies by the large numbers in attendance giving an edge at selections.

The starting regatta was won by Ladies and the second by Musaeus. In the 1st encounter the Musaeus lasses were taken to task and were beaten 40 points to nil. The Third of the series recorded a draw and the scores are “even Stephens” now.

The Musaeus Crew is lead by Naduni Perera who has been figuring in all the LC/MC events so far.

The Ladies Crew is lead by Minuri Amarasuriya. Both captains are confident of their crews’ abilities to perform at exceptional levels of competition.

Both crews are using their own equipment other than for the 4+ events, for which boats are borrowed from S. Thomas’ College. The prestigious Boat Race will be the last event of the day and it is hoped that the weather will hold good for the event.

It is very encouraging to witness the kind of camaraderie enjoyed between two rival schools which should be nurtured at all times.