HFC Kurunegala Crowned Champions at Inaugural Winter Classic Netball Tournament in UK
HFC Kurunegala Crowned Champions at Inaugural Winter Classic Netball Tournament in UK
The inaugural Winter Classic Netball Tournament, organised by the Netball Association of Sri Lankan Schools UK (NASS UK), concluded in spectacular fashion at the Hertfordshire Sports Village, De Havilland Campus, Hatfield. Held as an indoor tournament, the event brought together 15 Sri Lankan school old girls’ teams from across the United Kingdom for a memorable day of competitive netball, unity, and school pride.
With teams divided into two groups and more than 50 matches played throughout the tournament, the Winter Classic delivered high-quality netball from start to finish. The standard of play was exceptional, with every team demonstrating determination, discipline, and outstanding sportsmanship.
Thrilling Final: A Nail-Biting Finish
The grand final was a fitting climax to an unforgettable tournament. In an all-Kurunegala showdown, HFC Kurunegala faced Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya Kurunegala in a fiercely competitive and tense encounter.
The match kept spectators on the edge of their seats from the first whistle to the last. Both sides displayed remarkable defensive strength and attacking precision. In the end, HFC Kurunegala secured victory with a narrow 11–8 win, sealing the championship title in a true nail-biter.
Final Standings
🏆 Champions: HFC Kurunegala
🥈 Runners-Up: Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya Kurunegala
🥉 3rd Place: Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
The achievement was particularly special as two Kurunegala schools battled it out in the final, highlighting the district’s strong netball legacy.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya were impressive throughout the tournament, winning all their group stage matches (7) and showing great consistency, before losing in the semi-final. Their performance was a testament to their skill, teamwork, and determination.
Semi-Finalists
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
- Methodist Girls' High School Point Pedro
- Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya Kurunegala
- HFC Kurunegala
Individual Award Winners
Outstanding individual performances were recognised at the conclusion of the tournament:
- Best Centre Court Player: Inoka Gamage (Maliyadeva)
- Best Defender: Nikleshi Jayathilake (Maliyadeva)
- Best Shooter: Sonali Nanayakkara (HFC Kurunegala)
- Best Player of the Tournament: Hiranya Senanthi (HFC Kurunegala)
These athletes played pivotal roles in their teams’ campaigns and were deservedly honoured for their excellence on court.
Participating Teams
The Winter Classic featured the following Sri Lankan school old girls’ teams in the UK:
- Ananda Balika Vidyalaya Colombo
- Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda
- Buddhist Ladies College
- Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo
- HFC Kurunegala
- HFC Wennapuwa
- St Joseph’s Girls’ School
- Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya Kurunegala
- Methodist Girls' High School Point Pedro
- Musaeus College Colombo
- Newstead Girls' College Negombo
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
- Girls’ High School Kandy
- St. Paul’s Girls’ School Milagiriya
- Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo
A Celebration of Sport and Community
Beyond the trophies, the Winter Classic stood as a celebration of heritage, friendship, and unity within the Sri Lankan community in the UK. The tournament was widely praised for its organisation and competitive structure, reflecting the great effort and dedication of NASS UK in bringing this landmark event to life.
With such a successful debut, the Winter Classic promises to become a flagship annual tournament for Sri Lankan school old girls’ netball in the United Kingdom.
Photographs by Praneeth Hettiarachchi, Nipuna Liyanage, and Malinga Prabhasara.
Congratulations to NASS UK and all the participating teams for a successful first-ever Winter Classic. We also thank them for welcoming the APISRILANKAN teams for media coverage on this historic event, helping to showcase Sri Lankan school netball talent in the UK. Stay tuned for full media coverage.
- Admin
