All set for Royal-Thomian Regatta next Saturday

By Leslie Fernando

ROWING: The 34th Royal-Thomian Regatta and 38th annual Boat Race the eagerly looked forward to events by rowing fans, will be held on October 27 on the Beira Waters starting at 2.30 p.m.

The T. N. Fernando Trophy will be on offer for the overall winner. In the year 2005 both sides collected 20 points each for the six events and shared the trophy. Royalists are determined to hold Thomians in check. But the Thomians are expected to repeat 2004 success over Royal this year.

The 2005 regatta saw Royal leading with 20 points to the Thomians 8 at the end of the 5th race. The 'decider' was in the final event 'A' Fours (Boat Race).

The Thomian crew comprising Dayantha Siriwardena, Shanon de Silva, Dinesha Aluvihara, Milindra Kulugammana and Manil Salgadoe rowed with superior skill to win the event, 'clocking' 3 minutes 19 seconds to equal the score 20-all and share the trophy.

Malik Aziz will lead the Royal College crew while Dathika Wickremanayake will be the Thomian captain this year.

The events to be worked off are - Senior Fours (Boat Race), Junior Four, 'A' Pairs, 'B' Pairs, 'A' Sculls, 'B' Sculls and Junior 'B' Fours (no points will be awarded). The Trophies to be won are: T. N. Fernando Trophy, Boat Race Trophy, Eraj Wijesinghe Trophy, Freddie Raux Trophy, Senior Sculls Trophy, Chula Samarasinghe Challenge Trophy, Ajith Goonawardene Challenge Trophy and Percy Fernando Trophy. The tally stands are - Boat Race Trophy S. Thomas' College 20, Royal College 17.

The T. N. Fernando Trophy - S. Thomas' College has won it 17 times to Royal College 13 (3 years ended in ties).

Royal Crew: Malik Aziz, Dinouk Perera, Mahima Weerasinghe, Lishan Wickremanayake, Chirath Karunanayake, Miyaru Dias, Mandara Jayawardena, Lakkitha Liyanage, Dhanushka Perera, Devinda Fernando, Radika Weerasekera, Thivanka Jayatilleke, Charith Wijewardena, Sandeep Jayawardena, Randev Gunasena, Aishwara Gunasekera, Dushantha Kuruppu, Sanjiva Jayasuriya, Mewan Jayathilake, Ashan Herath, Amash Ahamath, Nirmal Herath, Jehan Samarasekara, Kavisha Hegoda.

Thomian crew: Dathika Wickremanayake, Manil Salgadoe, Devaan Hallock, Rajitha Wickremasekera, Sakya Kalupathirana, Danushka Jayanetty, Adnan Issadeen, Eshan Goonawardane, Arjun Manoharan, Yanik Salgadoe, Amrick Varia, Kasun Manawadu, Uween Jayasingha, Jayan Peiris, Navodha Meegalla, Ishan Jaleel, Danushka Fernando, Akshath Wickremanayake, Avinash de Silva.