'Mount' two-mile Sea Swim March 2
By Leslie Fernando
SEA SWIM: The prestigious 71st annual Mount Lavinia two-mile
Sea Swim has attracted a record 405 competitors including 48 guvenile
boys and girls swimmers on Sunday, March 2. The start will be opposite
the Mount Lavinia Hotel.
The 71st swim is conducted by the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka
Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) and sponsored by Master Divers - Marine and
Under Water Services and Co-sponsored by Mt. Lavinia Hotel.
Nethru Nanayakkara, Media Coordinator and Samantha Wickramasinghe,
Secretary SLASU thanked the sponsors and co-sponsors for their support
and assistance in helping to conduct this popular two-mile sea swim
which is still the 'Blue Riband' of long distance swimming in Sri Lanka.
Last year, P. H. Sumudu Nishan of Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda
won the men's event (49.09 secs.) while D. D. D. Kaushalya of P. de S.
Kularatne Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda won the women's event (59.17 secs.)
According to SLASU Geoff C. Marks of Fishtail Aquatic Club Mutwal is
expected to be present at 71st annual swims Geoff-elder brother of
Boris, holds the record, winning the open two-mile sea swim Mt. Lavinia
for nine successive years. Geoff first won it in 1952 and continued his
winning form till 1960 - a great achievement from the swimmer from
Mutwal.
Douglas V. Arndt former Thomian and Otter A. C. swimmer won for
successive years 1946-1951, K. P. N. Pathmadeva (Devananda College,
Ambalangoda) has won four times 1972-1975, R. M. Pradeep Chandrika (Devananda
College) won five times 1991 to 1995 and Ajith Weerakkody (Devananda
College) won four times 1998-2001.
The first two-mile sea swim was swum in 1939 and it took 18 years for
women's swimmers to come on the scene, Tara Bolling (Julian's mother and
late F. C. de Saram's eldest daughter) has won the swim six times 1957,
1959, 1960, 1961, 1964 and 1965. R. M. Dhammika of Devananda College,
Ambalangoda won it in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1991 while Upeka
Samarawickrema of St. Brigget's Convent won it from 1994 to 1997 four
times.
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