Thomians win regatta in style

Take T. Noel Fernando Trophy with a convincing 32-8 win over Royal:

By Leslie FERNANDO

S. Thomas College oarsmen powered their way to win the T. Noel Fernando Trophy collecting 32 points to Royal College’s 8 to win the T. Noel Fernando Trophy in the 35th annual Royal-Thomian Regatta and the 39th Boat Race held on the Beira Waters yesterday. The regatta was hosted by Thomians and sponsored by Dialog GSM.

Thomian crew rowed with endurance, strength, balance and tremendous power to win the overall trophy for the 18th time, Royal 14 wins with three regattas being tied in the years 1993, 2003 and 2005.

Thomians started off in grand fashion winning the Junior Scull through Devaan Hallock beating Thivanka Jayathilake of Royal with a time of 3.35 secs, The Mount Lavinia lads increased the lead to eight when Sajeev de Silva won the Senior Scull event with a time of 3.35 secs.

Thomians also won the ‘B’ Pair easily Eshan Goonawardane (B) and Ruven Weerasinghe (S) timed 3.19 secs to beat the Royal combination of Radhika Weerasekera (B) and Lakitha Liyanage (S). The total was 12-0 in favour of the winners.

The fourth race was a keen tussle in the Senior Pair. It was a dead heat between Sajeev de Silva (B), Devaan Hallock (S) of S. Thomas’ and Chirath Karunanayake (B) Dinouk Perera (S) of Royal finishing the cross line together with a time of 3.21 secs. The race was re-rowed with both schools agreeing.

Thomian pair Sajeev de Silva and Devaan Hallock rowed with authority to win the race with a time of 3.23 and increased the total to 20-nil.

Royal College had the consolation of winning the Junior Four to collect 8 points, defeating the Thomian four in 3.10 secs.

Thomians showed their class in the main race Senior Four (Boat Race). The Thomian crew comprising Eshan Goonewardena (B), Devaan Hallock (2) Dhanushka Jayanetti (3), Ruven Weerasinghe (S) and skipper Manil Salgadoe (Cox) rowed with excellent technique to beat the Royal crew of Chirath Karunanayake (B) Ashan Herath (2), Mahima Weerasinghe (3), Dinouk Perera (S), Danushka Perera (Cox) to win the blue riband, event of the Regatta ‘Boat Race’ with a record time of 3.06 secs. S. Thomas now lead with 21 wins to Royal’s 18.

Former Thomian captain Lloyd Sirimanne was the chief guest.

Incidentally Lloyd’s son Chevantha also a reputed oarsmen from S. Thomas’ College was the coach of the winning team.

Senior Sculls: (6 points)

Sajeev de Silva of S. Thomas’ College beat Dinouk Perera of Royal College. Time: 3:35 secs.

Senior Sculls Challenge Trophy

Junior Sculls: (2 points)

Devan Hallock of S. Thomas’ College beat Thivanka Jayatilake of Royal College. Time: 3:35 secs (For Ajith Goonawardena Challenge Trophy)

‘C’ Fours: (No points) Sanjeewa Jayasuriya (B) Ajmal Sideek (2) Sahan Warnasuriya (3) Thivanka Jayathilake (5) Danushka Perera (Cox) of Royal beat Shelan de Livera (B), Trehan Manathunge (2) Yohan Wijeratne (3) Manil Salgadoe (5) Yanik Salgadoe (Cox) of S. Thomas Time. 3:16 secs.

Percy Fernando Memorial Trophy

Double Scull (No points)

Arjun Manoharan (B), Danushka Jayanetti (S) of S. Thomas’ beat Ashan Herath (B) Mahima Weerasinghe (S) of Royal. Time:3:26 secs.

Junior Pairs: (4 points)

Eshan Goonawardane (B), Ruven Weerasinghe (S) of S. Thomas’ beat Radhika Weerasekera (B) Lakith Liyanage (S) of Royal. Time: 3:19 secs.

Chula Samarasinghe Challenge Trophy

Senior Pairs: (8 points)

Sajeev de Silva (B) Devaan Hallock (S) of S. Thomas’ beat Chirath Karunanayake (B) Dinouk Perera (S) of Royal. Time 3:23 secs.

Freddie Raux Trophy)

Junior Fours. (8 points)

Devinda Fernando (B) Randev Gunasena (2) Radhika Weerasekera (3) Lakkitha Liyanage (S) Mevan Jayathilike (Cox) of Royal beat Jayan Peiris (B), Idween Jayasingha (2) Arjun Manoharan (3), Sajeev de Silva (S) Amrick Varia (Cox) of S. Thomas. Time 3:15 secs.

Eraj Wijesinghe Trophy

Senior Fours. (12 points)

Ishan Goonewardene (B) Devaan Hallock (2) Dhanushka Jayanetti (3) Ruven Weerasinghe (5) Manil Salgadoe (Cox) of S. Thomas beat Chirath Karunanayake (B), Ashan Herath (2) Mahima Weerasinghe (3) Dnout Perera (S) Danushka Perera (Cox) of Royal. Time 3:06 secs.

(Boat Race Trophy)

Old Boys fours:

S. Thomas College beat Royal College. Time: 3:30 secs

Udesh Hettiarachchi (B) Devaka Seneviratne (C) Roshana Fernando (3) Gayajith Dassanayake (S) represented the Thomians. Royal Crew - Reza Akram (B)Ali Fatharally (2) Anushan Selveraja (3) Hishan Hassen (5)