Motocross champ Rolf Tibblin sponsors

Victoria Golf Club monthly medal c'ships

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

GOLF: Four times world champion at motocross, Sweden-born Rolf Tibblin will sponsor the May month medal golf championship of Victoria Golf and Country Resort which will be worked off at the picturesque Victoria golf course at Rajawella next Saturday May 23 commencing at 7.30 a.m.

It is heartening to note that a legendary in motor sport is sponsoring a golf championship at a time sponsors are hard to come due to adverse trading conditions.

Rolf Tibblin is no doubt a legendary in motor as he created a new dimension in motocross not only in Sweden but also in the world in the early stages of this sport in the seventies with his dare devil riding on dirt tracks full of obstacles to win the world championship honours not once but four times. In motor car racing he has one of the fastest lap timings in the world before a serious injury while participating in this sport compelled him to retire. The injury was so serious that at one time the medical experts wondered whether he would be able to walk again.

Late last year he was bestowed with the honour for his contribution to motor sport at the Country Hall of Fame which is something very rare and only internationally acclaimed personalities receive same. He is looked up as a legendary in Sweden where his motorcycles which carved a niche for himself and broke world records are on display at the National Museum.

Very humble in his approach and shuns publicity, he is a very amiable personality and now plays a lot of golf at Victoria along with his wide Indira and even organised the local Swedish Golf Classics at Victoria Golf Club. Rolf Tibblin is a Civil Engineer by profession and is also a specialist in turning out cups and trophies and wood carvings.

Back to golf, this championship will certainly attract a large number of golfers including the Swedish and expatriate residents in the country. Other top golfers who will vie for top honours are Sam Gunaratne, Sujeewa Lankatillake, Ian Tait, Bo Lindberg, Ravi Mediwake, Noel Joseph, Rowland Davies, Sirath Kasturiratne, Errol Johnston, Johan Taylor, Tony Witham, Helm Vienert, Chris Holloway, C. Thornton, Chamil Wickremasinghe and many others. Among the ladies who may vie for honours are Suwen Selvaratnam, Sonia Boyle, Niloo Jayatillake, Manori Jayakoddy, Jyoti Haynes, Lilian Perera, Linda Harris, M. Petrer, Pauline Morley, Joan Moore and many others.

Entries are now open and those interested in participating in this championship should contact Ms. Dhanushika Medagoda - Mobile 0777-840894 or log into [email protected]. The golf course at Victoria is in excellent condition and it has been maintained upto international standards to attract golf tourists and to give the golfers their money's worth.