Trinity, Mahamaya age group champs

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

SWIMMING: Trinity College (boys) and Mahamaya Girls College won the respective overall Age Group Championship honours for the fifth year in succession at the Fifth Central Province Age Group and Novices Swimming championship organised by the Central Province Aquatic Sports Association (CEPASA) and worked off at the swimming pool of the University of Peradeniya in Peradeniya.

Over 600 girls and boys swimmers from the Central Province took the plunge and over 113 events were worked off during the day.

Former National swimmer who brought honour to the country at international meets with his feats Julian Bolling, was the Chief Guest and he distributed the main awards along with Guests of Honour Ahamed Muthasim Adnan (Dean - Faculty of Shariah Law in Republic of Maldives) Ms. Arosha Perera (Directress, Department of Physical Education, University of Peradeniya) and Nilantha Athurupane (Channel Executive, Nestle Lanka PLC).

A. S. Ettipola received both the Age Group Championship trophy and the Novices trophy for Trinity College while Mahamaya Girls College's under 14 champion swimmer Ayeshika Jayawardena received both these trophies on behalf of her school.

Mahamaya Girls College dominated this meet to such an extent that they annexed both the Age Group and Novices Championships with ease. In the Novices Championship, they accumulated 204 points against 135 points by the runners-up St. Anthony's Girls College, Kandy. They lifted the Overall Championship in the Age Group championship with 635 points while the runners-up gathered 312 points.

Trinity College won the Novices Championship by collecting 231 points closely followed by Kingswood College who had 225 points. But the Age Group Championship turned out to be a one horse race with Trinity College swimmers aggregating a record 855 points and Kingswood College who finished runners-up were far behind with 222 points - a deficit of 633 points. They achieved this without the services of two of their star swimmers in Heshan Unamboowe and Chanuka Wickremasinghe who are in the contingent for the SAF Games.

Another school to excel was comparatively newcomers to swimming Mowbray Girls College who finished second runner-up in the competition for Novices with Stephene Perananthan and Vivek Kandavel excelling in their events.

Fifteen-year-old Shehan de Silva once again excelled by winning all four events competed by him and he also broke two existing records in 100 metres freestyle and 50 metres Dolphin. Little Ayeshika Jayawardena of Mahamaya Girls College was another swimmer to excel when she won all her events to end up as under 14 champion swimmer. Shehan de Silva was the boys under 16 champion swimmer.

Champion Swimmers

(Novices girls):

Under 10: Sasandi Batarange (Hillwood College)

Under 12: Chamini Ekanayake (Sangamitta GS Matale)

Under 14: Ishani Ratanayake (Hillwood College)

Under 16: G.M.D.M. Ratwatte (Sangamitta GS Matale)

Over 16: Vivek Kandavel (Mowbray College) and Stephnie Perananthan Mowbray College.

Champion Swimmers

(Novices boys):

Under 10: G. Edussuriya (Kingswood College)

Under 12: B.O.C.Dharmapriya (Trinity College)

Under 14: Mohammed Adran (Colombo International School)

Under 16: Shaluka Walisundera (Kingswood College)

Over 16: Joint champions: B.A.A. Priyankara and J.M.M.A. Senaviratne (both from Peradeniya University)

Champion Swimmers

girls:

Under 10: Niresha Weeraratne (Mahamaya College)

Under 12: Joint Champions: Hiruni de Soysa (Hillwood College) and Vinoli Siriwardena (Mahamaya College)

Under 14: Ayeshika Jayawardena (Mahamaya College)

Under 16: Sunethra Wijeratne (Mahamaya College)

Over 16: Hansanee Weeratunga (Mahamaya College)

Champion Swimmers

boys:

Under 10: Ishara Wijeratne (Trinity College)

Under 12: S.M.B.Senanayake (Trinity College)

Under 14: Joint champions Thaveesha Edussuriya and M. Hulangamuwa (both from Trinity College)

Under 16: Shehan de Silva (Trinity College)

Over 16: Lashan Senaratne (Trinity College)

Points Table

Novices girls

1. Mahamaya Girls College: 204 points

2. St. Anthony's Girls College, Kandy 135 points

3. Nowbray Girls College 132 points

4. Girls High School, Kandy 102 points

5. Hillwood College, Kandy 93 points

Novices Boys

1. Trinity College 231 points

2. Kingswood College 225 points

3. Colombo International School 105 points

4. University of Peradeniya 90 points

5. St. Anthony's College, Kandy - 30 points

Overall Champions girls

1. Mahamaya Girls College 635 points

2. Hillwood College 312 points

3. Girls High School, Kandy 114 points

4. Mowbray Girls College, Kandy 63 points

5. Colombo International School, Kandy 42 points

Overall champions Boys

1. Trinity College 855 points

2. Kingswood College 222 points

3. Gateway College Kandy 60 points

4. St. Sylvester's College and CEPASA team 42 points each.