Schools Sprint Championship for rowing Aug. 13 and 14

ROWING: Oarsmen from 13 schools will participate in the second S. Thomas' Sprint Championships on August 13 and 14 at the Colombo Rowing Club, Beira Waters. The regatta is called T500 Sprint Championships.

Regattas in Sri Lanka have traditionally been rowed over one kilometre course and has been limited in general to a two-team event. S. Thomas' College looking to change this traditional face of rowing by introducing the 500 metre sprint championships.

Participating schools (Boys): Ananda College, Asian International School , Prince of Wales College, Motaruwa, Royal College, St. Joseph's College, S. Thomas' College, Stafford International School. Girls: Asian International School, Bishop's College, Ladies College, Musaeus College, St. Bridget's Convent. Visakha Vidyalaya.

The organisers expect over 90 entries for the three events, namely coxed fours, double scull, single scull. Altogether 70 heats will be worked during the two days of rowing. S. Thomas' College, who have been a pioneering institution involved in rowing in Sri Lanka for the past 34 years, are dedicated to expand rowing through this event by involving not only the standard schools but also a number of outstation schools.

At the inaugural T50 Sprint Championships, S. Thomas' College and Ladies College oarsmen and oarswomen ruled the waters.

Thomians outclassed their opponents, collected 11 points while their traditional rivals Royal collected 6 points to be in second position. Asian International School with a point was third.

Ladies College oarswomen won the girls overall with 11 points while Bishop's College took the second slot with 7 points. L.F.