Trinity - a successful year in sports as well as studies

By Hafiz MARIKAR

A SUCCESSFUL YEARS: Trinity College, Kandy enjoyed a successful year (2011) all round, in the field of Sports and Academy. Above all they maintained the institute at the highest levels of administration after a long spell of the school.

This institute inaugurated in 1857 by Rev. J. Ireland Jones has made the founder, school, students, parents and Kandy proud of achieving the greatest results both in the field of sports and education. These achievements should be appreciated by the Nation, Board of Governors, OBA, Students, Parents and the admiring public of Trinity College. A big 'thank you' to the Acting Principal Brig. Udaya Ariyaratne for his initiative, motivation, commitment and the large vision to make this institute the best school of all with all its traditions in tact. This the principal does well with the support of his staff at every given point.

In the field of sports, the principal has always played a major role regarding the performances of the School in all sports. In 1920's especially, when Trinity was pre-eminent on all sports in various fields, the school works would suffer, but it was not to be and Trinity did well in school work too.

At Trinity, the concept by the Principal is that, sports should be on par with education and all students in the school are expected to play games as part of their education. Therefore, in this school it does not confine only to the newspaper headline-hitting school teams.

Earlier references made were that Trinity College did well in certain organized school games but now they have come a long way forward in most sports.

Cricket: At first the real effort of building a team came with Rev. Carter in 1892. The schools; history reveals the achievements in these words - The Trinity Cricket Club too was flourishing and of the six matches played in 1896, three were won, two drawn and lost one.

Trinity's first game was against Royal in 1893, which they lost, then in 1898 played S. Thomas' for the first time and lost, 1903 played Wesley for the first time and lost, 1908 played St Joseph's for the first time and lost, Trinity lost all their inaugural games to these schools.

The 2011 season under Akila Jayasundara, Trinity did extremely well and became the best team ever of the school by winning the All Island School Championship, with a fine record of winning matches. A huge appreciation goes to Sampath Perera, the coach, with a vision to create cricketers for the future and to bring back the cricketing concept to Trinity. In 2011, former Trinity and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara became the people's cricketer of 2011 a hidden "Classic Trinitian."

Rugger: Trinity this season played a 'Lions' brand of rugby. To merely report that 15 gallant and resurgent Trinitians led by power-horse 'Prop' forward Murad Ramzeen knocked hitherto unconquered No. 8 forward Shehan Pathirana's Royalists off their feet in 2011, by a record score of 40 points to 05 points to retain the 'Bradby Shield' in Colombo, scoring five tries, three conversions and two penalties, conceding only a solitary and consolation try to Royal, speaks volumes of the progress made.

Then Trinity beat S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia by a previous record score of 63 points to send to ashes in 2011 by making another record win of 75 points to 06 points, speaks volumes about Trinity. They also won the "MILO" Schools President's Trophy championship by beating St. Peter's in the semi-finals by 32 points to 14 points and then final beating the strong and favourites Isipatana College by 21 points to 10 points in a grand final. Trinity are very grateful to their head coach Nilifer Ibrahim, former U/20 National Coach and the master-mind and trainer from World Rugby Champions country Neil Foote who was instrumental in guiding the players towards victory along with the assistance and support of the Principal and the Master-in-charge.

Weightlifting: Trinity stamped their class when they became champions at the National School Games. This champion team was led by Kevin Bandara and coached by National Weight-Lifter P. K.G.N. Dayan. Trinitians known for their prowess at rugby, swimming and cricket have now entered a different area. At the National School Games, Trinity won four gold medals, two silver medals and one Bronze medal in weightlifting.

Skipper Kevin Bandara, competing in the less than 20 age group and under 94 Kilogramme body-weight category, set up a new National Schools Games record by Clean and Jerking 112 kilogrammes. His other lift was in the Snatch where he lifted 80 kilogrammes making a total lift of 192 kilogrammes.

Another record-breaker was Anuradha Karunatilleke, who competing in the under 18 Age Group in the 94 kg plus body-weight category, also clean and Jerked 90 kilogrammes which is a new games record. His other lift was 60 kg, in the Snatch making a total lift of 150 kg.

Boxing: G. Lushanth was adjudged the Senior Best Boxer at the 94th Stubbs Shield Boxing Championships held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

Chess: Under 16 years Chamika Perera became the National Chess Champion in 2011 and became the youngest person ever to win the National Chess Championship. Although chess has been popular at Trinity for quite a long period with the first Chess Club established early 1966, this team has become the All Island Champions.

Swimming: Trinity created a new record when it won the National Swimming Championship conducted by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union for the third time and worked off at the Ananda College Swimming pool. Trinity won this competition in 2007, 2008 and 2011. Trinity's performance was spearheaded by Sri Lanka Captain Heshan Unamboowe, who won all five events and also established two meet records.

All credit should be shared by the skipper L.O. Senaratne, the famous H.B. Unamboowe for a great piece of work done to achieve these results along with others. U.H. Pemlath the head coach gave off his best along with R.A. Weerasinghe, the Assistant MIC G.G. Wettabron and Manager K.V.N. Piyasiri.

Scholarship Winner - 2011: It is with great pleasure that the school records the first ever winner of the Trinity College Old Boys Association - (British Columbia Canada Scholarship - Duncan White Memorial Scholarship) awarded to Mahil Kotelawala for his academic excellence by obtaining 9'A's at the GCE (OL) 2011.

The above are a few of the great achievements Trinitians have obtained. It was nothing, but sheer dedication, commitment, discipline and above all the will to uphold the Trinity sprit to its motto "Respica Finem" to all this I believe the proudest would undoubtedly by the Principal Brig. Udaya Ariyaratne, and the Vice Principal S. Canagasabai and the school at large.