Trinity fly-half A.T. Ratwatte gets Ryde Gold Medal

by Hafiz Marikar

Trinity College's 2014 fly-half A.T. Ratwatte was awarded the Ryde Gold Medal on Friday at the School Annual Prize Day, he was also awarded the Ruggerite of the Year award and Best Sportsman of the Year.

At Trinity, the Ryde Gold Medal in honour of the Principal Rev. W. Ryde (1900-1902) was first presented in 1908 by the Colombo branch of the Old Boys' Association which has continued to present it ever since.

The first winner was John Andrew, but the best all round boy in college earlier was E.C. de Alwis in 1894, and then in 1901 the prize was reserved for Kandyans only.

T.B. Ellepola was the first Kandyan to receive it. Thereafter, this was continued to be awarded until it was superseded by the Ryde Gold Medal.

A.T. Ratwatte, who led the Sri Lanka Schools team, is a third generation Trinity ruggerite, son of Ashan and grand son of Dennis both played for the school.

This award is presented annually to the best all round boy in the school and it cannot be won more than once.

The other awards were Cricket Best Batsman K. Ron Chandraguptha, Bowling R.S. Sayer, Fielding M.V. Charith Sudakara, Best all rounder and cricketer of the year 2014 R.S. Sayer.

There were special awards, for cricketers like R.S. Sayer, L. Jayasinghe, L. Kumara, N. Weerasinghe, S. Sahnoheeth, D. Thilkaratne.

Hockey: A.A.S.S. Ratnayake, J.A.D.K.I. Jayasinghe, A.B. Waleed, D. Jayasinghe.

Boxing: M.M.S. Ziard, G.R. Weerakoon, C. Dissanayake, S. Guantilake, V.B. Mahadivulwawe, R.F. Ranasinghe.

Lawn Tennis: M.R. Naves Mohamed. Rugger A. Tarinda Ratwatte, A.S.K. Karunatilake, L.A.B. Girihagama, S.Y.C. Sheik, I.A. Rangala, and D.C.S. Ratwatte - the last named also got the most improved player award.

Badminton best player: W.L.P. Samarasinghe, Table Tennis: W.M.S.K. Wijesundera, M. Gunatilake. Swimming: C.M.N. Hulangamuwa, E. Wijeratne, A.Y.C. Shiek, D. Dharmapriya, S.M.B. Senanayake, M. Jayasinghe, S. Sirimane, L.P. Navaratne.

Weightlifting: I.A. Rangala, D.M.S.M. Dissanayake, K.G. Siriwardena, D.C.S. Ratwatte, J.M.P.S.T.B. Jayasundera, S.N. Abeywarna, N.R. Adhihetty, T.D.A.S. Karunatilake, H.U.E.P. Samarasekara, A. Girihagama.

Athletics: S. Liyanage, D. Siriwardena. D.T. Ratwatte, K. Ratnayake, P. Hariprasana, D. Premaratne, Y.T.B.T. Pitawela, G.K.B.H. Perera, S. Dharmasiri, D. Ratnayake, S. de Silva, D. Dange, S. Maralande, D. Kumarage, S.D.S. Ratwatte, M. Dissanayake.

Games All-round Excellence award went to G.R. Weerakoon who received the A.H.R. Joseph Challenge Cup.

Duminda Hulangamuwa was the chief guest.