Symons to launch book on racing history

by Ranjan Anandappa

Remember, the undisputed racing cycle champion Anthony Symons who was a household name in the cycle racing fraternity with Maurice Coomaravel for over five decades, Symonds presently has changed his role from cyclist to author compiling a book on the cycle racing history of Sri Lanka and is hoping to release his book at the end of the year in both Sinhalese and English titled Bicycle Racing History Of Sri Lanka.

Sumonds who hails from Ratnapura has a rich heritage in cycle racing and has all the credentials in compiling a book of this nature to share his experience with those who are interested in the sport.

He with Maurice Coomaravel stormed the streets of Sri Lanka and went on to represent the country almost at every major cycling events including the ever popular Tour de Lanka conducted by the Lake House Group Of Newspapers, The Olympic Games, Asian Games.

He is presently the Administrative Officer in the Cycling Federation , president of the coaches and was in charge of the SAF 2016 national pool for cyclists. Within a short period of three months under his guidance he groomed both the Sri Lanka men and women teams to achieve reasonable heights. In 1955 Alanson Brace represented the country at the Asian Games without much success, however, with the advent of Maurice Coomaravel, Anthony Symonds and Chandra Perera the then Ceylon cyclists reached new dimensions.

Although Symonds obtained the highest number of points in a trial to participate at the Rome Olympics in 1959 he was unable to do so with the assassination of the then prime minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike that put the country in a turmoil and due to lack of funds which curtailed the participation to one for each event which was a disheartening factor overall. The Tour de Lanka cycle spectacle was an extremely popular one which began in 1960.

The top cyclists Anthony Symonds, Maurice Coommarvel, Hamilton Vantwest, Archibald Frederick and Chandra Perera had to undergo a horrifying experience after the race as they were banned from amateur status by the National Olympic Committee at that time for accepting prize money which was awarded to the winners at the race.

Symonds lamented this act as a injudicious move by the NOC which deprived many young talented cyclists from representing the country at crucial meets. However twelve years later in 1972 the ban was lifted and the amateur was restored , but then it was too late.

In his book Symonds states that competitive cycling is a very expensive past time , It needs dedication, full time training, nourishment and a lot of money for the components, tyres etc.

He stresses on the importance of sponsorship like any other sport which will boost the youngsters who is willing to take up the sport. In his five year development plan , Symonds he is keen in introducing cycling to schools which will give young and talented riders a chance to represent the country at the 2018 Asian Games.

Symonds too was selecting to represent the country at the Rome Olyimpics in 1960 at the age of 16 years. In the same year he was placed third at the Tour de Lanka with the timing of the overall winner.

Symons hinted that the ever popular Tour de Lanka which was not held in the recent past could be a reality again as the Cycle Federation of Sri Lanka has started discussions with the management of ANCL in an attempt to resume the race in the near future.