Royal, Ladies College dominate the schools:

Army sweeps the board at 31st Rowing Nationals

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka President Rohan Fernando presents the Overall School Boys Championship Trophy to Royal College captain Hashen Hettigoda.

Sri Lanka Army dominated both Open Men’s and Women’s Championships to win the Gregory de Silva Trophy while Royal College Colombo and Ladies College clinched the Schools’ Boys and Girls Championships respectively at the 31st Sri Lanka National Rowing Championship which ended at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre, Battaramulla yesterday.

Sri Lanka Army men won three gold medals and two silver medals in the Open Championship and a gold, four silver and four bronze medals in the over 18 category.

Army Women won three gold medals and two silver medals in the Open Championship. In the Over 18 category they finished runner-up to Sri Lanka Navy with a gold, silver and a bronze medal. Navy won four medals (one gold, two silvers and one bronze).

Ladies College bagged one gold medal, four silver and one bronze to clinch the School Girls’ Championship. Musaeus College were runners-up with four medals (three gold, one bronze).

Sri Lanka Air Force were runners up in the Open Men’s category winning four medals (one gold, two silver and a bronze). In the Over-18 category Navy were runners-up winning two gold medals and two silver medals.

Royal won five medals that included one gold, three silver and one bronze medal to win the Under 18 School Boy’s segment. Asian International School finished runners-up bagging three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze).

In the Women’s Open Championship, Sri Lanka Air Force were runners-up winning three silver medals.

At the awards ceremony, chief guest Minister of Mega Police and Western Province Development Patali Champika Ranawaka stressed that the Diyawanna Rowing Centre would be upgraded as a centre of rowing in Sri Lanka.

Minster Ranawaka also said, “This area would attract people who love this sport not only in Sri Lanka but from other countries as well in the future.”

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, ARAS President Rohan Fernando said that he expects to organize a gala rowing carnival at the end of the year to declare open the modern rowing Academy at Diyawanna.

The three-day meet conducted by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARAS), saw over 600 competitors taking part from 21 institutions in almost 100 races.