Colombo determined to square-up with Madras in annual regatta

by Leslie Fernando

Colombo Rowing Club oarsmen and oarswomen will row at the prestigious Madras-Colombo Regatta at the Adayar River in Chennai, Madras from June 23 to 25. The regatta is now in its 108th year.

Madras Boat Club will host the regatta. The first Madras-Colombo Regatta was held way back 1898 in Madras. According to a senior official, the tally of the regatta stands at 54 wins to Madras and 53 wins for Colombo.Colombo Rowing Club crew has carried away the Deepam Challenge Trophy (which means lamp) for three successive years. They won the overall title three years in-a-row in 2003,2004 and 2005. The CRC rowers created history on the Beira Water on 10th July 2005 to win the overall title with 28 points to Madras Boat Club 14 at the 107th edition of the regatta.

According to all available records this regatta makes it the oldest inter-club boat race in the world. It is also a fact that the regatta is the oldest in the region and perhaps boasts of a history comparable to that of the Oxford-Cambridge boat race.

The Deepam Trophy was donated by the Madras Boat Club in 1973 to commemorate the 50th Madras-Colombo Regatta.

In 1968 for the first time a ladies event was introduced. The most significant aspect of all however is the fact that after a century of rowing the spirit of the regatta is still very much alive. According to 60th President Ajith Fernando of Colombo Rowing Club and T. Badradri of Madras Boat Club, the regatta has been keenly contested bringing out a high standard of rowing by both teams. Regatta has been a fine bridge of friendship between the two countries and clubs and this sporting link has linked many enduring friendships between the members of the two clubs.

Last year in Colombo, CRC won the men's 'A' Pair, 'B' Pair, 'A' Scull and 'B' Four to collect 28 points. Madras Boat Club won the men's 'B' Scull and the main event 'A' Fours (the Boat Race) 14 points.

The Ladies Scull and Ladies Fours was won by Madras Boat Club while Ladies Pairs was won by Colombo Rowing Club. The Colombo Rowing Club crew will leave on June 22 led by Devaka Seneviratne.

The other rowers are Isuru Perera, Udesh Hettiarachchi, Sanjeeva Perera, Sharen Kannangara, Maalik Asis, Mohommed Ali Fatherally, Padma Priyan, Anushan Selverajah, Mehran Careem, Shahan Wanigasekera, Mevan Gunawardene, Uvini Atapattu, Gimani Widanagamage, Vinuri Jayasuriya, Sachithra Jayatilake, Menaka Kohona.

Chavantha Sirimanne, former Thomian and national oarsman will be the manager-cum-coach of the 17 member crew who have had hard training on the Beira Water in the morning and evening sessions.