Star cyclist Symonds to encourage youngsters

by Lal Gunasekara

CYCLING: 65 years, but yet going strong - that's Anthony Symonds - the wellknown Tour-de-Lanka rider from Ratnapura who competed on 15 occasions (winning in 1964) since making his debut in 1960. His final appearance on "The Tour" was in 1987 at 44 years and was awarded a special prize in 1969 when he was eighth for 10 consecutive appearances.

Symonds was always within the first 10 at the Tour-de-Lanka races and had "bad luck" following him on several occasions with mishap after mishap and was even deprived of his amateur status too during his long career.

He started his career in 1958 as a schoolboy at St. Aloysius' College, Ratnapura and his first triumph was at the International Children's Day Race in his hometown, the very same year. He played soccer and was an athlete too at school. He joined Paragon Pedllars CC in 1958, winning their championships for three consecutive years. Symonds was selected for the 1960 Rome Olympics, but the contingent was reduced due to financial constraints and was unable to make the trip.

Riding on a standard or racing cycle, Symonds, won nearly every event held in Kandy, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Kegalle, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Nikaweratiya, Ratnapura, Colombo etc. He was the Most Popular Cyclist of the Year (1960). He joined the Army in 1972 and won numerous national events.

He even represented the country at the International Cycling Week in Holland and even delivered a speech where delegates from every country were present. Symonds even made official visits to France and Belgium.

He won the All-Oman Cycling Classic in 1985 at the age of 45 years, beating over 75 other cyclists. After returning to the country the following year (1986), Symonds, finished second at the Singer Sri Lanka Open event. He was a founder member of the Veterans' Cycling Club of Sri Lanka and the Ratnapura District Cycling Association too.

He went for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and witnessed the Road Race and other cycling events and followed a coaching camp under the famous John Howard.

He also competed and finished 12th at the Masters Club event in the over-50 category in New York the same year.

Symonds, who was the national coach too at one stage, left for the USA in 2001 and participated in the New York Tour with his son Marlon where over 35,000 cyclists were in the fray. He was placed fourth in the 55 to 60 years category and ninth in the Team event with Marlon. He also won the New Jersey Cycling Championships over 45 Km over 50 others.

Some of Anthony Symonds' contemporaries were Maurice Coomaravel, Sam Kiel, Trevor de Silva, Archibald Kiel, Hamilton Van Twest, Trevor Newman and Chandra Perera to name a few.