Big money for cyclists in Ratnapura

by Lal Gunesekera

CYCLING: Eight top cycling races were conducted by the District Cycling Association of Ratnapura (DCAR) in Ratnapura where nearly Rs. 1 million was on offer in prizes for winners and special prizes for the cyclists who passed first at all major towns.

C. P. Meemanage of the Army, a gold medallist at the last South Asian Games, collected nearly Rs. 100,000, while Ajith Shantha also of the Army together with S. P. Suwaris of the German-Lanka Friendship CC too won large cash awards.

Five cyclists finished in a "bunch" with a time of 4 hours 23 minutes 17 seconds in the E. A. M. Maliban Textiles sponsored race over 158 km passing Pelmadulla, Kahawatte, Godakawela and Ratnapura. They were P. Nihal Shantha of Sama CC, Moratuwa, Nalaka Chamara Kumara, K. Rangana D. Silva (Dehiwala SC), G. Ranjith Silva (Nugegoda) and Duminda Lal (Padukka SC) who were adjudged first, second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. Saman Chaminda Dayaratne (Balangoda) and Ajith Chamara (Ratmalana) who both timed 4 hours 29 minutes 17 seconds were adjudged sixth and seventh, followed by Krishantha Sumanaweera (Dela), R. G. N. Kumara (Balangoda SC) and R. Chaminda S. Senaratne (Sama CC, Battaramulla) who all timed 4 hours 35 minutes 54 seconds.

The 150 km Ratnapura District Open Meet sponsored by Votek (Pvt) Limited in collaboration with the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Ministry of Sports and Technical College of Ratnapura saw three cyclists from the Army's Kuruwita Brigade occupying the first three places. W. M. S. Chinthanage was first with a time of 2 hours 55 minutes 4 seconds while Mahinda Senaka was second with the identical timing.

In third place came W. H. A. S. Priyantha with a time of 3 hours 4 seconds, followed by K. W. Saman Chaminda (Balangoda SC) with a time of 3 hours 7 minutes 4 seconds, Kanaka K. Sumanaweera (Dela) in 3 hours 7 minutes 5 seconds and S. J. S. de Silva also from the Army's Kuruwita Brigade with a time of 3 hours 7 minutes 5 seconds.

The 24 miles women's race was won by Dela's Dilrukshi Sumanaweera with a time of 1 hour 30 minutes 55 seconds with Ayesha Sumanaweera in second place with a time of 1 hour 30 minutes 58 seconds and Kegalle's Asoka Pushpamali Rajapakse in third place with a time of 1 hour 30 minutes 59 seconds.

Ajith Shantha of the Army (4 hours 51 minutes 28 seconds) won the 158 km S-Lon Sinha Savariya in collaboration with the Lions Club of Balangoda. He won this race for the third time. The first six were all from the Army. They were P. S. K. Gatamurutha, C. P. Meemanage, Sarath Prasanna, P. Jeevan Manjula and Indika Vithanage who all had the identical time of 4 hours 52 minutes 54 seconds. The cyclists passed major towns like Pelmadulla, Kahawatte, Godakawela and Ratnapura.

The other Open Standard event over 160 Km in Pelmadulla was won by Army's C. P. Meemanage with a time of 4 hours 40 minutes 14 seconds. Nihal Shantha of Sama CC, Moratuwa was second with a time of 4 hours 40 minutes 44 seconds, while Janaka Hemantha of Navy was third with a time of 4 hours 44 minutes 12 seconds. Placed fourth and fifth with the identical timing was Shantha Fernando of Army and Gampaha SC's Ranjith Susantha with Krishantha Sumanaweera of Dela in sixth place with a time of 4 hours 58 minutes 50 seconds.

S. P. Suwaris (German-Lanka Friendship CC, Aluthgama) with a time of 6 hours 41 minutes won the Guruge Menik Savariya from Army's T. P. P. Wasantha Hettiarachchi who had the identical timing. Army's C. P. Meemanage was third in 6 hours 8 minutes 9 seconds, followed by Ja-Ela's Sanath Wasantha, Hemantha Kumara of Kalutara SC and Ranjith Suranga.

Meanwhile, DIG K. P. P. Pathirane, who is the President of the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) was also elected President of the South Asian Cycling Federation (SACF) at the inaugural meeting held in Lahore, Pakistan.

DIG Pathirane has also nominated Sri Lanka's K. G. N. I. Piyasena as a joint

Secretary and Anthony Symons as coach to the SACF.