Battle of the Blues Regatta on Oct 24th:

Thomians and Royalists in keen tussle

by Leslie FERNANDO

Royal College crew: Seated from left: D. Hemachandra (Master in charge), Sudath Liyanagunawardena (Senior Games Master), Devinda Fernando (Captain), Upali Gunasekera (Principal) Radika Weerasekera, Asiri Abhayaratne (Coach), D. K. Chandrasekera. Centre Row from left: Dhanushka Perera, Mewan Jayathilake, Chirath Karunanayake Asman Herath, Thivanka Jayathilake, Randev Gunasena. Back row: Ishan Perera, Sanjiva Jayasuriya, Akila Keerthiratne, Sithija Gamage, Emash Ahamat, Shehan Muthugala, Ajmal Sieek, Saishna, Pradeep Maddumabundara, Jehan Samarasekera, Saman Warunasuriya, Arith Cooray, Pasan Ranaweera.

S. Thomas’ College crew: Seated from left: Ruven Weerasinghe, Eshan Goonewardena, Dhanushka Jayanetti (Captain), Chevantha Sirimanne (Coach), Sajeev de Silva.Centre Row: From left - Kemil Peter, Kavan Elapatu, Don de Silva, Milan Joseph, Ramith Nanayakkara, Sandesh Bartlett, Anuradha Nadaraja, Dunstan Harold, Zydhney Fazael, Minaal Wickremasinghe. Back Row from left: Amrick Varia, Uween Jayasingha, Peter Christy, Trehan Mantunga, Yohan Wijeratne, Shelan De Livera, Chamal Jayanetti, Sajin De Livera, Akshath Wickremanayake, S. Perera.

REGATTA: Its another Royal-Thomian - this time at Rowing. The biggest event for schoolboy oarsmen - the 36th Royal-Thomian Regatta and 40th Boat Race on October 24 (Saturday) on the Beira Waters starting at 2.30 p.m. The Regatta will be hosted by Royal College and sponsored by Dialog GSM.

Rowing has gained popularity over the years and this is undoubtedly the big event in the rowing calender of the two schools.

Royal-Thomian Regatta has now found a firm place in the sport calendar of both schools.

It is a very popular event and attracts a large number of present students and old boys. It is a enjoyable event that is not only interesting, but also exciting, although the event itself takes only about 3 hours.

The T.N. Fernando Trophy will be on offer for the overall winner. Last year, the Thomians won the regatta in style collecting 32 points to Royal 8 points. The Mount Lavinia lads who have performed exceptionally well in the events held this year - becoming champions at National Rowing Championships held last month at Bolgoda Lake for the first time.

Altogether, the Thomians won seven gold medals. At the T 500 Sprint Championships held on the Beira Waters in August, the Thomians won the overall title defeating arch rivals, II points to 8.

Royal and Thomian oarsmen have been training hard in the past few weeks on the Beira Waters for this prestigious regatta, which is eagerly looked forwards by, the rowing fans.

Both coaches Asiri Abeyratne (Royal) and Chevantha Sirimanne (S. Thomas’) have been busy with their crews and have put in a lot of work to get the teams to peak condition.

S. Thomas’ won the Senior Sculls, Junior Sculls, Double Sculls, Junior Pairs, Senior Pairs while Royal won the ‘C’ Fours (no points) and Junior Fours, last year.

Old Thomians won the Old Boys fours defeating Old Royalists.

The Trophies to be won are: T.N. Fernando Trophy, Boat Race Trophy, Eraj Wijesinghe Trophy, Freddie Raux Trophy, Senior Sculls Trophy, Chula Samarasinghe Challenge Trophy, Ajith Goonawardena Challange Trophy and Percy Fernando Trophy.

Royal College crew (from): Devinda Fernando (Captain), Rathiks Weerasekera, Chirath Karunanayake, Tivanka Jayatilleke, Ashan Herath, Dhanushka Perera, Mevan Jayatilleke, Randev Gunasena, Sanjeeva Jayasuriya, Ajmal Sideek, Sahan Warnasuriya, Himash Ahmed, Jehan Samarasekera, Pasan Ranaweera, Shehan Muthugala, Saishna Fernando, Pradeep Maddumabandara, Sithija Gamage, Akila Keerthiratne, Larith Cooray, Ishan Perera, Asiri Abeyratne (Coach).

S Thomas College crew (from): Dhanushka Jayanetti (Captain), Ashan Goonawardena, Ruven Weerasinghe, Sajeev de Silva, Amrick Varia, Uwen Jayasingha, Peter Christy, Trehan Manatunga, Yohan Wijeratne, Shelan de Livera, Chamal Jayanetti, Sajin de Livera, Akshath Wickremanayake, Minaal Wickremasinghe, Zydhney Fuzaal, Dunstan Harold, Anuradha Nadaraja, Sandesh Bartlett, Ramith Nanayakkara, Milan Joseph, Dan de Silva, Kavan Elapatha, Kemil Peter, Chevantha Sirimanne (Coach).