Air Force and Ladies College conquer Bolgoda

By Sachin David

The 27th National Rowing regatta concluded on Saturday on the waters of the Bolgoda Lake at the Bolgoda Rowing Club. The Regatta was contested at three levels – Under 16, Under 19 and Open.

Sri Lanka’s champion spin bowler Muthaiah Muralidaran was the Chief Guest for the event.

The winners of the open category earned themselves the right to be called the National Champions for 2011. The Under 19 and Under 16 categories saw both boys and girls representing their respective categories to win the honour of National Schools Champions.

Men’s Open

In the men’s open category the airmen ran away with it winning two Gold medals, one Silver Medal and three Bronze medals.  They were given great opposition by the Colombo Rowing Club team who eventually finished second. The event results were as follows:

Single Sculls: Sajeev De Silva (CRC) won his third straight open sculls gold with R.K.K. Chandrakumara (SLAF) and Shehan Mutugala (CRC) coming in at second and third respectively.

Pairs: SL Air force “A” beat Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force “B”.

Double sculls: Sajeev De Silva and Shehan Mutugala (CRC) won the gold beating Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force.

Coxless Fours: Sri Lanka Air Force won by a whisker beating defending champions S. Thomas’ College in what was the most closely fought race. The umpires needed to review the video footage to declare the eventual winner. Sri Lanka Navy and University of Moratuwa were the other two boats in the race.

The winners’ crew comprised of B.T.A. Fernando, K.S.T.S.N. Kariyawasam, W.G.L. Jayarathna, and C. Aloysius.

Women’s Open

In the Women’s open category Ladies College Colombo dominated by taking three Gold medals to give them an overall championship.

Single Scull: 14-year-old Samaakhya Gajanayake won the open single sculls creating history as the youngest national champion. She also won the Under 16 single sculls.

Double Sculls: Amaya Jayasuriya and Shiyanka De Zilva (Ladies College) beat Museaus and Bishops College.

Coxless Pairs: Yanithra Hallock and Amani Tissera (LC) won with ease.

Coxed fours: Sarani Jayawardena, Yanithtra Hallock, Amani Tissera, Shiyanka De Zyvla, Amaya Jayasuriya of Ladies College beat Meusus coming on top.

Under 16 Boys

In the boys category S. Thomas’ dominated winning three Gold Medals in the Single Scull, Pairs and Double Scull event. Ramith Nanayakkara starred for the Thomians winning Gold medals in the single and double sculls event. The Thomians last won the Under 16 category six years ago with the Royalists dominating all from 2005-2010.

The Coxed fours were won by Royal College who came in ahead of S. Thomas’, Asian International School and the Royal ‘B’ four.

Under 16 Girls

Ladies College claimed three Gold medals to win the Under 16 category. Colombo Rowing Club won one Gold medal and came in second place overall. Museaus College and Bishop’s College ended in a tie for third place after winning two Silver medals and one bronze medal each.

Under 19 Boys

Ananda College has had an excellent rowing season thus far and they capped it off in style by earning the bragging rights as the Schools National Rowing Champions for the first time in their 10 years of rowing. Ananda won two Gold medals and two Silver medals.

The Anandians ‘A’ four finished in first place in the fours and the ‘B’ four finished in second place. Ananda four comprising of Ashan Pitiyarachchi, Manilka Gunaratne, Nilusha De Alwis, Tharkana Kulatunge, Ravin Karunarathne won the coxed fours event. . Suvin Karunarathne won three gold’s claiming the U19 single sculls, U19 Fours and the Schoolboy Sculls events.

Under 19 Girls

Ladies College won all the three Gold medals in this category to clinch the overall category with Colombo Rowing Club and Bishop’s College coming in at second and third respectively.

Ishika de Silva of AIS won the schoolgirl sculls, beating Amani Tissera and Samaakhya Gajanayake.