Mega Bradby Fiesta on 10 May to mark 70th year celebration

Thursday, 24 April 2014 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By David Ebert The first leg of the 2014 Bradby, set to kick off at the Royal College Sports Complex next month, looks to be getting a new festive makeover this year in celebration of its 70th year. The Royal College Union, along with its compatriots in Trinity College and Royal, as well as the Royal College OBU, announced the launch of the ‘Bradby Fiesta’ at a press conference on Tuesday, which is set to bring in a whole new experience for Bradby fans from Kandy and Colombo on 10 May at the Bloomfield and Racecourse Grounds. The focus of the event is to foster camaraderie and goodwill between supporters of the two schools that will gather to watch the heated annual rugby battle between the college teams.

With a host of Trinitians expected to make their way down from the hill country to watch the spectacle, the Royalists have planned a full day program of entertainment in a carnival atmosphere starting from 10 a.m. to midnight, that will include music, hawker street food stalls, liquid refreshments, a horror house, fireworks, live bands and big screens streaming the match proceedings at the Bloomfield Grounds, while the junior matches take place at the Racecourse Grounds. The Royalists have also organised transport from the Colombo Fort Railway Station and Pettah bus stand to the grounds for those travelling down for the match. Speaking at the press conference Project Chairman Rizan Nazeer said: “This is the first time in the 70th year of Bradby that we are going to have an event of this nature. We definitely would like to do it and make it the best carnival you could ever see during a rugby match. We have not left any stone unturned to make the event which we want to be more. We have been working for the past five months and there is a little more than two weeks left. We hope and pray that it would be the success we want it to be.” Royal College Union Secretary Chandana Aluthgama speaking at the event said: “Five months ago it was only a thought and a dream but we thought let’s move forward and I am happy that we have put together the best team of over 120 dedicated Royalists – an amazing talent who have got together in putting this brand across. I call it a brand because this is going to be a brand. The significance of this Bradby Fiesta – some of you may think this is just a carnival – yes it is a carnival but it means a lot more. The main objective of this event is to increase the friendship and relationship between the two schools – Royal and Trinity.” Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekera expressed hope that Bradby Fiesta would be a novel experience for all: “The Bradby Fiesta which would be starting this year will add more glamour and culture to the Bradby encounter between Royal College and Trinity College. As the Principal of Royal College let me thank the three main sponsors HSBC, Fonterra and Reborn, and the rest of the sponsors as well for joining in for an activity that we have not seen before and I am sure that it will surely be a novel experience not only for the students but for the old boys, parents and the staff of the two schools.” At the conclusion of the event, representatives of the three main sponsors – HSBC, Fonterra and Reborn presented the sponsorship cheques to Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekera.