Records tumble in Royal’s resounding victory

• 
• 

Details

Category: rowing

Published on Sunday, 23 October 2011 03:45

Written by Lishan Wickramanayake

Hits: 2069

Royal College completed an emphatic win here today at the 38th Annual Royal Thomian Regatta held at the Colombo Rowing Club. In an evening where they completely outclassed arch rivals, S. Thomas College, to record a 48-04 victory. The 44 point margin is highest margin of victory achieved at the Royal Thomian regatta surpassing the previous mark of 40 points.

It was quality rowing dished out by both teams where record after record tumbled. As many as six records fell as a result of the high class rowing and favourable weather conditions.

The afternoon begun with the Senior Sculls where Royal Captain, Chirath Karunanayake, overpowered the Thomian deputy, Chamal Jayanetti to clock a new record timing of 3.28, and gave Royal the early psychological advantage with six points.

Jehan Samarasekara (Royal) followed suit by winning the B Sculls against Zydney Fazal. Jehan jumped the start and kept on building on the initial lead to finish with a comfortable margin. The B Sculls record was also lowered to 3 29.

In the B Double sculls, Ramith Nanayakkara and Ming-Hua Chang (STC) beat the Royal double of Sahan Warnasuriya and Dulaj Rajaguru to record 4 points for their team. Royal led the overall points 8 to 4 at this point.

The exhibition under 14 race was won by Royal crew comprising of Hashen Hettigod, Ishira Rambukwella, Amr Sideek, Kaveen Rajapakse, Revatha Karunasundara who clocked 2:15 for the 500m.

In what was tagged to be one of the vital race, the senior double sculls, which put the two De Liveras and against the Chirath/Jehan combination. One minute into the race the Royalist double was ahead and kept on extending their lead and won pretty comfortable in the end. It was Jehan/Chirath’s second consecutive win at the senior double and can add to their two national championships.

In the C Fours, S Thomas’ College made a comeback after a crushing defeat at last week’s mini battle to register a win at the all important Royal Thomian regatta. Chevith Abeywardena, Hunaid Munshif, Mushahid Hussain, Dimuthu Ferdinano , Amrith Peiris won by 3 feet and shattered to new record time of 3:13

In another crucial race, the Senior Pairs, The Thomians were banking on their senior oarsman to deliver the 8 points and put thm within striking distance of the overall tally. The Thomian Pair of Chamal Jayanetti and Zydney Fazal ahead with 100m to go but spirited take-her-home by Sahan Warnasuriya and Sanjiva Jayasuriya saw them come from behind, win, and achieve all time record of 3 12. Royal were ahead by 24 points to 4.

The Junior pairs was another easy affair for the Royal pairing of Arith Cooray and Ishan Perera who surged ahead of Anurudha Nadaraja, Sandesh Bartlett and brought home 4 points (28-04) and delivered the Overall Championship with the two fours still to be rowed.

In the Junior Fours, which was rowed in semi darkness. Royal completed their 8th consecutive win in the event to keep the Eraj Wijesinghe Trophy for another year at Reid Avenue. The winning Royal combination consisted of Arith Cooray, Ishan Perera, Sahan Warnasuriya, Dulaj Rajaguru, and Dhanushka Perera  beat Shakeel Latiff, Ming-Hua Chang, AkshathWikramanayake, RamithNanayakkara(S), Chanuka de Alwis. The Royalists achieved a new record of 3.03 which was 1 second behind the previous Boat Race record.

The final race of the day was the prestigious Boat Race which was rowed in total darkness was not a spectator friendly event at all and was a result of many delays during the day. The Thomian crew consisted of Chamal Jayanetti, Zydney Fazal, Shelan De Livera, Sajin de Livera, and Kemil Peter were up against the challengers from Royal; Chirath Karunanayake, Ajmal Sideek, Jehan Samarasekara, Sanjiva Jayasuriya and Pasan Ranaweera.

STC came in to the race with 3 consecutive wins under their belt and with 3 members from last year’s winning crew and were winners of the Madras Colombo Boat Race and runners up in the Nationals open four.  But it was the Royal four that capitalized at the start and shot ahead but the Thomians were up to the task closing the gap by the 45 second mark. A well placed  ‘hard 10’ saw the Royal surge ahead and they did not look back from that point onwards and completed an emphatic win to complete what was the best show so far at a royal thomian. On their way they also broke one of the biggest psychological/physical barriers by achieving a ‘sub three minute course down’ they clocked an impressive 2m55s to beat the previous record by 7 seconds.

Chirath Karunanayake’s men achieved what many teams dream of, they achieved a splendid performance where they won seven out of eight events and left their opponents shell shocked after what appeared to be a close regatta. These gentleman will remember this day for the rest of their lives for the grand payoff after months and months of grueling rowing, fitness, beach runs.

It was a personal milestone for the Royal skipper, Chirath, who was adjudged the ‘Most Outstanding Oarsman of the Regatta’ for his 3 wins in the Senior Sculls, Doubles and the Boat Race. Asiri Abhayaratne, the Royal coach, signed off as coach after a three year stint and couldn’t have asked for a better send off.

In the end Royal achieved a 48-4 win to retain the TN Fernando trophy for consecutive years after 22 years and more importantly won the Boat Race after 3 years.

The Regatta was sponsored by Tsips, an ExpoLanka Brand, for the third consecutive year. And Royal skipper of 1983 Sajeewa Perera was the Chief Guest this evening.

• < Prev
• Next >