“Trium-Virate” the rowing triangular between the schools of Asian International School, Bishop’s College and Gateway College will take place at the Colombo Rowing Club on the 5th of October 2015.
Held for the second occasion, the rowing triangular will mark another significant milestone in the sport as it was a first of its kind where three schools came forward in organizing regatta. The waters of Beira will be churned this Monday with the three rowing crews in action starting from 12.00 noon.
A total of 15 races will be held at Trium-Virate which consists of 7 Boys races and 8 girls. There will be two main trophies on offer; one of the boys that will be decided between Gateway College and Asian International School while the other will be for the girls that all three schools will be a part of. The first installment of this regatta was held way back in 2013 where Asian International School emerged victorious to win the Boys overall and Bishop’s College won the Girl’s title. Last year’s regatta did not take place and therefore this will be the second occasion where the triangular regatta unfolds.
A confident Bishop’s College with a comprehensive rowing contingent is out to retain their Girl’s title that they won two years ago. Gajini Hulangamuwa who has been a part of the Bishop’s rowing crew for over four years leads Bishop’s College. Her expertise in the waters of the Beira is an added advantage for the Bishop’s rowing crew when they go in for the Triangular.
Bishop’s College has faired pretty well this season and hit their highest peak a fortnight back at the Rowing Nationals where they ended up runners-up coming second only to Ladies College. The Bishopians started off their campaign from the South West Monsoon regatta that did not give them the desired results but in the the Head of the Beira and the Indoor Rowing Championship, Bishop’s College were able to end up in the top five.
Skipper Gajini will receive the assistance of her immediate who have been rowing alongside her for the four years. They are coached by veteran rower Lloyd Sirimanne who will continue as coach for the eight successive year. Experience will play key for Bishop’s and they are tipped favorites to retain the Girl’s title this time around as well.
“We have been training well and with the experience the girls have gathered over the years, I think we will be able to win the regatta without a doubt.” Coach Sirimanne added.
Rowing’s new entrant, Asian International School has been one of the emerging crews who are getting themselves accustomed to the waters of Beira with the passage of time. Heading to the Triangular, the AIS rowers will go in as favorites having won it earlier in the year 2013.
Senior man Champika Edirimanne who has been with the team from the very beginning captains the Asian International School rowing crew. Alongside Edirimanne, Asian International School comprises of another three seniors while the rest of the crew are fresh to the waters.
“Many of them started rowing early this year and we have had few senior boys who had been rowing for a while and the new have blended in with lads and we have a strong crew” mentions Rishane Fernando the head coach of the AIS rowing team.
Fernando along with Subashini Kularatna has been the brainchild behind the AIS rowing crew, moulding them to be the one of the frontrunners in the sport. Champika Edirmanne will have the assistance of his immediate seniors; Thakesha Jayaratne and Ujitha Heenanayaka who notched up the ranks in the recently concluded nationals run. Heenanaayaka and Jayaratne who teamed up for a Pair ended runners up losing out to Royal College by a bow’s difference. AIS’s deputy Khiyan Ahamed is the other key person to look out for in this rowing crew whilst the senior rowers will power up the fours and the coxes.
The other crew in the Triangular will be Gateway College. Gateway also being a new entrant will opt to look at making some mileage in sport and will target many of the silverware on offer.
The races will start at 12.30 p.m. on Monday the 5th October 2015 at the Colombo Rowing Club.
