Could the gallant Thomians out row the Royal grit
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Royal College Crew: Seated from left: Amrith Fernando (Assistant Coach), Inoka Wijendra (Senior Teach in charge), Sudath Liyanagunawardena (Senior Games Master), Praveen Hapugalle (Vice Captain), B.A. Abeyrathne (Principal), Kaveen Rajapakse (Captain), Pramuditha Wickramasinghe (Senior Deputy Principal), Mohamed Rifath (Head Coach), Lahiru Herath (Assistant Coach) Standing 1st row from left: Thimesha Amarasena, Avishka Jayaweera, Praveen Weerakkody, Prathap Perera, Hashen Hettigoda, Hashen Weerakkody, Lasaru Kudaligama, Kavinda Mathew Standing 2nd row from left: Chaniru Hewamanna, Thejiya Wegodapola, Charin Wijetilleke, Jatu Rockwood, Upek Kuruppu, Waruna Hewamanna, Yumin Perera, Deelaka Mahale, Vibawa Premarathne, Lasindu Gamage, Sajaad Ajmal, Ishira Rambukwella, Revata Karunasundera, Jehan Hapugalle
The 43rd annual Royal-Thomian Regatta and the 47th annual Boat Race, where traditional rivals Royal College and S. Thomas’ College battle it out for the T. Noel Fernando Memorial Trophy, will be held next Saturday on the waters of Beira Lake at the Colombo Rowing Club. As defending champions Royal will be hoping to extend their streak for yet another year while S. Thomas’, who has claimed most number of wins in the tally with 26, will be hopeful of staging a comeback. Royal has won the overall title 20 times. Five regattas have ended in ties.
Last year Royal recorded a comprehensive 48-0 win to end S. Thomas’ domination of three straight wins since 2012. The entire regatta is decided on how both teams claim points from a total of 52.
The most valuable event of the regatta is the Boat Race, where the winner is assured 12 points and the Royal-Thomian Boat Race Trophy. The Senior Coxless Pair for the Freddie Raux Trophy is worth 8 points as well as the Senior Double Sculls, which is for the Sirisena-Sirimanne Trophy. The Senior Single Sculls offers 6 points and is contested for the Senior Sculls Challenge Trophy. The winner of the Junior Coxed Fours will claim the Eraj Wijesinghe Trophy and 8 points. Four points each will be awarded for the Junior Coxless Pairs and Junior Double Sculls which are contested for the Chula Samarasinghe Challenge Trophy and the Revival Trophy or the Philips-Mohideen Trophy. The Junior Single Sculls offers 2 points and the winner also gets the Ajith Goonawardena Challenge Trophy.
The Junior ‘B’ Coxed Fours was introduced in 1999 but the event carries no points. The winner however, will receive the Percy Fernando Trophy. Upon counting the points, the team to stand tall than the other will be declared the Overall Winner and the rightful holders of the T. Noel Fernando Trophy.
The event was initiated in 1962 as the Royal-Thomian Boat Race and was developed into a regatta in 1966. Presently the regatta has evolved into an event of nine races, including the Boat Race, which is held as the final and deciding duel of the whole event. Of the nine events S. Thomas’ holds the records in the Senior Sculls, Senior Double Sculls, Junior Pair, Junior Sculls and the Junior ‘B’ Fours while the records of Junior Double Sculls, Senior Pairs, Junior Fours and more importantly the Boat Race comes under Royal.
Having won many events so far this season and with a well balanced outfit, Royal will hope to dish out their true potential to retain the overall title. Under the captaincy of Kaveen Rajapakse, the Royal crew includes vice captain Praveen Hapugalle, Thimesha Amarasena, Avishka Jayaweera, Praveen Weerakkody, Prathap Perera, Hashen Hettigoda, Hashen Weerakkody, Lasaru Kudaligama, Kavinda Mathew, Chaniru Hewamanna, Thejiya Wegodapola, Charin Wijetilleke, Jatu Rockwood, Upek Kuruppu, Waruna Hewamanna, Yumin Perera, Deelaka Mahale, Vibawa Premarathne, Lasindu Gamage, Sajaad Ajmal, Ishira Rambukwella, Revata Karunasundera and Jehan Hapugalle.
With the aim of regaining their lost prestige, the Thomians will come out in full force to spoil a second consecutive Royal win. The crew is led by Kemil Peter and Saliya Gunasekara is his deputy. Others in the crew are Suramba Serasinghe, Deshitha Hennayake, Senal Senevirathne, Niran Warawita, Meshach Peiris, Daniel Bartholomeuwz, Shanara Senaratne, Avinash Rajakaruna, Joyel Rajendran, Bhanuka Rathnayake, Ashan Walpola, Dharaka Peiris, Dhaharath Senanayake, Lakshan Sri Pragash, Pranishka Dias, Nethpriya Mendis, Yehan Abeysinghe, Uvidu Premarathne, Kiran Ranatunga, Shailindra Jayasekera, Arjun Wikremenayake, Chahel Samarasinghe, Randira Bandara, Kemith Nanayakkara and Kavinda Mediwake.
S. Thomas' College Crew: Seated from left: Anne Seniviratne (Teacher-in-charge), Mark Maurice (Head Coach), Saliya Gunasekera (Vice Captain), Kemil Peter (Captain), Rev. Marc Billimoria (Warden), Wishmitha Peiris (Secretary), Peter Christy (Assistant Coach), Lakmaal De Zoysa (Prefect of Games) Standing 1st row from left: Suramba Serasinghe, Deshitha Hennayake, Senal Senevirathne. Standing 2nd row from left: Niran Warawita, Meshach Peiris, Daniel Bartholomeuwz, Shanara Senaratne, Avinash Rajakaruna, Joyel Rajendran, Bhanuka Rathnayake, Ashan Walpola Standing 3rd row from left: Dharaka Peiris, Dhaharath Senanayake, Lakshan Sri Pragash, Pranishka Dias, Nethpriya Mendis, Yehan Abeysinghe, Uvidu Premarathne, Kiran Ranatunga. Standing 4th row from left: Shailindra Jayasekera, Arjun Wikremenayake, Chahel Samarasinghe, Randira Bandara, Kemith Nanayakkara, Kavinda Mediwake