Olympic Medal

New Duncan White Memorial pins hopes on Susanthika

By Annesley Ferreira

The aim of the Duncan White Sports Foundation was to encourage in any one of the Olympic Sports authorities to produce another Duncan White soon. Susanthika Jayasinghe came close to this aim with her blistering run coming second in the women's 200 metres at the World Championships in Athens last year with a world timing of 22.33 seconds.

Susanthika is the only hope for a medal at the Sydney Olympics in AD2001. With this time (22.33 secs) Susanthika ranks right behind Marion Jones in the 1998 world women's list. The only woman to sprint faster than Susanthika.

The Duncan White Foundation will continue with much vigour and has decided to make the award known as he Duncan White Memorial Award from this year.

The Duncan White Sports Foundation was founded on his 72nd birthday, on March 1, 1990, and the first award was presented to Sriyantha Dissanayake by Duncan White himself on March 1 1991.

Though the Duncan White award is not an annual award in the past eight years, the award was made without an interruption.

Duncan White's silver medal at the 1948 London Olympics saw the medal winner celebrate his golden jubilee in winning the medal together with the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Sri Lanka's Independence from Britain in the same year.

Duncan White received the National honour of Deshamanya from Her Excellency the President Chandrika Kumaratunga at the initiation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar in May this year.

Sadly Duncan White passed away on July 3 1998 after celebrating his 80th birthday in Colombo attending the award ceremony on March 1.

The Foundation has decided in view of the demise of Sri Lanka's only Olympic champion Duncan White to place the medal at the Trinity College archives for posterity The new Duncan White Award will be given at the 1999 ceremony.

A few changes were made to the foundation which are.

Council of Trustees Chairperson, Mrs. Jennifer Moragoda, Deshamanya Ken Balendra, V. Vijitha Fernando, Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Kavan Ramukwelle, Elo Rajasooriya, Malik Samarawickrema, Christopher White and the new trustee being Minister C.V. Gooneratne.

Committee of delegates - Chairperson Mrs. Jennifer Moragoda, Sanjiv Gardiner, Penny Jayawardena, Brig. Nihal Marambe, IGP. Lucky Kodituwakku (to confirm), Presidents/Secretaries National Governing Bodies of Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Swimming, Track and Field Director of Sports and national Coach representatives of the Broadcast, Print and Television.

Board of Directors. chairperson-Mrs. Jennifer Moragoda, Deshamanya Ranjith Abeysuriya, Deshamanya Ken Balendra, Gwen Herath, Chrysantha Perera, Summa Navaratnam, Kavan Rambukwelle, Stanley Unamboowe, C. Vijitha Fernando, and Chairman Technical Committee Neville Abeygunawardena.

The outgoing President Ken Balendra said that Presidents of Sports Controlling Bodies should not hang on to positions for too long and thanked C. Vijitha Fernando for all the support rendered to the Duncan White Sports Foundation in growing from strength to strength.

Balendra was also given a token gift presented by the foundation by the new Chairperson Mr. Jennifer Moragoda.

The new chairperson said that she faced a daunting task and also said that Susanthika Jayasinghe was Sri Lanka's only Olympic medal hope,

A memorial service for the late Deshamanya Duncan White will be held at the Trinity College Chapel on October 24 at 6 p.m.

Chutti Mansoor wins Mitsubishi Trophy

M.J. (Chutti) Mansoor with 39 points won the Mitsubishi Montero Challenge Trophy A Division golf championships played at the Royal Colombo Golf Club at the Ridgeways, Borella.

S. Gruter with 38 points finished as first runner-up in the A Division while Jehan de Saram took the second runner-up position with 32 points.

The B Division was won by Anil de Silva with 36 points, while Lalin Senadheera and Sarath Silva finished second and third with 35 points each.

Baboo Wickremaratne with 44 points won the C Division with M.D.P Dias and Gihan Siribaddana finishing in second and third positions respectively with 38 and 37 points.

Anouk Chanmugam won the ladies event with 36 points followed by Mrs. Yvonne Abhayaratne and Mrs. N. Quershi with 34 points each.

Willy Barsenbach with 36 points won the men's seniors event with A.C.S. Candappa as runner-up with 35 points.

Mrs. Yvonne Abhayaratne won the Longest Accurate drive for ladies with Neil Chanmugam winning the men's title.

Mrs. Niloo Jayatillake won the nearest to the pin with N.D. P Dias being the gent's winner.

The Japanese Ambassador his Excellency Yoji Sugiyama also participated in this championships

Three top Motor Races

The Upcountry Motor Sports Club is preparing for 3 Grand Motor Racing Events which are in aid of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Restoration Fund.

The Organising Committee met recently and decided to conduct the Katukurunda Motor Race - a Mini Grand Prix on November 22 similar to the grandest Katukurunda Motor Race held in 1994 by this Club.

The Organisers are inviting competitors from UK, Japan, India and Malaysia. They hope to get 2 racing riders from UK to compete with Sri Lankan riders and 2 racing riders from Japan and India as well. The Committee is also planning to get down a team of Formula Fissure Maruti drivers from India which will be seen in action for the first time in Sri Lanka.

The Kothmale Speed Hill Climb will be held on October 11 and 12 at Chaithiya Road, Kothmale. This is the steepest and most interesting Hill Climb in Sri Lanka.

The Committee is only accepting 100 entries on a first come first served basis.

Bristol University take on CH today

By Bernie Wijesekera

The visiting Bristol University (BU) rugby team, who gave a dazzling performance to outplay CR&FC 38-29 in the Singer Cup international inter-club tournament organised by the CR&FC take on the CH&FC today (Sunday) at Longden Place. Kick-off is at 5 PM.

With only two days of practice in Sri Lanka and playing their first match for the season Bristol University took control of the game with their back division runningthe ball,to treat rugby fans for a treat in the game against CR.

The BU team is young with the average age around 22 years. The undergrads entered the semi-finals last year in the British Universities Championships. The BU is playing with a lot of understanding and look set to give a repeat performance against the CH&FC,who went down to the CR&FC in the opening game on September 16.

The visitors do not have a heavy pack as they were shoved around by the gritty CR 'eight'. But it is their backs which could torment the CH&FC, with full back Pete Young, who plays exciting rugby, constantly forming the overlap.

On form the Bristol University should enter the final. Their match against the West of England will be closely watched on September 24.

The CH team will be led by former rugby star Chandrishan Perera as some of their key players are out due to international commitments. Veterans of the calibre of Bharath Hegoda and K.D. Nanayakkara showed that they have still not lost their touch of old in the game against the CR.

Rover pinpoints

What a price?

A leading sports personality attached to the Sports Ministry opened up a airconditioned Shopping Complex at Dehiwala recently.

A leading VIP was the chief guest at the opening ceremony. One wonders from where the money came for the complex?

Phone disconnected

A leading indoor sports body which produced a World Champion has had its telephone disconnected for non payment of telephone dues.

Missing money

Money was collected to be given to the family of the late Sirisena Hewage, a prominent sports journalist, but the family has still not received a cent of it.

Rover learns that over Rs. 50,000/- was collected but no one knows what has happened to the money.

Sports in brief

Gayan for Asian Games?

Gayan Ranatunga, who won a diploma at the 12th Asian Pacific Age Group Swimming and Diving championship held in China has been recommended by his Coach, M.Faisz to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

Ranatunga of S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia is the younger brother of Gihan who underwent a swimming course in Australia recently.

The Coach is awaiting the approval of National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union (NAASU) and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to start training in earnest.

Gayan missed a bronze medal at the Asian Pacific by 18.25 points.

Lalil, Devaka win

Lalil Jeerasinghe crewed by Devaka Balasuriya won the Enterprise event at the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club sailing races concluded at the Bolgoda Lake last Sunday.

Finishing in second place were the brothers combination of Sean and Avanthi Tennekoon followed by W.P.K. Janaka and W.N.D. Bandara of the Navy with their team mates Gunawardena and Upul in fourth place.

Turf Club AGM on Sept. 22

The Sri Lanka Turf Club will be holding their Annual General Meeting on September 22 at 7.00 pm followed by dinner at the Capri, 62, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 3. Dr. S. R. Gandhe and Dr. S.K. Rohmotra of the Ponawalla Estates Stud & Agri Farm of Pune, India will also be present at this meeting. They will be presenting a video film on the Ponawalla Stud Farm.

Owners who wish to buy horses could contact them and discuss with them at this meeting.

Keells Group Rugby Sevens

The John Keells Group Sports Club inter-company Seven-A-Side rugby tournament will be played on October 3 at the CR & FC grounds, Longden Place. Fourteen teams have confirmed participation with some of them fielding A Division players.

The Mackinnons Group emerged champions last year with Walker Tours as runners-up. The bowl trophy was won by the Plantation Sector with Ceylon Cold Stores as runners-up.

The highlight of the days events will be a combined sectors overs 35 match between the Jays team captained by Rohan Siriwardena and the Kays team led by Michael Jayasekera.

There will be a ladies touch ruby match too.

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