Racing champions in different classes
By M. Shamil Amit
Racing driver Prasanna Ranasinghe and rider twenty four year old Shafraz Juniad are two champions in a class of their own in the motor racing fratenity. Both members of Team Caltex have acheived what a motor race driver and rider would like to acheive.

Numerous are the races that Prasanna and Shafraz has won. Prasanna began his racing career in 1992 participating at the Karundupone Hill Climb and Shafraz's career began in 1996 winning the Castrol Classic Club Rally since then the two of them has gone from strength to strength winning many laurels in the racing circles.

Prasanna started his winning run in the year 1996 at the Foxhill Supercross (Diyatalawa) and has won races at this meet in 1998, 2000 (two wins), 2001 and this year. The Gajaba Supercross (Anuradhapura) has also been his haunting spot having won races in 1999 and 2001.

He has won races at the Ealiyakanda Hill Climb, Mihintale Races, Katukurunda Races, Karundupona Hill Climb, Nuwara Eliya Road Races and Colombo Supercross. He joined Team Caltex in 2000 when he was approached by Nishantha Wickramaratne who was the Team Caltex manager at that time.

But the win that he cherishes is when he won the SLARDAR 1000 Rally at his second attempt this year. Last year at the same rally he was able to get only the seventh place and this year partnered ace rally specialist Andrew de Silva as his co-driver steered their way to win the SLARDAR rally with ease. Prasanna says after winning the rally I'm like on top of the world. Without Andrew I would'nt have been able to win the rally said Prasanna. He says he will continue to race and help others as he is greatful to his mother because at the early stages of his career it was she who gave him money to buy a car.

Young Shafraz too has burned the racing track winning a 250cc event when he was only 18 years which was in 1996. Since then has not turned back. He has been successful in all the major racing meets that has been held in Sri Lanka.

Amrith excels again
The Annual Festival of Golf organised by the American Chamber at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and sponsored by a host of well wishers was an absolutely rousing success. Hosannas to attractive Maria Rajanayagam for accomplishing a man size job with class and finesse. Steward Ariyadasa controlled the call sheet with absolute no nonsence discipline.

Choked to almost capacity a massive harvest of players shot off the 1st tee from crack of dawn and by sunset the Club House was a hive of much activity with splendid memorable stories being spun enveloping why many failed to get upfront for the Airline awards.

The common claims were that the ponds had got broader, the fairways narrower and the bunkers increased in number. "Far too many obstacles and to add to such misery the greens were far too fast" a wag was heard to mourn. "They should chop all the branches if not the trees."

Shortest drive
The fun started when Joshua Harris thought he had complete control and command. He stood over the first tee with style and apparent confidence. He moved the back swing pretty fast and elegantly and came down awkwardly to only touch the head of the ball, dislodged it from the tee and settle within 12 inches.

That raw rookie performance gave him a special award for the shortest drive and a session of fun filled applause at the award ceremony. Additionally the star performer Harris collected a Wooden Spoon.

Gymkhana events
Amrith de Soysa in magnificent form once again collected 14 pars in his round and richly deserved a special award from Northwest Airlines & JAIC Hilton.

Sanjeeva Wickremanayake who gets impressive at most AMCHAM Competitions was in stunning form picking 7 birdies and in the longest drive contest he was extraodinary at 333 yards. David Evans got almost breathless when his shot on the 16th got coaxed by a gentle breeze to drop in front of the flag and inch its gentle way to the pin. A hole-in-one was imminent but a rough patch of turf deprived Evans of a unique feat.

The ball stopped 4 inches from the cup. He picked a loud round of applause and a handsome trophy from attractive Chandi Alles, Director Widac Interiors Ltd.

Joe Perera, a mature senior with 50 years of golf behind him came good with a superbly compiled 39 points to beat M.M. Ismail on 37 and take the Trophy for Seniors.

Aloa Baboo Wickremaratne was a typical example of hit and trust to luck. His Ultra No. 3 was absolutely obedient responding accurately to all his violence. I must say that he had complete control over his extravagant punch shots and he beamed all evening at the award ceremony with a 45 point victory beating J.K. Mendis who collected an excellent 43 points.

Dias excels
In another event Julian Dias struck great form. He was in complete command through the 18 holes and when he stopped at 44 points he was awarded a dialogue trophy and a well packed round of applause.

Ladies triumph
H.S. Kim Yoon was at her brilliant best in the Ladies Bronze Event. She protected her strokes miserly and used them to advantage on her successful journey to collect 45 points and a Kumar Mirchandani trophy beating attractive Heather Ritchie who picked a very praiseworthy 42 points.

Duchess wins
Yvonne Abhayaratne still very well preserved responded superbly in the Silver Division to pack 38 points and pick another Mirchandani award beating S.A. Jin Choi by one point.

"A" division classic
In the top notch Division Sanjeeva Wickremanayake was outstanding. His 45 points invites the Handicap Committee to meet with him. They probably will have much to say about the phoney handicap and decree a massive chop. Michael Perera Magala, another bright spark came behind with 39 points.

Big event
In the big event of the day for the handsome Caltex Trophy Arjun Fernando, Tennis star of yesteryear played an exceptionally good round. Elegant off the tee he has the rewarding knack of coaxing his putts effectively. He was spot on with his approach shots and it was no surprise when he picked the classy award, rounds of applause and a juicy sirloin at the Barbecue.

Ambassador's patronage
Ambassador Ashely Wills participated with great enthusiasm. I don't know what he felt about his performance but many were delighted that he participated and extended his patronage to a worthy cause.

Mark MacKenna was a deliriously happy man at the conclusion of a superbly organised, generously sponsored, extremely popular fund raising project. Susantha Pinto was as delighted with his success that comes with precise and methodical organising. Maria Rajanayagam, Susantha Pinto, Mark MacKenna were the toast for a helluva job superbly accomplished. The target for charities was one million rupees and with the galaxy of sponsors behind the event they already have most of the million ready for the charities. The award ceremony was pretty smart studded with excellence of Toastmasters speechcraft. The Barbeque was juicy and the camaraderie was typical of an AMCHAM affair.

Lahiru and Sukitha on scholarship to Australia
Two fifteen year olds, right hand batsman Lahiru Peiris of St Peter's and left hand batsman Sukitha Senaratne of Royal have been offered a cricket scholarship from Carey International Grammar School in Australia. Former Sri Lankan cricketer Roshan Mahanama was one of the selectors to pick the two lads having interviewed many hopeful recepients from schools around the island.

Both players are worthy recepients having played junior cricket at the highest level at school level, represented their respective districts and played against junior overseas teams.

Lahiru Peiris has had a colourful cricketing career being a member of the schools Under 13 which emerged champions in the year 1999/2000 and 2000/01 cricket season.

This year Lahiru captained the Under 15 college team which emerged champions. As the skipper of the side he was among the runs scoring 471 runs with a best of 103 against Bandaranayake MV in a quarter final game.

Apart from that he has hit three half centuries. Playing for an invitation Under 15 cricket team against the visiting Moreton and South West Australian team, he cracked a solid 93 in that game. For his performances he was selected to represent the Colombo district and Provincial side.

Lahiru has put another feather in his cricketing career he has been selected to the Sri Lanka Under 15 team to tour Sharjah for the Mini World Cup to be held there starting from December 7. Speaking to the Sunday Times Lahiru was beaming with joy and paid his regards to his mentor in cricket L.H. Sunil and his school Rector Father Felician Perera, Janaka Silva and his present coaches Bandula de Silva and Udaya Perera.

Royalist Sukitha Senaratne is another player with a tremendous record having represented the Under 13, 15, 17 and the senior side. He was a member of the second eleven team last year and aggregated a score of 439 runs. Like his partner Sukitha has represented the Colombo district and Provincial side. He is a good allrounder who bowls right arm medium pacies who sholud go places in time to come.

The two will arrive in Melbourne in mid January and stay with the old boys of their respective schools. They will move into Carey International on January 27 and till the scholarship ends which is of three months duration. Carey International hopes to award this scholarship on a yearly basis if it is successful. - MSA

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