| Sports |
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| Equestrian
sports revived These enthusiasts have come under one umbrella and have formed the Sri Lanka Equestrian Association (SLEA). With former motor car champion of Sri Lanka Suranjith Premadasa as its president the sport is bound to improve leaps and bounds in the years to come. Equestrian sport is associated with games like polo, dressage, steeplechase, endurance riding/racing and harness riding, in countries like India, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan and the Gulf States. The sport is highly developed, with many clubs and associations spread throughout their countries. Inter-club, inter-state and international events for equestrian sports are held right throughout the year in many countries. It is a sport accepted by the Olympic Committee and the Asian Games Committee and will be an event at the Asian Games to be staged in Doha in 2006. The launching of Equestrian Sports was held on Thursday at the premises of the Premadasa Riding School in Nugegoda. And the media was briefed on the plans of the SLEA by the president Suranjith Premadasa and Mohan de Lanerolle Snr the vice president. Mohan is no stranger to this sport, having plenty of experience behind him and a specialist in horses, and has won the prestigious Governer's Cup many years back. Suranjith said that there are many individuals like Dr. S. M. Noohu who has over 50 thoroughbreds, Nigel Austin and many, more who own horses. There are over 300 horses owned by various owners. Since late the sport has been gaining popularity in the country with many joining riding and training schools. The demand for this sport prompted these enthusiasts to organise the sport under a national body which is now registered with the Ministry of Sports. He further said that their aim is to encourage and involve more partcipants to this sport and that they are having discussions with neighbouring India who are willing to come and promote equestrian sports in Sri Lanka, as the sport is thriving in India. There are three clubs who come under the umbrella of the SLEA which are Saddle-up Riding School, Premadasa Riding School and Southern Sports Club which has a memebership of over 300 among the above mentioned clubs. Other clubs with similar objectives to SLEA are welcome to join and are requested to contact the SLEA headquarters situated at 11/12, Melder Place, Nugegoda. Richard G. Greer an expert in Equestrian Sports is currently in the country to train newcomers. He is on a three month contract. Richard has trained newcomers in many countries and he says Sri Lanka has the ideal climate for this sport. There was also a demonstration done by Mohan de Lanerolle Jnr, on a horse brought down from India. It was one of two horses owned by the Maharajas in India, that was imported. The president said that these horses have never been exported before and we were the first to receive this. The difference in these horses are that the ears of the horses are staright, unlike the other horses ears which are bent, each horse had cost rupees one million. The events planned by the SLEA are: May 3, they will conduct a Beach Horse Race at Beruwala. Endurance Race 25 to 50 miles in November and Show Jumping for which the dates have not been finalised yet. Twenty
top junior players will receive aid These top schoolboy cricketers will receive materials and nurishments to encourage them to persue with their cricketing career probably upto national level. Unilever will sponsor under their brand name of Astra, the flagship energy brand food most often used by children for a good start to life. The launch of 'Astra Cricket Cup' was also held at the Cricket Board headquarters. Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association who conducts the under 13, 15 and 17, tournaments every year were without a sponsor for many years now and was supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL). From this year the age group has been changed to under 14, 16 and 18 due to various reasons. The under 17 age group has been changed mainly due to the children in this age group prefering to attend tuition classes to persue their studies and it has been noted a drastic drop in schoolboy cricketers. Chairman of the Interim Board of the BCCSL, Hemaka Amarasuriya noted that there has been a void in producing international class cricketers from the schools in the recent past. He went on to mention the names of Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardena and Muttiah Muralidharan as the last schoolboys who were capable of playing international clas cricket soon after leaving school. Out of a total package of seven million rupees the BCCSL will provide half this amount. They have also agreed to provide cricket materials amounting to Rs 4 million for all participating schools. Top
fare for Governor’s Cup SriLankan Airlines as they have been doing for the past few years will be sponsoring the Governors Cup Day and will be infusing glamour into the event. Visitors from India and the West will add international flavour. Emperado, winner
of the Governors Cup for Dr. M.S. Noohu is a competitor. He has
won the Eveready Eclipse Stakes of India run over a quarter mile
in Mumbai. There is the possibility that Mr. Nigel Austin's Ancient Warrior will make it a double this year. Khaalis, a grey, is also expected to make his mark. |
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