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| Formula
Champ Rohan returns best timing
The owners of the old beauties got a chance in a lifetime to exhibit the old products which have been looked after like their own eyes. The historic event held for the first time in Sri Lanka was organized by the Classic Club of Ceylon which was known then when the club was formed. There was the famous Morris Minors which was the popular car in the 1960's and then the Ford Prefect, the Austin Mini's, Jaguars, the Peugot 203, 403 and and the 504's and many more. To add more colour to the races the organizers held tow Formula racing events for the Pre 85 and Post 85 formula cars. In the Pre 85 event Dilantha Malagamuwa the only Sri Lankan to possess an international driving licence to race in International circuits cruised his way to an easy win by over 400 metres. In all ten events for the oldies were held and the old beauties race began with the Morris Minor event which saw seven cars produced between the years 1954-65 being flagged off. Romesh Paul in his 950cc Morris 1962 prevailed to take the event with a timing of 1.39.14 secs followed by Gemunu Alawattegama and Pratheepan Ramanathan. The second event which was for Saloon cars upto 1000cc saw Anton Gajasinghe in a 1954 model Ford Prefect 1000cc win the race followed by A.K.S.B. Jinendradasa and P. Balasubramanian in two Morris Minors. The first Formula (Post-85) event was the third event for the day saw ace driver Dilantha Malagamuwa take the eight lap race. He took over the lead halfway in the first lap and kept on increasing the lead. 17 year old Dejan de Zoysa a student of S.Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia tried his best to get closer but Dilantha kept on going and young Dejan had to satisfied with the second slot, but he overcame more experience drivers like Simon Lawrence who came third. The Pre-85 Formula event was won by bespectacled Michael Muthumani with Harsha de Silva in second place and Tharindu Lokuge in third. The fourth event for Saloon cars upto 1400cc saw M.S.A. Fernando in a 1956 Peugot 203 prevail from Chamath Amarasena in a 1953 VW Beetle and Mohan de Silva in a Peugot 203. The fifth event for Saloon cars upto 1600cc was a thrilling race to watch with winner Ananda de Alwis driving a 1975 Ford Mexico overlapping many of the competitors. He was followed by David Dias in a 1971 Peugot 404 and Channa de Zoysa in a 1966 Opel Rekard. The sixth event for Sports cars upto 1600cc was the event that maestro Rohan de Silva established the best timing for the day. Rohan in his
usual driving skills roared in his 1967 Lotus Elan which thrilled
the crowd. Rohan was followed by Vinodh Wijetunge and David Tod
in two Mini Mokes. The eighth event for Sports cars over 1600 went to Askgi Akbarally who drove a 1971 Jaguar E followed by former car racing champion and presently a well known horse race owner Nigel Austin in a 1966 Austin Healey and Lalith Illankoone in a 1972 MGB. The ninth event which was the last race for the old beauties was for Saloon cars over 1600cc which was won by Kumar Samarasinge in a 1977 Peugot 504 with Yevinda Amarasekera in a 1960 Jaguar M2 second and P. Balasubramanian in a 1986 Jaguar VJ. The proceedings for the day ended with race number two for Fomular cars. The days proceedings ended with event number two for Formula cars which saw Simon Lawrence take the Post 85 race from Rohan de Silva who did not compete in the first race coming second and Randy Batcho in third. While Michael Muthumani who won the first rac of the pre-85 repeated his win with Romesh Paul in second and Tharindu Lokuge in third place. All in all it was a successfully conducted event giving the competitors and the fans of the old beauties a rare opportunity of competing and witnessing a event of this nature in an international racing circuit. Hats off to the organizers Classic Club of Ceylon and Motor Racing Association who conducted this event and the sponsors McFoil for getting together and making this a success. Acid
test for CH & FC CH & FC booked their semi final berth by outclassing the sailors 41-8. The Maitland Cresent Club played sans many of their regulars. The CH & FC is the only side who was able to topple the star studded Kandy SC in one of the league matches. Meanwhile the "Red Shirts" stamped their class through a victory over Police 65-21 to enter semi finals. The forwards and the speedy three quarters combined well to run down 11 tries against the 'Cops' who are playing this season sans any foreigners. The lads from Maitland Cresent are fielding a very young side with players in the calibre of Dushantha Lewke, Dilanke Wijesekera, Bertie Jayasekera and their evergreen place kicker Nalin Dissanayake finding good form during the later stages of the league, has been a big motivating factor for the Gymkhana Club. With their expatriates Fred More, Jimmy Bolokoro and Kinijoji Rakata showing excellent form, they will be hard stuff to be stopped and at least two of these players are sure to get selected for the SLRFU 7s side for the Singer Sri Lankan sevens to be worked off next month in Kandy. These expatriates are playing cohesive rugby for CH & FC and their popular belief is 'Nothing will stop us from going places. Try stopping us!" The young lads from the Gymkhana Club ended second in the league to Kandy SC. Meanwhile the "Red Shirts" have some outstanding school leavers playing their hearts out for the club. CR & FC will be at full strength for this game with players such as Walpola, Hameed, Kaluarachchi, Musafer, Mashtaq and Opethi Thuruwa, their play maker, being outstanding for the Longden Place Club. CR is just rearing to go. According to performances this season it will be a close encounter with the Gymkhana Club having slight edge over the Red Shirts. Referee
- Nizam CCC
School prove their class C.C.C. school of cricket led by Bhanuka Rajapakse emerged champions beating Maliyadeva College in a absorting thriller final by six runs. S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia had an easy victory over Joseph Vaz College in the losers' final. Dr. Abey Gunapala a prominent cricket benefactor and distinguished senior citizen of Kurunegala was the guest of honour, who also gave away the awards. Results of
the two finals Winners Final "Man of the Match" awards: Maliyadeva Vs S.T.C - W.D. Nayanajith (Maliyadeva); Maliyadeva Vs Joseph Vaz - A.G. Manishan (Maliyadeva); CCC Vs S.T.C - Rashane Saverimuttu (C.C.C) CCC Vs Joseph Vaz (Primesh Dassanayake (C.C.C); S.T.C Vs Joseph Vaz - C. Pathirana (S.T.C); (Losers final)CCC Vs Maliyadeva - Bhanuka Rajapaksa (C.C.C);(Final); Most promising young players of the tournament - Sachith Dias (C.C.C) -BW Bloomfield,
SSC and Colts take step closer Galle CC- 161 all out( R.P.Kumara 24, D. Lokuhettige 26, S. Vithana 41 N. Kulasekera 20; B. Ranaweera 3/33, U. Weerasinghe Silva 2/49) Bloomfield - 225 all out( S. Perera 18, Ian Daniel 22, K. N. C Fernando 26, Kaushalya Weeraratne 125 n.o, Lasith Malinga 5/54, Sameera Vithana 2/60) SSC
hit up 426 The two left handers were in full flow as they sent their opponents on a leather hunt with a fine exhibition of batting. Paranavithana completed a fine century as he thumped 15 boundaries in a 279 ball knock to be finally out for a well compiled 132.Mendis was unfortunate to miss on a hundred as he was dismissed for 80 which included 11 boundaries. Paranavithana was also associated in a 78 run fourth wicket stand with Damith Indika(50). Andrew Perera (72 n.o) and Dhammika Prasad (31) also cashed in on the mediocre Saracens attack as they put on 81 runs for the eighth wicket that took SSC's total pass the 400 run mark. SSC - 426 all
out (Tharanga Paranavithana 132, Jeewan Mendis 80, Damith Indika
50, Andrew Perera 72 n.o, Dhammika Prasad 31; M Naushad 4/71, Malinda
Pushpakumara 3/85 ) Half
centuries Chasing the Air Force total of 146 Colts were in a spot before their fifth wicket pair of Pushpakumara (79) and Wickremaratne (72) rescued the Park Club with a 82 run stand that eventually helped them to take first innings points. Puspakumara hit 9 boundaries and two sixes while Wickremaratne had 9 boundaries and three sixes. Shanuka Cooray was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4 for 74. Air Force - 146 all out (Rashan Peiris 33, Ashan Palihakoon 21; Kavinda Silva 2/36, M. Pushpakumara 2/31, Sudeera Zoysa 4/30 ) |
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