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Sports

Audrey Scharenguivel Ephraums is no more
The great sportswoman of yesteryear passed away peacefully after reaching a great 90 years. Audrey was fondly called "bottom heavy" during the early stages of her colourful career on the Courts of the Lawn Tennis Association. An excellent singles player she had formidable opposition from a string of formidable players. I have seen her beaten by Amy Rock in the finals and I've also seen her beaten by Nedra Obeysekera in another final. During the period of her supremacy the champs were Nedra Obeysekera de Saram, Amy Rock, Yolande Obeysekera Illangakoon, Sheila Roberts, Doreen Sansoni and Jean Rock Sigg to name a few of the best.

Her brother Douglas was a stunning Tennis star playing in the company of some of Ceylon's greats - Koo de Saram, Ivers Gunasekera, Pat McCarthy, Robert de Kretser, Jink Kantawala, Ernley de Kretser, Dallas Gunasekera, Morris de Saram. Douglas was a classy Singles player with a cannon ball service who won the Junior Title but thereafter he was more often than not stopped by Koo in the Finals of several competitive events.

Audrey was a good methodical golfer. Never champion class but quite gutty and tenacious. She served effectively in the Committee. Quite late in life she married Conrad Ephraums an accomplished golfer of the Havelock Golf Club. Conrad was the son of Sir Arthur Ephraums a Burgher millionaire who at one time had the Mt. Lavinia Hotel as his personal property. He was an extremely prosperous turfite who owned "Orange William" a thoroughbred who was classier than the famed "Cotton Hall".

Conrad and Audrey migrated to Australia many years ago. Golf was Conrad's first love and quite naturally he was attracted by an offer as Manager of a posh Country Club in Victoria. He held that post for years. Some years ago I met the Ephraums & Dorothy Gratien at the residence of Macro and Heloise Pereira in Victoria Australia. We caught up on old times particularly of their friends. They were very interested to learn of Ivers and Doreen Gunasekera inquiring warmly about them. That's the last I saw of them. Since then Conrad passed away and just recently Audrey moved on.

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