Royal cruise to victory to claim Ranil Dias Memorial Trophy
Royal College beat S. Thomas’ College in an exciting two-day event to emerge winners at the ninth Royal-Thomian Sailing Regatta held on September 19 and 20 at the Bolgoda Lake.
Taking the Ranil Dias Memorial Trophy home for the third time in a sport dominated by S. Thomas’, the Royalists swept to their biggest victory, winning all but one team race.
On the first day of the individual racing events, which included five races in both Optimist and Laser classes, Royal dominated with a tally of 6-0 against the Thomians.
Back row (from left): Chevinda de Mel (RC), Nithik Senaratna (STC), Randira Hangarangoda (RC), Emika Batepola (RC), Minuga Hettigamage (RC Optimist Vice Captain), Muazzam Imtiaz (RC), Chanthul Dahanayaka (RC), Anuda Silva (RC Captain), Steve Singh (STC), Omar Hazari (RC Vice Captain), Shashen Ellawala (STC Captain), Ranesh Wickramatillake (STC), Indeepa Weerasekara (RC), Riveen Perera (STC), Shevon Ponniah (STC), Sahale Ahangama (STC), Sakindu Denipitiya (RC), Vonal Boteju (RC) Sanditha Gamage (RC), Mckyle Karunaratne (STC Vice Captain), Yusef Hazari (RC), Adil Rukshan (RC) Vinuk Senaratna (STC), Ruvaneka Rajapaksa (RC) Middle row (from left): Haren Wickramatillak (STC), Kevaan de Costa (RC Optimist Captain), Naren Jayasinghe (RC), Shem Fernando (STC), Luqman Aneeq (RC) Seated (from left): Rushil Perera (RC), Dhiren Perera (STC), Athiha Balamurugan (STC), Anuruth Tennakoon (STC), Delain (STC), Binal Perera (RC), Matheesha Pathirana (STC), Akaine Ubayasiri (STC), Randil Fernando (STC), Rahan Ameer (STC)
In the Laser event the first three places were fiercely fought amongst Royal skipper Anuda Silva, his deputy Omar Hazari and Nithik Senarathne of the rival camp. Silva and Hazari tied with 8 points each, with Senarathne coming in a close third. Silva was awarded the Best Laser Sailor, the first time in history a Royal skipper won the trophy.
Despite the Royalists having a clear lead in the Optimist team races, the Thomian Optimist ‘B’ team that consisted of younger sailors new to the sport, received special cheers for valiantly trying to keep up with the stronger and more experienced Royal Optimist team.
Royal Captain and Vice Captain with school officials (from left): L.W.K Silva (Senior Deputy Principal), Anuda Silva (Captain), Thilak Waththuhewa (Principal), Omar Hazari (Vice Captain), M.A.M Riyaz (Assistant Principal - Senior Games Master)
Minuga Hettigamage of Royal, who won the Future Fibres Trophy for Best Optimist Sailor, displayed a remarkable performance in the individual and team racing events, catching up from last to first place after a penalty during the final team race with team mates Kevaan de Costa and Binal Perera coming in close at second and third respectively.
On the second day, both teams displayed some remarkable team racing tactics and skillful sailing, supporting each other’s team mates to finish first. S. Thomas’, comprising of vice captain Mckyle Karunaratne, Ranesh Wickramatillake, Steve Singh and Shevon Ponniah won the Royal College Sailing Advisory Committee Challenge Trophy after a nail-biting finish. The Royal ‘A’ team comprising of skipper Anuda Silva, vice captain Omar Hazari, Yusef Hazari and Muazzam Imtiaz, took home the coveted Dr. Ray Wijewardene Trophy presented for the winners of the Laser ‘A’ team.
S. Thomas’, Laser ‘B’ team winners (from left): Ranesh Wickramatillake, Steve Singh, Thilak Waththuhewa (Principal, Royal College), Rear Admiral Prof. Shemal Fernando (Director General of Sports), Rev. Fr. Marc Billimoria (Principal, S. Thomas’), Mckyle Karunaratne (Vice Captain STC), Shevon Ponniah
Both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams of Royal swept away the Jeremy Bolling Challenge Trophy and the Perera Challenge Trophy in their respective team races. Prefects and supporters from both schools thronged the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club to cheer the sailors on water, with the usual Roy-Tho revelry.
Despite the fierce battles on water, the spirit of Royal-Thomian sailing was exemplified when the Thomian captain Sashen Ellawala accidentally referred to himself as “the captain of the Royal team” at the prize distribution ceremony, much to the amusement of the audience, and thunderous applause from the Royalists. The Royal captain Anuda Silva replied in kind in his vote of thanks calling “the small slip of the tongue by the Thomian captain reflects what this sport is all about.”
Royal College Laser ‘A’ team (from left): Anuda Silva (Capatin), Yusef Hazari, Muazzam Imtiaz, Omar Hazari (Vice Captain)
Ellawala further added, “The camaraderie we have on and off water is what makes this event so special, whether it is to help with a capsised boat of either team, or help an opposition team member on land.”
Chief Guest at the event, Rear Admiral Professor Shemal Fernando, Director General of Sports lauded the team spirit of the two schools calling it “unparallel to any other school encounter.”
At the end of the event, which was sponsored by Future Fibres and Ellawala Horticulture, the total points tallied at 18-4 in favour of Royal College.
Thilak Waththuhewa, the Principal of Royal College, Reverend Father Marc Billimoria, Warden of S. Thomas’ College, Sonali Dias, wife of late Ranil Dias, M.A.M Riyaz, Assistant Principal – Senior Games Master of Royal, Dinesh Kumarasinghe, Director of Sport of S. Thomas’, Asanka Goonawardene, the Sailing Convener of Sri Lanka Yachting Association, Commodore Chaminda Gunaratne, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Sailing and Poojitha Walpitagamage, the Chief Finance O of Future Fibres were present at the ceremony.
| Results | |
| Individual Racing Events: Optimist Class 1: Minuga Hettigamage (Royal) 2: Kevaan de Costa (Royal) 3: Binal Perera (Royal) Laser Class 1: Anuda Silva (Royal) 2: Omar Hazari (Royal) 3: Nithik Senaratne (S. Thomas’) Laser Team Royal Laser ‘A’ (Anuda Silva, Omar Hazari, Yusef Hazari, Muazzam Imtiaz) Optimist Team Royal Optimist ‘A’ (Kevaan de Costa, Luqman Aneeq, Randira Hangarangoda, Naren Jayasinghe) Royal Laser ‘B’ (Chevinda de Mel, Emika Batepola, Chanthul Dahanayake, Saditha Gamage) Royal Optimist ‘B’ (Minuga Hettigamage, Binal Perera, Vonal Botheju, Ruvaneka Rajapaksa STC Laser ‘A’ (Sashen Ellawala, Nithik Senaratne, Vinuk Senaratne, Riveen Perera) STC Optimist ‘A’ (Haren Wickramatillake, Akaine Ubayasiri, Shem Fernando, Dhiren Fernando) STC Laser ‘B’ (Mckyle Karunatne, Steve Singh, Ranesh Wickramatillake, Shevon Ponniah) STC Optimist ‘B’ (Matheesha Pathirana, Randil Fernando)
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