Cricket: Royal Inter-Batch tournament on September 20

The 15th consecutive Royal College Cricket Carnival is all set to take place on September 20 at the Bloomfield ground from 8.00am onwards.   Organised by the Royal College Group of 2001, this Old Boy’s Inter-Batch Six-a-Side Cricket Tournament is one of the most treasured annual gatherings of all former Reid Avenue students.   Following in the footsteps of the Royal-Thomian and the Bradby Shield, the Royal College Cricket Carnival is a long awaited and eagerly anticipated fixture on the old boy’s calendar.   The primary goal of this event is to raise much-needed funds for Royal College sporting activities.   With the intention of propelling sports at Royal College, proceed from the Royal College Cricket Carnival is directed towards empowering sporting activities.   “It is further the vision of the Group of 2001 that the development of sports will lead to the College producing better sportsmen, which will subsequently help to develop exceptional talent in the hope that one day they will represent the country at the highest level, bringing glory to the nation,” a media release issued by the Group of 2001 states.   “As such, each year, the Carnival Committee selects a needy sport in terms of developing its capacity and delivers as requested on a project basis. In the year 2015 the Royal College Cricket Carnival Project will be fully bearing the cost of replacing an international standard, high-quality diving board on behalf of the Royal College Aquatic Club,” it added.   This annual event will see old Royalists from the Groups of 1982 to the Group of 2014 taking part.   A carnival atmosphere with live music, food stalls, kids play areas, DJ entertainment, Papare bands and surprises, await both young and old Royalists and their families.   The on field action and players will vie for three trophies: the L.D.H. Peiris Memorial Trophy, for those playing under the Open category; the Vijitha Weerasinghe Trophy for the 30 to 40 age group participants and for the Over-40 category play in hope of bagging the E.C. Gunasekara Trophy.   The success of the event over the past 15 years has empowered it to evolve into one of the most expected and looked forward to, gatherings of Old Royalists in Sri Lanka.   With entries open to all former Royalists, batch members may contact, Project Chairman, Mohammed Rifath on 0773028917 or Sandun Kulasiri on 0773792 666 to register teams and for information.