The 6th Annual Sri Lanka Schools’ Rowing Championship organised by the Sri Lanka School’s Rowing Association was held from the 3rd to 5th November 2017 at the Colombo Rowing Club.
The regatta witnessed three days of intense rowing as the teams battled it out to the finish at the top of the schools’ rowing arena. Royal College, S. Thomas’ College, Ananda College, Asian International School, St. Joseph’s College, Gateway International School were amongst the boys’ schools that participated while the girls’ schools were represented by Musaeus College, Ladies’ College, Bishop’s College, Visakha Vidyalaya.
The regatta was held over a 1000 meter course at the Beira Lake and races were rowed in the following age categories – Under 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Hashen Hettigoda of Royal College emerged victorious in the under 20 category in the single sculls as he raced against Arjun Wickramanayake of S. Thomas’ and Chamika Perera of Royal College. Meanwhile in the concurrent girls’ single sculls, Davina Koch and Sanjula Boteju of Ladies College came in at first and second place in the finals.
In the boys’ under 20 double sculls Arjun Wickramanayake won yet another gold medal for S. Thomas’ College as he and Dharath Senanayake beat Waruna Hewamanne and Ishara Rambukwella of Royal College. Apart from this, Shalindra Jayasekara and Kavindu Mediwaka won the coxless pair event in the under 20 category for S. Thomas’ College.
In the girls’ under 20 double sculls event, Ashvini Subasinghe together with Nihara Waravita won the gold medal for Ladies’ College, beating Ishanka Hewakakuruppu and Thanushi Perera of Musaeus College. The only gold medal for Bishop’s College in the under 20 girls’ category was won by Anagi Fernando and Thavisha Athanayake in the coxless pair event.
The under 20 coxed fours event featured some exciting races as Royal’s Avishka Jayaweera, Hashen Hettigoda, Sajaad Ajmal, Prathap Perera and Charin Wijethileke claimed victory in the boys’ category while Musaeus College walked away with the gold medal in the girls’ category with the team of Mayanthi Weerakoon, Maedhini de Alwis, Binali De Alwis, Lishadi Mayadune and Senuri De Silva.
In the under 18 category races Suhith Alexander of Ananda College was placed first in the single sculls event followed by Yumia Perera of Royal College and Ramesh Nithushan of S. Thomas’ College. Binali de Alwis of Musaeus College walked away with the gold medal in girls’ single sculls event.
The double sculls race in the under 18 boys’ category saw Ramesh Nithushan and Dhaharath Senanayake of St. Joseph’s College reigned supreme as they beat Mario Fredricks and Gavishka Athanayake. Madhani de Alwis and Senuri de Silva grabbed the double sculls gold medal in the same category by beating Kiara Kumarayogan and Shannon Perera of Ladies’ College.
The coxless pairs races saw Royalists Charin Wijethileke and Lasindu Gamage beating Janith Welarathne and Dasith Wickramasinghe of Ananda College to clinch gold while Nihara Waravita and Ashvini Subasinghe of Ladies’ College won their second gold medal in the girls’ category.
In the much awaited under 18 coxed fours, Mayanthi Weerakoon, Binuri Gunawardene, Hashini Hettigoda, Randini De Silva and Thanushi Perera of Musaeus College took the gold medal home while Ananda College grabbed the boys’ victory. The Ananda College crew comprised of Menula Minuranpitiya, Janith Welarathne, Dasith Wickramasinghe, Suhith Alexnder and Asel Karananangoda.
Thomas’ College won the boys’ under 20 championships while the girls championship was not awarded. In the under 18 category Ananda College and Musaeus College took the overall championships. In the under 14 and 16 boys and girls’ category overall victory was taken home by Ladies’ College and St. Joseph College respectively.
The schools’ Nationals Regatta thus brought an end to the rowing season for 2017 and has with no doubt, been an eventful and intense season.
