If anyone ever questioned whether rowers were tough, they should have visited the Opening Regatta hosted by the Colombo Rowing Club this weekend.
In the midst of 29 kmph winds and 17 mm of rain falling in Colombo in just 12 hours, young rowers battled the elements to compete in the CRC’s first regatta of the year. Although sudden squalls and gusts of wind that seemed like gales held up the regatta periodically, it was concluded on time and with all races rowed.
In the men’s events, CRC and Royal College did well, bagging 3 and 2 trophies respectively. CRC managed to capture the coveted Centenary Oars four event as well the Colvin Sirimanne Senior double scull and the Open scull event. Young Royalists did well to win the sought-after Vanlangenberg Junior pair and the Novice double scull event. Ananda College decisively won the Novice four race.
Meanwhile St Joseph’s College made a statement comeback into rowing when Aaron John won the Gordon Armstrong Junior scull event. This was the first club trophy won by SJC in at least 7 years.
In the women’s events, Museaus College took the lead with 3 wins. They bagged the Secretaries Bowl for Junior pairs, the Open pair and the Novice four. Ladies’ College had 2 wins: the Ladies’ Plate for Senior fours and the Novice double scull. CRC also had two wins, for the President’s Trophy Senior scull and the Open double scull.
The event’s winners are listed below:
Women’s Events
President’s Trophy – Samaakhya Gajanayake (CRC)
Ladies’ Plate – AshaniWelikala, Isabella Sansoni, Thiranya Fernando, DhariniSamarasinghe, MarihahIdroos (LC)
Secretaries Bowl – Pahan Vidyalankara & Nathira Wijemanna (CRC)
Open Double Scull – Ishika de Silva &Amani Tissera (CRC)
Open Pair – Janethri Marapana & Vinuri Wikramasekara (MC)
Novice Four – Ovini Parangama, Isuri Kunarasinghe, Ranuli Wickremasekara, Malki Wijesekara, Megara Wijemanne (MC)
Novice Double Scull – Chanika Goonetilake & Davina Koch (LC)
Men’s Events
Gordon Armstrong – Aaron John (SJC)
Vanlangenberg – Aman Sideek & Uvin Siriwardana (RC)
Centenary Oar – Sajeev de Silva, Pradeep Maddumabandara, Shehan Muthugala, Sanjiva Jayasuriya, Pasan Ranaweera (CRC)
Colvin Sirimanne – Shehan Muthugala & Sajeev de Silva (CRC)
Open Scull – Lasitha Madushan (CRC)
Novice Double Scull – Bilal Hassan & Dulaj Rajaguru (RC)
Novice Four – Buddhima Wickramaratne, Naveen Ambewela, Ranjula Manchanayake, Sachinta Wickramsinghe, Subodh Gunasekara (AC)
