Colombo Rowing Club won both Men’s and Women’s category championship at the regatta on the Beira Lake early this evening. The crew comprising of 25 members went away with 10 races to 2 against their rivals Madras Boat Club.
The Madras Colombo was inaugurated in the year 1898 by the Madras Boat Club and is known for being one of the oldest inter-institutional boat races in the world. It is noteworthy that this year, Madras Colombo regatta marks 118 years of this friendship and rivalry between two of the oldest rowing clubs in the region. This regatta included both men’s and women’s category and each category had a scull race, double scull race, pair race and four races and the winners were decided on a point system based on timing.
Suhith Alexender of Colombo Rowing Club won the Men’s sculls ‘B’ and Men’s sculls ‘A’ race was won by T. Philip respectively at the regatta. Men’s sculls pair ‘A’ was won by Ruven Weerasinghe and Praveen Hapugalle of Colombo Rowing Club, as Abdulla Hassen and Sajjad Ajmal of Colombo Rowing Club won the Men’s pair ‘B’ race.
Lasaru Kudaligama and Sajin De Livera of Colombo Rowing Club won the men’s double sculls ‘B’ and Men’s double sculls ‘A’ was won by Siddar Sunil and Keerthan PS of Madras Boat Club.
Charin Wijethilake, Lasindu Gamage, Sajjad Ajmal and Abdulla Hassen of Colombo Rowing Club won the Men’s fours ‘B’. The final race the Men’s A four was won by Ruven Weerasinghe, Suhith Alexander, Suramba Serasinghe and Praveen Hapugalle
All Women races were won by the Colombo Rowing Club Ishara Abbey, Nihara Warawita, Kiara Kamaranayagam, Grabrielle Senanayake, Janindri Fernando, Anithri Fernando and Ashvini Subasinghe took away the trophies in turns.
The overall championship in the Men’s category was won by Colombo Rowing Club by obtaining 38 points while the rivals Madras Boat Club was only able to obtain 12 points in the Men’s category. At the same time, Women’s championship was also won by Colombo Rowing Club by 25 points to nothing. And hence ended the 79th Regatte with Colombo Rowing Club under the captaincy of Ruven Weerasinghe ending up champions.
