The 33rd National Rowing Championship hit the waters at Diyawanna Lake yesterday. The regatta features 17 institutions, from schools to clubs, rowing to be the best of the best for 2018.
About 25 events were bought to an end on the first day of the regatta, building up tough competition for the remaining two days. Ladies College stepping in as the defending champions, won their first race as Anelka and Anya clocked 8mins and 28 secs to snatch up the girls U18 double scull quarter-final 01. The Ladies College duo went on to beat Museaus College and Bishop’s College respectively.
The second win for the defending champions came along when, Anithra won the scull quarter-final 01 with a timing of 9mins and 02secs. Museaus College and Bishop’s College were awarded runners-up and second runners-up respectively.
Ladies College were placed in the girls U18 fours as Museaus College led the clock and finished at 8mins and 07secs. Bishop’s College booked the third spot. Unfortunately, Ladies College were disqualified in the Women`s four final and Sri Lanka Army clinched it with a timing of 7mins and 33secs. Bishopians had to settle for the third.
Shehan Kannangara, Coach of Ladies College – Colombo, speaking with ThePapare.com said,
“We have a junior team this year, I know we are the defending champions, we are going in strong and we are quite confident. In terms of stamina, I believe we are okay, it`s just that the lack of experience might play a part but I am quite confident of the girls and I feel they are ready for it”.
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) topped the charts engaging in a close tussle with Sri Lanka Air-Force (SLAF) winning one race after another. The maiden win for the sailors was recorded when Bandara, clocked a timing of 08mins and 06secs to win boys over 18 scull, putting University of Moratuwa (UOM) and Kothalawala Defense University (KDU) in the second and third places respectively.
SLN duo Samarakoon and Sadaruwan won the second race for the sailors in the boys over 18 pair quarter-final 02. SLAF settled down to the second spot while KDU was satisfied with the third. The quarter-final 03 of the over 18 pair was also won by SLN as Piumika and Priyadarshana clocked a timing of 07mins and 08secs.
Photo Album: National Rowing Championship – Day 1
The SLN girls bought honours in the girls over 18 double sculls beating SLAF with a timing of 08mins and 29secs. SLAF was placed second while KDU was marked disqualified in the race. In the men`s open scull quarter-final 01, Madushanka of SLN edged out Rupasinghe of SLAF by a couple of seconds, recording another win for the sailors. Madushanka clocked 07mins and 35secs while Rupasinghe’s read 07mins and 37secs.
ThePapare.com also spoke with Sisira Wickramasekara, the chief organizer, about the regatta and asked as to why the fixture was moved up the calendar. Sisira sharing his views said,
”The main idea of shifting the nationals from September to April is to give time for our athletes to form a national pool and train them for the up-coming events, including the Asian Games 2018.
Stay logged to ThePapare.com to find out who will compete among the best and will be crowned champions at the 33rd National Rowing Championship 2018.
