Royal, Ladies dominate annual Opening Regatta

By Natasha Fernandopulle

The Gordon Armstrong Sculls resulted in a Dead Heat which saw a re-race, in which Royal College Colombo emerged victorious while a close race between Bishop’s College Colombo and Musaeus College Colombo for the Women’s Junior Fours eventually saw Bishops College taking the lead to win the event at annual Opening Regatta – conducted by Colombo Rowing Club which took place on Saturday and Sunday at the Colombo Rowing Club (CRC).

Anelka Karunarathne (4.39) of Ladies College won the Women’s Junior Sculls event while Gavick Kuruppu (4.18) of Royal College Colombo was the winner of the Gordon Armstrong – Men’s Junior Sculls.

Bishops College’s Akanksha Hulangamuwa, Anagi Fernando, Thavisha Attanayake, Anya Wickramanayake and Ishara Thilakaratna were the winners of the Women’s Junior Fours (4.34).

Anya Devapura (2.26) of Ladies College won the Under 14 Women’s Sculls event while Nimithra Jayakody (2.21) of St. Joseph’s College won in the same category in the Men’s Sculls event.

Ladies College clinched the Under 14 Women’s Fours (2.12) with the winning crew of Ayani Perera, Avani Ameresinghe, Anithra Fernando, Anya Devapura and Chalya Rodrigo.

Royal College won the Vanlangenberg – Junior Men’s Pairs (3.46) with Abdhulla Hassan and Vibhawa Premaratne. The Secretaries Bowl – Women’s Junior Pairs was won by the Colombo Rowing Club (4.35) with Panchali Hewamanna and Tharumila Malwaththage.

The HMS Fours – Mixed Crews was won by Shehan Hettiarachchi (University of Colombo), Vishwa Prabhathiya (University of Colombo), Achintha Wanigasekera (St. Joseph’s College), Pasindu Perera (Ananda College) and Nevindi Mendis (Colombo Rowing Club) in 4.02.

Royal College won the Open Fours in 3.51 with Hashen Hettigoda, Charin Wijetilleke, Sajaad Ajmal, Prathap Perera and Avishka Jayaweera.

Professor Arjuna De Silva graced the occasion as Chief Guest last evening.