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by Richard Dwight

The Oarsmen of Royal College and S. Thomas' will this afternoon bring their boats alongside to outrow the other for rowing supremacy, on the placid still waters of the Beira Lake.

History has it, that both teams did so far the first time, with the coming to be of the boat race in 1962. This straight-forward duel with time, broadened out to give rise in 1964, to the Royal-Thomian regatta with a card of six races, one amongst which, was the ongoing boat race, the prime event.

All these encounters, from its inception between these two leading Colleges have been held on the 1000 yard' stretch of their familiar domain, the Beira Lake, adjoining the Colombo Rowing Club (CRC). The CRC right from the beginning of the series has been very supportive of the event, whilst in the recent years Dialog GSM have acted as the sponsors. There have been 33 boat races thus far and 29 Regattas, with there being neither for a period of 7 years between 1973 and 1979. The traditional rivals are in for a stiff time on the '1000 yard' stretch with S. Thomas' leading with 15 regattas to Royal's 13, with no competition being held for 7 years and, the one in 1993 being left drawn - whilst the Royalists are ahead of the Thomians in the boat race having won 17 to S. Thomas' 16.

This therefore makes the 34th boat race and the 30th Regatta even more tense to be interesting, where both teams will pit their might to outdo the other to level or increase their tally against the other.

The Regatta is worked off in two groups, A and B with 3 identical events for each group, making a card of 6 events with an available aggregate of 40 points. The overall regatta champions will be awarded the T. Noel Fernando trophy, while trophies for the other events too, will be presented. There will no doubt be a keen tussle between these two traditional rivals, who have been in the forefront of this sport - which has grown popular through the years attracting many to witness this annual encounter.

The straining of every muscle, sinew and nerve by the two teams to get the better of the other, will largely depend on the encouragement and support they receive from their respective cheer squads, as they line up on the banks of Colombo Rowing Club, especially as they enter the home stretch.

S. Thomas' who won last year's Regatta is led by Preshith Ganegoda and have ten coloursmen, brief among which are Isuru Perera, Tharindu Gunesekere, Dejan de Zoysa and Heshan Fernando.

The coach is Ajith Goonewardene and master-in-charge is Shirley Panditharatne. Royal College despite losing the Regatta last year with 14 pts. to Thomian's 26, had the satisfaction of winning the major event, the boat race. Royal is skippered by Lalith Lankaputhra and will depend on coloursmen Aquil Sulaiman, Prajith Perera, Meheran Carim with Seniors Nimesh Caldera, Vernon Wickremasinghe and Thilan Jayatilleke. The team is coached by Hiran Dorenagama and the master-in-charge is R. Rajasooriya. There will in addition be the customary Old Boys race.

This year the hosts are Royal College and the main sponsor as in the past, would be Dialog GSM, with the chief guest being Kavantissa Ratnayake. Any annual encounter between the 'Blues' be it on land or on water, has always evoked much interest drawing many to it. Mainly because it is keenly contested in the best of spirit, with much goodwill, bonhomie and camaraderie prevailing. And so after all is said and done, as the shadows lengthen, the evening comes, giving way to the ensuing darkness, it will be time for the weary oarsmen, victor and vanquished, relaxing in the comfort of the Colombo Rowing Club to say, all's well that ends well.

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