38th Boat Race and 34th Regatta:

Will Royal outrow S. Thomas’ this afternoon on Beira waters?

Richard DWIGHT

Any annual sports encounter, be it on land or on water between traditional rivals Royal and S. Thomas’ College, has through the years stood for rivalry without rancour, struggle without strife, verily it turns out to be a contest with sportsmanship, and a battle in friendship.

Much of this will be in evidence this afternoon on the waters of the Beira Lake, adjoining the Colombo Rowing Club - when the oarsmen of both colleges bring their boats along to outrow the other for rowing supremacy in their 38th boat race and 34th regatta.

The ‘Roytho’ boat race with time has come to be regarded the local version of the annual ‘Oxbridge’ boat race and, the Beira Lake the familiar domain of the rowers of these two colleges, is what the river Thames is to the oarsmen of ‘Oxbridge’.

Rowing as a sport within the decade has gathered momentum to be increasingly popular, and this being so, many are those who would want to witness this interesting confrontation on the ‘1000 metre’ water stretch of the Beira Lake.

The last regatta was held in the year 2005 and in the recent years prior to this, the Thomians have been the dominant force in that they enjoy an overall lead of 3 in the Boat race and, are ahead in the regatta as well by 4. Out of 37 Boat races held thus far S. Thomas have won 20 to Royal’s 17 and of the 33 regattas S. Thomas’ lead with 17 to Royal’s 13 - with 3 regattas being tied in the years 1993, 2003 and 2005.

Royal College are the hosts this year with Dialog GSM continuing to be the sponsors, and the captain of the 1983 Royal College Rowing team, Asela Gunewardena, as the chief guest.

The team is led by third year coloursman, Maalik Aziz, his deputy is third year coloursman, Dinouk Perera, the other coloursmen are Lishan Wickremanayake and Mahima Weerasinghe. The Thomian captain is fifth year colursman Dathika Wickremanayake, with second year colursman Manil Salgado as vice captain. The other colursmen are Devon Hallock and Rajitha Wickremasekera.

As in the past years the races will be identical for the groups A and B and the oarsmen of both colleges will stretch every sinew and muscle to get the better of the other. However on current form the odds favour Royal but on a big occasion like this anything could happen.

It will always come what may, be 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.