Thomians dominate in preliminaries

24th rowing nationals:

Richard DwighT

The Thomian oarsmen were in a dominant mood, when the rowing nationals got underway on the Beira waters last Sunday. They did exceptionally well to give an indication of their rowing prowess, when they won 14 of the 17 heats and second round races, worked off on the opening day.

This was mainly due to their vice captain, Devan Hallock, and Sajeev de Silva winning 5 races each and captain, Manil Salgadoe winning 2 races. The others who made an impression were from Royal, Ladies and Bishops Colleges.

The Thomians continued their winning spree yesterday as well when they won the heat in the under 19 fours.

The results in yesterday's heats and second round races were:

Men's events Under 16 pairs: 1. S. Thomas' (S. de Livera and T. Manatunga) 4.22 sec, 2. Asian Intn'l School (N. Dayawansa and D. Fernando) 4.40, 3. Ananda (S. Kotelawala and A. Pitiarachchi).

Under 19 sculls: 1. S. de Silva (STC) 5.07 secs, 2. T. Wickremasinghe 5.13.

Under 23 sculls: 1. STC 'A' 3.40 (D. Jayanetti), 2. STC 'B' 3.45 (H. Jeyachandran), 3. Old Joes 3.52 (Ahamed Ghazali).

Open double sculls

1. Navy 'B' 3.46 (V. G. M. Shantha and S. B. Fonseka), 2. Navy 'A' 3.50 (H. M. Amaradasa and K. A. K. Chandrasiri), 3. Air Force 3.54 (K. G. Dassanayake and T. M. L. P. Tharanga).

Mens under 23 double sculls

1. Moratuwa University 'A' 4.4 (A. Nuwan and L. Arandara), 2. Moratuwa University 'B' 4.11 (I. Thotahewa and D. Aravinda).

U 19 fours

1. STC 3.45 (E. Gunewardene, D. Hallock, D. Jayanetti, R. Weerasinghe and P. Christy), 2. AIS 4.10 (T. Iqbal, T. Wickremasinghe, R. V. Francis and E. Sureshkumar).

Womens Events

School (girls) sculls (1): 1. AIS 5.17 (I. Ramanayake), 2. Ladies 'B' 6.21 (A. de Zylva).

School girls sculls (2): 1. Ladies 'A' 4.52 (Dehara de Zoysa), 2. Bishops 4.57 (D. Tilakasunderam, 3. CRC 5.4 (A. Gajayanayake).

Single sculls under 16: 1. Swarnamali Wijesinghe 5.24 (Musaeus), 2. Amashi de Mel 5.42 (Bishops), 3. Christina John 5.54 (Old Joes).

Double sculls: 1. Amaya Jayasuriya and Sarani Jayawardene 4.30 (Ladies), 2. Dimitri Tilakasunderam and Thushini Ranasinghe 4.45 (Bishops), 3. Viruni Jayawardene and Hinuri Mendis 4.47 (Musaeus).