Pasindu and Chalani retain two-mile sea swim titles

LESLIE FERNANDO

Sixteen year old Pasindu Thamalsha and fourteen year old Chalani Dharshani both from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda proved their class in sea swimming as they won the men’s and women’s races for the second successive year at the 72nd Annual Mt. Lavinia two mile sea swim held yesterday.

The event was sponsored by the Mount Lavinia Hotel while Master Divers co-sponsored the event conducted by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU).

Pasindu and Chalani from Ambalangoda which is famous for sea swimming were also the winners of the Ambalangoda two mile swim. Both continued their fine form to stamp their superiority at Mt. Lavinia beach.

Pasindu an ‘O’ Level student at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda won the Mt. Lavinia title for the second time ‘clocking’ 55 minutes 30 seconds. Roshan Peiris of Sri Lanka Army finished second 55.39 secs, K. G. Navod Sameera also of Dharmasoka College third - 56.14 secs. Pasindu carried away the Tomlinson Challenge Cup and John Wilson Challenge Cup.

In the women’s event Chalani Darshani of Dharmasoka College an year ten student who won last year’s race with time of 47.41 secs had to be satisfied with a time of 1.03.01 secs may be due to wave current, and she was awarded the Dr. H. T. Anthonisz Challenge Cup and Dennis Flamer Caldera Cup.

Sunethra Wijeratne of Mahamaya College, Kandy was placed second 1.03.33 secs and Kaveesha Tharinduni of Dharmasoka College third - 1.04 on secs. Dharmasoka College with 63 points won the Mount Lavinia Hotel Challenge Trophy for the men’s team championships. Sri Lanka Army came second with 60 points and Royal College third with 35 points.

Dharmasoka College with 72 points retained the Sri Lanka Chemical Industries Challenge Cup and Colombo Mayors Challenge Cup for the best women’s team overall with 72 points. Mahamaya College and Ladies College tied for the second positions with 24 points each. Sri Lanka Army won both Half Past Nine Challenge Trophy for highest aggregate of points 32 and the Inter-Services highest aggregate points score of 32 to take the I. D. M. Van Twest Challenge Cup.

The promising Ananda College swimmer 12 year old Cherantha de Silva, came in first in the juvenile event and was presented the Bata Challenge Cup and Diana Challenge Cup. Ridmi Rankothge of Musaeus College the youngest girls competitor to finish the course was awarded the E. G. A. Wilson Challenge Cup.

Upul Kumara of Sri Lanka Army 40 years, received the trophy for the men’s oldest swimmer. He was awarded the Otter AC Challenge Cup.