S. Thomas' to conduct a sprint championship in rowing

Leslie Fernando

Rowers from 13 schools will participate in the inaugural S. Thomas' Sprint Championships on August 14 and 15 at the Colombo Rowing Club, Beira Waters. The regatta is called T500 Sprint Championships.

Regattas in Sri Lanka have traditionally been rowed over one kilometre course and has been limited in general to a two team event, S. Thomas' College looking to change this traditional style of rowing by launching the 500 metre sprint championships.

Participating schools Boys - Ananda College, Asian International School, Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, Royal College, St. Joseph's College, S. Thomas' College, Stafford International School.

Girls - Asian International School, Bishop's College, Ladies College, Musaeus College, St. Bridget's Convent, Visakha Vidyalaya.

The organisers expect over 80 entries for the three events, namely coxed fours, double scull, single scull. Altogether 70 heats will be worked off during the two days of rowing.

S. Thomas' College who have been a pioneering institution involved in rowing in Sri Lanka for the past 33 years, are dedicated to expand rowing through this event by involving not only the standard schools but also a number of outstation schools.

This course of action will proceed in a two-pronged attack of sorts, one will be through this regatta and the other will be in relation to passing on the vast knowledge and expertise gathered over the period of 35 years.

Thomian rowing plan on selecting schools from outstations, initially from Moratuwa, Panadura, Kalutara and training schoolboys and girls in fine art of the sport.