Royal-Thomian swimmers in action

Dilanka Mannakkara

Another Battle of the Blues, Royal Thomian Swimming Championships 2010 is scheduled to be held at Royal College Aquatic Complex today and tomorrow. Royal College, the host this year has made all arrangements to conduct this event which was inaugurated by the two prominent schools in Colombo in 2009 in a spectacular manner.

According to the Joint Organizing committee an opportunity has been granted for more than three junior swimmers who belong to under 9 and 11 age groups to participate in the meet in order to motivate the boys. There will be heats and finals for junior age groups to cater to this important aspect of swimming.

In addition each school expected to play two teams for all relay events included in the schedule of events. Overall champions of the meet will be awarded the Creon Corea Memorial Challenge Trophy which was named after the late swimmer who represented Royal College in the early 1980s.

Another unique feature of this meet will be the relay events included for old boys of the two schools. Old boy swimmers of age groups 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s will take part in these events and the champions will be awarded the OTSC Challenge Trophy. This event will no doubt entertain spectators more than the other events of the present boys.

In 2009 S. Thomas’ College swam ahead to aggregate 1,243 points to Royal College’s 1,173 and won the Creon Corea Memorial Trophy at the inaugural ‘Battle of the Blues’ Swimming Championship that was concluded at the S. Thomas’ College pool. The Thomians made it a double when they also won the old boys Old Thomians Swimming Club Challenge Trophy by 40 points to Royal’s 30. Of the six age group categories that were worked off, S. Thomas’ won the under 9, 11, 13, and 15 segments while Royal swam in front to win the under 17 and 19 age categories.

Rohana Karunaratne, President and Mrs. Chintha Ruwanpathirana, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association will be the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honor respectively at this event.

The opening ceremony will be held today at 5.00pm under the auspices of Rev. J C. Puddefoot, Warden, S. Thomas’ College, Upali Gunasekara, Principal, Royal College and Harshana Perera, Sub Warden, S. Thomas’ College.

Old boys of the two schools who formed the Joint Organizing committee have made all arrangements to make this event a spectacular and a memorable event for both Royalists and Thomians.