Alan Stoke takes Champions Trophy

By M.A. Phakurdeen Addalaicheina Group Corr.

Alan Stoke of United Kingdom annexed Champion Trophy and received a 1,500 Sterling pounds Worth's cheque at the Champions of Champions Surf Contest which concluded at Arugambay on Sunday in the presence of large gathering of foreign surfing fans along with the local spectators.

The UK prof Surf Association together with Crystal Holidays Sri Lanka organized this competition with the sponsorship of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and SriLankan Airlines where 23 Surfers mostly from United Kingdom and a few from Australia and South Africa vied for championship while in the women group, 9 formidable surfers from United Kingdom participated. Meanwhile 32 surfers took part in the Competition organized for locals. The introduction of Women Surfers this year attracted a large numbers of surfing fans to the tropical island than in the previous years.

In the men's surfing competition Reubin Pearce secured the second place while the third place was obtained both by Revbin Ash and Stuvaret Cambell and received 900 Sterling pounds and 400 Sterling pounds respectively. All these winners from United Kingdom.

In the women's competitions Beth Mason was placed first while Gwen Spurlock and Jo Dennision secured the second and third places respectively. A cash award of 500 sterling ponds was offered to the winner and 250 sterling ponds was handed over to the winner placed second. All three women winners too are United Kingdom's competitors.

In the Surfing competition organized for locals Asanaka Sanjeek became the winner while Santhawan, Milan, Kavilan were second, third and forth were offered Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5000 respectively.

It may be noted that all these winners are from Arugambay.

Managing Director Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Dileep Mudaniya, and the Managing Director of Cryatal Holidays Hotels (Pvt) Lte, Wansa Hettiarachi, the Director of UK surf promotion Ltd Dave Reed, SriLankan Airline's Marketing Communication Executive Venushi Pathirana, Marketing Communication Officer Mariya Sathasivam and several other Guests from Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau and SriLankan Airline too participated and gave away the cash awards and trophies.

Speaking to the Press Managing Director Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Dileep Mudaniya said Sri Lanka had already acquired reputation for a good surfing destination and probably is the best in Asia and continued that having such events will expand and create a surfing culture in the country and the Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau hopes to promote sports tourism in the future, he said.

Managing Director of Cryatal Holidays Hotels (Pvt( Ltd, Wansa Hettiarachi in his address thanked those who helped to make this event a great success and made a special thanks to Media personnel for their valuable contributions.