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S. THOMAS' COLLEGE AT GURUTALAWA GURU THOMIANS WIN UVA THOMIAN ENCOUNTER
The toss was won by STC Bandarawela captained by Chanaka Manathunga who elected to bat. The Guru Thomians succeeded in dismissing Bandarawela in 47.3 overs but not before the Bandarawela Thomians had piled up a handsome score of 282 runs. Batting Bowling The Guru Thomians struck back with some fine displays of batting and were successful in reaching the goal scoring 284 runs in 47. 2 overs and thereby winning the Headmasters E. St. Patrick Gunawardene and S. L. A. Ratnayake Trophies for the first time since this annual encounter was Batting Bowling M. T. S. Maduka of STC Gurutalawa was awarded the Trophy for Best Batsman for his striking 74runs, while Anjana Silva of STC Gurutalawa was awarded the Trophy for Man of the Match for his 71 runs (not out) and for taking 3 wickets. The Best Bowler Trophy was awarded to Manoj Prabath This fixture, unlike a traditional Big Match, is more for strengthening the common ties shared by two Schools in the same family – two brother schools, not rival schools. However, the standard of Cricket in the Schools is often judged fairly or unfairly by the result of the match. It must be noted The last occasion that STC Gurutalawa won this encounter was in 1987 after which it was stopped due to a number of unavoidable circumstances. It is to the credit of a School with a small number of students and limited facilities that it was able to achieve this win and much of the credit must go to the STC Gurutalawa Cricket Coach Mr. K. Mohan Kumar for having brought about such a positive change in the cricket standards at Guru since he took over in November 2010. Prof Mohan de Silva, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sri Jayawardenepura and a distinguished old boy of STC Gurutalawa ,was the Chief Guest on the occasion while Mr Chaminda Wijesiri, Mayor of Bandarawela and a distinguished old boy of STC Bandarawela, was Guest of Honour. A traditional 'Big Match' atmosphere pervaded the Bandarawela MC Grounds as supporters, old boys and present students of both these leading schools in this region displayed good discipline and friendly rivalry as they enjoyed the match. The joint Organising Committee comprising the two Headmasters, Prefects of Games, old boys and sports staff of both schools led by Mr Dinesh Wijekannan put in a lot of hard work in organizing the event and seeing to all the ground arrangements etc. On the previous day a Thomian Motor Rally was also held that paraded through Bandarawela Town. Both Schools displayed fine Cricket, healthy sportsmanship and large measures of Thomian grit and the Thomian spirit throughout the match.
GURU THOMIANS SHINE
At both the Zonal and the Provincial levels of the All Island Oriental Dancing and Ballet Competition 2010 the senior & junior dance troupes and the senior drama group emerged in 1st place and will be representing the Uva Province at the National event later this year. Mr. G. B. Prematilleke has trained the dancers and drummers since 2008 and they have emerged 1st at Zonal and Provincial level and 2nd at National level since then. The dancers perform the Low Country style best. STC Gurutalawa is the only School in the island to have Horse Riding as part of its extra curricular activities after equestrian sports were revived in 2007 by benefactor Mr Jacques Huyghebaert who gifted 4 horses to the School. 5 Thomians took part in the National Dressage Competition 2010 organised by the Sri Lanka Equestrian Society at the Premadasa Riding School in Nugegoda. Tharaka Jayatilleke emerged champion in Group C and won a gold medal while two others namely Heshan Jayawardene and Heshan Rajapakse won bronze medals emerging 3rd in their respective Group events. Mr Sampath Jayanath, the Riding Instructor trained the team that also won a number of places at the Competitions of 2009 at which Thomians participated for the first time. Members of the School's Karate Club have continued to bring distinction to the School under the direction of their Sensei Mr. Samantha Jayajeeva. While club members fared very well at various events in 2009, this year too they achieved success at Karate competitions held successively in Bibile, Ratnapura and most recently in Bandarawela. A. L. A. K. D. Liyanarachie, A. L. A. J. V. Liyanarachie, M. K. R. M. Perera and T. A. Samaratunga won gold medals and silver medals in either Kumithe or Katha while at the Bandarawela competition A. L. A. K. D. Liyanarachie was awarded the Blue Belt. The Under 18 Rugby Football team of the School participated in the Sri Lanka Schools All Island Under 18 (Division II) 10-a-Side Rugby Football Tournament 2010, held in Badulla and emerged Shield runners-up. The team was led by D. C. Senaratne and was coached by Mr V. W. Dikkumbura. In Swimming, despite the College Swimming Pool not being complete due to the lack of funds to embark on Phase 2 i.e. the tiling, the College Swimmers, coached by Fr Harold Goodchild, fared well at a tournament held at the Military Academy Pool in Diyatalawa earlier this year and won a number of medals.
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I glimpse afar, the chapel tower, My heartbeat quickens, I hurry on, Reaching at last the trellised gate, I gaze upon the cherished scene I'd longed to see. Thro' all those years of wondering it lived with me in memory's store The College I love so well. Junius - The return |
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Canon A.J.Foster |
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Last Updated 05th June 2011 |
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First Headmaster and Benefactor
