Colombo Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
The Colombo Rowing Club is the premier boat club
in Sri Lanka
having been founded in 1864. Its club house and boat house are located on the edge of the northern Beira Lake
, at Sir Chittapalam A. Gardiner Mawatha (formerly Parsons Road), in Colombo
.
Since its inception the Colombo Rowing Club has progressed into one of the most prestigious and active private member clubs in Sri Lanka. A distinctive feature has been that while the club's main sporting focus remains in rowing, social interaction and fellowship is also an important aspect. The club claims to be the cradle of rowing in Sri Lanka since most affiliated clubs of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka, governing body for rowing in Sri Lanka, started from the facilities and infrastructure that is available at the Colombo Rowing Club.
, the former Chief Justice of Ceylon and based on available records, the CRC claims to be the oldest club
in the island. The Colombo Rowing Club adopted the club colours of Oxford
: Oxford Blue and White. The membership of club was predominately made up on colonialists affiliated with the many government departments and plantations in the island.
In 1898, the first Boat Race took place between the Colombo Rowing Club and the Madras Boat Club
(now Chennai, India) and rivalry prevails till the present day. Thus, the boat race is considered second in vintage only to the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge boat race which is the world's oldest, continuing inter-institutional event.
With Ceylon gaining independence the club was opened up to more locals and Alavi Mohomed was selected as the first Ceylonese captain of the Club. In the 1950s and 1960s the club helped to introduce the sport to Royal College, S' Thomas' College and University of Colombo. The Club has hosted the annual Royal Thomian Regatta since 1962. The club commemorated its centenary year in 1964. The Colombo Rowing Club and the surrounding Beira Lake have hosted the Sri Lanka National Rowing Championships on twenty-four occasions till 2008. The National Championships have since moved to Bolgoda Lake which boasts a 2000m international distance course.
CRC won the overall championship at the Amateur Rowing Association of East Regatta 2011, which was hosted by the Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club, Sri Lanka
Boat club
A boat club is a sports club based around boats, especially rowing and yachting, but also canoeing, motor boats and other small boats....
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
having been founded in 1864. Its club house and boat house are located on the edge of the northern Beira Lake
Beira Lake
Beira Lake is a lake in the heart of the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The lake is surrounded by many important businesses in the city. It occupied approximately 165 hectares of land 100 years ago and has been reduced to mere 65 hectares today due to various reasons. During the colonial era of the...
, at Sir Chittapalam A. Gardiner Mawatha (formerly Parsons Road), in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
.
Since its inception the Colombo Rowing Club has progressed into one of the most prestigious and active private member clubs in Sri Lanka. A distinctive feature has been that while the club's main sporting focus remains in rowing, social interaction and fellowship is also an important aspect. The club claims to be the cradle of rowing in Sri Lanka since most affiliated clubs of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka, governing body for rowing in Sri Lanka, started from the facilities and infrastructure that is available at the Colombo Rowing Club.
History
The club was founded on the July 15, 1864 by Sir Edward CreasyEdward Shepherd Creasy
Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy was an English historian. He was born in Bexley, England. He was educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge and called to the Bar in 1837. In 1840, he began teaching history at the University of London. He was knighted in 1860 and assumed the position of...
, the former Chief Justice of Ceylon and based on available records, the CRC claims to be the oldest club
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
in the island. The Colombo Rowing Club adopted the club colours of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
: Oxford Blue and White. The membership of club was predominately made up on colonialists affiliated with the many government departments and plantations in the island.
In 1898, the first Boat Race took place between the Colombo Rowing Club and the Madras Boat Club
Madras Boat Club
The Madras Boat Club, located in the South of India, in the historic city of Chennai is one of the oldest rowing centres in India.-History:It was a few Englishmen in Madras who founded the club in 1867...
(now Chennai, India) and rivalry prevails till the present day. Thus, the boat race is considered second in vintage only to the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge boat race which is the world's oldest, continuing inter-institutional event.
With Ceylon gaining independence the club was opened up to more locals and Alavi Mohomed was selected as the first Ceylonese captain of the Club. In the 1950s and 1960s the club helped to introduce the sport to Royal College, S' Thomas' College and University of Colombo. The Club has hosted the annual Royal Thomian Regatta since 1962. The club commemorated its centenary year in 1964. The Colombo Rowing Club and the surrounding Beira Lake have hosted the Sri Lanka National Rowing Championships on twenty-four occasions till 2008. The National Championships have since moved to Bolgoda Lake which boasts a 2000m international distance course.
Present situation
There are 12 institutions currently using the facilities at the Colombo Rowing Club and the club extends all levels of support for the development of rowing. The club hosts many as 7 regattas throughout the year catering to novices, intermediates and senior oarsmen/women. The current president is Sanjaya Senarath with Varuna De Silva as captain.CRC won the overall championship at the Amateur Rowing Association of East Regatta 2011, which was hosted by the Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club, Sri Lanka
Regattas conducted
- Inaugural Regatta
- South-West Monsoon Regatta
- Head of the Beira Regatta
- Ranfer Sprints
- Inter-Monsoon Regatta
- North East Monsoon Regatta
- Closing Regatta
- Madras-Colombo Regatta
- Amateur Rowing Association of East Regatta
Regattas conducted at the Colombo Rowing Club
- Royal Thomian RegattaRoyal Thomian RegattaThe event generally known as Royal Thomian Regatta or The Regatta is the annual rowing race between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia having begun in 1962 as the Royal Thomian Boat Race that evolved into a regatta in 1966 and now is made up of 8 events.The races are rowed...
- University of ColomboUniversity of ColomboThe University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
vs University of MoratuwaUniversity of MoratuwaThe University of Moratuwa, located on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, is a technological university in Sri Lanka. Apart from the academics including the undergraduate and postgraduate studies, university of Moratuwa presents a variety of social and cultural... - Ladies College vs Museaus College
- Ananda CollegeAnanda CollegeAnanda College , Colombo which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
vs Asian International SchoolAsian International SchoolAsian International School , founded by the Ahimsa international is an International Schools in Bali, Indonesia. Located on the Jimbaran hillside, the purpose-built campus has an area of over 22,000 m2....
(The Battle of the 'A's)
Trivia
- Janaka Peiris, fondly known as Peiris, has been a boat boy of the rowing club for over 30 years and is considered a permanent fixture of the club with many members and oarsmen having their own "Peiris story"