The Air Force team emerged National Rowing Champions for the first time in the eight year history of Air Force Rowing by winning Two Gold medals, One Silver medal and Two Bronze medals in the Men’s Open Category at the 27th National Rowing Championships which was concluded on 17th September at the Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club. Thus, the SLAF team won the Gerry De Silva Trophy awarded to the Champion team of the Men’s Open category.

In addition to winning the Men’s Open Category the Air Force team were able to retain the Maj. General Percy Fernando Memorial Trophy awarded to the winners of the Men’s Over 19 age category by winning Two Gold medals, Two Silver medals and Two Bronze medals.

The victory for the Championship Trophy was not easily won. The Men’s Open Fours event was a Photo finish, and after the row down of 2000 meters the Air Force crew edged the S.Thomas’ Crew out by a mere half a second.

The Air Force team was coached by Mr.Rishane Fernando.

The final medals tally of the two categories read as follows.

Men’s Open Category

                                                                                                                       

Institution	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Position
Sri Lanka Air Force	02	01	02	1st
Colombo Rowing Club	02	-	01	2nd
Sri Lanka Navy	-	02	-	3rd
S.Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia	-	01	-	4th

Men’s Over 19 Age Category

                                                                                               

Institution	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Position
Sri Lanka Air Force	02	02	02	1st
Sri Lanka Navy	02	01	01	2nd
University of Moratuwa	-	01	01	3rd

The Medal Winners of the events.

MENS OPEN CATEGORY
EVENT	CREW RANK	CREW NAME	POSITION	MEDAL
Coxless Four	SLAF-A	LAC BTA Fernando	Two	Gold
		Sgt C Aloysius	Stroke
		LAC KSTSN Kariyawasam	Three
		LAC WGL Jayarathna	Bow
Coxless Pair	SLAF-A	LAC BTA Fernando	Stroke	Gold
		LAC KSTSN Kariyawasam	Bow
	SLAF-B	LAC AAD Sandaruwan	Stroke	Bronze
		LAC STN Batagolla	Bow
Double Scull	SLAF-A	Cpl RMU Ranasinghe	Bow	Bronze
		Cpl TMLP Tharanga	Stroke
Single Scull	SLAF-A	LAC RKK Chandrakumara	Scull	Silver
MENS OVER 19 AGE CATEGORY
EVENT	CREW RANK	CREW NAME	POSITION	MEDAL
Coxless Four	SLAF-A	LAC AAD Sandaruwan	Stroke	Gold
		LAC HDS Samaraweera	Two
		LAC KG Sanjeewa	Three
		Cpl RMU Ranasinghe	Bow
		LAC STN Batagolla	Cox
Coxless Pair	SLAF-A	LAC HDS Samaraweera	Stroke	Silver
		LAC KG Sanjeewa	Bow
Double Scull	SLAF-B	LAC Jayarathna	Stroke	Silver
		LAC Walpita	Bow
	SLAF-A	LAC IRB Gayan	Stroke	Bronze
		LAC RMGK Ekanayake	Bow
Single Scull	SLAF-A	LAC RKK Chandrakumara	Scull	Gold
	SLAF-B	Sgt C Aloysius	Scull	Bronze