Martial arts king

By Ravi Nagahawatte

His presence alone would be enough to unnerve an opponent. He seems to begin the attack with small firearms and resort later to heavy firearms action.

His kicks act like guided missiles and his arms are often put to use as one would utilise a steel-plated shield in a sword fight. These are only a few weapons in his 'armoury' which also contains bone-crunching punches, arm-breaking locks and swift body movements which often leave his opponents bewildered.

When all these descriptions are put together it could define only one man in the local martial arts scene. He is none other than Anthony Charles.

Despite the attention he gets for his six-foot-three-and-a-half inch height coupled with the immense talent in fighting, Charles remained unknown in the martial arts field before he got an opportunity to act in the film Blood Sport III. However, as he recalls how the doors opened for this big break, he also remembers an eventful story which is good enough to be a part in the film itself.

"Several martial arts experts had come down to Sri Lanka to select a talented fighter for the role of Chai in the film.

I was the last to be interviewed and as I walked in I realised that the film directors were not in a good mood.

They wanted to test my knowledge in martial arts and made me perform two minutes of shadow fighting. I think that I did it," said Charles who is the World United Martial Arts Association's local representative in Sri Lanka.

His performance that day caught the eyes of the selectors which eventually led him to be selected to play a supporting role along with Daniel Burnheart, the main actor.

The major part of the film was shot in Sri Lanka and according to Charles, shooting had taken 17 days. He also revealed that it would take two to three years for the film to be shown in local theatres.

Anthony's interest in martial arts had begun at a very young age. In fact he had focused all his attention on the sport and there was nothing left to give to the fair sex.

Anthony's mother, his best friend according to him, had sometimes inquired from him as to why he had to train so hard. He had never told her how hard his training sessions were. "Once I cracked a bone in my arm while attempting to break some tiles. I never told my mother. She came to know about it in the night when I was groaning in my sleep".

The youngest in a family of nine, Charles had inherited his father's factory, which manufactures brass products.

Today he lives alone in his parent's house - both his parents are dead - and all his sisters and brothers are married and settled down. Anthony's business boomed after he took over it's administration eight years ago. With Charles' hard work the business churned out good money. As the profits accumulated, Charles bought a van, but little did he know about the disaster which was to occur to a friend of his with an accident involving this vehicle.

"I was going to inquire about an order with a friend in my vehicle. It was a rainy day and the van skidded making it slide straight on to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

That driver did not deviate from the lane he was travelling, thinking that we were fooling around. I think he thought that we would pull out of his way at the last moment.

The two vehicles collided and my friend suffered the most. He died on his way to hospital".

This fatal accident had a lasting impact on Anthony for many months. The mental and physical pain caused by the loss of a loved one had made him emotionally upset.

"Slowly I went into training and it helped me to recover from that bad period. I learnt that one can take up any kind of disappointment through martial arts."

The year 1997 held much for Charles to talk about his exposure at international events.

'The man mountain' had begun promisingly in his very first tournament and had entered the final round during the European Cup in England.

"Both me and my opponent were disqualified as we did not adhere to the rules. I was sad that I had to turn back".

However he made up for the lost opportunity in the following tour - The British Open - by finishing as the runner-up. "I lost by two points," said Charles who also added that both contestants suffered injuries in the finals.

Currently he has plans of entering the European Championship which is to be staged in England in May.

"There is no discrimination once you are in the fighting ring," says Charles. "No one bothers about race, colour or creed. The best man wins".

Lara rejoins the gods

By Simon Wilde

Perhaps, in this fin de siecle moment, we kid ourselves about the importance of the times in which we live. An article in Wisden Cricket Monthly tells us that we are witnessing the game's golden age.

But something extraordinary did seem to take place at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. A man fought for his position, his reputation and that of his region, and won. Could Brian Lara's double century against Australia be the greatest innings ever played?

Consider the facts. Lara knew that with the second Test he had reached the point of no return as West Indies captain. Under him, they had been given an unprecedented 5-0 drubbing in South Africa, then lost the first Test in Trinidad by a crushing margin. They were all out for 51, their lowest total. Lara's remarks that his team would reclaim the Worrell Trophy that Australia had only "borrowed" looked foolish.

Seemingly, he had few friends left. Michael Holding and Colin Croft were dishing out verbal bouncers, damning the decision to reappoint him captain. A report in the Weekend Independent in Lara's native Trinidad claimed reliable imformation that Shivnarine Chanderpaul would take charge for the third Test. Nor did the local Express offer comfort: "From 501 to 51; What a difference a zero makes!"

Even if the general demise of West Indies cricket was being overstated, the Test team clearly had problems. With Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper unavailable, the 11 that took the field at Kingston contained two debutants and three making their second appearances. It was the most inexperienced West Indies side for 20 years.

The press scented Lara's blood. Two nights before the game, he was spotted in a nightclub at 1.30am; the next morning he was observed arriving late for practice. Little matter that he had been for treatment on a sore wrist, which will prevent him playing for Trinidad this weekend. When he lost the toss to Steve Waugh, Lara supposedly said:"Thank goodness I will not have to go through this again." It was not quite a one-man show. Thanks to the pressure applied by Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, Australia were confined to 256 and West Indies were in the game.

But not for long. In a hellish hour before stumps, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie each struck an early blow, Lara entered to boos from a Jamaican crowd still sensitive to his appropriation of Walsh's throne, and West Indies slid to 34 for four and the brink of obliteration.

Consider if Lara had got out that evening. His side would have fallen well behind on first innings and Australia would surely have gone on to win the match and retain the Worrell Trophy. Cricket is the most cohesive force in the Caribbean and the public mood, already low, would have plummeted. A long road to recovery would have lain ahead and Lara's captaincy would have been doomed.

From the start, however, Lara looked good. He builds on rock, as he did with his Test world record of 375 against England five years ago, laying the foundations stone by stone. Not that the West Indies board noticed. Perhaps already resigned to another defeat, it chose the next morning to announce that it was setting up courses to prepare its captains better for leadership, a tacit admission that it did not think Lara up to the job. It's timing could not have been more insensitive.

Lara was still focused when he resumed, withstanding a testing examination from Glenn McGrath, his nemesis. The session brought just 69 runs and although Pedro Collins, the nightwatchman, retired hurt, Jimmy Adams, the local favourite, stayed with his captain until lunch. West Indies were pulling together.

Waugh read the danger signs and asked McGrath and Shane Warne to put in a big effort after the interval. McGrath lured Lara into a flying edge to second slip that Mark Waugh might have held, but by the time he had passed 50, Lara was buzzing.

His assault on the spinners was ferocious. This Australian attack has been praised as one of the deadliest the game has seen: two speedsters, two leggies, match-winners all.

After West Indies' death by pace in Trinidad, it was reckoned Kingston would be a carnival for Warne and Stuart MacGill. Off them, Lara would plunder more than 100 runs. Both finished the day looking shellshocked and Warne is now receiving counselling from Terry Jenner, his coach.

The crowd of 8,000 swung round to Lara in a trice. They started cheering every run, the reggae bands went into full cry. Lara's first Test hundred for two years, brought up with a dangerous single that required clearance from the third umpire, was greeted by a crowd invasion and a bear-hug from Walsh while he waited for the verdict.

West Indies had not batted through a day as a team for six Tests; Lara and Adams were now to take them through the rest of this dramatic and wildly implausible day. At 227 for four at tea, there was still much to do. If Lara was out then, they would struggle for much of a lead and be vulnerable in the fourth inning. Lara on 113 needed a double century. In the final session, he duly delivered. Sadly, the ensuing celebrations denied him due acknowledgment.

Australia's body language during this chastening period was a sight to behold, world champions broken in spirit and bankrupt of ideas. Only McGrath kept up the fight, hurrying a bouncer through Lara's defences and bruising the back of his head. On impact, Lara dropped his bat but fortune was now smiling on the West Indies captain. It could have fallen on to his stumps; instead it fell out of harm's way. Lara's response was typical, defiantly driving the next ball to the boards. Every time the Australians hit him, he hit back.

McGrath had his revenge next morning but by then it was too late. Australia's resolve had dispersed amid the whirr of Lara's blade and they slid to a 10-wicket defeat early on the fourth morning. It was like the old days of contests between the sides. A banner on the ground read: "What a difference a day makes - 24 little hours."

Waugh, who must pick up the pieces before the series resumes this week, was reluctant to accord the inning special status but conceded that, in view of circumstances, there can have been few better.

He felt his bowlers might have been guilty of overattacking Lara, another way of saying that had they got him out earlier it would have been game over.

The Caribbean woke from a bad dream that had been going on since Lara led a players' revolt over pay and conditions before the South Africa tour. Lara at Last! said the Trinidad Express. King Lara Discovers Royal Form, said the Barbados Nation. "With West Indies cricket on the verge of collapse .....Lara almost single-handedly turned the series around with arguably his best Test innings ever," said Guyana's Stabroek News . "He batted with the deep concentration of a George Headley and the breathtaking flair of a Rohan Kanhai."

Trinidad's party leaders interrupted parliamentary business to praise Lara. "Your leadership is refreshing and inspirng," said Patrick Manning, who heads the opposition. Twenty-four little hours indeed.

Lara was yesterday confirmed as captain for the remaining games with Australia. Michael Findlay, the chairman of selectors, said he had shown "marked improvement in his relationship with the management and members of the team on and off the field." And surely he has demonstrated that at the centre of his complex personality resides a steel core.

He, like Waugh, was reluctant to put this inning ahead of his majestic 277 at Sydney six years ago. Perhaps technically better, it hardly carried the make-or-break risk of last week's effort. But Lara named his daughter Sydney in memory of it. If he has another girl, he might consider Sabina.

Anthonian shuttlers undertake HK tour

The St. Anthony's Katugastota shutte team embarked on a 14-day tour of Hong Kong yesterday. The team comprised of seven players and four officials.

The Anthonian shuttlers will be playing five matches while on tour starting against the Li Pe Chun United World College on April 14 followed with matches against Hong Kong Junior team at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Foton on April 15..

Their third match will be against the Kiangsu Cheking College in Shatin on April 16 followed with the match the next day against the City University team in Kowloon.

The final match will be played against the Hong Kong Badminton Association at HKSI in Fotan on April 20 and return to Sri Lanka on April 25.

The team will comprise:

Gayan - 17 years under 17 singles runner up and doubles champions at the Sri Lanka Junior nation championships in 1998. Under 15 singles and doubles champion at the Sri Lanka Schools junior nationals in 1997.

Under 15 singles and doubles champion at the Sri Lanka nationals in 1998. Member of the under 16 A divisin winning team 1998.

Amila - 15 years - under 15 singles and doubles champion at the Sri Lanka Junior national in 1998. Under 13 singles and doubles champion at the Sri Lanka junior nationals in 1997.

Under 13 singles and doubles champion at the Sri Lanka Junior nationals in 1997. Member of the under 14 A division champion team in 1996, 97 and 98. Member of the under 16 A division champion team in 1997, 98. Member of the National Schools Games winning team in 1998.

Devaka - 15 years old. Under 15 doubles runner up at the Sri Lanka junior nationals 1998. Under 13 runner up in the singles and winner of the doubles at the Sri Lanka National championships in 1997.

Under 13 doubles champion at the Sri Lanka schools nationls in 1997. Member of the under 14 A division winning team in 1995, 96, 97 and 98. Member of the under 16A division winning team in 1997, 98. Member of the National School games winning team.

Liyanage - 15 years old. Member of the under 14 A division winning team in 1997, 98 Member of the under 12 A division runner up team in 1995, 96.

Tharindu - 13 years old. Under 11 singles runner up at the Sri Lanka junior nationals in 1997. Member of the under 12 A division runner up team in 1997, 98.

Nadeesha - 13 years old. Under 11 singles runner up at the Sri Lanka schools junior nationals in 1997. Member of the under 12 A division runer up team in 1997, 98.

Goshanth - 15 years Member of the under 12 A division runner up team, 1997, 98.

Hilarian Fernando O. S. B. Principal, St Anthony's, Lionel Peiris,Secretary Sports Club (OBA). Chintaka Fernando (Coach),Mrs. Nilanthi Wijesinghe, (Teacher in-charge Badmintion) and Bank of Ceylon Katugastota are partly sponsoring this tour.

Letter

The futility of our sports

One need not possess an Aristotle brain to know the cause or causes for the general decadence of performing standards in our major sports, particularly at international competitions.

Few individual achievements and that too after 26 years does not place our sports in it's correct perspective. On the other hand it clearly reflects the futility of our sports beyond any doubt.

Bar cricket, team sports have touched the nadir in performing levels as we read in the media the humiliating defeats at the hands of potty sub-regional outfits with monotonous regularity. As much as we are getting used to massacre and mayhem in our country as an unconcerned feature, competitive defeats in the sports day after day with careless bother has come to stay with us notwithstanding the euphoria, rewards and honours bestowed for 'once in a blue moon' achievement as a sinister cover for our putrid performing standards.

Three decades to win a medal at Asian level and over five decades without a remotest success at Olympic level cuts our sports into realistic size.

Deterioration

The denial by design to keep away genuine high quality past sportsmen and sportswomen from the reigns of sports is undoubtedly a major cause for the deterioration of our sports in recent years.

Indeed it seems a paradox to say that with the abundance of ex-international stars of merit and distinction, available to serve the sport, yet made unavailable by manoeuvre and machinations of a few. The time honoured and time tested procedure to get at the best through a process of qualification, achievement, and proven experience, takes a backseat when it comes to sports management.

Why on earth do we call for qualification and proven achievements and experience when applicants are called for any level of employment? Isn't it to recruit the ideal person? The best for the organisation? Do we ignore these requisites and go for, the mediocre, the average or the nincompoop? Why oh why in Gods name do we not enforce these norms when it comes to sports management?

A cursory glance at national sports association and those holding high positions in them, will clearly show the influx of the mediocre at best and total pretenders at worst. It is exactly for this reason that K.B. Ratnayake during his tenure in office as minister for sports that he legislated the sports laws in which the requirements for officials to hold office in sports bodies must necessarily have had actively taken part in the respective sport and that too at a major level. The only exemption being the post of the Treasurer. I ask the present minister for sports to declare publicly if he is true to his own conscience, the qualifications of the present holders of the top seats in the national sports associations. I shall put my neck on the block if he could show ten percent of these officials in the premier bodies that falls within the terms of the sports law.

A loss

Since cricket is the main topic of the day, lets have a very brief look at the administration sans any prejudice whatsoever. First we must accept that sports is purely a technical subject and only a fraction of it, the element of administration. We have turned the apex upside down for the benefit of the fakes, wits, pretenders and the mediocre. Here is a sport that has a plethora of excellent past players good enough not only to administer the sport but guide its destiny too. Would anyone with a sense of wisdom or judgment deny persons of the calibre of Stanley Jayasinghe, Berty Wijesinghe, Mahes Rodrigo, Neil Chanmugam, Vernon Prins, C.I. Gunasekera, P.I. Pieris, Michael Tissera, C.H. Gunasekera, H.I.K. Fernando to name only a few, the reigns of cricket administration.

By nature sportsmen of that standing and repute do not get involved in sports politics nor would they like to mess around with mediocrites or politically trumped up individuals or for that matter the politician himself. It is the mediocre and the average that seeks the cover and support of the politician and this is the bane of our sports. Those who say that a good sportsman would not make a good administrator is not only extending tacit support for individuals for reasons of their own but also simply talking poppy cock.

To hear of Stanley Jayasinghe engrossed with the wilds of Tanamalwila or the likes of Prins, C.I., Michael, laze in reminiscence is not only an irrefutable loss to the game but also to the sport in general.

Mirrored against these illustrious names have we had anyone remotely near in that bracket of expertise and experience within the last decade? It is evident that the Ministry decides who should rule and those willing to play ball has the day. Unless Her Excellency steps in and save sports from the clutches of a faltering and failing ministry, the field will remain a haven for the selfish, egoist and the exploiter.

Record field

Organisers of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games have set an Olympic record of their own by allowing an unprecedented number of women to compete.

Organisers said today that the Sydney Games would boast a record 3,906 women athletes, despite fielding 423 fewer athletes overall than the 1996 Atlanta Games, the largest ever.

A total of 10,321 athletes from 200 countries and territories will compete for 300 gold medals in Sydney, they said. The number of medal events is up from Atlanta's 271, and the 200 teams will beat the 197 that took part in Atlanta. The number of women athletes compared with 3,683 in Atlanta. The number of men has been cut from 7,061 to 6,416 and will represent 62 percent of the total. Two new sports have been added to the Sydney programme, taekwondo and triathlon, which are both open to women and men .

Women will be allowed to compete for the first time in a number of sports and disciplines, including water polo, pole vault, hammer, modern pentathlon and weightlifting.

Cricket and critics

Cricket has become a spectator sport now. If the cricketers know on which side the toast is buttered they will do well to play entertaining cricket to keep the spectator happy and thrilled hopping and jumping around the stadium with waving flags. All in all it is the spectator who pays for all the goodies a cricketer enjoys.

A cricketer who plays for personal glory, money and the bookmaker and aims to provide statistics to wisden and CEAT is a born loser and is a threat to the game of cricket. He is only a robot for compiling tables and averages.

The general cricketing public does not judge a cricketer so much by the runs he gets but by the way he gets them. There may be many runs in a game of cricket but how it is compiled is the rub. In cricket huge totals may be associated with dull and insipid play.

In recent years it has been seen that cricket has bean aflicted with creeping paralysis. Cricket has lost its joyous adventure. The players have become mere robots chasing points and averages and the inevitable filthy lucre.

There are drab cricketers who turn out runs like factory machines without emotion. There is no flair nor flourish in their strokes and no colour no enthusiasm nor character in their play. Cricket is no adventure to them but only business. There are some cricketers, whose cricketing technique is astonishingly perfect but the soul of the game is not in them.

The present day players do not bring sunshine, no swift surprise nor splendid unselfishness to the game. Without these things, without gaiety, daring and the spirit of sacrifice cricket will not survive the 21st century.

A cricketer is like Santa Clause. He is not a miser who hoards runs but a millionaire spending them lavishly blending it with skill, care and caution at times.

It is as though his pockets are bursting with runs that he wants to shower on the expectant multitude that has come to see play, and enjoy his cricketing prowess.

New thinking is necessary on the game of cricket. Cricket is a game with vast potential as a crowd entertainer and it should be resurrected. The global cricketing fraternity should get together and work out some strategy which will make the game of cricket more appealing and attractive to the people.

Take Vogts as head coach

German Soccer Federation (DFB) president Egidius Braun has advised his Austrian counterpart Beppo Mauhart to hire Berti Vogts as Austria's head coach, daily Bild reported.

According to Bild, Braun made the suggestion to Mauhart to hire the former Germany coach when the two had dinner together on Tuesday in (Herzogenaurach). southern Germany.

"The best for Austrian football would be to take Vogts as a successor to (Herbert) Prohaska," Bild quoted Braun as telling Mauhart. "The advantage with Berti is that he would give Austrian football new structures."

Prohaska resigned as Austria's coach on Monday, two days after his side's humiliating 9-0 defeat by Spain in an European championship qualifier.

Vogts stepped down last September in the wake of Germany's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Croatia. (Reuter)

Old Royalists Table Tennis Championsip at S. Thomas' Gymnasium

TT titles for Sri Devananda and St. Joseph's Balika Vidyalaya

By S.M.D.Sirisena

Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda and St.Joseph's Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda won the Under 19 boys and girls table tennis championships respectively at the competitions conducted by the Old Royal Table Tennis Club which took place at S. Thomas' Gymnasium.

In addition, Devananda College carried away the under 12 boys' championship as well. St Joseph's B.M.V missed the golden opportunity of winning the doubles crown when the under 12 team lost to Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda.

In the under 19 girls' final St. Joseph's B.M.V beat Visaka Vidyalaya 3-0. Maulee Pieris who crossed over from St.Joseph's B.M.V lost to her former partner Akushala Buddhini in straight sets. In the under 19 boys' final Devananda beat former champion Vidyartha by 3-1, Devananda also beat Vidyartha in under 12 final. Sri Lanka national poolist K.S.T.Chalitha won all the matches he took part in.

Results

Boys' under 12 'A' Division: Devananda College Ambalangoda 'A' beat Vidyartha College Kandy 'A' by 3-1. Sajith Priyadarshana beat Gihan Liyanage 18-21, 21-17, 21-17. Chamara Chathuranga beat Gayan Liyanage 21-16, 24-22. Sajith Priyadarshana and Lahiru Darshaka lost to Gayan Liyanage and Mangala Wimalasiri 19-21, 19-21. Sajith Priyadarshana beat Gayan Liyanage 21-14, 21-11.

'B' Division: Royal College 'C' beat Devananda 'B' 3-O. 'C' Division: Aluthgama M.V 'A' beat Isipatana 'C' 3-1. 'D' Division: Kingswood 'F' beat Bandaranayaka M.V. Gampaha 'A' 3-2. 'F Division: Wariyapola Sri Sumangala 'A' beat Thakshila M.V. Horana 3-0.

Boys' - 'A'Division: under I9 Sri Devananda College beat Vidyartha 'A' 3-1. K.S.T.Chalitha (Devananda) beat I.T.Gunapala (Vidyartha), 21-23, 21-18, 21-17. K.S.T.Lakshan (Devananda) beat Nirmala Jayasingha (Vidyartha) 21-19, 21-17. K.S.T.Chalitha and W.G.H.Anushka lost to Nirmala Jayasingha and N.R.B .Dikkumubura 17-21, 21-17, 19-21. K.S.T.Chalitha beat Nirmala Jayasingha 21-17, 21 -23, 21- 18.

'B' Division: St.John's College Nugegoda beat Sri Devananda 3-0. 'C' Division: Dharmaraja College beat Sri Sumangala M.V Kandy 3-1. 'D' Division: Bandaranayaka M.V Gampaha beat St. John's Nugegoda 3-O. 'E' Division: Bandaranayaka M.V Gampaha 'B' beat Ananda Central College Elpitiya 3-O. 'F' Division: Ananda Central College Elpitiya 'B' team beat St. Peter's College "A ' 3-1.

Girls' - Under 12 'A' Division: Dharmasoka Ambalangoda beat St. Joseph's Nugegoda 3-2. Sanduni Kawitilaka lost to Wasana Sandarekha 21-17, 8-21, 15-21. Nelumi Gunasekara beat Madushani Perera 18-21, 21-16, 21-16. Nellumi Gunasekara and Angara Kularathna lost to Wasana Sandarekha and Irunika Priyadarshni 18-21, 13-21. Nelumi Gunasekara beat Wasana Sandarekha 21-18, 14- 21, 21-10. Saduni Kawitilake beat Madushani Perera 21 - 16, 21-11.

'B' Division: Dharmasoka 'B' beat Mahamaya Kandy 'B' 3-2. 'C' Division: Southland Vidyalaya Galle beat Mahamaya B.M.V. 'C' 3-O. 'D' Division: St. Mary's Convent Matara beat Sirimavo Bandaranaike B.V 3-0. 'E' Division: Devi Balika Vidyalaya beat Ferguson High School, Ratnapura 3-0.

Under 19 'A' Division: St.Joseph's College Nugegoda 'A' team beat Visakha Vidyalaya 'A' team 3-0. Pradeepa Dilrukshi beat Geeshika Perera 21-19, 23-25, 21-15. Akushala Buddini beat Mawlee Pieris 21-15, 21-08. Pradeepa Dilrukshi and Sarasi Yasanga beat Mawlee Pieris and Nuwangi Aponso 21-16,19-21,21-12.

'B' Division: High .school Mount Lavinia beat Girls' High School Kandy 3-2. 'C' Division: Pushpadana Girls' College Kandy beat Samuddradevi B.V 3-1. 'D' Division: Sangamiththa B.V Aluthgama beat Southland Galle 3-2.' E' Division: Sangamiththa B.V. Galle beat Ladies' College 3-1. "F' Division: Sirimavo Bandaranaike B.V beat Sangamiththa Galle 3-1.

Fallen heroes of an unforgiving game

By David Walsh

Edward O'Grady says he will always remember the crescendo of noise as his novice Nick Dundee and the Noel Chance trained Looks Like Trouble surged clear of their rivals at the top of the hill in the Royal & Sun Alliance Novices Chase. It was a moment which promised greatness but, sadly, there would be no fulfilment.

O' Grady has not been able to watch the race on video but the memories will not be easily banished: that awful moment when the seven - year - old hit the fence; the fraction - of - a - second wait to see if he could correct himself and the realisation that he was coming down.

Then there was the stillness in the crowd after Looks Like Trouble had passed the post. Most racegoers remained where they were, their eyes trained on the green screen erected around Nick Dundee. Too often, that screen is the prelude to untimely death. Thankfully, Nick Dundee's injury was not that serious.

Nevertheless, few felt in the mood to welcome the latest Festival winner back to the enclosure. Nick Dundee's injury was serious and he is unlikely ever to race again.

Because Nick Dundee fell when racing so majestically and on the brink of his greatest triumph, his injury was the Festival's lowest point. Teeton Mill's exit from the Gold Cup was not far behind, because the tendon injury that caused it may have ended his career. Before Cheltenham his speed and athleticism had brightened a gloomy winter.

Racehorse owners pay a high price for their pleasure and here we are not talking about the monthly cheque to the trainer. John Mangier could afford 10 or 20 of the most expensive chasers but there was only one Nick Dundee. Immediately after the fall, Magnier waited with the trainer for the hour it took to get the horse ready for his journey to the equine hospital at Lambourn.

Like all of the top trainers, O'Grady is no stranger to the disappointment of losing a good horse. He remembers the day he first time went to Eugene O'Sullivan's stables in Co Cork to see Nick Dundee: "I went because we had had to put down Ventana Canyon that morning and I just wanted to get away from the place. I just couldn't believe what I found. I thought, 'May be there's a God after all'."

Nobody knows what the future holds for Nick Dundee but he did have a remarkable engine. Lord Of the River had set a strong pace but Williamson told O'Grady afterwards that he was only doing half-speed when he fell.It was sobering and interesting to hear a respected racing man offer the view on Wednesday that the horse did not jump well enough to win a Gold Cup. "He was on the bridle when he made that mistake at the third last," he said. "If he couldn't jump it then he wouldn't have had a hope when going full tilt in a Gold Cup. Because of what's happened, he will be remembered as an even better horse than he was."

The same could perhaps be said of other great young horses cut down before having the chance to fulfil thesmselves. One remebers Fred Winter's novice chaser Killiney, David Nicholson's outstanding young hurdler The Mighty Mogul and maybe the greatest of them all, O'Grady's Golden Cygnet. It is 21 years since Boots Madden ever so gently let go of Golden Cygnet's head in the Supreme Novices hurdle at the Festival. Away he cruised to a runaway victory. It was startling.

He then went for the Scottish Champion Hurdle, where he took on the giants of the day, Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon. Almost a generation later, O'Grady has not forgotton the fall: "He was quite a horse. He would have won three or four Champion Hurdles, the greatest horse I was lucky enough to train. I was very young at the time, very naive. I just thought I would go out and get another champion the following day. It doesn't happen like that. It is now two days since Nick Dundee's injury and I still feel numb. It isn't easy to find an exceptional horse but this stable has done it before and we will do it again.'

As will Venetia Williams and all the other trainers who led away injured horses. They accept the downside because there are enough highs, enough heroic moments, to make it all worthwhile. Likewise for the rest of us. What shall be remembered from the Cheltenham just passed? Hors La Loi's remarkable performance in the Supreme Novices. Istabraq's imperious defiance in retaining his title, Mick Fitzgerald's coolness on Call Equiname, the sheer brilliance of Barton and that punishing battle up the hill, after which See More Business had a Gold Cup and Go Ballistic had many new admirers. But a race that may be transcended by all the others was the duel between Castele Mane and Elegant Lord in the Foxhunters.

This was a steeplechase to remind us of where this whole lark began. "My horse is better than yours," Castel Mane's pilot, Ben Pollock, seemed to say to Philip Fenton early in the race. "We'll see," Elegant Lord seemed to reply. We did. They went at it hell for leather, almost two miles of never say die spirit from two great horses. Turning for home, Castle Mane's gallop burned off the challenger but no true follower of the sport will remember Elegant Lord as a loser. He had been a magnificent runner-up. You think, then, of Nick Dundee and Teeton Mill and, with a certain sadness, you know the unforgiving game is worth the candle.

Sir Oliver at First Aid parade

By S. Sivendran

In 1960 when I was attached to Mount Lavinia Police, Asst. Supt. of Police, in charge Mr. Ainseley Bartholomeusz, was a quiet and reserved officer who came on transfer from the CID after having served there for a long period and was very much unlike the uniformed police officers.

He succeeded S.D. Chandrasinghe who was one of the few officers who had the distinction of being promoted to the rank of ASP having joined the Police as a constable. He went on transfer to the Prime Minister's Security Division.

Whilst at Mount Lavinia one of my tasks was to check on all the civilians who were licensed firearm holders. There was a list of firearm holders at the Police Station and periodical physical checks were maintained by the Police. This exercise gave me the rare privilege of visiting Kandawela Estate, the residence of Sir John Kotelawala, former Prime Minister of Ceylon and a very colourful political personality, living in retirement from his very exciting and active political career and who too possessed a licensed firearm. Meeting him was a real experience with his outspoken attitude and humourous approach. He always put you at ease with his warm hospitality and took great pride in taking you around his estate where his pets were many animals and birds and I became a frequent visitor to his abode.

Here, I had the fortune of meeting some of his elite friends such as E.B. Sathurakulasinghe, a leading lawyer and his enchanting wife Emy, Leslie De Silva, an Air Ceylon pilot with his pretty wife Pearl, Stanley Fernando, a pilot and a flying instructor at the Ratmalana Air Academy who was known amongst the flying fraternity as 'Jinx Pilot' for one day whilst he was flying over Colombo his plane developed engine trouble and he safely landed the plane at the Colombo Race Course. During that time there was horse racing in Sri Lanka.

His charming wife was Heather, younger sister of Camelia Pereira who became Miss Ceylon. Heather too was fair, tall pretty and elegant and could have easily become a beauty queen, but her husband Stanley would never hear of it. We are still great friends. Another interesting personality was George Kotelawala, a cousin of Sir John who lived in and looked after Kandawela Estate. He was a great party man full of fun at whose house we spent many an interesting evening.

The Air Academy and the Air Port Club attracted several personalities of varying professions like Dr. Grillmeyer from Vienna who was a specialist Neuro Psychiatrist who became a good friend of mine and several planters including Regie Roberts from Kelani Valley who was a regular visitor during the weekends.

Whilst being attached to Mount Lavinia I represented the Mount Lavinia District at the St. John's Ambulance First Aid Competition and ceremonial parade which is annually organised by the Police at the Police Park, Bambalapitiya with all the pomp and pageantry at which the Governor General was the chief guest.

This celebration goes on for one week where First Aid teams from all the Police Districts in the Island compete. A team consists of one Inspector, one Sub Inspector who is the leader with one Sergeant and two Constables who bring with them a well equipped First Aid hamper made of cane and a stretcher both of uniform size. During the week regular parade is held in streatcher drill in the mornings and evenings and all the participating teams tested in First Aid by a team of doctors including the Police Surgeon, assisted by SSP in Charge of Police Depot Tommy Kelart and ASP Depot Colin Vandendriesen. The winning team is awarded the Police First Aid Challenge Trophy by the Governor General.

The finale is the First Aid Ceremonial Parade which is very colourful with the participating teams marching with stretchers to the music of the Police Band. This is followed by displays by the Police Mounted Division led by "Inspector Hugh Bagot, who was a fine horseman and who participated at the Queen's Coronation Parade, Police Kennels Display led by Inspector Ranjith Wanninayake and Crime Prevention and Traffic Accident Prevention Demonstrations by the Police Headquarters Traffic and Crimes Division.

In 1960 the chief guest was Sir Oliver Goonatileke, the Governor General with C.C. Dissanayake DIG Rank I in charge of the entire parade. DIG L.I. De Silva commanded the parade on horseback.

More Sports

Return to Sports Contents Page