Royal hosts 15th consecutive Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens this weekend

Friday, 20 October 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens will take place on 21 and 22 October at the Royal College grounds, Reid Avenue.

This is a highly anticipated event on the schools hockey calendar. Hockey-playing schools all over the island, both girls and boys, have taken part in the tournament over the years including teams from the districts of Jaffna, Matara and Badulla.

The first Blue & Gold All-island Hockey Sevens tournament was staged way back in 1992 sans a sponsor and it was a one-day affair and restricted to only the Boys’ category and had only 16 teams. However, after a lapse of 10 years and on the initiative of the two seniors of the Royal College Hockey Club (RCHC), namely the late Lionel Almeida (well-known in rugby circles) and Chandi Chanugam, both vice presidents of the club, the committee re-commenced the tournament.

Then Singer Sri Lanka, a pioneer in supporting and promoting sports in Sri Lanka for so many decades, placed their confidence in the meticulous and professional approach of the Royal College Hockey Club and gave a huge boost to the tournament. As the main sponsor over the last 15 years, Singer Sri Lanka has seen the game growing by leaps and bounds.

The participation of almost 60 teams, comprising 36 boys’ and 24 girls’ schools, is testimony to the success of the tournament. The invaluable contribution made by the main sponsor Singer Sri Lanka, other co-sponsors and well-wishers has gone a long way towards improving and popularising the game all over the island.

The two-day tournament over the weekend will see over 125 games and the tournament is backed by the main sponsor, co-sponsors, advertisers, the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association, the Education Ministry, the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF), the Colombo Hockey Association, the SLHF umpires committee and the general public, who have contributed much to the success of the tournament.

An exciting and highly competitive tournament is on the cards at this hockey extravaganza on 21 and 22 October at the Royal College grounds at Reid Avenue.

Interestingly, hosts Royal College are the leaders in the winners category of the cup championship, having won it three times. Vijaya College, Matale and Joseph Vaz College have won twice while Zahira College Matale, Wesley College, Vidyartha College, Kandy, St. Thomas’ College, Matale, Nalanda College, Kingswood College, Ananda College and Trinity College having won it once.

In the girls’ category, Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya have won it six times, Pushpadana Balika Vidyalaya four times with Vijaya College Matale, St. Anthonys Girls’ College, Kandy and Janadhipathi Balika, Nawala having each won it once.

St. Anthony’s College, Kandy and Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa will take part in this prestigious tournament for the first time this year.