RCHC hosts 17th Prestigious Blue and Gold Hockey 7s on Oct. 13-14
The 17th edition of the Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens organised by Royal College, Colombo in collaboration with the Royal College Hockey Club ( RCHC) will take place on October 13 and 14 from 8.00am onwards at the Royal College main grounds at Reid Avenue.
This fascinating all island hockey tournament is a much- anticipated hockey extravaganza featuring the participation of both boys’ and girls’ schools across the island. This tournament provides the young and energetic players coming from diverse backgrounds with the unique opportunity and exposure of displaying their skills and talents in an arena that has not only caught the limelight in the hockey fraternity of the nation but is also an eye-catching attraction on the schools’ sports calendar in Sri Lanka. The intense competition, thrill, excitement, sportsmanship, interaction and camaraderie along with the carnival atmosphere that prevails during the two days of the tournament brings about a memorable experience to everyone who participates, attends and witnesses the tournament.
The first edition of the Blue & Gold Hockey 7’s took place in 1992 with a participation of only 16 boys’ schools. Despite the success of the tournament, the continuation was constrained due to funding limitations. However, after a lapse of ten years, the tournament was recommenced and brought to action on a very grand scale with tremendous commitment by the office bearers of the Royal College Hockey Club along with financial support from Singer Sri Lanka.
Since its recommencement, the tournament has witnessed outstanding progress and has become a trendsetter in improving, developing and evolving the game of hockey in Sri Lanka. A special mention must be made on Singer Sri Lanka and other sponsors for playing a major role towards the consecutive success of this tournament.
Back- to- back National School champions Alocious College Galle, St. Joseph Vaz College Vennappuwa, St. Thomas College Matale and Mount Lavinia along with the hosts Royal will be in the fore front to win the title for this year in the boys category, while six- time champions Seethadevi Kandy and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte are expected to give their best in the girls category. But with the most of the schools outside Colombo, Matale, and Kandy have been playing improved version of the game now, nobody can be ruled out winning the prestigious title.
Amongst the intense competition, over the years, the hunger and desire for victory has led to exciting and thrilling encounters during the past editions of this tournament along with high levels of sportsmanship and passion towards the game. The hosts Royal College Colombo lead the tally in the boys’ category with three championships under their belt, followed by Nalanda College, Vijaya College- Matale and Joseph Vaz College who have won the tournament twice each while Zahira College Matale, Wesley College, Vidyartha College Kandy, St.Thomas College Matale, Kingswood College, Trinity College and Ananda College who have won the tournament on a solitary occasion each.
In the girls’ category, Seethadevi College are leading the tally with a record of six championships and second on the tally is Pushapadana College with four championships while Musaeus College, Vijaya College Matale, St. Anthony’s Girls CollegeKandy and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya Nawala have won the tournament one time each.
The tournament is carried out with a Cup championship, Plate championship and B ow l Championship with all teams initially going through a preliminary group stage of matches followed by a series of knockout games which leads the two most deserving teams to battle it out for the Cup championship in the grand finale.
Nalanda College emerged victorious in the Boys category under the Cup Championship in last years’ edition, while Musaeus College clinched the Cup Championship in the Girls category. St. Aloysius College Galle won the Plate Championship in the Boys’ category while Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya Panadura were the Plate winners in the Girls’ category. In the Bowl segment, St. Joseph Vaz College Wennapuwa were the winners in the Boys’ category while St. Anthony’s College emerged Bowl winners in the Girls’ category.
This year too, with the expected participation of almost more than 60 teams, we are undoubtedly looking forward to yet another glamourous, exciting and truly memorable edition of the Blue and Gold Hockey 7’s on October 13 andf 14 at Reid Avenue. (This article was written by Shaheer Bari and Chirantha
Wijerathne, Royal College 1st XI captains in 2009 and 2014
respectively)