STC ATHLETICS 1950-53
Through the lens of
Legendary Thomian Athlete – by  M. Balasubramaniam

“ONE CAN NEVER REPAY” – by M. Balasubramaniam In the year 1945 I gained admission to this magnificent College temporarily situated at St Paul’s Milagirya, Bambalapitiya as our Mount Lavinia premises was occupied by the British Army. They made it into a makeshift hospital for the soldiers for the soldiers who required medical
attention during the Second World War. In 1946 The British Army moved out from the College premises and College shifted back to its main premises in Mount Lavinia.

My school like until 1950 was like that of any other student with not much interest in activities. Then in 1950, for some unknown reason, I participated in Athletics at the house Meet and was placed second in the Discus throwing event and third place in the High Jump for the under 16 age group. This changed my thinking and gave me enormous confidenceto try various other events. Though my big physique suited field events, I always wanted to try track events.

During the school holidays in 1951, I used to visit a public park (*Rudra Park) close to my residence. The instructor there noticed me and encouraged me to train hard, and he gave me a few tips. Subsequently I came to know that the instructor was *Mr. Duraisingham who was a Public Schools Athlete and a product of Manipay Hindu College, Jaffna. During his year he competed with the likes of H.S.R. Goonawardane of Royal College. He ran barefoot which gave me a lot of confidence as I too ran most events barefoot.

* Results from the 1930 – First Public Schools Athletics Championships
100 Yards
1. H.S.R. Goonawardane Royal College 10.9 secs
2. P.H. Wijeratne Holy Cross, Kalutara
3. K. Duraisingham Manipay Hindu College
440 Yards
1. C.H.L. Paulusz Royal College 55.2 secs.
2. K. Duraisingham Manipay Hindu College
3. D. Jayasekara St. Josephs College
Long Jump
1. K. Duraisingham Manipay Hindu College 5.89 m.
2. B. Ivor Palipane St. Thomas College, Mt Lavinia
3. K. Supramaniam Central, Colombo
Incidentally, Mr. Duraisingham was a reputable wrester and represented
the country at many games.

My late father was also a product of College and a classmate of Warden de Saram. Dad used to narrate good old stories typical of a young boy’s pranks from his boarding days, and we used to have a hearty laugh.

College had athletics trials at St Peter’s, Bambalapitiya, as the school grounds were closed for maintenance. During the August term holidays all the boys interested in Athletics trials were requested to be present at St. Peter’s grounds. I also went and told the STC athletics coach Mr. Brookie D’ Silva that I was keen in taking part in the school trials. He gave me a good look and advised me not to waste his time and go away as I was only a field athlete. Anyway, I insisted and took part in the 100 yards event and was placed first, beating the would-be champion. I gave the coach no option but to include me in the 100 yards sprint event for the Group meet to be held at the Royal College.

Top schools such as Royal, St Peter’s, St John’s, Christian College, Kotte etc. participated in the Group meet. My events were the 100 yards, 4×110 yards relay and high jump. I ran in the heats and was placed second. This gave me a big boost. As I was preparing for the finals my good friend Chito Rajasingham came to my rescue. He had a brand new pair of Hot Spurs running shoes but could not use them as he was injured. When I asked, he lent them without asking any hesitation. Being a first time user, I wore them and ran in the grounds like a stray dog to get used to running with shoes. Without the knowledge of the Coach, I ran the juniors under 16 100 yards final and was placed first, clocking a public schools record of 10.9 seconds. The borrowed running shoes fitted me perfectly.

However, I came nowhere in the under 16 at the 1950 Public Schools meet. I was disappointed and so were my superiors. The next year, 1951, I was not placed in the under 19 team, but I did not give up hope.

Standing(L-R): Mr. Brookie C. D’Silva (Coach), 1.Sidney Wijeratne. 2.R. Rajasingham. 3.D.K. Samarasinghe. 4.Soundra Lawrence. 5.Michael Jonklaas. 6.J.K.Ellawella. 7.don’t know. 8.S.K.Ananthan, The Warden (Rev. Canon de Saram).

Seated (L-R): 1. M. Balasubramaniam. 2.S.N.A. Tennekoon. 3.W. Ginige. 4.N.Samarasinghe. 5.Geoff Koch. 6.Ivor Geddes. 7.Ian Pieris. (* Team names to the best of Ivor Geddes’s recollection)

Bala is wearing number 70 (seated extreme left) in the 1951 STC Athletics Team – Winners of both the Senior Tarbat and Jefferson Challenge Trophies. STC regained the Tarbat after a gap of 6 years and went on to win for three successive years (1951-53), along with the Jefferson for four years in a row (1950-53) having also won it in 1948. Remarkable Record!

In my second year as a senior (1952) I took part and won the 100 yards, 220 yards and was placed third in the long jump. On seniority I should have been given the post of vice captain. However, there was another boy in the team who was in the final year and my coach Mr. Brookie D’Silva asked me if I had any objection to him appointing the final year boy as vice captain. Since, I had another year I agreed to step down as from the post of vice captain. I agreed because in the olden days we all pulled together. On the next Wednesday the list was taken to the Warden who was on his way to the assembly. He had a good look and informed Brookie

that the list was incorrect and pointed out that I was senior. He asked as to why I was not appointed as vice captain. Brookie informed him that he had got the permission from me to appoint the final year student as vice captain, it being his last year. Warden R.S. de Saram refused to allow this stating justice and fair play need to be upheld, and he appointed me as the vice captain. The Warden’s word of justice and fair play became a part of my day to day life ever since.

Standing(L-R): Mr. Brookie C. D’Silva (Coach), 1.Larry Schokman, 2. Winston Seneviratne (Pole Vaulter), 3.don’t know, 4.P.C.Munasinghe, 5.don’t know, The Warden (Rev. Canon de Saram).

Seated (L-R): 1.Sidney Wijeratne, 2.D.K.Samarasinghe, 3.Soundra Lawrence, 4.Ivor Geddes (Captain), 5.M.Balasubramaniam, 6.J.K.Ellawella. 7.K.S.Ananthan (Ana Kanagasabai) (* Team names to the best of Ivor Geddes’s recollection)

Standing(L-R): Mr. Brookie C. D’Silva (Coach), P.C. Munasinghe, The Warden (Rev. Canon de Saram).

Seated (L-R): D.K. ‘Kella’ Samarasinghe, M. Balasubramaniam, K.S.Ananthan (Ana Kanagasabai)

In another incident during the Public Schools meet trials our captain Ivor Geddes pulled out due to injury. On the morning of the meet, I was summoned to the Warden’s Office. I was scared and worried not knowing the reason for being called. When I went to his office he told me that our captain could not participate, and he wanted me to shoulder the team and to win the Tarbat Challenge Trophy. I made the Warden proud in fulfilling his wish. The long jump was the last event after the 4×440 yards relay, and I informed the officials manning the long jump that I would do it after the relay. However, the relay took toll on my legs, and I was thinking of opting out of the long jump. But the College boys rallied behind me and encouraged me by saying that if I could get third place, College would win
the Tarbat Trophy. Thankfully my third attempt placed me third and we won the Tarbat Challenge Trophy. I delighted the Warden and the College, and from thereon I became well known as Bala. At the next assembly my name was called, and I was inducted as a College Prefect which was a memorable moment in my life at school.

In the year, 1953, I won the 100 yards, 220 yards and was in the winning 4×110 yards relay team, and also took part in the 4×440 relay. I was greatly responsible for us winning the Jefferson Cup for Relays and the Tarbat Challenge Trophy for the overall Championship.

“I remember the 1953 Championships. I think that STC needed to win the last event, the 4 X 440 relay. Both St josephs and Royal had strong teams and also a team from Kandy. My brother Larry was in the team, but not the fastest, but he had to run the 110 meters hurdles just before the relay final. He won that but was exhausted.

So, the team arranged for him to run the last lap, but he could never have held off the fast runners from the other teams. However, our guys ran so well and gave him the baton about 10 yards ahead. he was a fighter and just gritted his teeth and ran. we won and the rest is history. “ – David Schokman

In 1955 I was awarded the Victoria Gold Medal for the Best All-Round Student and was made the Head Prefect.

On an interesting note, my House Master, Mr. Bada Perera went out leaving me alone with his dinner to look after the boarding. It was Christmas night, and it was my third dinner for the evening. I ate and I later dozed off on his bed. After a while he came back in the pouring rain and called me for quite some time to open the door. Next day a newspaper article read, “Bada Perera stood in the rain while head cop Bala slept soundly in his bed after eating his dinner.”

From the time I won the Tarbat the Warden took an interest in me and guided me even after I left College. While I was doing my final year of studies many leading commercial firms were offering jobs through the College carriers committee. Warden wanted me to get into a good firm and invited me to the Old Boys’ celebrations where he introduced me to Justice E.F.N. Gratien a reputable rugby player. He knew Mr. A.C. Walker through playing rugby and I was given a job at Walker & Sons.

After a few years Warden came back to Sri Lanka from England and enquired after my welfare. He observed that the company had not promoted me. He came in person and met Mr. A.C. Walker and said that he would remove me (Bala) if the company did not promote me. Within a few weeks I was given a promotion. My progress from there onwards blossomed, showering me with wealth and popularity. I was known as “Walker’s Bala”. I was blessed to have had wonderful parents to give me a good education in a wonderful College where I was given all what a child
can ask for. Moreover, the Warden was a pillar of strength and he ensured that I progressed well after College……May God keep the Blue and Black flag flying high, always.

– M. Balasubramaniam (known as ‘Bala’)
*(Extracted from an Article originally written for OBA Sydney)