Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) and the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CR and FC) emerged champions of the Invitation Sevens hockey tournament organised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Colombo Malay Cricket Club (CMCC) at the Astro Turf in Colombo.
Fifteen club teams were in action with BRC emerging men’s champions and Old Royalists SC runners-up while CR and FC emerged women’s champions with Malay Maroons as runners-up.
COSMOS Australia made their third hockey tour of Sri Lanka to make CMCC’s 150th year a memorable event.
The following teams participated: Men – Malays, BRC, CH and FC, Colts, COSMOS (Australia), CR and FC, Old Bens, Old Joes, Old Royalists SC and Old Wesleyites SC; Women – Malays Maroons, Malays Greens, Colts, CR and FC and Moratuwa University.
A sudden downpour of rain stole two hours of valuable time and the tournament was rescheduled to meet timings.
The finals of both the men and women were played under flood lights.
A memorable sight was the presence of past hockey stalwarts of the 1960s, Dr Sandy Musafer, Thajone Swangsa and Hamza Deane, doing the honors in inaugurating the tournament in the morning in the presence of Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF) president Vishvanathan.