The Cannon Ball Run

It is an annual event held at the Galle Face Hotel, when a few friends are invited to participated in this fun filled event, which was won by the British High Commissioner Peter Mayes, with United States Ambassador Robert O’ Blake, coming a close second. The exercise called for the participants to carry a flute full of champagne, at a trot, without spilling any of it, in a tense few minutes, for the on lookers and the supporters of those taking part.

Sanjeew Gardiner, the Group Chairman and Rajiv Khanna; Director and General Manager, The Galle Face Hotel invited friends and supporters of the hotel at eventide which turned out to be a delightful evening, with cocktails by the pool. Three generations of the Gardiners graced the occasion, besides friends and hotel guests from many parts of the world. There was an assortment of styles ranging from skirts and blouses like the one worn by Sophia Blake’s sister Beatriz Aman, spending time with the family, and relaxing at the bar Gina Brezinin, with Sri Lankan Ishan Gunesekera also on holiday from England. In captivating style was Nihara Rutnam, with many people in casual attire, with a few in formal dress, which was mildly out of place.

The Cannonball Run began during the 1840s, when the Galle Face Green was used, as the practicing ground for the British Royal Artillery Company (the Ceylon Gun Lascars). Accidentally on a practice run, a 30 lb cannonball struck against a masonry bridge on the seaside road and went completely off course, hurtling its ways through the roof of the Galle Face Boarding House (now the Galle Face Hotel), thundering through the ceiling and finally rolling down into the drawing room, leaving its solid indentation in the floor.