Southern Motor Sports Club, the distinguished motor sports cub of the southern province, staged the ‘Southern Nations Trust Eliyakanda Hill Climb – 2009’ for the 13th consecutive year.

The meet was held with a record number of competitors on March 15 at Eliyakanda, Matara, popularly known as Browns Hill.

This hill climb is organised and conducted annually by the Sothern Motor SC (SMSC). This motoring event has been acknowledged by competitors as one of the best and most challenging National events –as a hill climb-- in Sri Lanka.

There is a 100-meter circuit to drive down and through to an uphill finish point. Vehicles will start individually from the start line, strictly according to the positions held at the start during lining-up by start line marshals. More than 110 drivers and riders enjoy the races and perform their best and they thrill the spectators. This year’s event was witnessed by more than 2,500 fans.

There were four motorcycle events, including both standard and modified events, and, 16 motorcar events, including standard, modified, formula, one make and diesel vehicles. The competitors were given two runs. The faster of those two runs made by the competitors was taken as the particular competitor's best timing of the day. The competitor in each class, who is the fastest, will be adjudged the winner of his class and, prizes were awarded to the first three in each class depending on that basis.

The most competitive event was the Super Cars event which saw participation of five top competitors. Dinesh Deheragoda, who entered with his ‘Mitsubishi Evolution X’ for the first time for this hill climb, proved that he was a driver of the elite class. He had, though, a strong rivalry from experienced drivers like Aravinda Premadasa, Pasindu Pieris and Shantha Suraweera. In both runs, Deheragoda was recording the best timing for the day.

The other drivers performed well on this day were: Dinesh Jayawardana, Prasanna de Alwis, Dinesh Senanayake, Maneen Amadoru, K. Parameshwaran, Chamika Ranathunga, Ajith Keerthi and the experienced Mahen Madugalle, driving a 1050cc car.

In the jeep and truck event, Lanil Galaboda won by pushing Sanjaya Sedara Senerath and Rohan Fonseka to runner-up positions. Except for one accident, that of Missaka Naveen, no major incidents was reported. The track was well prepared and properly protected with sand bags for safety.

On the two-wheelers, it was Indika Gurusinghe, who won in two major events and the fastest timing of the day for motorcycles by clocking 37.10 seconds, succeeded while there were few young riders too who were performing well in different events.

Deheragoda grabbed the fastest time for the day for cars and also the title for the fastest all-time timing of the day, to win the Preethi Palliyaguru Challenge Trophy, by clocking 36.39 seconds.

A well-organised and highly successful event was witnessed by a huge crowd and the competitors enjoyed the motor races taken part by the best drivers and riders in the island.

The event ended with a colourful prize-giving ceremony held at the picturesque hill top hotel named ‘Pearl Cliff’ after lunch hosted by Southern Motor SC for all the drivers, riders and the officials.

The event was sponsored by Nations Trust Bank as principal sponsor, Air Tel, the main sponsor, and was co-sponsored by Browns Exide, FAW, Petco Lanka, National Lotteries Board, Premium International, Oceania Projects Ltd. and ReBorn T-Shirts.