|
PSC softball
Mike Berg crosses the plate,
scoring one of the Pumas twenty-eight runs.
Paul’s Pumas continued their dominance over Alan’s Blue
Sox with a thundering 28 - 11 victory on Sunday, April 6.
The Blue Sox turned a sharp double play in the first inning and Alan Rutsky
made an on the run over the shoulder catch later in the game. Montreal
Robert had six hits for the losers.
For the Pumas, it was hits galore. The fans went wild as the Caltex twins
Jerry and Kenny belted 9, that’s right 9 home runs. Jerry hit 5 and Kenny
connected for four more. Mike Berg, Sterling Bechtel, Paul Nolan and Kiwi
Rick kept men in scoring position with sharp line drives. Solid defense and
a fast outfield kept the Blue Sox from mounting any sustained rallies. Kiwi
Rick’s shoestring grab of a sinking line drive in the fifth inning and throw
to the plate to beat galloping Alan “Marathon Man” Vegas by a step earned
Rick the Golden Glove of the Day honor.
Joining the team for the first time were Peter from Sydney and Neil D. Scot.
Lefty Bob returned after a short stint with the Deli Indians.
After dropping two games to Alan’s Blue Sox earlier in the season, Kevin’s
Stars came back to even the series with two wins on Sunday 13 April.
Playing conditions were excellent. The rains earlier in the week softened up
the field allowing the grounds crew to drag the field into perfection. As
usual, the field was freshly lined prior to the games, benches were set out
in the shade of the ancient trees for the spectators, refreshment stands and
scoreboard all in place when the umpire called “Play Ball!”
In contrast to the previous week, fans were treated to two close games
featuring tough defensive play highlighted by three double plays. Stars for
the winners were outfielders Kevin Caltex and Kiwi Rick and infielder
Sterling Bechtel.
For the losers, Norm Benoit had a great day at third base.
New players are always welcome. The field is in excellent
condition and the tree lined spectator area provides a shady picnic type
atmosphere. Cold drinks and hot dogs are available. So, if you’re looking
for something to do, come on out. Get a little exercise and have some fun.
Games are played every Sunday. Players sign-in between 13:30 and 14:00 at
Pattaya School No. 7 on Sukhumvit Highway just south of Greenway driving
range and Caltex gas station. Teams are made-up on a choose up basis.
Kevin’s Stars 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 5
Alan’s Blue Sox 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3
Alan’s Blue Sox 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3
Kevin’s Stars 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 4
|
|
 |
Pattaya’s Hashers celebrate Songkran
“Weeber” pays the penalty for
wearing new shoes on the hash - drinking a full beer out of his shoe. Do a
down, down,
down down....
About 40 or so of Pattaya’s best elbow benders celebrated
Songkran on Monday, April 14th with their annual Songkran Splash.
Most of the splashing took place on the bus en-route to the run where many
hashers were soaked down by reveling passers-by.
With hares Hash Groupie and the Nerd setting a circuitous “in-town” route
around the beaches and hotels off Buddha Hill, most “runners” were able to
avoid the normal splashing that goes on this time of year, however, most
made up for it by splashing down plenty of amber liquid once the B sight was
found.
The holiday run was also made special by the fact that one of the icons of
the PH3, Airhead, celebrated his 499th run. Just one more to go before he
becomes the first Pattaya hasher to reach 500 runs.
Hashers were also treated to a magnificent view of the Hale-Bopp Comet,
streaming through the night sky, totally oblivious to the poor souls sitting
on the ice at the time.
PH3 notes: The Pattaya Full Moon Hash will be celebrating its 100th running
on Tuesday, April 22nd, with the annual Mekong Knee Walk. A memorable event
that most of whom participating will probably not remember.
|
|
Pattaya Sports Club Golf
Monday, March 31, Stroke play at Siam Country Club.
The heat wasn’t a problem for a change, but the grey skies looked ominous.
Luckily, most of the field were at the crossover holes when the heavens
opened. The rain, which lasted no more than an hour, didn’t dampen the
golfers’ spirits so the competition was completed.
Due to the reduced field, A & B flights were combined with Brad Doyle coming
in first with a net 71. His longest drive that day must have helped.
Second and third prizes were decided on count back with Anders Karlson
finishing second and Tom Blumensa third, both players coming in with net 73.
Thursday, April 3, the club trekked to Bang Phra for its monthly battle with
the Bang Phra greens. As per normal, the greens won. The course was in
beautiful condition which was no doubt helped by the recent rains. A good
size field played which saw prizes for both A & B flights.
A flight was won by Neil Munroe after a count back with Peter Daff, both
with 35 points. Willie Mercer came in third with 34 points.
B flight was won by Terry Patterson with a well played 41 points. Followed
by Tony Hobbs in second place with 30 points.
The nearest to the pins were won by Svein Vistung on #3, Alan Robinson on
#8, Marcus Simmonds on #12, and Gez Tracy on #17. The longest drive on hole
#9 was won by Alan Robinson. Till the next results, happy golfing to the
readers.
|
|
Navy opens youth sports camp
Admiral Bovorn Ming-mueang, Deputy Commander of the Sattahip Naval Base,
officially opened the first Youth Sports Camp on the base.
This is in keeping with the Navy’s policy of promoting good relations and
en-gendering faith in the Navy. This highly respected branch of the military
feels that working with young people on a personal basis is important. The
Navy is not only qualified in sports instruction, but has expertise in many
other areas which should be part of young people’s education. The Navy feels
that it has a duty to help produce quality, civic minded adults who will
benefit the nation.
The Deputy Commander said that today’s youth tends to use its free time in
non-productive ways. When Thailand’s youth is engaged in socially useful
activities, it will also help to relieve parents and guardians of
unnecessary burdens.
The Navy is beginning this program by helping young people develop their
skills in sports.
Teenagers in the program are from non-navy families and the age range is
from 12-15 years. There is no charge for participation. The camp will last
for the entire hot season during school vacation.
The young people will be staying at the Naval base for 10 days and be
coached in various sports. There will also be games and competition with the
emphasis on sports-manship, self-challenge and physical fitness.
|
|
Beer Put on a roll
Beer Put is once again well on their way to an undefeated season in the
Friday Night Mickey Mouse Darts League, having won all 8 of their matches so
far this season. With only two weeks to go, the question remains whether
they will be able to achieve the elusive fete or suffer the same fate as
last season when they lost in the last week, ending their hopes of a perfect
record.
Either way, Beer Put has already secured the title. Beer Put has built a
three game lead in the standings with only two matches to go.
The battle for second spot is a tight one with both Cheers and Mick’s Place
having identical 5 and 3 records. Cheers holds the edge in the tie breaker
with 5 beer legs won to only 3 for Mick’s Place. Cheers also holds the edge
in the race for the “upside down” trophy with 65 under tens.
Gen from Beer Put holds the league lead for highest check-out, 116.
Neck and neck race in prospect
“Which motorway connects Glasgow and Edinburgh?” “Who
played the part of Nellie Pledge in a TV series?”
About half way through the latest season, Cheers and Rising Sun are still
fighting to gain the upper edge in the popular Sunday Night Quiz League.
Both bars are scoring highly to pull away from the rest of the field by
almost thirty points.
The most bizarre question of the night on April 6 was to pinpoint the date
when the first telephone kiosk was erected in Britain. Everyone seemed to
know it was “before my time” but few quizzers guessed that this technology
actually goes back to 1908 when Nottingham introduced button “A” and button
“B”. Well, you live and learn.
Bob, mein host at Palmer’s Bar in Pattayaland Soi 2, has broken his leg.
When last heard of, he had his leg up (rather than over) at the Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital. Lovers of trivial pursuits and fish and chips will want to
wish him a speedy recovery.
Searchers for truth and wisdom will find them at any of
the bars listed above. Newcomers can join them by turning up on Sunday
nights just before 8:30 p.m.
Answers to the above questions are the MB and Hilda Baker.
|
|
BMW Catamaran Nationals
Peter and Juliet Bates won an impressive 6 out of 8 races
to take top honors in the BMW Hobie 16 Open held in conjunction with the
Open Catamaran Championships sailed from the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in
South Pattaya. Winning the Hobie 16 championship title, the Bates team will
get an automatic entry for the Thailand slot in the 1997 World
Champion-ships to be held in Spain this June.
In the Open Catamaran Championships, Nick Moore finally pulled away in the
seventh race to take the title. Up until that seventh race, four sailors,
each sailing the single handed Nacra 16sq., all had about an equal chance to
win the championship, including Nick Moore, Gary Baguley, Steve O’Brien and
Les Nyerges.
Mitchell back on top
The sports department finally
found the negatives for the King Taksin photo. Stop by the office to pick
them up.
Roy Mitchell returned to the top of the leader board in
the weekly Pattaya Golf Society stroke play tournament at Pattaya Country
Club on Tuesday, April 8, 1997.
For the third week in a row, PGS golfers were forced to take cover as rain,
wind and lightning interrupted play. And although none of the competitors
were able to break their handicaps, some good scores were turned in despite
the conditions.
Roy Mitchell finished on top with a scratch 94, net 1 over par 73. Dickey
Barbe was a welcome returner to the podium, finishing second with a scratch
94, net 2 over par 74. Peter Johansson placed third with a scratch 102, net
3 over par 73. Colin Morgan finished fourth with a scratch 96, net 76.
Arthur Bailey rounded out the top five with a scratch 96, net 77.
Nearest to the pin honors were won by Roy Mitchell on #5 and Dickey Barbe on
#16.
William Rice was named Pattaya Golf Society “Player of the Month” for March
after compiling a net total score of 9 over par over three weeks of play.
|
|
Improve your Bridge
by Barrie Kenyon
International player Rixi Markus used to say that you spend four
years learning the rules of bridge and the next forty trying to forget what
you were taught. This is especially true of bidding systems which should be
a framework of guidelines rather than a set of iron laws. The problem is
that you must only break the law when you know what you are doing. And this
only comes with experience.
Sitting South as the opening bidder, what would you say with the following
hand?
Spades 3
Hearts Ace, King, Queen, 6
Diamonds Jack, 9, 8, 5, 3
Clubs Queen, 6, 2
Let’s assume that you have agreed to play the Acol system which is still
very popular amongst British players. Now you have been taught that you must
open the bidding with your longest suit. But if you open one diamond, what
do you rebid when your partner responds, say, one spade or two clubs? The
fact is that you do not have a satisfactory second bid. You could say two
diamonds, of course, but the suit is very weak and hardly rebiddable. Your
other choice is two hearts which will very likely mislead your partner. This
is because a bid of diamonds followed by hearts when you next speak is a
“reverse” and promises a much stronger hand.
The best solution is not to open a diamond in the first place. Your first
bid should be one heart, breaking the rule of your longest suit in favour of
a better principle of planning your rebid before opening in the first place.
You have a weak hand and must describe it as such. Partner may assume that
you have five hearts, it is true, and give preference or raise you with a
three card support, but that should not be disastrous.
More importantly, the opponents may intervene and buy the contract in spades
with your partner on lead. In this scenario, you want him to lead hearts
which he is likely to do provided that suit was your first bid. So, Acol has
rules which can be broken in favour of principles and common sense. There is
no rigid pattern which must be followed in all circumstances.
Equally, if you were playing the American five card major system, and not
Acol, you would have to open one diamond and risk the con-sequences. In the
American system, it would be a mortal sin to open one heart when holding
less than five because the whole bidding structure depends on that premise.
The key point of bidding is to provide your partner with accurate
information about your hand. In this particular example, Acol gives you that
little bit of extra flexibility.
|
|
4th annual Pattaya Orphanage charity soccer match
The 4th annual Pattaya Orphanage charity soccer match,
which pits the Pattaya Drop Outs, a rag tag team of Pattaya bar owners and
sponsored players against determined teams from the Pattaya Orphanage in an
all out huff and puff session to raise funds for the many programs run by
Father Ray Brennan, is only 2 weeks away. The event will take place on
Saturday, May 3, on the pitch at the Pattaya Orphanage.
Both sides have been seen in heavy training, the Orphans running wind
sprints and practicing precision plays, while the Drop Outs are engaging in
heavy sessions of elbow bending. This can only mean that once again, the
outcome of the games are anybody’s guess.
What is for sure is the fact that no-one who attends this fun event, be they
players or spectators, will come away losers. Each year this special day,
with the games almost a side-show to the fun of the picnic type atmosphere
for spectators and children, provides much needed contact between the
children of the orphanage and the kind hearted people of the community. And
each year, the event just seems to get better and better.
The main goal of the event is still to raise funds for the many programs run
by Father Ray Brennan, including the children of the Pattaya Orphanage, the
Handicap School, the School for the Blind, the School for the Deaf, the
Street Children and the Stateless Old Folks project. Sponsors are still
being sought, and many have already answered the call. Organizers of the
event would like to thank the sponsors who have already signed up, including
the main sponsors Pattaya Sports Club, Ray (Papa San) Rogers, Siemens,
Pattaya Mail, the Diana Group, the Pattaya Hash House Harriers, McConnel
Dowell, Beta Clough, Orchid Trading, Pacific Consulting & Development Co.,
Ltd., as well as other sponsors including Beer Put, Pleasure Dome, Pattaya
Sports Supply, Jimmy Macs, Bill Jones, Classroom 1 & 2, Hare House, Rodger,
Bill Thompson, Brian Imrie, Ciano Glavina & Joy, Neils Colov, Londoner, Andy
Moore, Alwyne Lomax, Steve Rogerson, Team Glia Racing, Jeff Slater, Mickey
Noon, The Computer Link, Deepak, Sanjay, Green Bottle and Green Tree. Many
thanks to all of you.
People and organizations interested in adding their names to this list of
benevolent sponsors of this worthy event can contact Father Ray Brennan,
tel: 428717, 422745, or fax: 716629, or Harry Riley, tel/fax: 720536, or
John Cole, tel: 411667.
|
|
TAGGS presents Pattaya’s first
Am-Am
Tournament
The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society will be proudly
presenting Pat-taya’s first ever “Am-Am” golf tournament on Wednesday, April
30th, at Sriracha Golf Course.
The Am-Am format, which may lead into a Pro-Am tournament down the road,
will feature teams of 4 golfers, with the best 2 net scores out of 4 for
each hole counting toward the team’s score. The net scores will be based on
3/4 of each player’s handicap.
Teams will be made up of players representing several of the area’s bars,
such as the TQ team, Hare House team, Pleasure Dome team, etc., as well as
many individual teams. Com-petitors for the title can sign up bar teams,
individual teams, or just put their names in to be assigned to whatever team
needs them.
Trophies, T-shirts, food, and many special prizes, as well as all green
fees, will be included in the entry price of 4000 baht per team, or 1000
baht per golfer. All proceeds will go back into prizes and the tournament.
Meet on the day of the tournament at the Hare House at 8:00 a.m. Early
sign-ups are necessary, however, and can be done by contacting Wayne,
Stephen or Richard at the Hare House any time from now until a few days
before the big event.
|
|
|
