Simon/Susanne Pattaya’s Top ‘Cats’

by Peter Cummins

Simon Prattley and Susanne Mertz, finishing with one first and three second places out of the four races sailed, brought their Hobie Cat 16 in to first place in the 2001 Topcat Multihull Challenge. But, it was close. Up until the last race of the four which comprised the event, the Gardhams, with two firsts, went to the last start line as favourites for the title. But fate had other ideas and gear failure forced them out of contention.

The winners with Anders Widen (L) and Race Officer Gilbert Leemann (R). Photo Brendan Richards

But that is yacht racing and in no way does it detract from Simon/Susanne’s great win. Sailed in superb conditions off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club over two days last weekend, this fourth Topcat championship was ideal for the swift multi-hull fleets at Varuna.

The regatta originated from the Volvo Topcat World Championships, held at the Royal Varuna Yacht in March, 1997. So successful was that event - a first world championship for the Topcats which are largely lake-based around various European locations - that the organizers decided to leave funding for a Varuna regatta to commemorate their visit to Thailand’s hospitable shores.

Bob and Judy Gardham drive hard - but only second place. Photo Peter Cummins

Aboard, so to speak, this time, was the Top ‘Cat’ himself, Anders Widen, the president of the Worlds organizing committee and an enthusiastic Topcat sailor. Straight into the Kingdom from his new posting in - on the day he left, at least - a sub-zero London, Anders admitted to being a little rusty. “The only sailing activity at this time of the year is the Earl’s Court International Boat Show,” Anders noted with a wry grin!

Nevertheless, he went straight into the action, finishing in a commendable fourth place, sailing the Topcat-J, single-handedly - as is his proclivity!

Thus, at the end of the day it was Prattley (HC.16, 7 points) first, followed, in order by: Gardham (HC.16, 9 points); 3. Gary Baguley (Nacra 16 Sq, 11); Anders Widen (TC-J. 23); 4. Hoppen/Jochen (Nacra 5.8, 24), 5. Alain Brancart/Marc (HC.16, 31) and, 6. Frank/Chris (Nacra 5, 32).

Not much publicity has been forthcoming, however, about the other Topcat entry in the event; rather, there is a quiz ‘going the rounds’ to guess what place Harry Ghoos (Topcat-J, single-handed) finished in the regatta. For the winner, there will be a two-hour sail on Harry’s Topcat. For the second, a three-hour sail...and so on!

Race management, under the firm and able Gilbert Leemann, ensured a most successful regatta - on and off the water.

And for Anders? Straight back to the northern climes to check his “rust”!

Shenanigans pops the cork for the Ladies International Open

It was champagne at the turn for the ladies playing in the first Shenanigans Ladies International Open golf tournament. Champagne, and finger sandwiches and scotch eggs were served in the shade of the Chevrolet Zafira displayed by Ellis Varnado of General Motors, main sponsor of the event. In fact it was Ellis only a few weeks before, over a quiet beer at Shenanigans with landlord Kim Fletcher and tournament director Mike Franklin, that a ‘talked about’ plan to run a tournament just for the ladies was activated.

The fact that the field comprised only thirty players was not important, as the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part, and for some it was their first introduction to the course at Eastern Star and to Shenanigans-Pattaya hospitality.

Nine technical prizes were on offer, with Kitty Stor of Kizwa OK Golf Fashions sponsoring the two long putt holes, and Shenanigans sponsoring the rest. Three divisions fairly divided the field with equal numbers of players in categories A 0-23 and B 24-36, with a third division for ladies without a handicap. Handicap scoring, with full allowance, was Stableford and the ‘no-handicap’ division was judged on the lowest gross score.

Detailed results follow and, importantly, the prizes were evenly claimed by newcomers and Shenanigans regular lady players.

Shenanigans Ladies International Open Champion for 2001 Wil Agerbeek receives her trophy from GM Zafira sponsor, Ellis Varnado.

The weather was amazing, with heavy rain shortly before the 10:30 tee-off time. However, the always-decisive Kim Fletcher decreed that the rain would stop as soon as the first groups were on the tee, and stop it did. But then, who would expect anything less!

The wind got up, the clouds moved on and the sun came out. Playing in groups of three, play moved on nicely for the front nine and, surprisingly, continued at regulation pace after the Champagne stop at the Chevrolet Zafira.

Later, it was back to Shenanigans for an excellent Thai/Western buffet and the prize giving and lucky draw. The Thai food, tasted by the writer for the first time, is really excellent. But then it is an Irish pub, so not really a great surprise!

Star prize in the lucky draw was ‘An All Inclusive Weekend’ at Eastern Star Resort for four, with other prizes donated by Eastern Star, the Green Bottle, and Cathay Pacific, Carlsberg and United Airlines via Eastern Star.

At the prize giving, emceed by tournament director Mike Franklin, the technical hole winners for near pins, straight drives and long drive were presented with Shenanigans vouchers by Kim, and OK Golf Fashion vouchers for the long putts by Kitty Stor.

Toy Ryser, claiming the near pin prize on Hole #8, narrowly missed a hole-in one. Better luck next time, Toy.

Therese Beauvais (#4), Wimolwan (#12) and Keow Somkid (#15) won the other near pin prizes. Usa Chaiyusit (#9) and Kim Harbeck (#18) won the long putts. Urai Khongnok (#2) and Gay Horan (#14) won the straight drives, whilst Mam Trayling (#13) won the long drive.

The division winners were congratulated and presented with traditional Thai trophies and Shenanigans vouchers by GM Zafira sponsor, Ellis Varnado.

Khun Kalaya had the best gross score of 112 to win C Division.

Beth Lill and Wanida Reed both returned scores of 37 Stableford points, with Wanida winning B Division on count-back. Therese Beauvais was runner-up in A Division with 36 points, and Mam Trayling the winner with 37 points.

At the final count, there were four players with 37 points, the overall winner being Wil Agerbeek on count-back, scoring 20 points on the back nine. She was duly crowned Shenanigans Ladies International Open Champion for 2001, presented with the champion’s trophy and a Shenanigans voucher for three thousand baht. A perpetual trophy will reside in Shenanigans Bar in readiness for the next Shenanigans Ladies Open. The date for this will be fixed shortly, and well in advance, to give regular visitors and residents plenty of time to book the date in their diaries.

It was a good day for the Ladies, and it was definitely a good day for Golf!

New 2001 Friday League in full swing

Pattaya Sports Club Bowling

Three weeks into the first league of 2001 and it looks like it’s going to be another keen bunch of bowlers going for the trophies. In each new league bowlers bowl the first three weeks with their old handicap from the previous league, then the first three weeks of bowling are used to establish their starting handicap. Most bowlers have now established their new handicaps and will be going all out to win.

House of the Golden Coin has started on a hot streak and is in first place, followed by three teams tied for second, only two points off the pace.

Best games of week three were bowled by Harmut (Shakey Pete’s) 206, Mio (Golden Coin) 201, Nual (Winchester Club) 201 and Suda (Caf้ Ole) 200. Mio also had the best series of the day with 561 pins knocked down.

League Standings

Team	Captain	Points
House Of The Golden Coin Lewiinski’s Shakey Pete’s Winchester Club Three Sisters Caf้ Ole Caf้ Kronborg VFW Post 9876	Mio Otto La Jon Peter Jeed Kran Morn	10 - 2 8 - 4 8 - 4 8 - 4 4 - 8 4 - 8 4 - 8 2 - 10

Pleasure Dome, Mick’s and Texxan start fast

Pleasure Dome, Mick’s and Texxan have started fast out of the blocks, all three teams winning their first three matches of the new season. Pleasure Dome and Texxan have even managed to win all three of the beer legs.

After the first three weeks, Alex from Pleasure Dome holds the league lead for highest out, 118.

League Table

	Won	Loss	Beer
Pleasure Dome Texxan Mick’s Ding Dong Lazi Pig Bunker Londoner Jacks Rose Garden Tippy’s Ritz Mango Thistle	3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0	0 0 0 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 3	3 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

Pattaya Bush Hash House Harriers Run #6 this weekend

Sharpe, Ryser, Ryser, and Piechocki win TAGGS AM-AM 2001

Phil Sharpe, Stefan Ryser, Toi Ryser, and Roland Piechocki carded a team score of 104 points to win this year’s TAGGS AM-AM played on Friday, March 2 at Phoenix Country Club. The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society (TAGGS) in association with the International Pattaya Golf Club (IPGC) organized and hosted the event.

The annual AM-AM, which has become amongst the most popular events on Pattaya’s golfing calendar, features teams of 4 players, with 2 players’ scores counting on each hole. This year, 120 players were able to get into the tournament (the list was closed at this number to facilitate pleasant play), which got underway with a shotgun start on the Mountain and Ocean nines at Phoenix.

The winners (Left to right) Stefan Ryser, Toi Ryser, Roland Piechocki, and Phil Sharp, holding their famous and much coveted knotted putter trophies.

Although the winning team managed a 7 Stableford point margin of victory, it couldn’t have been much closer for second place, as 3 teams finished within one point of each other.

Bob Morrison, Andy Spence, Dave Nance, and Mike Sealey edged out second place by virtue of scoring 51 points on the back nine. John Wright, Ian Halfpenny, Kevin Taylor, and Paul Moore lost on the count back after scoring 50 points on the back 9. Both teams scored 97 points overall.

Chris John, Kevin Wilson, John Preddy, and Len Jones, meanwhile, finished fourth after carding a team total of 96 points.

The general consensus was that the tournament went off tremendously well, and that the food before, during and after the prize giving back at the Haven was fantastic.

Results

1st Placed Team: Phil Sharpe, Stefan Ryser, Toi Ryser, and Roland Piechocki, 104 points.

2nd Placed Team: Bob Morrison, Andy Spence, Dave Nance, and Mike Sealey, 97 points (count back 9, 51 pts.)

3rd Placed Team: John Wright, Ian Halfpenny, Kevin Taylor, and Paul Moore, 97 points (count back 9, 50 pts.)

4th Placed Team: Chris John, Kevin Wilson, John Preddy, and Len Jones, 96 points.

Near pins: Mountain # 4: 1st Division Rick Sharp, 2nd Division Dudley Newstead, 3rd Division Paul Shortino. Mountain #8: 1st Division Klaus Schackt, 2nd Division Serge Straeten, 3rd Division Ken Ince. Ocean #5 1st Division Bob Van Mol, 2nd Division Ebraham, 3rd Division Stefan Hoge. Ocean #7: 1st Division Per Aschan, 2nd Division Ekstrom, 3rd Division Lief Linner.

Long drives: Ocean #9: 1st Division Michael Dige, 2nd Division George Jackson, 3rd Division Roland Piechocki, Rabbits Kim Fletcher, Ladies Banjob Franklin.

Fitness Tips : Slow motion training (Part 1)

by David Garred
Club Manager Dusit Resort Sports Club

G’day Readers,

Last week I came across an article in Newsweek that hit upon a topic that one of my lecturers had a deep passion for in college. While at the time it was relatively new to the health & fitness field it absolutely screamed of logical thinking. At the time all weight lifting was based upon lifting as much weight as fast as you could as many times and on as many different machines as possible. This lead to many over use (chronic) as well as sprain type injuries, ligament and tendon injuries were not uncommon as well (acute). Some of these injuries happened to elite athletes, ‘recreational’ trainers were, by far and away, getting the predominant amount of them. The whole idea was to curb the international inactivity trend and help take better care of us. Studies were conducted using various protocols to try to reverse this apparently growing trend of injured lifters. Slow training was experimented with and gave the best results. Injuries were basically eliminated and training results were vastly improved across the board, regardless of gender, age or prior training experience. Read on.

Lifting weights at a snail’s pace can work wonders.

Is it the whole key to fitness?

For 10 years Dr. Philip Alexander ran 60 miles a week-and on days when he didn’t run he would put in time on his bike. Then, five years ago, he really got serious about physical fitness. The 56-year-old Texas internist now spends just 20 minutes a week exercising, and he rarely soaks his shirt. Using weight machines, he works through a half-dozen muscle groups, diligently exhausting each one. Then he gets on with his life. “When I was running,” he recalls, “the next day I would feel I was run over by a truck.” The new routine never leaves him feeling bonked, but that’s not best part. Alexander has shed some 20 unwanted pounds since switching regimens and his waist has shrunk by four inches.

Could fitness be this simple? For three decades we’ve heard endlessly about the virtues of aerobic exercise. Medical authorities have touted running and jumping as the key to good health, and millions of Americans have taken to the treadmill (however sporadically) to reap the rewards. But the story is changing. Everyone from the American Heart Association to the Surgeon General’s office has recently embraced strength training as a complement to aerobics. And as weight lifting has gone mainstream, so has the once obscure practice known as “Super Slow” training. Enthusiasts claim that by pumping iron at a snail’s pace-making each “rep” last 14 seconds instead of the usual seven - you can safely place extraordinary demands on your muscles, and elicit an extraordinary response. Slow lifting may not be the only exercise you need, as some proponents believe, but the benefits are often dramatic.

Almost anyone can handle this routine. The only requirements are Zen like focus and a tolerance for deep muscular burn (slight exaggeration there). For each exercise - leg press, bench press, shoulder press and so on - you set the machine to provide only moderate resistance. But as you draw out each rep, depriving yourself of momentum, the weight soon feels unbearable. Defying the impulse to stop, you keep going until you can’t complete a rep. Then you sustain your futile effort for 10 more seconds while the weight sinks gradually toward its cradle. Intense? Uncomfortable? Totally. But once you embrace muscle failure as the goal of the workout, it can become almost pleasurable. “When you do this right,” says Dr. M. Doug McGuff, an emergency-room physician who runs an exercise studio in Seneca, South Carolina, “a brief workout is all you can stand.”

The goal is not to burn calories while you’re exercising but to make your body burn them all the time. Running a few miles may make you sweat, but it expends around only 100 calories per mile (roughly two Oreo cookies), and it doesn’t stimulate much bone or muscle development at all. Strength training doesn’t burn many calories, either. But when you push a muscle to failure, you set off a cascade of physiological changes. As the muscle recovers over several days, it will thicken at the microscopic level and the new muscle tissue will demand sustenance. By the time you add three pounds of muscle, your body requires an extra 9,000 calories a month just to break even. Hold your diet steady and, presto, you’re vaporizing body fat.

More next week. Until then...

Carpe Diem

Pensioners’ day out at Eastern Star

On Friday, 23rd February, thirteen teams set out from the Bunker to play a two-man better ball competition at Eastern Star. The conditions were excellent, with a good breeze blowing over the dry fairways, producing plenty of run for the golfers.

In second place, with a net 62, were Ken and Beth Lill. Ken was driving the ball so far, some of the players were in need of crash helmets, whilst Beth continued her current run of good form. However, the overall winners, with a very creditable net 60 were the “Sunshine Boys”, John Preddy and Len Jones, both of whom have been off form recently, but came good together on the day. This course is especially one of Len’s favourites, as he usually does well here, and he was so pleased with the round he remembered to hand in his card afterwards (fear of rabbits is an affliction!), whilst John celebrated with a meal of mince and mash, by way of a change.

Nearest-the-pin awards went to Beth Lill (two), Len Jones and Mr. Loy, who unfortunately was left at the course. The oversight by Kevin “Mad Dog” Wilson was attributed to his new haircut. Next week it is rumoured that he will don the saffron robes. At least Mr. Loy should be able to spot him in a crowd.

The Sandman’s dreams come true

On Tuesday, 27th February, the Bunker Boys (yes it was the Ladies Open day!) traveled the short distance to Phoenix Golf Club only to be greeted by a sharp thunderstorm just as they arrived. After a delayed start medal play was the agreed format for the day.

Division one saw local member Hannu return a net 75, George Meigh return a net 74 and Michael Dige continue his fine golf with a net level par. Michael plays off six and fully deserved to take the honours.

In division two Kevin “Man Friday” Wilson loosened up with net 76, Neil Griffin plundered a net 71 and the Sandman, Gordon McKnight sizzled to a net 69 which included an eight putt nightmare on one hole where the pin position was on the side of an alp! It was surely easier to putt up the roof of the clubhouse! This hole caught all the golfers out with the average being six putts each. Augusta on the last Sunday is certainly easier.

Nearest-the-pins awards went to Hannu, Tony Callen, Kevin Wilson and Len Jones.

Dige & Barbie win at Pattaya C.C.

Monday February 26 - Pattaya C.C. (Stableford)

Mike Dige took the A flight with 39 points followed by Svend Berthelson (2nd) on 36 and then Alpo Sipola 3rd on count back from Les Philips and Eddie Biggs on 35 points.

Dickie Barbie took the B flight with 42 points, 2nd was Robin Keating (36) John Hopkins was 3rd with 35 points.

Near pins: 5 & 7 Robin Keating, 12 John Cahill, 16 Svend Berthelson

Thursday March 1 - Bangpra (Stableford)

Ebrahim took the A flight with 34 points followed by Robin Keating with 33 and then Noodle Russell 3rd with 33 (count back from Svend Berthelson).

B flight scored better - the winner was Herb Schwieterman with 37 points, John Cahill 2nd with 37, Roland Piechocki 3rd with 36 points.

Near pins: 2 Svend Berthelson, 8 John Cahill, 12 Pete Galle, 17 Rick Bevington

Long Putts: 9 Les Philips, 18 Rob Brown

Old is good

On the 26th of February, golfers from the Three Sisters Golf changed their venue of play to Sattahip. It was a change from playing at Siam - some liked it and some didn’t. As can be expected, the people that didn’t like it played bad and lost a lot of balls while the people that liked it either played well or found the course challenging.

As with Siam, the course was being watered as the players went around the course instead of being watered in the evening when play is completed. This made for a lot of soggy areas along with the ditches and ponds on the course. Dick Devine and Billy Fain could be heard a couple of fairways away swearing at the golf course. I believe that they lost their match for the day.

On the other hand there came John Moore, the oldster of the group with 38 points. (John at 78 years old?) John with his wood chopping swing kept on the fairways and putted like a demon and dropped putts that his playing partners could not believe. It seems that the oldsters are teaching the youngsters a lesson as John won this week and Don Antonio won last week. In both weeks, it was the oldest person on the course that won the bragging rights for the day.

In a close second was Derek Reaper with 37 points. Derek almost won the bragging rights but fell short by a couple of shots. After Derek and John, the scores faded away to obscurity. It seems that most of the players found the course a little more difficult than normal.

I believed that Bob Deane would have been holding up the bottom but he absconded with his card before it could be tabulated. It seems that Bob could not get his ball off the ground as he kept topping his shots. (Anyway Bob, be sure the card is handed in for your handicap.)

As it was, Moberg did a good job setting up the golfing session and arranging for carts for our golfers and drinks after at the clubhouse. (Thanks Bob) It was announced that next week will be back at Siam - same time and same station.

Make children happy on Saturday March 24th

‘Make Children Happy’ by supporting the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya Charity Target Golf Tournament on Saturday March 24th at the Diana Group Driving Range. This event will be a good test for your short game and probably very rewarding for golfers that practice with the short irons and putter.

The Rotary Club’s chosen charity is called ‘Make Children Happy’ with a Beautiful Smile and Perfect Vision’. All the proceeds from the tournament will be used to test the eyes and check the teeth of 100 underprivileged children and, as necessary, give them glasses and dental treatment.

It will be a very well spent Saturday afternoon for a very good cause.

Entry forms are available at all the venues, or you can sign-up directly with Richard Livingston, resident European PGA Professional, at the Diana Group Driving Range. Or use the entry form in this issue.

Triumph and tragedy at Australian GP

The Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix was won in convincing style by Ferrari’s current World Champion Michael Schumacher, but the race was marred by the death of a trackside official in a freak accident. Following the release of the information to the drivers, the post-race celebration and champagne ceremony were cancelled.

World Champion Michael Schumacher won the first Formula One race of the year.

The race itself was a pole to flag win for Schumacher, who was never seriously challenged at any time during the race. After one lap he had already built up almost one second advantage over McLaren Mercedes driver Mikka Hakkinen and continued to pull away with ease at around 0.3 seconds per lap.

The start itself revealed some fairly aggressive driving from Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Honda powered Jordan and Rubens Barichello in the second Ferrari, the pair banging wheels with McLaren’s number two driver, Scotland’s David Coulthard on the run down to the first corner. Similar tactics saw Montoya in the second BMW Williams collide with Eddie Irvine in the new Jaguar, resulting in a spin and last man on the track for Eddie.

On the 3rd lap, Barichello in 4th pushed 3rd place driver Frentzen into a spin, with a “passing” manoeuvre that was more optimistic than realistic, but resulted in Barichello having to fight bent components in his front suspension for the rest of the race. Frentzen resumed racing in 14th position and had a race long fight back to the front from there.

The 58 lap race was just beginning to settle down by lap 5 when Villeneuve in the BAR attempted what looked like a kamikaze overtaking attempt on the BMW Williams of Ralf Schumacher, hitting the rear of the car and then cart-wheeling across the track and into the safety fencing, being joined immediately by the stricken BMW Williams. In the accident, wheels and suspension components careened into the safety fence, with apparently a wheel going straight through an inspection aperture, striking the marshal who died shortly after from the injuries received.

The drivers were unaware of this tragedy as they circulated behind the safety car for the next 12 laps, while debris was removed from the track surface. When the racing resumed, Schumacher’s Ferrari was again dominant, with only Hakkinen just managing to keep him in sight. However, his run was soon to end with a front suspension breakage tossing Hakkinen heavily into the tyre wall.

Coulthard then took up the challenge, passing Barichello and setting out after Schumacher, but it was a fruitless chase, Schumacher cruising towards the end to post the first win for the new season over Coulthard and Barichello.

Following demotion of 4th finisher Olivier Panis (BAR) for a driving infringement, the final points scorers were Heidfeld in the Sauber, Frentzen and finally Raikkonen in the second Sauber. The young Finn driving a faultless first ever Grand Prix, to counter the comments by some drivers (Villeneuve in particular) that he should not have been given the Super Licence necessary to compete at the F1 level.

Points after Round 1 - M. Schumacher 10, Coulthard 6, Barichello 4, Heidfeld 3, Frentzen 2, Raikkonen 1. The next round is in Malaysia on the 18th of this month.

Copyright 2001  Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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