USA finishes 1-2 in women’s beach volleyball

Thai finish 3rd

American women took the top two spots in the 1-2 Call Women’s Challenge beach volleyball tournament held in Pattaya last week.

Heather Lowe and Jennifer Kessy - champions of the 1-2 Call Women’s Beach Volleyball Challenge played last week on Jomtien Beach.

Heather Lowe and Jennifer Kessy defeated compatriots Danalee Bragado and Lia Young by 2 sets to 1 in the finals played in front of Pattaya Park on Sunday, September 2. The win effectively avenged their 2-0 defeat to Bragado and Young in an earlier round.

The boisterous capacity crowd watched as Lowe and Kessy parlayed their powerful spikes and effective blocking into a 21-12, 17-21, 15-13 victory in the finals, earning them $US4,000 and 60 points in the Women’s World Beach Volleyball rankings. Danalee Bragado and Lia Young won $US3,200 and 54 ranking points for their 2nd place finish.

Thailand’s top duo, 1998 Asian Games gold medallists Manatsanan Pangka and Rattanaporn Arlaisuk, despite not having had a regular coach for over a year, finished 3rd in the tournament, earning $US2,600 and 48 ranking points. Manatsanan and Rattanaporn defeated Kamolthip Kulna and Jarunee Sannok 2 sets to 0 in the consolation match to determine third place.

Heather Lowe and Jennifer Kessy used good sets and powerful spikes to win the championship.

Earlier, the Thais bowed out to eventual winners Lowe and Kessy in the semifinals 2 sets to 0. The Americans had a clear height advantage and a more powerful game, which they used expertly to overcome the Thais’ more finesse oriented approach.

Manatsanan and Rattanaporn now plan to take a month off before resuming play on the world tour.

Battle for third place heats up

Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League

With the league rapidly coming to a close and first place all but decided, three teams are battling for third place to get into the trophy race.

Shakey Pete’s maintained their first place lead with good bowling from Captain La who rolled a 211 game and 542 series and Hartmut who had a 588 series, games of 200, 223 and 165, to take three points from Cafe Ole. Captain Jeed led Cafe Ole with a 205 game, 515 series.

200 bowlers (from left to right) Kran, Somrak, Dang, Hartmut, Jeed and La

Second place team Three Sisters also won three points, beating VFW Post 9876 behind Otto’s 546 series. Dang bowled a 201 game and 512 series for the VFW team.

Sultans of Swing won 2.5 points from the House of the Golden Coin team and moved into a tie for third place with Cafe Ole. Somrak kept the Golden Coin team in the match with a 212 game and 556 series.

Cafe Kronborg won four points from the Winchester Club and is only a half a point out of third place. Captain Kran led her team with games of 202, 182, 191, for a 575 series.

Team	Captain	Points	31 Aug
Shakey Pete’s Three Sisters Cafe Ole Sultans Of Swing Cafe Kronborg House of the Golden Coin VFW Post 9876 Winchester Club	La Otto Jeed Peter Kran Mio Morn Jon	72 - 40 60.5 - 51.5 56 - 56 56 - 56 55.5 - 56.5 54.5 - 57.5 50.5 - 61.5 44 - 68	3 - 1 3 - 1 1 - 3 2.5 - 1.5 4 - 0 1.5 - 2.5 1 - 3 0 - 4

Tiger in the sea

Bangsaray was the fishing venue for Fish & Trips on August 28, which proved to be a happy hunting ground for the team. The master of big fish captures, Captain Ting was again at the helm when Les Collins led a group of holidaymakers comprising Mark McGoran from Scotland, and Gavin Cook, Ken Gosper and Blue Kildza from Australia.

The Fish & Trips team with their monster tiger and other fish caught last week.

The crew hooked a huge tiger shark at about 11 a.m., but it was not on board for 1.5 hours after all had to heave on it together. Mark was absolutely shattered after having battled the fish so gamely.

Back at Fish & Trips Bar, the tiger was weighed on the new PSC electronic scales and the digital readout gave a weight of 161.5 lbs.

The PSC “Fish of the Month” was also the reward for this fish and the medal for fisherman of the month was duly awarded.

For further information on PSC fishing competitions, contact Middy at J&M Bar, Kiwi Brian at Bullring 1, Selwyn at Bullring 2, Les or Frank at Fish & Trips, all located on Soi Yodsak (Soi 6).

Izzy pips Alan for bragging rights

Large and Little separated by Gordo

IPGC TAGGS Golf from The Haven

Monday 27th August - Green Valley (Stableford)

1st: Keith Fortt, 42 pts
2nd: Jean-Pierre Carcabal, 39 pts
3rd: Roland Piechocki, 37 pts (cb9 18, cb6 13, cb3 7)
4th: Norman Brooks, 37 pts (cb9 18, cb6 13, cb3 6)
5th: Trevor Schirmer, 37 pts (cb9 18, cb6 11)

Keith Fortt (XXXXXL shirt size), took time off from making and eating copious quantities of meat pies at The Bakery to stir up the golfers from The Haven, and on counting the winnings from the sweep, conceded that he might be better rewarded by giving up his day job and concentrating on golf in future. After the weekend reductions, this event may have to be delayed whilst his handicap climbs back to a “competitive” level.

Jean-Pierre kept Roland and Norman and Trevor at bay over the back nine, Roland just securing third place by virtue of a count back on the last three holes.

Richard Livingston welcomed Danny Omland from Australia, whilst welcoming back Mark Gorda to the crowds’ obvious delight judging by the number of table napkins and chairs that were thrown into the air on the announcement. Sad farewell was given to John Kendall the singing DJ, who has to return to Costa Rica to continue his career, having been unable to find a Karaoke bar with any upstairs rooms open to use between sets.

Wednesday 29th August - Century Ban Chan (Bogey)

1st: Mark Gorda, 6 up
2nd: Norman Brooks, 4 up
3rd: Kerry Jonsson, 3 up (cb9 2 up)
4th: Jean-Pierre Carcabal, 3 up (cb9 2 down)

In only his second round of golf after returning from the rigours of Algeria, where he has been helping the locals to suck oil and smoke it, Mark Gorda swept clear of the very competitive field of chasing golfers with a fine score on an extremely challenging course. He attributed his success to the hours spent practicing his grip and improving his aim at the local gun club.

Norman Brooks just took second place with a very good back nine, commenting that the last time he had been four up they had all been seventeen.

Kerry Jonsson got the nod over JP on count back after a strenuous push over the back nine. JP had the consolation of collecting the huge “twos” pool which included the carry over from the previous competition.

Richard welcomed John Carlyle from England and Kerry Jonsson from Sweden.

Friday 31st August - Plutaluang Navy Course (Medal)

1st: Jimmy Little, 76 (cb9 37.5, cb6 25.7)
2nd: Bee Matti, 76 (cb9 37.5, cb6 26)
3rd: Roland Piechocki, 76 (cb9 38.5)

An extremely difficult day for golf over the demanding North and West courses was eventually decided on a series of count backs over the back nine and six holes, with Jimmee just edging out Bee by one third of a shot, although Bee was given the nod at the prize-giving for the most attractive golfer on the day, pushing Jimmee into second to last place.

Roland Piechocki, who was playing his last game before returning to France to make a few more letters, managed a creditable third place.

At the post match get together, the Doc was to be found mumbling in some kind of jibberish, after making a good imitation of Tin Cup, putting three balls in the water on the last to take a ten, when an eight would have won him the coveted knotted putter for a medal. He soon cheered up when Jimmee, celebrating his crushing victory, blew the horn three times, presumably once for every ball in the water.

Mo drinks from the Monthly Mug

PSC Golf from the Cafe Kronborg

Monday, August 27 Khao Kheow C.C. (Stableford)

On Monday the Kronborg golfers headed to Khao Kheow in a hastily re-arranged venue. The conditions were overcast with a stiff breeze. Whether it was the change of venue, the weather or a heavy weekend, it certainly made for some high scoring. Wayne Koch continued where he left off last week, taking first place with 31 points. Ebrahim was second with 30 points including birdies at the last four holes, so you know what the rest of his round was like. Mike Bayer took third place with 29 points.

Thurs, August 30 Phoenix (Stableford)

On Thursday, August 30 a large group of golfers left the Kronborg for the short trip to the Phoenix Golf Course. The blustery conditions did not stop the golfers posting some fine scores on the Mountain and Lakes. Bob Moberg won the coveted mug with an outstanding net 66. The ‘A’ flight scores were generally better and Anders Karlson took first place with a net 68 beating Wayne Koch into second place. Dave Richardson took third with a net 72 beating out a host of players nipping at his heels.

Winner Bob Moberg congratulated by Cafe Kronborg host Bjarne Nielson

Alan Pearce took the ‘B’ flight with a net 69. The consistent Frank Sinclair was second with a net 70 and George Bennison third with net 75.

Near pins: M4 Berngt Vinterskog, M8 Frank Sinclair, L2 Anders Karlsson, and L7 Alan Pearce.

Sharp cuts Great Lakes to shreds

I.P.G.C. golf from Lewiinski’s / Orchid G.G.

Rick Sharp had eagles, chip-in birdies, you name it, he had it on his way to a gross 76 net 65 at Great Lakes on Weds.

Weekly results

Green Valley Sunday 26th August

A flight

1st: Karl Shackt, 37 pts.
2nd: Nick Strasshine, 35 pts.

B flight

1st: Oradee Kaesanane, 36 pts.
2nd: Bruce Tollitt, 36 pts.

Near pins: #2 Steve Donovan, #9 Nick Strasshine, #12 Anders Karlsson, and #16 George Jackson.

Siam Mon 27th August

1st: Svein Vistung, 40 pts.
2nd: Klaus Schackt, 40 pts.
3rd: Mick O’Meara, 39 pts.

Great Lakes Weds 29th August

1st: Rick Sharp, net 65
2nd: Bob Lindborg, net 69
3rd: Stan Fry, net 70

Noble Place Friday 31st August

1st: John Hurst, 42 pts.
2nd: Stan Fry, 39 pts.
3rd: Joe Mooneyham, 36 pts.

Shenanigans gears up for the 2001 Irish Open on October 5th

Following last year’s very popular Irish Open 2000, the first under the Shenanigans banner, there is every indication of another great day promised for Friday October 5th at Eastern Star. Early sign-ups are advised as soon as the entry forms are out at the ‘Golf in Pattaya’ venues published in Pattaya Mail, and full details are also to be found in Pattaya Mail.

Or, just call into Shenanigans and sign-up on the spot. Entries will only be confirmed with payment accompanying the entry form.

The usual warm Shenanigans and Eastern Star hospitality is guaranteed on the day for the tournament and, as ever, Kim Fletcher will be waiting to welcome you at Shenanigans with the delicious free Carvery and large array of trophies and prizes to be presented.

Shenanigans tournament director Mike Franklin commented, “This is one of the majors I really look forward to. The teamwork is great and the co-operation from Eastern Star and the Shenanigans staff makes the whole day really enjoyable for me, and I hope for all the players taking part.”

Shenanigans Irish Open 2001 on Friday October 5th. Don’t miss it.

Spurs, Arsenal, Man U, Cheers Bar

What do they have in common? They have all won the double.

Following their emphatic win in the Sunday Quiz League, Cheers Bar needed to win their last match of the season in the Wednesday Quiz League to ensure the double. This they did with some style and have booked their place in Pattaya Quiz Leagues’ history.

If you live near or in Pattaya you should hook-up with any one of the participating bars (details on the Sports Roundup page). The range of questions is so diverse, and many times difficult, there really is something for everybody. You will meet good people and all the participating bars sell beer. The Wednesday and/or Sunday quizzes are loads of fun for all. Come along and see what you think, you are always welcome.

The first three in the table were Cheers Bar 36 points, Rising Sun 32 points, and Londoner with 30 points. But win or lose, everybody has a good time.

Fitness Tips: Fitness tips pre Jesters Bike ride

by David Garred
Club Manager Dusit Resort Sports Club

G’day readers, next week we see the arrival of the now annual Jester’s Fair for Children’s charitable purposes in the local area.

A big part of the fair this week, 16th of September, i.e. next Sunday, is the sponsored bike ride. You can complete the bike ride in one of 2 distances: 25KM and 50 KM. With a physical activity related thing, this comes into an area where I might be able to help you enjoy participating in the bike ride and finish it with the least amount of after effects possible.

If you are like me and are going into the ride with a minimal amount of preparation but are extremely keen to participate, then now is a good time to take stock.

If you are an experienced cyclist but have not been on a bike for a long time then at a leisurely pace you should be OK for the 50KM event, just don’t try to kill yourself by finishing it in under 2 hours.

On the other hand, if you are not very experienced and you want to give it a go just for the fun of it then the 25KM track is a better thing for you.

Regardless of how much preparation you put into the ride, over the next week you will need to do a few things to make sure you actually enjoy the experience. It’s not a race and should be fun.

Nobody is having fun if they push so hard they need to stop and rest before finishing. Stopping because of dehydration, overexertion or an accident in many cases is due to poor mental and physical preparation.

Hydration: without sufficient amounts of water in the system we just don’t function, let alone function well enough to perform safely in a demanding sporting event. To ensure sufficient water is in the system for you next Sunday you should be increasing the amount of carbohydrates you eat.

Potato, pasta, rice and breads are all carbs, which is the body’s main source of energy also, and help you to retain water, something that will be needed on this bike ride.

Not only drinking about 3 liters a day from Thursday onwards but increasing your carbohydrate intake will ensure you have sufficient energy as well as water reserves available.

Overexertion: last time I heard it’s not a race and there is no prize for finishing first. Being only a fun event, you don’t need to knock yourself out, so take you time and enjoy the sights and possibly a joke or two from the other riders travelling with you. Yes a joke, if you are not able to talk then you might well be going too fast for yourself. Keep yourself down in the fat burning heart rate zone rather than up into the oxygen burning zone. The slower speed will allow you to have not only enough energy to make the full distance but be able to enjoy the rest of the day also.

See you there bright and shiny.

Carpe’ Diem

Bangkok Bangers to join Golden Oldies Rugby Elite

Story and photo
by Peter Cummins

The Bangkok Bangers Rugby Union Football Club has been ‘launched’, and now joins the elite world-wide federation of “Golden Oldies” with affiliated oldies clubs in some 22 countries, all of which registered for the Golden Oldies World Cup, France 2001.

From their Bangkok base, the Wall Street Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 33, the club chairman, John Beard - of House of Kangaroo fame - is already looking for a berth for Bangkok’s finest at the Golden Oldies World Cup in Brisbane, 2003.

Bangers Chairman John Beard displays the logo of the first Thai-based Rugby Club to join the world-wide Golden Oldies.

We are intent on a philosophy to participate in such festivals which will provide “fun, friendship and fraternity, for those over the age of 35,” John pointed out. Being the oldest there on that particular night, I was happy to learn that if I ‘play’, I am entitled to wear the gold shorts allocated to the 65 - 69 age group and, even better news, this group is “not to be tackled.”

The Bangers Club plans to establish a Thailand national competition to include Pattaya, Phuket and other parts of the Kingdom and eventually to promote Southeast Asian and Asian pacific competitions. It is hoped that many members of the Thai community will join local, national and inter-regional events.

The Golden Oldies have drawn up a list of the Rugby Ten Commandments which, however, stopped at nine on the reasonable assumption that as “memory fails with age”, it will be a little easier to remember nine rather than ten. I certainly subscribe to that thought.

The Ninth Commandment states that “I will always remember that I’m at a far greater risk in what I may do to myself - or have done to me SOCIALLY - than anything that might happen to me on the field.”

Some of the other aims of the group are to provide opportunities to travel together, to promote rugby, while emphasizing that “Golden Oldie Festivals are played in a non-competitive manner... and the results of games are of no significance.”

This seems to be my kind of game and a glance at the names of some of the teams in the 2001 Golden Oldies World Cup would indicate that this is all for fun: from the UK, The Puckered Ruckers and the Old Vulgarians RFC; from Australia, Penrith Legless Emus, Balding Eagles and, even, the Old Tasmanian Devils; from Botswana, Kalahari Hogs; from France, Anciens du Strade Toulousain; from Japan, Nigata Fuwaka Half Blacks and from South Africa, Rugga Rhinos, to cite a few.

As for this correspondent, when I see what rollicking good times that lie in store via the Golden Oldies, I can only revert to a charming Maurice Chevalier song from the film “Gigi” (ca. 1958): “I’m glad I’m not young anymore...!”

Anyone interested in learning more about the Bangkok Bangers and the Golden Oldies should contact John Beard, tel. (02) 231-5709; e-mail: [email protected]

BMW Williams - Hero to zero (twice!)

Schumi now world’s winningest driver

F1 drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, after qualifying their BMW Williams race cars in first and second places on the grid, saw their hopes disappear before the race even began. Third in qualifying, Michael Schumacher had a dream run and was never headed to easily win the Spa Grand Prix, with David Coulthard a lucky second in the McLaren Mercedes and Giancarlo Fisichella a plucky third in the Benetton Renault, a car more used to running at the lower end of the order.

Giancarlo Fisichella came a plucky third at Spa. (Photo courtesy Planet-F1 and Bothwell Photographics)

The whole weekend was a topsy-turvey one, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen, now in the pig of a Prost AP04 instead of the Jordan, qualifying on 4th slot immediately behind Michael Schumacher, and Fisichella qualifying 8th, instead of his usual 18th.

Just before the lights went out to start the race, Frentzen’s Prost stalled, so the start was reformed with the Prost relegated to the rear of the field. One good day’s work on Saturday down the drain.

At the restart, Montoya’s pole sitting BMW Williams stalled and he was relegated to the rear of the field as well. Two good day’s work on Saturday down the drain.

When the lights went out, Ralf Schumacher made a good start, but by the end of the first lap brother Michael had stormed past and disappeared down the track, leaving Ralf to fight off Barichello in the second Ferrari. Behind him came Hakkinen and Coulthard, the McLaren twins and then Fisichella.

On the 4th lap, Irvine in the Jaguar and Burti in the Prost tangled at over 300 kph, resulting in a huge crash with Burti’s car ensnared in the tyre wall, resulting in a red flag and stopped race. Burti, though concussed was reported as being satisfactory otherwise.

After clearing the track, at the third restart, the mechanics left the grid and the cars moved off on the formation lap. All except the BMW Williams of Ralf, which the mechanics had left sitting up on the jacks! The second BMW Williams was relegated to rear of field and the third good day’s work on Saturday came to nought.

From then on it was clear that Michael Schumacher was never to be headed, but Giancarlo Fisichella made a storming start to be 2nd behind the Ferrari, a position he was to hold until nine laps from the end when Coulthard took advantage of a back marker and got through. But up till then he had no answer for the flying duck egg blue Benetton. 4th, and a distant one at that, was Hakkinen, followed by Barichello who had been promising so much this weekend and delivered very little of it, and then Crazy Jean Alesi in the Jordan 6th, who, with his usual “ballsanall” approach to sideways motoring, kept Ralf Schumacher behind him all the way to the flag.

Michael Schumacher was asked at the press conference if he thought his win eased the pain of Germany’s 5-1 defeat by England in the football and he replied with his usual candour, “Honestly we said yesterday, because Ross’s wife (Ross Brawn, the Ferrari strategist) phoned up and said ‘listen, tonight England, tomorrow Germany.’ That’s the way it should go and that’s the way it went so I’m pretty happy with that, a bit disappointed as to what happened yesterday but I think if you imagine it is 26 years ago England last beat Germany in Germany, you can live with that.”

So despite Germany’s lack of prowess in football, Michael Schumacher now becomes the winningest driver in history with 52 GP victories and has equalled Ayrton Senna’s five wins at Spa, and that is in ten years! A 50% winning result.

The next GP is at Monza in Italy on the 16th of this month. In the meantime there will have been a few harsh words spoken at the Williams organization!

Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001  Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel. 66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax: 66-38 427 596

Updated by Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]