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PSC 38th Members Tournament escapes the big wet
Phoenix Country Club, Friday May 21
The heavens opened and deposited a major storm on Pattaya early in the
morning. As I stood on the balcony Beach Road was flooded axle deep and the
water flowed in a torrent down Soi 1 and Soi Regent Marina, surely there
would be no golf today.
 Thongpen
Nattaporn, Ladies Champion for the 38th Members tournament.
Lets go and see what we shall see. The drive up there was
miserable with rain and road conditions not good, heavy spray and the usual
change of driving by people not used to the weather. Of course the bus
drivers zoomed past as if nothing had occurred.
Booking in was as usual very efficient and surprise
surprise; despite the rain still pouring down we could use carts, off the
fairway of course. The Competition started off both tees and the back nine,
which we started on, is the least affected by the repairs still taking place
and with rain in the air it looked clean. Probably because the workers on
the course were all under cover. Then low and behold the rain stopped and
the weather became really nice and cool.
 Mikael
Anderson, Low Gross winner receives his trophy from the PSC golf chairman,
Gerry Carpenter.
On to the front nine and the repairs that were being
undertaken last week had not progressed. Enough said, but all in all the day
went off quite well. But why oh why are all the bunkers directly in front of
the greens? The object of a bunker is to pick up the bad shot and a shot
directly on line but 5 yards short of the green is not a bad shot. Still the
bunkers are in fine condition, if in my opinion in overkill mode. This will
be a mean course when finally finished.
 Gerry
Carpenter, PSC golf chairman presents David Strang his Low Net trophy.
So on the day the scores were not high, except for a
couple that were so far ahead of the rest it looked like David and Goliath
in the Ladies flight Thongpen Nattoporn had a fairly comfortable win with 36
points ahead of a countback for second on 33 points won by Kaye Forsyth in
second and Lamud Chiara in third.
 A
Flight Winner, Perry McNeely
In the A Flight, Strokeplay, the scores were fairly
modest with the winner Perry McNeely with a net 71 ahead of a countback for
second on net 73 with Magnus Johansson in second and Calvin Ige in third.
The eventual Gross winner came in this section with Mikael Anderson shooting
a gross 80.
The B Flight, Strokeplay, showed some better scores with
the winner Herbie Ishinaga shooting a fine net 67 ahead of Ian Edwards in
second with net 68 and Bob Benda in third with a net 72.
 D
Flight Winner, Jacky Hsieu.
The C Flight, Stableford, had more modest scores and a
countback, with 36 points was needed to decide the winner with John Kirkwood
winning ahead of Alan Pearce in second. In third was Arthur Bailey with 35
points.
As is usual the D Flight, Stableford, produced the
Astronauts with scores in the blue sky. The winner was Jacky Hsieu with 45
points ahead of Bent Vinterskog on 40 points and in third Gordon McKnight on
39 points. Also the eventual High Gross came from this Flight with David
Strang shooting 47 points.
The presentation was carried out by the Golf Chairman,
Gerry Carpenter and after his thanks to his team he thanked the Sponsors:
Pattaya Sports Club, Cafe Kronborg, Blue Parrot, Good Golf, 60’s Bar,
Shennanigans, McAllisters, Tahitian Queen, Green Bottle and to those missed
my apologies.
Alan Pearce then declared the winners and we could
venture back onto the wet road to Pattaya T.T.F.N.
Results:
Winner Gross: Mikael Anderson
Winner Net: David Strang
A Flight Winner: Perry McNeely; Second: Magnus Johansson;
Third: Calvin Ige
B Flight Winner: Herbie Ishinaga; Second: Ian Edwards;
Third: Bob Benda
C Flight Winner: John Kirkwood; Second: Alan Pearce;
Third: Arthur Bailey
D Flight Winner: Jacky Hsieu; Second: Bent Vinterskog;
Third: Gordon McKnight
L Flight Winner: Thongpen Nattaporn; Second: Kaye
Forsyth; Third: Lamud Chaidara
Technical Prizes:
Long Drive A + B: Gerhard Schulz; C + D: John Kirkwood;
Ladies: Ploy
Long 1st Putt: #9 A + B: Ali Kirkwood; #18 A + B: Ploy; C
+ D: Saen Jaroewong
Near Pins: #3 A + B: Magnus Johansson; C + D: Ramsey
Smith; Ladies: Nora.
#8 A + B: Philippe Berra; C + D: Nil; Ladies: Lamud
Chaidara
#12 A + B: Bob Benda; C + D: Bengt Vinterskog; Ladies:
Lamun Hanley
#17 A + B: Ian Edwards; C + D: Terry Curtis; Ladies: Ploy
2’s: Bengt Vinterskog
Calling all athletes under 18
Annual Youth Beach Volleyball championships
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
City Hall recently announced this year’s Youth Beach
Volleyball championship would again take place on June 19 and 20. Jomtien
Beach, in front of Pattaya Park will again be the venue for the annual under
18’s event.
Prizes for local youths wishing to compete in the
internatinal event include scholarship worth 5,000 baht and trophy for the
winners, second a 3,000 baht scholarship and third 2,000 baht scholarship
and trophies.
 A
competitor in the under 18 year-old girls category sets up her team partner
for an offensive spike during last year’s event on Jomtien Beach.
Organisers are calling all atheletes under 18 to register before June 8
at the city hall education and atheltics office by calling 038 371 123 ext.
404, Pradit Thonchai on 09 141 0567 or Jongrak Na Nakhorn on 01 377 9104.
Identifaction and atheletics membership cards are required.
Pattaya 9 Ball Pool League
Mickey Mouse Darts League
Big shakeup in the standings
Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League
With four of the five matches ending up in four point
sweeps the standings took a new look after week ten. Three Sisters moved
into first place as Captain La rolled a 501 series overcoming Captain Bill,
VFW Post 9876, who bowled a 228 game and 568 series.
200 bowlers
(front to back) Kran, Mio, Mai, Somrak, Lada, Bill & Lenz.
Cafe Ole took four from Brother D moving into a tie for
fourth and knocking Brother D out of the top spot. Somrak led Cafe Ole with
games of 165, 207 and 212, 584 series and Dang had games of 189, 186 and 181
for a 556-pin count.
House of the Golden Coin took four from Q Cars as Captain
Mio rolled games of 192, 220 and 191, 603 series. Lenz had games of 191, 202
and 210, 603 series, for Q Cars.
Nut led Nam Tip to a four-point sweep over Alt Koelle
with a 201 game and 555 pins total. Caf? Kronborg remains in last place
after their loss to Jack & Tar, winning only 1.5 points and losing 2.5.
Captain Kran had games of 200, 170 and 209 for a 579 series, for Cafe
Kronborg. Captain Mai was best for Jack & Tar with a 205 game, 552-pin
count and Morn added a 528 series.
Standings Week 10
Team Standings Points (May21)
Three Sisters 28 - 12 4 - 0
Brother D. 26 - 14 0 - 4
Cafe Ole 21 - 19 4 - 0
Q Cars 21 - 19 0 - 4
Jack & Tar 19.5 - 20.5 2.5 - 1.5
House of the Golden Coin 19 - 21 4 - 0
Nam Tip 19 - 21 4 - 0
VFW Post 9876 16 - 24 0 - 4
Alt Koelle 15.5 - 24.5 0 - 4
Cafe Kronborg 15 - 25 1.5 - 2.5
Pattaya Pool League
Sunday Quiz League
Wednesday Quiz League
Further course improvements at Eastern Star
Mike Franklin
Plans for further improvements to the golf course are
well under way at Eastern Star Country Club & Resort. Principally, this
involves the installation of new drainage at some aprons and approach areas
to greens, in fairways and areas of rough that have traditionally been
‘wet areas’. Specifically, at affected places on Holes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 12, & 14. This program will have been completed by the end of May
and, to minimize inconvenience to golfers, the work has been carried out
after 3 pm and into the night. Areas where new drainage is installed are
marked ‘GUR’ until the ground repairs.
Secondly, unwanted plants and weeds will be removed in
the fairways and around bunker edges to further improve playing conditions
and the general appearance of the course. This will start after there has
been rain and will be on going.
Thirdly, a new ladies tee-box is being built at Hole 3 to
replace the existing one that has deteriorated due to the adjacent large
tree.
Khun Saradej, Eastern Star general manager, states that
this essential work will cause minimum inconvenience to golfers whilst
further raising the standard of Eastern Star golf course.
Munns Living in the 60’s, Scoring in the 40’s
IPGC Golf From Lewiinski’s
Sunday, May16
Green Valley -
White Tees
Stableford
1st Place A Flight: Jim Munns, 46 points
2nd Place A Flight: Mike Allidi, 43 points
3rd Place A Flight: Rick Sharp, 36 points
1st Place B Flight - Nat Meesuk, 46 points
2nd Place B Flight: Bob Lindborg, 38 points
3rd Place B Flight: Serge Straeten, 37 points
Near Pins: #5 Steve Mulberry; #8 Jim Wickstrom; #13 George
Jackson; #16 Colin Davis
Everyone’s favorite refugee of the Flower Power Era, Jim
“Captain Fogg” Munns, is rapidly (if you call nearly 40 years rapid)
emerging from the haze of that time, that is, at least on the golf course. His
stay in Pattaya, which now approaches two years, has seen a marked improvement
in his game.
In June of 2002 Jim was a struggling 28+ but with some
assistance from local area teaching pros and some club improvement courtesy of
Neil Cameron, and with a lot of hard work, Jim has improved to his current 16
handicap and the field is anxiously awaiting this week’s updates.
Sure the course was a bit vulnerable, but that can’t
entirely explain away Jim’s phenomenal 46 points and a victory in A Flight. It
was unfortunate that the victim of Jim’s outburst was Mike Allidi who shot 70
off the stick and still only had the A Flight silver to show for it. Rick Sharp
rounded out the Flight with what seemed a modest, level to his 9 handicap, 36
points.
As this scribe sings the praises of Jim, it cannot be ignored
that Nat Meesuk duplicated the 46 point effort. Not much more can be said about
the gal who was last week’s title girl, except “Watch out Pattaya!”
In a return to more traditional levels of performances, the
final two spots in B Flight were left to two old work horses, Bob Lindborg and
Serge Straeten. It should be highlighted that Bob donated two pen sets as near
pins prizes, thus giving the field a prize on each of Green Valley’s four par
threes. Thanks Bob!
Monday, May17
Phoenix - Blue & White Tees
Bogie
1st Place Blue Flight: Gerhard Schulze, 2 up
2nd Place Blue Flight: Colin Davis, 1 up
1st Place White Flight: Eddie Blackwell, 5 up
2nd Place White Flight: Bruce McAdam, 2 up
Last Monday, Lewiinski’s Golf Society took on the
well-conditioned Phoenix layout in a two-person Better Ball format.
This week the gang wanted to take Phoenix on single handedly
and did so in a Bogie format. Briefly, the Bogie format pits the golfer against
the par of each hole in match play. To give the varied talents of the field
opportunity to enjoy themselves, the field was split by those that teed off from
the Blue tees and those that chose the White tees. The young and fit Gerhard
Schulze bulldogged the Blue tee course for a 2 up victory (or two under his
handicap) narrowly edging another potential title boy, Colin ‘The Donkey’
Davis.
In acquiescence to some higher handicappers in his four ball,
Eddie Blackwell emasculated the shortish white tees to claim a 5 up victory.
Bruce McAdam joined Eddie on the White Flight podium.
Wednesday, May 19
Eastern Star -
White Tees
Stroke/Medal
1st Place A Flight: Steve Mascari, net 70
2nd Place A Flight: Mike Allidi, net 73
3rd Place A Flight: John Emmerson, net 73
1st Place B Flight: Colin Davis, net 71
2nd Place B Flight: Howard Burton, net 72
3rd Place B Flight: Seamus Brennan, net 76
Near Pins: #6 Rick Sharp; #17 Bruce McAdam
Three single digit handicappers divided up the A Flight booty
as Golf Mamasan Steve Mascari had gross 76, net 70 to claim the gold. Mike
Allidi whose play continues and continues to impress was second with gross 78,
net 73. Golf Manager John Emmerson rounded out the rarified trio with a
countback losing net 73 as well.
Colin Davis, not satisfied with yesterday’s second took the
B Flight top step, edging newcomer Howard Burton by a single stroke. Seamus
Brennan was a surprised B Flight bronze medal winner
Friday, May 21
Burapha - A & B - White Tees
Stableford
1st Place A Flight: Jim Munns, 40 points
2nd Place A Flight: John Emmerson, 35 points
1st Place B Flight: Roger Koehler, 38 points
2nd Place B Flight: Sugar Ray Hanford, 37 points
Near Pin: #B8 Bruce McAdam
My goodness, there he is again. Captain Fogg in the 40’s.
Sure, it was off the Whites at Burapha East/New/A&B Course, but it was in
intermittent rain and on a slow track.
GM Ol’ Silverback was a bit of a distant second, but as
John is want to say, “it still spends”.
‘The Good Roger’ Koehler edged improving Sugar Ray by a
single point to gain a one step advantage on the B Flight podium.
Phur and Per Pushed Close
IPGC Bunker Boys at the OK Corral
The Bunker Boys travelled to Green Valley on May 17th and
18th to contest their monthly 36-hole event, this time the format being a
Pairs Scramble.
The weather stayed fine with a fresh breeze blowing both
days and the course was once again beautifully presented with the lightly
scarified greens giving the only reason for concern. On day one, with the
white tees set well back, the experienced pairing of Bob Pearce and John
Healey used their canny knowledge of the course to post a creditable score of
67.4, a feat they were to emulate on the following day.
This gave them third place, just a shot behind Harry Riley
and Saranya Chaiyanont, whose three birdie twos went a long way to
establishing their runners-up score of 66.2. The long hitting of Per Aschan
and Terry Phur were good enough to take the first day with a seemingly
unassailable score of 63.6.
On the second day Harry and Saranya still held out hope of
a surprise and their improved score of 65.2 took the second day from the
vastly improved pairing of Mark Joshua and Steve Nowell.
At the end of the day however the first day places held
firm with Phur and Aschan holding a slender 1.2 shot lead over the Family
Riley after two engrossing days at Green Valley.
Bob Pearce wins in the wind
After a competitive two day event at the start of the week,
when twenty-six players took to the links on the second day, it was
understandable that there would be a lower turnout at Khao Kheow on Thursday,
May20, for a stableford event over the A and B nines on an overcast and very
windy day.
The conditions made the well presented course play very
long off the yellow tees, and, had it been a medal round, many spirits would
have been broken! Neil Griffin and Pat Murphy tried manfully to post good
scores off their higher handicaps but the class of Steve Nowell allowed him to
post a score of 30 points to briefly hold the clubhouse lead. Bob Pearce
proved the master of the conditions with his score of 31 points and he took
the day’s main prize. There were no birdie two’s for the second successive
round but poor Len Jones took the Bunker Boys’ Banana Booby for an
incredible oversight. Arriving home from the course he went to clean his clubs
and realised they were still waiting for collection at the clubhouse! This
necessitated a round trip of more than a hundred kilometres, at rush hour, to
retrieve them. His stamina and temper were eventually restored with the award
of the dreaded fruit! Silly Billy!
For more news, results and golf gossip visit
http://www.thebunkerboys .com
Mick does it again
On Tuesday May 11, a dozen golfers from The Bunker went
to Bang Chang’s Century golf course for a Medal Competition. On a very hot
day in-form Mick Ramshaw was the only player to break par. While other
golfers sweltered in the heat, Mick kept his cool to take first prize, again
with a net 71. In second place, four shots behind came Gary Austin returning
a 75 net.
 Duncan
McGee wins at last.
The Bunker Bonanza Bonus prize was again not won but The
Bunker Banana Booby prize was awarded to Mike Donnarunna for his last place.
Duncan Mcgee wins at last
On Thursday May 13, The Bunker played a Stableford round
at the Siam Country Club. Again it was a very hot day but the recent showers
have improved the condition of the fairways at Siam. After many weeks of
being an also ran Duncan McGee reached the top of the pile to take first
place with 37 Stableford points... Well done Duncan (See photo attached).
In second place came Seamus Brennan with 35 Stableford
points and third place was shared by Jim Tozer and Paul Rose both with 34
points. Again The Bunker Bonanza Bonus prize was not won and The Bunker
Bananas were duly awarded to Lee Davage who came in last with a miserable 17
Stableford points.
Onwards and
upwards goes Mick.
On Tuesday 18th May the Boys from The Bunker returned to
Pattaya Country club for their weekly Medal Competition. On a perfect day
for golf with a nice breeze blowing and with a course in good condition Mick
Ramshaw struck again, this time returning a three under par 69 to take first
place! In second place was Eric Becklund, originally from Sweden but he
escaped to live in Australia for 40 years, with a 71 net - Alex is
definitely one to watch!
In third place came Mitch Malone with a very respectable
73 net score. Yet again The Bunker Bonanza Bonus wasn’t won but The Bunker
Bananas Booby prize most certainly was, this time they were presented to Lez
Hall who came last with a score of 84 net!
Alex catches his first win
Thursday 20th May the Boys from The Bunker returned to
the lovely Bang Pra for a Stableford Competition. On a blustery day with a
horse appearing on the adjoining reservoir, Alex Becklund, as predicted, won
his first competition with The Bunker scoring 36 Stableford points holding
off Duncan McGee who battled his way to a score of 34 points to take second
place.
Third place went to in-form Mick Ramshaw with 33 points,
Mick’s excuse was that he had a very attractive caddy and he was not able
to concentrate on his golf!
The Bunker Bonanza Bonus prize was still yet to be won and The Bananas
were shared by Lee Davage and Mike Donnarumma who both blamed the previous
night’s activities for their poor showing!
Burapa Golf Club’s course gets even better
Suchada Tupchai
The Burapa Golf Club has embarked on renovating its course to
bring it up to international standards.
Set in the middle of a housing project near the Eastern
Seaboard major industrial estates, the Burapa Golf Club features two 18-hole
golf courses, swimming pool, tennis courts and clubhouse.
 Great
views from the course.
The club’s management and committee have renovated the
course by, inter alia, increasing tee-box sizes, and adding an extra 200 yards
on some fairways, as well as improving the sand traps throughout the course and
providing international standard inclines in the process.
Kulotorn Meesanont, marketing and operations manager, said,
“Golf courses constantly undergo maintenance and develop to keep them in top
condition for players. We at Burapa Golf Club have stuck to those ideals as part
of the effort to improve our course and bring it up to a world-class standard.
 Kulotorn
Meesanont explains course improvements.
“It’s not just the standard of the course that we strive
to keep in top condition but also our management practices and service
standards. This includes the rules and etiquette for players, which is probably
the most important aspect of the operations.
“We keep to these specific standards, especially concerning
course etiquette, right down to the apparel golfers wear. We have our regular
players as well as new groups coming in all the time and, as a result of our
high standards, have held international golf competitions. We aim to provide the
best facility in the region for all golfers.”
 Kulotorn
Meesanont (driving) prepares to take the media on a course tour.
Located in the Bueng district of Sriracha, the course was designed by Gary
Panks and David Graham, focusing on natural surroundings of a challenging
course.
PSC Golf from Bobby Joe’s 60’s Bar
Friday The May 21 Plutaluang Royal Thai
Navy Course
On a rainy day throughout the area it was a pleasure
to take a trip to this course and to play the South and East layouts and
be able to use carts, and put the umbrellas away.
 The
Winners
The course was in fine condition and the severely
reduced turnout, due not only to the Monthly Tournament against it but
Bobby’s visit into hospital, had a fine day out, especially due to the
fine prices in the restaurant.
In the end the winner was Bob Noble ahead of Andy Evans and Frank
Pilkington in third.
Dubliner Put One hand on league Title
MBMG International Casuals League - Week 23
The dictionary definition of hegemony is: ‘The
predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or
others’, and for this observer, who witnessed Saturday’s potential title
decider between the Scandinavian Vikings and The Mighty Dubliner, that is
what it was. The fact that the game, as a contest was over after the first
ten minutes, the fact that the Mighty Dubliner hit the woodwork twice and
missed numerous other chances and the fact that league top scorer Anders
Schmidtt was denied even one shot on goal was not so important. No, what was
most alarming was that the Vikings, who bludgeoned their way to a seven
point lead at Christmas, have now failed to beat the Mighty Dubliner on the
last eight occasions.
For those of us who have watched the two teams playing
throughout the season, against different opposition, there is very little to
choose between them. Both rely heavily on one out and out goal scorer, both
have brutal defences and skilful midfields, indeed the Vikings, up to
Christmas, were playing the far more fluid football and after wining their
first ten games, opening what seemed at the time, a seven point chasm were
odds on title favorites.
Yet, in the third game back after the break they met the
Mighty Dubliner, and despite a tight game, they lost and a ten point canyon
became a four point rope bridge.
Three weeks later they played the Mighty Dubliner again,
in the conference play off final that had been postponed from last season.
Again, despite taking the lead, they lost on penalties, converting only one
out of five. And, once again on Saturday they lost, allowing the Mighty
Dubliner to open up a seven point gap. Students of the game will look to
reasons why the Vikings, who are the current cup holders, last year’s
league runners up and irrefutably a great team, cannot defeat an undoubtedly
beatable, Mighty Dubliner.
Once again we turned to resident pundit William Watts,
who riding high off his remarkable success with the unfancied Barbican on
the international circuit, was willing to give his thoughts, “Pound for
pound there’s not a lot of difference between them both-but what the
Dubliner do that no other team in the league does, is man mark Schmidt. And
as brilliant as he is, the Vikings have no foil for Schmidt and when he is
nullified, so are the Vikings.”
“Now, that’s easier said than done, of course. The
Dubliner as blessed that, admittedly through greed, bungs and bribery, they
bought the best man marker in the business, Brawn Jamieson from Pattana. So,
in every game Jamieson shuts down Schmidt and the Dubliner win.”
Elsewhere, Bangkok Glitz gleaned revenge over Pattana for
their early season defeat with a comfortable 3-1 win and Pattaya continued
their recent good run with a useful away win against SCI, with Paul Crouch
starring. The league rumour mill was in full swing when reporters spotted
scouts from The Mighty Dubliner in the crowd, this amid reports that Crouch
was to be the subject of a multi million baht bid. After the game, Crouch
admitted, “When I were a nipper me and the old man would sit in the
terraces and watch the Mighty. I had posters of Mr. Robbo, Junior and Sloman
on me wall. To join them? Well it would be a dream come true, it surely
would!”
Results-Week 23:
Patana 1 vs. 3 Bangkok Blitz; SCI Gecko FC 0 vs. 3 Racing
Club Pattaya; The Dubliner 2 vs. 0 Scandinavian Vikings; AFC Shrewsbury 2
vs. 2 Les Gaulois de Bangkok
PSC Golf from the Kronborg
Monday May17, Eastern Star
Country Club Stableford
The Eastern Star Country Club was host to a Stableford
Competition in two Flights, A Flight 0 to 18 and B Flight 19 upwards. The
weather on the day was fine with only a brief shower on the final holes. The
course was quite playable but if you look at the Greens and the Rough it
appears a backward step has been taken. Let us all hope it will be soon
remedied.
 Jim
Boyd
Jim Boyd won the A Flight with 37 points ahead of Brian
Noguer in second with 34 points and in third place was the ever present
Ebrahim with 33 points. Big Pete Galle took the B Flight with 35 points
ahead of in second Dick Worden with 34 points and in third was Tournament
Director Dave Richardson with 31 points.
Thursday May 20 2004: Royal Lakeside Stroke
This time of the year things can be pretty quiet and so
it was on this day, with rainy weather, the Monthly Tournament on the morrow
and the course being so far away we had a small turn out. Still those who
did not go missed a treat, with the weather being superb, apart from a
howling gale, and the fairways grassy and springy. If there are better
fairways anywhere I have yet to see them. Windy? Yes, it was very windy and
for such as myself who do not play well in the wind a nuisance, still it is
nice for those of us who can to take your hat off and let the wind blow
through their hair.
 Bob
Benda
So it was noticeable that most rounds had one or two bad
holes, some one or two very bad holes. In the end the winner was one who
kept the really bad holes off his card and Boring Benda won again. Boring?
Well how annoying is it when someone hits every tee shot down the middle?
They do not see the parts of the course the rest of us do.
So the winner was Bob Benda with a steady net 71 ahead of Alan Cassin
with a net 74 and a countback for third on net 75 with Marie Rowles in third
and Dave Richardson in fourth.
Relaxing in
the clubhouse
Big Pete Galle
and Dave Richardson
PH3 Run 1054
Vikings Conquer once again! I awoke with a start Monday
morning and much anticipation. Christmas? No! The Norski’s would be
setting trail today and had promised much to this rag-a-muffin group of
characters called Hashers.
“It is our national holiday, you won’t be
disappointed.”
From his appointed chair, Poncho set about with purpose
and a smile as many misfits drifted in to the Scandi-Bar for signup. F’ing
Dog passed out an extra ticket to all and gave special instructions: “Hang
on to that little pink thing. You will need it later.”
I wandered to the bus stop with many others to await the
Viking Cruiser (hash bus). Bunny and the other Babes kept da boyz amply
entertained with their antics and sexiness as we gazed down 2nd road with
squinted eyes where the sun simmered down and we put away more than a few
beers and waters.
121 Hashers and 121,000 flies merged in to one melting
pot at the “A” site, which will go down in the annals of Hash history as
one of the best “A” sites ever.
Like many great Vikings before, Karamba had set out to
pillage and plunder, but in fact, had stumbled on to great Hash territory.
It was a clear day and you could see forever. The Norski Gods were certainly
smiling today. S. Stains proudly calls the circle. Tadpole leaps like a
gazelle behind a car in hopes her new shoes will not be christened on this
day. Tradition is tradition and S. Stains leapt equally as quick to put his
lips to the heel of her shoe and throw back a beer.
Nice!
The Hares stepped in to explain the course as the circle
tries to listen and many other Norwegians dressed in red/white/blue having
big smiles and waving small flags jump and twitch like epileptics having
seizures.
God love ‘em!
Uncle Fester was on a mission of his own, passing out
Aquavit to the Thai Girls and had great hopes of getting them Mau mak mak.
Ya, ya, ya, ya.
The pack takes off at a leisurely pace seeming to relish
and savour every step of the meandering trail that went down hill, around
fields and dropped in to deep dark jungle. The trail was clearly marked and
those clever Norski’s fooled many of us with some reverse psychology at a
check - “surely this can’t be the real trail...it’s too obvious and
too close to the check.” Most Hashers were back at the “A” site in
about an hour and still had grins on theirs face and not a little short of
breath running up the on-in hill. Circle is called again and Bunny has her
weekly 5 minutes of fame.
Hares are on the ice and their fate placed before the
crowd. It’s unanimous. Thumbs up from every hasher and fly. The hares
shall not be thrown to the lions this week.
Sir Airhead begins religion and makes great use of not
only ice, but the ice bucket as well. He calls for a translation of the
writing on the inside of the t-shirts, “Swing a hot potato from you’re
ass and freedom from Sweden.”
Only a Norwegian hasher could come up with that one.
McDwarf gets the bucket. Chicken F***er revealed as
Oswald, last week’s scribe. Hash trash iced for being from Katoey country
(Northern Scotland). Sunflower sits in the bucket and takes a few ice cubes
with her. Snoopy dog gets named. Icee D., Seagull S##t, Mineless C. and
Mickey Mau are iced for being deported... or is that departing? Sir Airhead
takes the ice for being a R.A. extraordinaire. Virgins in... Free Willy
exposed for dressing like a fag. Schmitty takes the bucket for lying, Bad,
bad hasher.
Wang King on in for having the ugliest wife in all of
England. Yikes! I was called in to put out a small fire on a cake and
didn’t know how to put the fire out. Turns out I’m an unemployed
dishwasher and got my hash name for stealing a fire truck in my youth.
Okinawa boyz sing some songs, Karamaba’s main squeeze is named GPS.
Karamba gets his 100th run t-shirt and mug. Congratulations you big dummy.
Now get a life. Bye, bye to Baby’s Arm and Irregular Period. Norski’s
give us one last song. Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, etc., etc. Uncle Fester knew
every word.
UFO’s were spotted again in the night skies above
Pattaya. Star Trek confirms her space ship is just checking in on research
of earthling hashers. Oh La La provided what can only be described as a
splendid affair for the Monday night meal. Thanks. A special toos-en-tuk
(thousand thanks) goes out to Pissed Pole Dancer. She worked harder than
everyone to feed us the salmon sandwiches at the circle. We love you, Girl!
Norski’s, you’ve outdone yourselves. Well done and a memorable Hash.
On-On
Fireman (or am I re-named “Dishwasher” now?)
The Square Ring
by Howie Reed
Well lads and lass’s it was quite a week in the Land of
Smiles, which used to be called Siam (and no Yul Brener was not really the
King) but it’s now called Thailand. Yes, the same way that Istanbul was
Constantinople. You might remember the hit song by the Four Lads from 1953,
“Istanbul was Constantinople Now it’s Istanbul not Constantinople.”
No? How about this, “ Evr’y gal in Constantinople Is a Miss-stanbul, not
Constantinople.
So if you’ve date in Constantinople she’ll be waiting
in Istanbul... Why did Constantinople get the works? That’s nobody’s
business but the Turks’.
“The number one story has nothing to do with boxing but
with the old and noble sport of “footie” which Yanks call soccer and the
rest of the world, whether civilized or not, calls football. Rumored for
months to be in the works, Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
has ‘officially’ made a bid to buy a 30% stake in Liverpool of the
England Premier League. At press time the deal had hit a snag even though
the PM had said the deal was accepted in ‘principle.’
Interesting combination of words there! Thailand, Prime
Minister and Principle.
One press report centers on an ‘obscure English Law’
which forbades a foreigner owning any portion of an English Sporting Club.
“Not allow outside financial capital? That doesn’t sound fair.” What
does this have to do with boxing? Maybe nothing but meanwhile in America
Promoter Art Pelullo, tipped by a classy boxing writer
ringside at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, has signed WBA super featherweight
world champion Yodsanan Nanathachai (42-2-1) to an exclusive promotional
contract. Well maybe that’s true and maybe it’s not. Late last week
‘The Square Ring’ received an email from Yodsanan’s “Thailand
Promoter” Mr. Songchai Jr. “We do not know what is going on why many
newspapers say that Yodsanan is linked with Banner Promotion. We are the
only promoter who promotes Yodsanan, for more than 10 years in boxing.
Before that he practiced Muaythai for a couple of years with over 50 fights,
and I am also his exclusive Muaythai promoter. His 19 times PABA defending
is also promoted by me. Finally, with 2 WBA defenses and some tune-up fights
also signed by me. We would like to emphasize that we are the sole promoter
of Yodsanan 100%. We are Yodsanan’s promoter and manager more than 10
years. And we did not sign with Banner Promotions.”
Could this ‘signing’ be a case of one hand not
knowing what the other hand was doing? Could this be similar to the pub
owner selling 100% of his establishment to 150 different people? Several
years ago the great Mexican Champion Julio Cesar Chavez (106-5-2) from his
home in Culiacan Mexico signed with at least two promoters at the same time.
He took cash from both Bob Arum (Top Rank) and Don King then signed a second
time with Arum. It was reported at the time that one of the promoters
traveled by donkey to seal the deal. Not the first time an ass has ridden an
ass. (Chavez won his ‘last’ fight Friday night at the Plaza de Toros in
Mexico City against equally washed up Frankie Randall 59-15. If anyone
cares.)
Banner Promotions issued a statement saying, “We’re
very excited about signing this sensational world champion to a promotional
deal. We’re going to bring him to the United States for his next fight, a
mandatory world title defense this summer against mandatory challenger Jorge
Barrios of Argentina. It should be a great battle between two big punchers
and if Yodsanan wins, all doors open for him.”
It’s not as if Banner Promotions has little knowledge
of Thailand fighters. Last Friday night Banner promoted a show featuring
Fasan 3K Battery (a.k.a. Narongrit Pirang of Thailand) 18-0 against Art
Simonyan (13-0) on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. During the contest there
was some comment about Pirang’s actual record. Because of his numerous
fights in Thailand some claim he was really 43-6.
Regardless he didn’t make a good showing getting shut
out by Simonyan (119-109,119,109 and 120, 108). The battery’s were working
but Fasan 3K Battery never got untracked in a performance that would have to
improve to be dismal. Simonyan now gets the #1 IBF ranking.
Lots of other Thai fighters in action, 1996 Olympian
Pongsith Wiengwiset (10-1, 4 KO’s) successfully retained his PABA 130lb
title in 4, TKO, over David Douglas (11-2-1, 4 KO’s). In the 4th there was
a mutual receiving of cut eyes caused by an accidental head butt. Mr.
Douglas did a Roberto Duran, “No Mas”. Fight over. Drive home safely,
“WBA#2 lightfly Pichit Chor Siriwat (31-2, 14 KO’s) impressively knocked
out RP#5 Allan Ranada with a vicious left hook in 2 as former WBA king &
current #1, superbantam Yoddamrong Sithyodthong (39-1-1, 18 KO’s) won a
six round unanimous decision over Ranee Ganoy.
Sometimes the lighter weight guys fly under the radar.
While most of the buzz before, during and after was about Jones Jr. Tarver.
Thailand’s Fahlan Sakkreerin (54-4) got a shot at the IBF “no weight
title” on that undercard. He drew Jose Victor Burgos (36-13).
It was a heck of a fight. Entering the 6 round it was a
flat footed tie with judge Adalaide Byrd having it 49-46 for Burgos, Bill
Graham having it 48-46 for Sakkreerin with the third judge Larry Hazzard jr.
having it at a flat footed tie.
Burgos went down in the 4th, which gave the Thai a 10-8
round except on Ms. Byrd’s card. That aside Sakkreerin got rocked badly,
or goodly depending on who you were rooting for, in the 6th going down
twice. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped it at 1:43 when it was clear that the
fight was over.
It just may be possible that Antonio Tarver may be the elixir that boxing
is going to have to drink to get back on the front pages of sport. He is a
breath of fresh air in a sport that has been pumping it’s fair amount of
verbal pollution into the air. He’s articulate, well spoken, doesn’t
dress like he’s wearing someone else’s clothes and can fight. Good for
him. Would you drink to that? No, I would and will. Cheers
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