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Aussies, India reign supreme in Laser Regatta
Story and pictures by Peter Cummins
As the 2002 Asian Pacific Laser and Radial Laser
Championships, sailed off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in South Pattaya,
concluded last week, the heavyweights, Aussies Nicholas Skulander and
Richard Scarr squeezed erstwhile leader, Singaporean Benedict Tan into
third place in the vital last three races of the Laser full rig division.
 Malaysian
Mohd Romzi bin Muhamad drives hard.
With six first places, a second, third and fourth in
the nine races counted out of the eleven sailed, Nicholas, on 15 penalty
points, was well ahead of compatriot Richard’s 28-point score. The wily
Ben, who has survived many a close Laser encounter in various parts of the
region, finished just one point behind Scarr. First Thai, Olympic sailor
and multiple Laser national champion of Thailand Verasit Puangnak, was
fourth on 33, with Indian skipper Sandeep Srikant making a late bid by
winning two of the last three races to finish fifth on 36 points. Rounding
out five nations in the first six places was Japan’s fine sailor,
Youichi Lijima on 43.
In the Radial Division, India’s ace sailor, Rajesh
Choudhary, with two firsts, five seconds, a third, fourth and fifth
placing, for a total of 24 penalty points in the 10 races counted out of
the 12 sailed, easily won the in the Radial Laser Division from
Singapore’s Leong Koh Seng (30), with fellow-Singaporean Stanley Tan
Kheng Siong third on 38, just one point ahead of first Thai sailor,
Chulapong Chanyim (39).
Japan’s Noriaki Tanaka (61) was fifth, with
Thailand’s first Lady sailor, Siri Chandler who had sailed brilliantly
in the lighter conditions, but was overwhelmed when the anemometer reached
the 12 plus level, sixth. As in the full rig division, the Radials
featured five different nationalities in the first six.
Re-run
In some ways, the just-finished regatta was a
‘re-run’ of the Asia-Pacific Laser Regatta held on the lake, Hussein
Sagar, a waterway dominated by two Indian cities, Hyderabad and
Secunderbad, raced in May last year, when Royal Varuna’s Morton Jakobsen
brought the honours back to Thailand, narrowly defeating Indian champion
Rajesh Choudhary. Of course, the alert Pattaya Mail special
correspondent diligently reported this in the Mail (Vol IX, # 23, 6
June 2001).
Rajesh, although second in the open division then - a
place behind Morton, emerged as the clear Asian Pacific Laser Radial
Division champion.
This time around, however, Rajesh was undoubtedly top
of the Radial Division, but he could not have his ‘revenge’ on Morton
who competed in the regular (full-rig) Laser Division. Two other
competitors this time who were also rivals in India, were second-placed
Aussie Richard Scarr and ‘wee Scot’ Neil Semple.
This “Songkran” regatta is the third time that a
Laser Championship has come to Pattaya. The first was in 1984 which
incorporated a World Masters Division and then the “Loy Krathong”
regatta, held in October 1998.
The regatta featured minor sections, of which there
were six: Apprentices Age 35-44; Masters 45-54; Grand Masters, 55-64;
Great Grand Masters, 65 plus; Youth, sailors under the age of 19 and, of
course the Women’s Division. The categories, furthermore, are not
mutually exclusive: for example a lady could win the Radial, the Youth
and, of course the Lady section. A Youth, on the other hand, could win the
full-rig or radial division as well as the Youth if he is male but, unless
he has a drastic operation, he cannot win the Ladies division.
The just-ended regatta has been, in fact, a great
tribute to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club’s management skills: Al Chandler,
the man in charge of the enormously-complex details of the land-based
activities and Lawnin Crawford, the man in charge of the
equally-challenging events out there on the water.
Normally, to prepare for an event of such international
scope, a year or more is required. Royal Varuna had but four months
notice, when the original venue reneged. Paul Milsom, the Laser man in
Australia, came a week in advance to prepare Varuna Club boats for
charter.
Eventually some forty participants joined the regatta -
“one of the best ever”, according to one Laser veteran - coming from
seven countries to join host country Thailand: Australia, Guam, Hong Kong,
India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar Singapore and, out- of-region entry,
Uganda.
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Results, Asia
Pacific Championships
Laser Full Rig (top 12)
1. Nicholas Skulander (AUS, 15); 2. Richard Scarr
(AUS, 28); 3. Benedict Tan (SIN, 29); 4. Veerasit Puangnak (THA,
33); 5. Sandeep Srikant (IND, 36); 6. Youichi Lijira (JPN, 43); 7.
Manat Pothong (THA, 55); 8. Stanley Chan Hian Gee (SIN, 69); 9.
Mitsuhiro Okubo (JPN, 88); 10. Morton Jakobsen (THA, 91); 11. Shuo
Liang Koh (SIN, 95); 12. Frank Theeuwen (THA, 96)
Laser Full Rig Apprentices
(35-44 Years): 1. Veerasit Puangnak (THA); 2.
Morten Jakobsen (THA); 3. Frank Teeuwen (THA); 4. Neil Semple (THA).
Masters (45-54 years): 1. U Tiha (MYA). Grand Masters (55-64): 1.
Paul Milsom (AUS); 2. A.T Chandler (THA); 3. Barney Lloyd Smith (THA).
Youth (under 19): 1. Mitsuhiro Okubo (JPN); 2. Shuo Koh Liang (SIN)
Laser Radial Rig (top 10)
1. Rajesh Choudhary (IND, 24); 2. Leong Koh Seng
(SIN, 30); 3. Stanley Tan Kheng Siong (SIN, 38); 4. Chulapong
Chanyim (THA, 39); 5. Noriaki Tanaka (JPN, 51); 6. Siri Chandler (THA,
54); 7. Mohd Romzi bin Muhamad (MAS, 56); 8. Takayuki Harada (JPN,
60); 9. David Leung Kwok Tung (HK, 64); 10. Marco Miagostovich (THA,
76).
Laser Radial Rig Apprentices
1. Sarah Searle (UGA). Masters: 1. Takayuki
Harada (JPN); 2. Marco Miagostovich (THA); 3. Gary Martin (AUS).
Youth: 1. Leong Koh Seng (SIN); 2. Mohd Romzi bin Muhamad (MAS); 3.
David Leung Kwok Tung (HK); 4. Sinsupha Wannasuf (THA); 5. Schuyler
Rockey (THA); 6. Pongpicha Chatasaeneey (THA). Ladies: 1. Siri
Chandler (THA); 2. Sinsupha Wannasuf (THA); 3. Tin Thiri Aung (MYA);
4. Quek I-Gek (SIN); 5. Sarah Searle (UGA). |
Mio edges Kran in tiebreaker for league championship
PSC Cafe Kronborg Tuesday Bowling League
After 30 weeks of competition in the PSC Cafe Kronborg
Tuesday Bowling League, it came down to a very hard fought “final
showdown” match between the two top teams.
 From
left: The winning team of Mio, Gert and Wan
Kran’s team went into the final week leading by only
one point over Mio’s team. The first game in the showdown ended in a
draw. Mio’s team then won the second and Kran’s team took the last.
But with Mio’s team winning the match point with more pins, the end
result was 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 in Mio’s favor. This left both teams at level
points in the standings. It then came down to one final series to
determine the winner for the season. Mio’s team kept their nerves in
check and beat Kran’s team by more than 100 pins to become the overall
winners, making it the second season where it came down to the last series
decider.
 From
left: Runners up team of Ta, Songkran and Pin
The other final week matches saw Jeed’s team beat
Otto’s 3-1, with Jeed and Tue both playing very strong. Jeed rolled a
200 string and Tue rolled strings of 213 and 203.
The last match was a win for Nual’s team against
Udom’s 3-1.
The other 200+ series of the day came from Kran, who
rolled 203 and 221, for a series of 584, and Gert with a 205 string in the
final match. Mio finished the season with a 563 series.
The league wants to say thanks to all the bowlers
taking part this season for their consistent participation every week and
making Tuesday a day to look forward to.
The league will now take a break for a week before
starting a new season of hopefully more fun, good and very competitive
competition, where we hope to see as many bowlers as possible.
Team standings after 30
weeks
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Won |
Lost |
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1. Mio
2. Kran
3. Udom
4. Jeed
5. Nual
6. Otto |
71
71
60
59
55
44 |
49
49
60
61
65
76 |
Getting Older? Get Flexible!
By Mike Franklin
A lot of us golfers are not getting any younger and are
painfully aware that certain aspects of our golf game are not as fluid as
they used to be. We are increasingly not as flexible in our body, and this
can happen from the age of forty upwards.
Massage, to compliment regular exercise, can help to
maintain flexibility - essential for adapting one’s golf game to offset
the advancing years, and maintain a satisfactory standard of performance.
It’s a fact that the longer you play the shorter your
back-swing gets, due to the aging process. The muscles in the upper body
lose their elasticity and restrict the shoulder turn from whatever degree
of turn you had at your time of peak fitness. Massage can help retain
muscle-tone and keep muscles and joints flexible.
For the older golfer the most important areas to
concentrate on are the legs, hands and forearms. Sam Snead, winner of
seven ‘Majors’, is recognized as one of the most flexible athletes and
professional golfers of all time. In an introduction to his book ‘Golf
Begins at Forty’, written by Dick Aultman and published in 1978, Sam
Snead at the age of 65 reckoned he was scoring as well as he ever could.
At the age of 75 he could kick the top of an eight-foot
ceiling. He could also touch his left forearm with his left thumb without
using his right hand (think about that), and pick the ball out of the cup
without bending his knees!
Those feats must rate as the ultimate in flexibility.
However, the key to maintaining performance is a
combination of flexibility, and adjustments to the golf swing which your
PGA Golf Professional will advise. The living legends in the game, Jack
Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have adjusted their swings to suit their age
and physical limitations, as we frequently hear referred to on TV golf
programs.
When a swing starts getting too short and too narrow,
it also gets too steep, resulting in the club head striking the ball with
too downward a blow towards the ground, and not forward enough towards the
target. This results in loss of distance, especially when the ball is
teed-up.
Older golfers can significantly increase their distance
by sweeping the ball off the peg. The short, fast, narrow back swing
(rather like mine) also reduces distance as the hands and arms are doing
nearly all of the work, while the big muscles of the legs and back don’t
get a chance to get involved.
The setup and takeaway is the key to whether you sweep
the ball forward, or chop at it with a downward blow. The way you swing
the club away from the ball for the first few inches largely determines
the width, length, and speed of your overall swing.
Putting more weight on the right foot than the left and
with the right arm soft and the right hand light on the club, puts the
weight behind the ball so you can sweep it forward. It also extends the
left arm and puts the left side in control to enable a wider swing. A
forward press is a good idea too, with a low, slow and ‘straight back
from the ball’ takeaway.
Get advice from your PGA Professional as to the best
setup and take-away movement for you.
What you can do is work on flexibility. Strengthen the
legs, forearms and hands, and develop ‘soft hands’.
Grip lightly, not tightly. Takeaway low, slow, and
straight back
At the Diana Garden Lodge & Driving Range, North
Pattaya, there are exercise machines available for use, free of charge in
the Fitness Room, but be careful to take proper advice if using the
weights.
Resident PGA Professional, Richard Livingston can
advise on the best swing adjustment to suit your degree of flexibility.
The Bann Thai Massage Salon, located opposite the
Coffee Shop at the back of the Diana Inn, can provide Thai Traditional
Massage to improve flexibility and body tone and a special April discount
of 20% for golfers means you can tone up for as little as 160 baht per
hour. Try this a couple of times a week for the month of April, and
monitor your progress at the driving range with Richard.
Hopefully, you will enjoy the extra distance off the
tee that can come with improved flexibility.
In a couple of weeks I will have another golf topic
with some suggestions that might help your game. I’m calling that one
‘Are you ready to play?’ It will cover simple things, which we often
neglect or don’t pay much attention to in preparing to play golf, and it
is the simple things that can sometimes make all the difference.
First International Tibhar Table Tennis Training Center opens in Pattaya
Thwas Assilfa (Coach Tong), in cooperation with Tibhar,
recently opened the first table tennis school at the Mike Shopping Mall.
Coach Tong said that the school provides training for
many age groups with high standard coaching that enables the students to
become professional table tennis players if they want.
The school will also organize weekly tournaments every
Saturday called “Pattaya Table Tennis Mike Shopping Mall Tibhar Open”.
No advance application is needed - prospective players
can register on tournament days, every Saturday by 11.30 a.m.
The classifications are singles and doubles for men,
women, boys and girls not over 18 years, boys and girls not over 14 years,
boys and girls not over 10 years, and men over 40 years.
For obtain more information contact DK-Jaava Sport,
tel. 038-775312, or email [email protected]
Bull’s Eye Open darts tournament this weekend
The Pattaya Fight Night and Bull’s Eye Open 2002 will
be held this weekend, April 19 -21 in the Fight Night bar complex off 2nd
Road, across from Soi 13.
April 19 will feature a (hopefully dry) Lucky Draw
competition beginning at 9 p.m. Registration for the Open Doubles will
also take place on the 19th.
On April 20, the Open Doubles Championship will be held
beginning at 1 p.m. Registration for the Open Singles will also take place
on the 20th.
April 21, the Open Singles will start at 11 a.m., and
the Ladies Singles will start at 3 p.m. The Finals will begin at 7 p.m.,
followed by the presentations.
The entry fee is 200 baht per person for each event.
Organizers and sponsors have announced a prize pool of 60,000 baht.
Trophies will be awarded for 1st and 2nd places in each event, plus prize
money for the first four places in the Doubles and Ladies Singles, and the
top eight finishers in the Open Singles.
Sponsors of the event are Kob, Dr. Carl Burgess, Mark
Spencer, Payong Sridougboub, Dominic Cromie, Carlsberg Beer, Chang Beer
and Shark Cool Bite.
For more information contact Alan 038-361105, Nee
01-870-8058, Chon 09-831-1580, or at the Bull’s Eye Bar in Pattaya
Shopping Plaza.
Old hands take control at Sattahip
IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Bunker
On Tuesday, 9th April, the Bunker Boys made the
relatively short trip to the newly revamped Royal Thai Navy course at
Sattahip for their weekly medal competition. Since their last visit a
month ago the new clubhouse has been completed and the golfers were to
enjoy the challenge of the tough North and West nines.
In division one low handicappers Michael Dige and Per
Aschan shared the podium with their excellent net 73’s. This was the
scene, after all, of Michael’s splendid PSC Championship victory the
week before! Sharing third place were Roy Mitchell and John Hughes, with
net 74.
In division two a couple of the original Bunker Boys
showed their experience of the tough course by shooting level par. The
canny Norman Brooks and George Meigh have been out of the frame for the
last few weeks but they can never be overlooked in stroke play. In third
place was Neil Griffin with net 76.
Ed Trayling chipped in for a two on the West 8th hole
to secure for himself the Bunker Super Sawng award and celebrated by
ringing the bell back at the Bunker. Cheers Ed!
The leader of the last group on the course, Per Aschan,
accepted responsibility for the group’s tardy finish nearly two hours
after the rest, claiming the conditions were too hot and tiring. He also
had the good grace to share his Bunker Banana Booby award with the rest of
his exhausted team!
First win for Bryn Jones
The small and friendly Century Ban Chang Club welcomed
the Bunker Boys for their weekly Stableford tournament on Friday, 12th
April, with the overcast skies being a portent of the wet week ahead. A
smaller than usual turnout at the Faldo designed course indicated that
many of the regulars were taking a timeout from Pattaya and its annual
obsession with Songkran, aiming to stay as dry as possible elsewhere!
There was no divisional split on this occasion and the
Bunker’s newest rookie, Bryn Jones, showed what four hours a day on the
practice range can do, when he propelled himself to the top of the list
with 38 points.
In second place was canny Scot Alan Alexander shooting
level par 36 and close behind was the Sandman, Gordon McKnight, firing 34
points.
The Bunker Super Sawng award was shared by Bill Hewitt
and John Hughes for their birdie two’s whilst nine handicapper Mark
Adair was also reminded that “you have to be in it to win it!” He was
consoled with the Bunker Banana Booby!
The day was also notable for some dismal performances,
notably by Mr Loy on his favourite course, but maybe three rounds in four
days is a little too much for the genial host of the Bunker.
Catch up with more news of the Bunker Boys at http://www.thebunkerboys.com
Klaus Schackt wins back to back
IPGC TAGGS Golf from The Haven
Monday 8th April - Century Ban Chan (Stableford)
1st: Mark Gorda, 38 points
2nd: Jeff McLaury, 35
3rd: Andy Pedlar, 33
The very tight Century layout continues to benefit from
all the improvements and can now boast to be one of the best courses
around. Considering it costs less than a quarter to play than some of the
other better known but not so good courses it should not be long before
the others will have to reconsider their prices if they are to get much
play during the quiet season.
Everyone will be pleased to see Mark Gorda’s handicap
finally getting somewhere near to reality following his recent
performances, which he capped off before leaving for an extended visit to
Egypt to dig holes in the sand while dreaming of smoke clouds in the sky.
Jeff McLaury and Andy Pedlar could only trail in his Heineken wake as he
forged towards the final hole and a well-deserved win.
The twos were shared between Bob Lindborg, Jeff McLaury
and Mark Gorda.
Back at The Haven, Richard Livingston the resident PGA
professional welcomed back Thomas Nilsson and Chris Knapp.
Wednesday 12th April - Siam Country Club (Bogey)
Ladies
1st: Lamud Chaidara, 2 up
2nd: Oradee Kaesavane, 3 down
Gentlemen
1st: Klaus Schackt, all square
2nd: Stephen Beard, 1 down, cb9 1 up
3rd: Harry Riley, 1 down, cb9 1 down
Lamud Chaidara easily took the honours in the Ladies
section by 5 shots, with a solid 1 up over the two nines, with Oradee
Kaesavane at last coming back to something like her old form following a
series of lessons with Richard.
Having led the field by 3 shots over the front nine,
Klaus Schackt almost lost it, dropping 3 shots to his handicap over the
back half, just managing to halve the last two holes. At the same time
“The Doc” was making a charge, firing a two over par for the last
seven holes and beating old man par by 3 shots. Harry Riley, who was
playing with him, could only manage 1 up over the same holes and therefore
just missed out on the count back.
Doug Campbell, Klaus Schackt and “The Doc” shared
the twos.
Friday 12th April - Burapha East (Stableford)
Ladies
1st: Lamud Chaidara, 41 points
2nd: Oradee Kaesavane, 36
Gentlemen
1st: Klaus Schackt, 42 points (cb9 23)
2nd: Frank Sinclair, 42 (cb9 22)
3rd: Neville Steward, 37
As always the TAGGS received a warm welcome at the
exclusive private Burapha, no doubt due in some measure to the players
always conducting themselves in a proper manner and adhering to the very
best in golf etiquette. The day’s competition was held over the East
Course from the blue tees and proved to be a very good test of golf.
It is not often that someone will score 42 points with
22 on the back nine and lose, but this was the fate of Frank Sinclair when
he found Klaus Schackt had shot a gross 36 on the back to steal what he
must have thought was to be his first win at The Haven. Klaus completed
his back-to-back wins in fine style with only 4 bogeys on his card.
Neville celebrated his return with a steady performance to secure third
place.
Andy Pedlar swept the twos pool to continue his
improvement through the ranks of winners.
Prior to the prize giving, Richard welcomed new members
Julian Nield and Amphiw Rimngam to the bourgeoning ladies section, and a
very pretty addition she makes.
Rudolf Hube and Paul Kraft beat the heat
PSC Golf from the Cafe Kronborg
Monday 8 April - Great
Lake (Stableford)
It is generally agreed by all golfers that the worst
day on the golf course is better than the best day at work, but on a day
such as this with blistering hot temperatures, very humid conditions, a
bone hard course, and warm water in the clubhouse to drink, thoughts of
going from an air-conditioned office, to an air-conditioned car, to an
air-conditioned home can get to be very tempting.
However, it has been noted that ‘the Admiral’ has
taken this time to go into retreat at his air-conditioned Charm School in
the U.S.A. whilst stand in ‘volunteer’ organiser Mick O’Connor (an
Irishman!) sweated it out.
 Paul
Kraft (right) beat the field at Siam on Thursday and received
congratulations from the K.S.M.
The ‘volunteer’ took a bakers dozen to the lunar
like setting of the golf course, and it soon found it was not easy to
score in the bone hard and the draining conditions. But cometh the time
cometh the man, or something like it, and one person actually beat the
course and his handicap. There is no truth to the rumour that he’s sold
his soul to the Devil and is getting used to the heat.
With only 13 players it was decided to have only one
flight, and the winner with a brave 38 points was Rudolf Hube. Second was
Ebrahim (no presentation would be complete without him) on 35 points.
Third the ‘Greatly Improving’ Mick O’Connor (he told me to write it
or no more organiser) on 33 points and fourth on 32 points was Keith
Emerson.
The cold showers were the best part of the day - ‘Mad
dogs and Irishmen’ and all that.
Thursday 11 April - Siam
C.C. (Stroke)
Mick O’Connor was brave enough to venture forth to
Siam where once again it was blistering hot, very humid, with dry
fairways, but the water was cold, the ice cream at half way was nearly
life saving, and Mick improved again to level par net, so I’m safe again
for his help to run the comps on Mondays.
Twenty brave souls ventured forth and the cold beers in
the clubhouse after were pure heaven. Who says golf is a walk spoilt, this
day for the second time in a week showed how brave golfers are.
Four hours later, twenty well done human-burgers sat in
the Siam clubhouse for the presentation and it was impressive to see that
we actually had people smiling. A weird lot golfers.
It was decided to have one group, but to go down to
fifth place. The winner with net 69 was Paul Kraft, temporarily on loan
from Three Sisters to show how it should be done. Second was Ricky
Ferguson with net 70. Ricky asked if it was worth staying as last week at
Bangpra he’d had 41 points and came third. Funny game this golf.
Third with a net 72 was the ever improving Mick
O’Connor (never any harm to crawl). Fourth was the nearly man Howie
Forrest on net 74 actually winning a count back, over fifth place Alan
Pearce another refugee from 3 Sisters. I dread Howie actually winning a
tournament. I’ll have to think of something else to say, like, ‘and
the winner is the ex nearly man’. I missed not doing a presentation to
Ebrahim, my camera will never be the same.
Jacque Thibault kicked butt at Siam
PSC Three Sisters Golf
Since Monday the 8th was a holiday, golfers from the
Three Sisters gathered at Siam on Tuesday the 9th to see who would be the
braggart for the week. As it worked out, Jacque Thibault with his bad leg
and hip still kicked butt and came in with a respectable 39 points.
Jacque hobbled around a bit but hit his driver and
second shots with precision. His putting was also on for the day as he
lumbered past the rest of the field.
 Jacque
Thibault won the bragging rights with 39 points at Siam CC on Tuesday
April 9. Ted Smith came in holding the bag with 20 points.
Vic Cross made a charge, trying to pass Jacque for the
bragging rights but was stopped short with 38 points. The rest of the
field faded back into the mist of hot weather and humidity.
Again holding the up the bottom was Ted Smith - perhaps
Ted is still trying to get over jet lag or late nights since he returned
from the States. Hopefully he will have his game back by next week. This
week there were no real challengers for the bottom as Ted ripped out the
bottom of the bag and came in with an astonishing 20 points.
As the golfers gathered at Caddy Shack Two, it was
found that Lamai’s uncle who owns the premises had passed away a couple
of days previously. This put the dampers on celebrations as the golfers
paid their respects. Also appreciated were the donations made by many of
the golfers - thanks guys.
Next week both Monday and Tuesday are holidays so the
Three Sisters Golf was rescheduled for Thursday the 18th. Same time, same
station.
Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes: The Records Tumbled
Story and photos by Peter Cummins,
Chiang Mai
The principal aim of the just-completed Fifteenth
Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes - apart from the competition,
devotion to the game and the superb camaraderie generated when some 300
‘cricket lovers’ congregate for a week in Chiang Mai - is to foster
and develop the same dedication to the sport among Thai children.
Already, through large donations from Sixes
participants over the years, selfless contributions of coaches Peter
Dawson, Eric Little and Brian Wiggins, the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket
Alliance was formed, under co-chairmanship of Professor Somboon Suprasert,
with some 24 Chiang Mai schools already participating.
Then there are people like tournament director Maurice
Bromley and wife Renita who not only work hard to ensure the success of
each succeeding event, but also mobilize many others in the common cause
of promoting cricket - and, through it - the welfare of Thai children.
Tacit support for Thai children’s participation,
“Sawasdee Cricket”, also has been forthcoming from the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF). As H.E. Anand Panyarachun, UNICEF ambassador
for Thailand pointed out in his message to the Fifteenth Sixes, “Among
the (many) specific rights enunciated by the United Nations Convention of
the Rights of the Child, is the right to leisure and play... Therefore,
the Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes, both directly as well as indirectly, may
contribute to these rights through this sport.”
The
Pattaya Pectels 69, with star cricketers - English great Mike Gatting and
Sri Lankans Mahana and Mendez. Photo courtesy of Pattaya Pectels
Anatomy of the 2002
Sixes
Admittedly cricket is not everybody’s “cup of
tea”, to resort to an out-worn English cliche. But in Chiang Mai, for
the duration of the Fifteenth Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes and
the Third Sixes Sawasdee Cricket Cup played out at the 104-year-old
Chiengmai Gymkhana Club cricket ground this month, tea was definitely the
designer drink. Well, if not exactly tea, the beverage was certainly the
same colour, it was served ice-cold and it was consumed in gargantuan
quantities by the cricketers, organizers and supporters - morning, noon
and night. Let’s call it Carlsberg!
Our own Pattaya Pectels 69 team, one of the
record-breaking number which participated this year, while not exactly
covered in glory, nevertheless were a strong presence in Chiang Mai and
will be a force to be reckoned with in future events. Rob Roberts, Mark
Allum, Eddie Blackwell, Steve Ross, Paul Phillips and Mike Kelly were
certainly worthy representatives of our “fair city-by-the-sea” in the
alien fields of Chiang Mai!
 The
barefoot cricketers: Thai schoolchildren competing in the “Sawasdee
Sixes Cricket Cup”.
The Aussie team, the Lords Taverners, scraped in with a
one-run victory over British group the Gloucestershire Gipsies, to win the
Bowl Division, finishing 64-3 (Glen O’Brien 24) to the Gipsies’ score
of 63-3. A finish can’t be any closer than that - in any type of
sporting competition. In horseracing, it would be called a “photo
finish”.
In what veteran cricket commentator and enthusiast Ric
Davis called “The most exciting cricket ever seen in Chiang Mai in the
fourteen years since the tournaments began in 1988,” this year’s
tournament, with 30 teams participating, was also the biggest.
In the other divisions of the four comprising the
tournament, a maverick team, the British Kiteboys racked up the
tournament’s second-highest score, a massive 98-2 (James Bryant 34 ret.,
Sam Whiteside-McFadden 35 not out) to defeat the Warbler Bunny Club 94-2 (Malintha
Warnapura 34 ret.) and take home to cold, bleak England, the Cup title.
And that was in spite of - or could that read because of - the vociferous
support of the flower-bedecked ‘Bunnies’ in the Bahrain-based
Warbler’s camp.
Mike Gatting’s British (to the eyeballs) team, the
Ashwell Crusaders 58-0 (Gatting 34 not out, Adrian Cade 24 not out) easily
beat the Kirby Vampires 49-3, to win the Plate Division.
In the battle for the Spoon honours, the
‘more-or-lass’ Aussies, the IOS Malakas 48-2 (Marty Burns 27 not out)
just held off the Wombats (who MUST be Aussies: by title) who scored 46-3.
The All-Star challenge saw the Sri Lanka All-Stars win
the All-Star Challenge Trophy. Although losing game two to the “Rest of
the World Team”, the Lankans had racked up more runs in the two games.
Game two results: “Rest of the World 71-2 (Meyrick Pringle 35 ret.) beat
Sri Lanka 61-1 (Ruchira Palliyagaru 32 ret.).
The last day of the week-long cricket fest saw the
highest score of the tournament: 99-1 blasted by the Stockton Seagulls and
the mighty batting of new Sri Lanka cricketer Malintha Warnapura who
belted 34 within the first over, including three massive sixes. By his
mandatory retirement at 34 runs scored, the board showed an incredible 48
runs, believed by the Sixes stalwarts to be a one-over record for the
event.
Lest the reporting of the Chiang Mai International
Cricket Sixes be accused of chauvinistic bias, we add here that the
long-awaited challenge between the ladies’ teams was played out with
favourites - and titleholders - Chiang Mai Chassies with a score of 39-2
beating the World Women Dixie Belles 33-0.
Meantime, on the adjacent two grounds, the Thai
schoolchildren had their own competition in the Third Sixes ‘Sawasdee
Cricket’ Cup. With much excitement and laughter, the Sai Moon A School
won the Grade Six competition, while the Sai Moon B won the Grade 5
Division.
A splendid reception, hosted by the Porn Ping Tower and
sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, welcomed the more than 30
teams who have come to the “Rose of the North” for this annual
festival of cricket - the world’s most popular event of its kind.
The vice-governor of Chiang Mai, Chidpong Ridhiprasart
opened the Sixes competition, commending the organizers and the
competitors, particularly for their support of the burgeoning junior
cricket programmes, now known as the Sixes Sawasdee Cricket Cup.
The Reich Company again provided the well-organized bus
fleet, each adorned with the banner of its respective team and each bus
complete with a lovely Chiang Mai lady as a guide: she was often about a
third of the size of an individual cricketer but she had the whole
situation under control: little or not! The cricketers to a man adored
their respective guides!
The opening match of the competition was,
appropriately, a game which pitted the Gymkhana Cavaliers, comprising many
of the organizers of the event, such stalwarts as Maurice Bromley, Geoff
Thompson, Eric Little and their colleagues against the Irish Pub Gang
Green, losing 2/43 to 0/44.
The
Warbler “Bunnies”
Castrol and Coca Cola
support
There was a big Castrol banner set back above the
eastern boundary of the ground which had a clear message for all: “hit
me and you win”. Castrol, as well as Coca Cola, have long supported the
Chiang Mai Sixes and more recently, also the promotion of junior cricket
in Thailand. Any batsman who, during the course of a game, was able to
belt a ball into the 2 ft. X 4 ft. green banner, with a huge black number
Six in the middle, could not only win the “Castrol Big Six challenge”,
but would actually win twice. The prize? 5,000 baht for every
‘bulls-eye’ of which 3,000 baht went to the successful batsman and
2,000 baht was donated to the advancement of cricket among Thai children,
the “Sawasdee Cricket Programme.”
 Belting
a big one past the Castrol sign.
Sound easy? Just ask the Aussie Sawasdee coach, Eric
Little, who had the aim, the speed and the timing. But, oh dear! He could
not quite ‘lift’ the ball to hit he banner, just passing under it.
Like boxing, there was no second prize. Nevertheless, there were two
winners over the duration of the tournament - and a few other near misses.
It was appropriate, too, that prior to the Sixes
competition, former Castrol CEO, Bryan Baldwin OBE, accepted tournament
director Maurice Bromley’s offer of the chairmanship of the event’s
organization - a not inconsiderable task. “There is no question ... that
the Chiang Mai Sixes is a great tournament, but we are not recognized as
such in Thailand,” said Maurice.
“Therefore, we are handing Bryan the unenviable task
of trying to gain better recognition and sponsorship,” Maurice added
hopefully. “Bryan has been a Sixes supporter for many years and, in
fact, brought Castrol and the Trademark Six to us. While he faces a
next-to-nigh impossible task, if anyone can do it, Bryan can.”
Papa Ray’s birthday golf coming soon
For all our friends ‘worldwide’, The Pattaya Sports
Club will shortly, in May, be holding the Papa Ray Annual Birthday
Tournament for Papa Ray’s 87th birthday. This is one of the most looked
forward to tournaments of the year, and ‘Sir Ray’ as ‘chair’ man
of the Knights of the Round Table uses his Knights to organize and control
the day whilst keeping a friendly fatherly eye on them.
 Papa
Ray and his “Knights” are gearing up for this year’s Papa Ray Rogers
Birthday tournament.
Each year, along with his Turkey Day Tournament, Ray
comes up with a gift or keepsake for all participants, amongst which of
late have been his famous umbrellas so he can keep all the golfers under
his cover, a magnificent gesture last year when he gave a very nice
golfer’s travel bag and Turkey Day when it was a beach size high quality
towel, and with the Papa Ray logo on.
Ray goes even further, he opens his home up and lays on
a most super spread for all. Ray is a great cook and cooks and smokes all
his own meat, and it is excellent.
It is known to his friends that the competition entry
fee is all spent on prizes. The rest, for example 150 golf bags, food
etc., is all footed by Ray and if you ask him why, he simply says it is
because it is nice to see his friends.
His “Knights” would like to pay tribute to his good
heart and philanthropic acts and wish him many more such tournaments the
likes of which cannot be equaled by any in Pattaya for 200 baht.
Please watch out for the sign up sheets for they fill
in fast.
128 teams to vie for Moo 5 Modern Football Cup
128 area teams, the largest contingent yet, will be
competing for the 3rd Modern Football Cup this year, which kicked off
April 7 at the football pitch behind the Esso station in Soi Nernplubwan.
It will take 34 days of round robin competition to
determine this year’s champion.
Pattaya city council member Artwat Potigeaw presided
over the opening ceremony, ably assisted by village headman and member of
the board Rormat Sansung. A host of honored guests were also present to
witness the beginning of the games.
The Pattaya Mass Media Association battled it out with
Moo 5’s Old-Timer’s Team in a football friendly to get the competition
underway. And although the final score wasn’t revealed, perhaps to
protect the innocents, the many spectators on hand truly enjoyed the
entertainment.
The Square Ring
by Howie Reed
As you’re in the midst of Songkran, I send greetings
to the guys at Tim’s, TQ, Classroom, The Haven and the lasses that love
them. (“I Luv you too much!”) This greeting is from Las Vegas where
the only water or ice we allow is found in glasses filled to the brim with
liquid from Scotland, Kentucky or Russia. As you are locked in your
adobe’s tonight, having sent Teelock out to get drenched for a re-supply
of those essentials that make life bearable, there’s a heck of a box
fight in the Kingdom.
WBC Flyweight World Champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
(51-2, 28 KOs) makes his fourth defense of the title he won from Filipino
Malcolm Tunacro (March last year). Since then the lanky Thai has been
seldom tested. His last defense came in December in Pattaya against South
American Luis Lazarke (19-4). The event was the closing event of the World
Boxing Council Convention. It was an event that was flatter than a
“women of the second category’s in training’s chest”. Lazarke got
hit on top of the head with a hook and decided that a trip home was better
than getting beat up. Smart fellow he. Many in boxing believe that
Wonjongkam is the best Thai fighter that the rest of the world has never
seen. He’s never ventured out of the friendly confines of the Kingdom.
The only two blemishes on the Champ’s record were both against Filipino
Jerry Pahayahay in ’95 and ’96. He got revenge with a win in 1998.
Wonjongkam also held the lightly regarded WBU title in ’97. The victim
this time is in Daisuke Naito (WBC #12, 19-0-2, 4 KOs) of Japan.
The “real” boxing season gets underway Sunday
morning (Pattaya Time) at the MGM in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather Jr.
(28-0) the WBC Superfeatherweight Champion (130 lbs.) steps up to 135
hoping to capture the WBC Lightweight Title from Champ Jose Luis Castillo
(44-4-1). Mayweather’s the preverbal million dollar airport with a 5
baht control tower. Before his big fight against Diago Corrales (33-0)
last January, Mayweather said, “I’m fighting this for all the battered
wives in the world.” Corrales would later go to the Monkey House for
spousal abuse. Three weeks ago Mayweather copped a plea to THREE counts of
spousal battery.
To borrow (steal) from someone is accepted as OK in
writing parlances. Under the heading TIT comes this as a prelude to last
Saturday night’s championship fight between Yodsanan 3K-Battery and
Lakva Sim. “At a press conference for the WBA super featherweight title
bout between #1 Lakva Sim and #2 Yodsanan Nanthachai, a Buddhist priest
stood on Yodsanan’s stomach and forecast that Yodsanan will become the
new champion”. Just think, a half a step either way and he could have
proclaimed him a soprano.
The Buddhist priest knows his boxing, as “Ole” 3-K
Battery (AKA Yodsanan Nanthachai 36-2-1, 33 KOs) annexed the vacant WBA
130-pound crown. He got in a slugfest with top ranked ex-champ Lakva Sim
(16-3-1, 13 KOs) and won a lopsided UD (116-112, 119-110, 120-109). The
title had been vacant since Acelino Freitas became the WBA’s super-champ
by beating Joel Casamayor. The third man in the ring, the referee, was
Stanley Christodoulou (South Africa), one of the names being floated
around as a referee for Tyson-Lewis June 8th. Like stuff that floats in
the Bangkok River, not good.
Results as time and space allow. Unheralded Filipino
light-fly champ Wendyl Janiola (12-0, 9 KOs) unexpectedly scored a
lopsided upset decision over WBC #5 ranked ex-champ Saman Sorjaturong
(46-5-1, 35 KOs). Saman’s trip to Cambodia turned out less than
satisfactory. He went to Poipet for what he though was an easy win over
Wendyl Janiola. Bad place for a holiday. The unheralded Janiola skipped
away with a unanimous 10 round decision. Two of the judges had it 98-92
while no one knows what the third judge had. No report. Probably a case of
This Is Cambodia.
Two other visitors from Thailand had better luck. PABA
minimumweight champion Pornsawan Porpramook (3-0, 3 KOs) knocked out
Filipino Sonny Boco (6-1-1, 2 KOs) at 1:56 of round five, retaining his
belt in the first defense. Lightfly Kompayak Porpramook defeated Filipino
Darius Alfante via a six round unanimous decision. TIME OUT. Three fights
and it’s Porpramook’s second title defense? How about that?
Thai 115-pound champ Waenpetch Chuwatana (16-6-1, 10
KOs), 118, sent Japanese #7 ranked southpaw Masayuki Fujikake (13-3-1, 3
KOs), 118, sprawling to the deck in the 7th. The knockdown allowed the
Thai to escape with a split decision (96-94 and two 97-94).
And finally... Former IBF 105-lb king lightfly Fahlan
Sakkreerin (47-3-2) stopped Tanzanian Charles Masali in the 4th at the
Mall shopping center in Bangkok. Fahlan hopes to challenge IBF 108-lb king
Ricardo Lopez, who fights with the same regularity that snow falls in
Pattaya. IBF#4 superbantam Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym (35-2, 22 KOs) took
Tanzanian Mohammed Cifota in two and WBO Asia-Pacific minimum champ
Namchai Ratanachaigym (11-4, 8 KOs) knocked out Indonesian Oris Mbityi in
four. To recap. Thailand 3, Tanzania 0, Indonesia 0. How do you like them
apples?
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