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Pattaya International
Marathon returns in July
The streets of the city will be filled with world class athletes when the
5th Annual Pattaya International Marathon and Mini-Marathon returns to
Pattaya on July 19th and 20th.
Last year, over 1,000 runners representing at least 10 different countries
participated in the event. Just as many, if not more, are expected to test
their endurance in the running of the Pattaya International Marathon 1997.
Again this year, there will be a 21.1 km half marathon for those who want a
bit more of a challenge than the 10 km mini-marathon, yet aren’t quite up to
the grueling endurance needed for the full 42.195 km marathon. All three
runs will start at the same place as last year on Pattaya Beach Road in
front of Soi’s 4 and 5. The marathon will begin at 5:00 a.m., the half
marathon at 5:30 a.m. and the mini-marathon at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 20,
so get to bed early the night before the race.
The finishing time for the marathon will be no later then 11:30 a.m. All
runners who wish to continue after this time may do so at their own risk.
The finishing time for the half marathon will be 8:30 a.m., and for the
mini-marathon will be 7:30 a.m.
The Pattaya “Fun Run” will also be back again this year to kick off the
festivities on the day before the International Marathon. It too will begin
on Beach Road in front of Soi’s 4 and 5. The starting time for the “Fun Run”
is scheduled for 15:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19. The “Fun Run” will be
divided into two categories; the “Fancy” category for 10 runner teams and
the “Rally” category for teams of 3 runners. The application fee for the
“Fun Run” is 100 baht, due before starting time.
Also on July 19, organisers have added a wait-people’s fun run for all those
who regularly serve food and drink to customers, divided into 4 categories.
The entrance fee is 100 baht for each category, or 300 baht for all four.
That evening at 19:00, a beach buffet will be held, sponsored by the Food
and Beverage Association of the Thai Hotel Association of the Eastern
Seaboard. More than 20 hotels will be providing scrumptious victuals at a
reasonable 150 baht per person.
Application fee for the marathon will be 400 baht if received before July
14, 600 baht from July 14-20. The application fee for the half marathon will
be 200 baht if received before July 18, and 400 baht from July 18-20. The
application fee for the mini-marathon will be 50 baht up to the day of the
run.
Applications can be obtained at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Pattaya (Tel: 038 428-750, 427-667 or 429-113 every day), Revenue Division
of TAT, AAA of Thailand, all branches of Robinson Department Store, or by
post, address: Director, Revenue Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand,
372 Bamrung Muang Road, Bangkok, Thailand. (Please enclose a self addressed,
stamped envelope, and send your letter by July 11.) Competitors may pick up
their serial numbers upon producing their receipts at Pattaya City Hall
between 10:00-17:00 hrs. July 18-19.
The event is sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Amateur
Sports Association of Thailand under the patronage of His Majesty the King.
Other athletic supporters include the Chonburi Provincial Authority, Pattaya
City and private businesses in Pattaya.
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Rising Sun
pilots in
lightning raid
“Which is the best bar in Soi Yamato?” “Which team will
conquer all enemies of the New Order?”
Late on the moonless night of June 22, the freedom loving forces of the
Rising Sun struck terror into the heart of South Pattaya by wiping out enemy
positions on and near coastal arms dumps. Worst hit were Londoner Loungers
and Bob’s Bullfrogs who exhausted liquid ammunition supplies as explosions
reverberated all around. Rule Britannia, led by General Kloster, hurriedly
assembled Molotov cocktails and found them delicious, whilst Wilderness
Chicken adopted their usual strategy of complaining about the unfairness of
it all.
Reuters then reported that an Anglo-Irish command post, displaying a defiant
flag Poteen Distillery, was under heavy siege and that advance units of the
Sun’s elite guard were already advancing in Pattayaland Two. Here, Generals
Parmesan and Cheerio determined to make a last stand and criminally shouted,
“Our walls have broken but not our bottles.” Diminishing allied hopes are
now placed in guerrilla units based at Pleasure Doom and Mick’s Meddlers
where the general atmosphere was described as “unusually sober”. A
spokeswoman for the invading forces, identifying herself only as Pattaya
Rose, said on radio, “We appeal to all foreign mafias to lay down their
glasses so that a new era of co-prosperity can begin.”
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Pattaya Sports Club Golf
Great Lake, Stableford, 26 June 97
Proving to be one of the Pattaya Sports Club’s most popular
venues, the Great Lake course provides a stiff test and every hole has its
own character, a testimonial to the designer Nick Faldo. PSC welcomed back
old friends Rick Montana, Oliver Schneider, Walter De Pooter, Marcus Simmons
and last but not least Bill Gordy who interrupted his honeymoon for a round
of golf.
Daryl White prevented a complete Aussie takeover with 41 points. Arthur
Watkins, late of Port Moresby, compiled 40 in second place and the boys from
Newcastle Warren Hines and Tony Kelly were 3rd and 4th with 38 and 37 pts.
All prize winners playing to better than their handicap on a fine not too
hot day. Marcus Simmons and Daryl White collected nearest pins.
Such was Rick Montana’s eagerness to join his old pals he virtually came
straight from Bangkok from California via Osaka. One minibus stopped for
afternoon tea at Le Papillon to round off an excellent day.
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Lien and Cross scramble to pairs championship
Jerry Lien and Vic Cross finished atop the
leader board in the TAGGS two man scramble at Khaow Kheo.
Jerry Lien and Vic Cross pooled their resources to earn victory in a close
battle for the TAGGS two man scramble played on the tough B & C courses at
Khaow Kheo on Wednesday, June 25.
Jerry and Vic combined for a scratch 79, net 70.4 to narrowly defeat Steve
Beard and Archie Nickelson by just 1.2 shots.
Lewis Underwood and Mark Garcia attained the third podium position with a
net 73.6. The pair remained in contention until the final 3 holes where they
faltered a bit to fall into their third place finish.
It was those last three holes that determined the outcome of the match. Lien
and Cross made par on all three, highlighted by Jerry Lien’s Tiger Woods
like drive on the 18th that left his team just a few feet short of the
water. The team then flipped a sand wedge onto the green from 100 yards,
sunk their second putt for par and the victory.
Jerry Lien, in his first victory ever, told Pattaya Mail, “This is what golf
is all about. Good friends, good people, well mannered, and a fun format
with everyone helping each other... Friends helping friends.” Asked about
his drive on the 18th, Jerry replied, “It went so $%#*@ straight!”
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GIS swimming gala
Off and swimming in the kickboard races.
On Monday, 16 June, GIS held their annual Swimming Gala at Eastern Star
pool. The competition involved all children at the school from year
1-11. Each age group swam races in each stroke: freestyle, backstroke
and breaststroke, and were proof of the high standard of swimming that
can be achieved with weekly lessons.
Every child was in at least two races and of which one was a “fun-race”.
There “fun races” included a variety of water skills that the children
have also learnt during their weekly swimming lessons, i.e., surface
diving to pick up a quoit, use of the kickboard and dressing and
undressing in the pool.
The parents ad teachers were not left out as there were races for them,
too! All in all a fun morning was spent at the pool and enjoyed by all.
The results of the Gala were in fourth place Yellow House, third place
Red House, second place Blue House, and the winners of this year’s
competition Green House. The Green House captain Heidi Floeth received
the championship trophy from Mr. McGraw on behalf of Green House. Very
many thanks to all the staff, and particularly to Ms. Rant for
organising the event. Thanks too, to all the parents who attended and to
Khun Niramol and the Eastern Star Resort staff.
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Improve your Bridge
by Barrie Kenyon
You shouldn’t automatically jump to game in your partner’s
first bid suit just because you like the sound of it. In fact, you
should avoid giving support for partner’s five card suit if a superior
4-4 fit might be available. This is because a good 4-4 fit enables you
to make an extra trick by utilizing partner’s original long suit for
discards. Here is an example of the principle at stake:
West
S Ace Queen 5 2
H King Queen 8 7 6
D Ace 3
C 5 2
East
S King 8 7 6
H Ace Jack 3
D Jack 5
C 9 8 7 4
Playing a five card major system, West will open one
heart. East ought to respond one spade, not two hearts. This will allow four
spades to be reached which can make eleven tricks if the enemy spades are
3-2, while ten tricks is the normal limit in hearts. Even if spades are 4-1,
a contract of four spades may still succeed, whilst four hearts will almost
surely fail. The preferred contract of four spades allows East to utilize
dummy’s long hearts to discard the five of diamonds, cutting his losers to a
couple of club tricks on most distribution of the cards.
Or try looking at this one:
West
S King Jack 8 7 6
H Ace Queen 5 2
D 7 4
C Ace 5
East
S Ace Queen 3
H King Jack 7 4
D Ace 8 3 2
C 7 6
If West opens one spade, showing a five card suit, East
ought not to support spades at once. He should temporize with another bid,
allowing the superior 4-4 heart fit to be found. Only eleven tricks are
available with spades as trumps, or in no trumps, but twelve tricks will
make if hearts are trumps, provided that the enemy trumps are 3-2.
The same principle is worth bearing in mind if the 4-4
fit is in a minor rather than a major suit. Look at these two hands:
West
S King Queen 5 3
H Ace 2
D Ace Jack 5
C King 10 4 2
East
S Ace 8 7 6 4 2
H 8 4
D 6
C Ace Queen Jack 7
It looks, at first glance, as if the best contract will
be in spades. Indeed, a contract of six spades (or six no trumps) can be
made with relative ease. But if clubs had been trumps, a grand slam can be
made, a fitting reward if your bidding system is sufficiently sophisticated.
The lesson of these hands is not to cop out by supporting your partner’s
first bid suit, but to check out (if your hand is suitable) for a secondary
fit. It is often the case that a 4-4 fit in trumps will yield an extra trick
in preference to a 5-3, or even a 6-4, combination. Squeeze ‘em till the
pips squeak.
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Pattaya Golf Society
The Pattaya Golf Society enjoyed somewhat of a “Seniors” week in the
last “fun” tourney before the start of the second annual Rainy Season
Trophy season. The “grey beards” of the Society all enjoyed good rounds,
with William Rice carding 2 natural pars, Andy Anderson getting a par,
and Bill Jones carding a birdie and 2 pars. We all hope we can achieve
the same at that age.
Roy Mitchell, however, stole the thunder by winning the final “just for
fun” tourney at Pattaya Country Club on Tuesday, June 24. Roy played
exactly to his handicap, shooting a scratch 92 off his 20 hcp. for a net
even par 72.
William Rice finished second with a net 1 over par 73. Andy Anderson
finished third with a net 2 over par 74. Billy Russell and Bill Jones
rounded out the top five finishers, each with 3 over par 75.
Nearest to the pin honors were earned by Bill Jones on #5, Les Winch on
#7, William Rice on #12, and George Meigh on #16.
Las Vegas Open
accepting entries
Organizers of the inaugural Las Vegas Open, scheduled to be held at
Pattaya Country Club on Friday, August 1, 1997, are now accepting
entries. The 1000 baht entry fee will include T-shirt, food, technical
prizes, “lots of fun” prizes, green and caddie fees. The tournament will
be divided into two divisions, also awards for best front nine, best
back nine, long drive, nearest the pins and best gross. Sign-up with
Richard or Peter at Las Vegas.
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