Pattaya Mail — Sports

Maunder/Weinmann strike gold in Pattaya

The last yacht-racing event of 1997 was the well-attended Singha Gold Cup, sailed in strong north-easterlies. It was a fitting close to a year of superb sailing and racing in the Kingdom and points the way to more of the same throughout 1998.

Peter Cummins reports from Pattaya

Murray Maunder and Birghita Weinmann were not exactly panning for gold in Pattaya. Even if they had been, the water is too dirty to see anything - even the yellow metal. Rather, they went yacht racing and narrowly won the annual Singha Gold Cup held off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club South Pattaya last weekend.

The 1997 Singha Gold Cup, the 10th in the series, was sailed in sparkling weather conditions, with some predictable winners and losers. It also sent a few warning signals to those who have been on top of the pile during the year. Some new faces were there in the minor placings which is, indeed, good news for yacht racing 1998.

Murray Maunder/Birghita Weinmann took the overall first placing - and the Perpetual Singha Gold Cup - in the new Maunder Hobie Cat 16, winning both races of the Multihull Class, while Patrick Helms did likewise in the Monohulls, with clear wins in his Laser, to finish second overall, three points behind Murray on five points.

Steve O’Brien, who split the line honours of the two-day regatta with Murray, finished third overall, on six points. Alex Skaria, a man who is going to be seen at the front of the Monohull fleet in his Laser next year, shared fourth place with another rising star, Chris Whittle. With some fine assistance from crew, the agile Antje, the Whittles racked up two good races to join Alex on 12 points.

Then followed Charlie Zbinden (Laser, 16), Dave Wales/Gilbert Leemann (Enterprise, 18) and Reg Chambers (Laser, 19), sixth to eighth overall, respectively. Wolfgang Helms (Laser) and Gary Baguley (Contender) were equal ninth on 20 points.

Wolfie, who has had to stare at the rapidly-disappearing transoms of his too famous progeny, Patrick and Bianca during his own yacht-racing ‘career’ over the past years, for once had daughter Bianca staring at HIS transom last week. Bianca (Laser) was equal 11th with Helmut Schreyer/Christa, sailing the Schreyer Dart catamaran, with 21 points.

The North-easterlies came for the Gold Cup, too, with gusts exceeding 25-knots during Saturday’s Race One which kept eagle-eyed principal race officer, Dick Van Den Heuvel and his cohorts, rather alert to say the least.

Nevertheless, according to heavy-weather specialist Steve O’Brien, Sunday was a "tame" affair of just 15-knots - enough, however, to have lesser mortals running for cover.

The 1997 Singha Gold Cup rounded out a brilliant year for yacht racing in the Kingdom. It was a year which, according to Royal Varuna Rear Commodore Lawnin Crawford, comprised 47 weekends of competitive and some ‘social’ sailing, a highly-successful Volvo Topcat World Championship, the just-completed Yacht Haven Varuna Cup, ongoing national championships and Phatra-Royal Varuna Yacht Club interports and match-racing events. The 11th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was arguably the best on record.

Again, sponsorship was a vital factor and Boonrawd’s support of yachting and the development of young Thai sailors has been prolific over almost two decades. The Fireball World Championships in 1978, the Enterprise Worlds in 1989, the Singha Water Third Asian Optimist Championships in 1992 and, of course, the ongoing Singha Gold Cup over
the past decade have all
reaped great benefit from Boonrawd’s generous sponsorship.

Boonrawd’s Santi Bhirombhakdi could be singled out as the person who has been the major force behind the development of Thai sports, through training programmes and sponsorship - across a broad spectrum of the Kingdom’s sports sector.

And as the sun dropped behind Koh Larn in a blaze of gold last week, the immortal cry of 100 sailors went up: "come sailing in Pattaya; the water is warm but the beer is ‘GOLD’.

See you next year.

Pattaya Triathlon

Dozens of local and international athletes turned out for ‘Pattaya Triathlon’ organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The contenders swam 1,500 metres, rode a 40-kilometre bicycle course and ran 10 kilometres.

The results were:

Sixteen year old Men’s:

1. Kianisak Longleurit, 2 hours, 14 minutes, one second.

2. Manisorn Sayanon

3. Thanin Boonyalongkorn

Forty-forty-nine year old men’s:

1. Kiarnsak Premanan, 2 hours, 5 minutes, 47 seconds.

2. Suthiphorn Thepjinda

3. Krit Khlaivichit

Men over 50:

1. Thongthai Srisomboon, 2 hours, 43 minutes, 27 seconds.

2. Duang Konchareon

3. Chalit Sinthusek

Men’s Open:

1. Damon Nemisczh (sic) Canada, 2 hours, 1 minute, 29 seconds.

2. Phaisal Saengviroon

3. Banleusak Duangdan

Men’s Open (Team)

1. Prajeenburi Team

2. Pong Thong Team

3. Thai Oil Team

Women’s Open:

1. Naphaporn Boontham, 2 hours, 34 minutes, 42 seconds

2. Sunan Yorddamnern

3. Tabitha Bond of England.

There was only one mixed men and women’s team from Clark Hatch.

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat presided over the opening and closing, and presented awards to all the winners.

Charity soccer coming soon

The annual Pattaya Sports Club charity soccer match to benefit the many programs of the Pattaya Orphanage has been moved forward this year and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 7th.

The fun day out that features orphanage teams playing against Pattaya’s finest elbow benders will once again be played on the soccer pitch at the Pattaya Orphanage.

All former sponsors and new ones are invited to take part in helping the many programs, including the School for the Blind, the Old Folks Home, the Redemptorist Centre and the children of the Orphanage.

To sign up to play or to help sponsor the event, contact Harry Riley or any committee member of the Pattaya Sports Club. More details will follow, so stay tuned to Pattaya Mail.

Les Winch wins Santa Claus trophy

Les Winch scored 23 Stableford points to win the Pattaya Golf Society "Santa Claus" trophy on Tuesday, December 23rd at Green Valley.

Perhaps Les took advantage of leaving the "oh boy, what a Christmas party at John’s place" the night before, while most of his fellow competitors were nursing painful hangovers, as was reflected in the scores.

Bill Nicol finished in second after scoring 26 points, followed by Big John in third with 25.

Bill Nicol won nearest to the pin on #4, while Gordon McKnight managed to get closest on #11. Each won a pack of 3 Titleist balls kindly donated by Big John.

Kevin Wilson won the last PGS golf shirt in stock when he powered a monstrous 260 yard drive to win the long drive contest.

PGS Notes: The AGM, originally scheduled for 6 December, has been postponed until the 12th of January, 8:00 p.m. at Big John’s Place. (PGS is changing its fiscal year to 1/1 through 31/12). All members are encouraged to attend.

Dimes worth of difference

The weekly Pattaya Sports Club softball game saw Mike’s Rangers and Alan’s Cowboys split a closely contested doubleheader. Not a dimes’ worth of difference could be found as both games were decided in the last inning and each by only a one run margin.

The first game had the Cowboys take an early lead on hard hitting by Singapore (The Sling) Larry and Paul (The Dutchman). But in the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers erupted and when Sterling (Silver) Bechtel smacked an opposite field three run homer, the score was all tied.

The Cowboys then put together a two out rally and after Billy Blooper belted a three run blast to center, the Cowboys had pushed seven runs across the plate. This seemed to stimulate the Rangers offense and after scoring six runs, with the tying run on second, only a great running catch in left-center by Jimmy (The Key) Lockhead preserved the win for the Cowboys, twelve to eleven.

The second game saw the Cowboys jump out to a big early lead, but again the Rangers battled back. Hard hitting by Terry (Five) Strikes, Kiwi Rick, and M. J. (Coffee) Jim produced eight runs for the Rangers in the sixth inning.

The Cowboys staged a brief comeback, but the Rangers defense hung tough and stymied the rally, capturing the victory fifteen to fourteen. After fourteen innings of softball, each team had scored twenty-six runs and earned a win.

If you’re looking for some excitement, games are every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Pattaya School #7 just south of Greenway driving range and Caltex gas station on Sukhumvit Highway. All the equipment is provided and refreshments are available. Everyone is welcome.

PSC Golf next week

A promising week, starting Monday January 5th with Stableford competitions at Bangpra from the Cafe Kronborg or Khao Kheow from the Green Bottle. Tuesday is a free day, then on Wednesday another chance to play Stableford at spectacular Bangpra from the Green Bottle or go to Phoenix with the Hare House for a more serious Medal competition.

Thursday offers a welcome return to Siam Country Club from the Kronborg. Finally, Friday offers the event of the week with the Hare House Open at Phoenix with the usual array of unique trophies available to be won. Sign up at Hare House early for the first PSC Golf major tournament of 1998.

The PSC Golf annual Championship will take place at Khao Kheow this year with a 36 hole Stroke Play tournament over two days, Thursday and Friday the 15th and 16th of January. Full details and a sign-up sheet at each venue.

For more details of January fixtures visit the PSC Golf Web site at www.pattayasports.org

Fortt and Riley scramble to victory

Thoroughly summing up the long and the short of it, Keith Fortt and Harry Riley teamed up to win the Pattaya Sports Club TAGGS 2 man scramble played at Pattaya Country Club on Christmas Eve.

Keith and Harry carded a net 67.8 off their gross 79 to win the tournament by nearly five strokes.

The win was especially meaningful to Keith as it was his debut performance in a Pattaya Sports Club golf tournament. Keith just turned up with the requisite five cards to enable him to obtain a PSC handicap - and he won the tourney!

Harry, meanwhile, was gaining sympathy from fellow golfers and caddies alike, as due to a previous foot injury, Harry has been playing his rounds with one black golf shoe and one white. The shoe he wears on his injured foot has the toes cut out of it, making it a "peek-a-boo" shoe, and also causes the caddies to feel, "this poor guy can’t even afford new shoes."

Jerry Lien and Jimmy Little paired together to finish second in the tournament. Jerry and Jimmy carded a gross 84, net 72.6.

Tom Gingerich and Les Winch rounded out the top three finishers with a scratch 86, net 75.2.

Perhaps the round of the day was turned in by Claus and Nikki Mueller from Sweden. The two hit their first golf shots just 2 1/2 years ago, but managed a 43 on the back nine despite carding an 11 on a par four. Unfortunately, the 11 took them out of contention for any prizes.

Copyright © 1997 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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