Pattaya Marathon set to return

The streets of Pattaya will once again be filled with athletes in the earning morning hours of July 18-19 when as many as 1000 runners from around the world converge to compete in Pattaya Marathon ’98.

The fun will kick off with a "Fun Run" on Saturday, July 18th at 10:00 a.m. The Fun Run will be divided into 3 categories: Student teams with 10 members per team, Family teams with 4 members per team (father, mother and children with the total age of the children not to exceed 25 years), and Open teams with 5 members per team.

The Fun Run will start and finish on Pattaya Beach Road between Sois 4 & 5. Entry fees are 100 baht for Student teams, 150 baht for Family and Open teams. Applications for the Fun Run can be made from June 15 - July 17 at the TAT Pattaya Office, tel. 428750, 427667.

The Pattaya International Marathon, Half Marathon and Quarter Marathon will be held on Sunday, July 19th, starting and finishing on Pattaya Beach Road between Sois 4 & 5.

The 42.195 km Marathon will begin at 5:00 a.m., with race officials on hand to record finishers up until 11:00 a.m.
The 21.1 km Half Marathon will start at 5:30 a.m. and is expected to be finished by 8:30 a.m.
The 10.55 km Quarter Marathon will begin at 6:00 a.m. and finish around 7:30 a.m.

The application fee for the Marathon is 500 baht if made before July 13th, 700 baht from 13-18 July. The half Marathon is 300 baht before July 17th, 500 baht from July 17-18. The Quarter Marathon is 100 baht per entry up until the day of the run.

Registration can be made by post by sending a completed application with money order or bill of exchange to Director, Finance Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Le Concord Bldg., 202 Ratchadaphisek Road, Huai Khwang, Bangkok, 10310.

Applications in person can be made at the TAT Finance office at the above address, or the Amateur Athletic Association of Thailand tel. 214464, 2140085, or TAT Pattaya office tel. 427667, 428750, or all branches of Robinson Department Store at their information counters, or Jog & Joy Magazine tel. 7411900, fax 7410494, or Running Sport tel. 6911028.

Note: Late registrations for marathon runners are permitted only 18 July at Pattaya City Hall.

Running number pick up: Serial numbers may be picked up upon producing a receipt for the application fee from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 17-18 July at Pattaya City Hall on North Pattaya Road. The number label must be attached to both the front and the back, rising above the waist and clearly visible, thus allowing for full electronic recording and filming at the finishing line.

The Pattaya Hash House Harriers Betty Boop Run

The word was out: guys and girls, sign-up and run on our June 1st run in a skirt and you run for free! ... and the fashion talks started. "Shall I wear the blue or the orange one, honey?" "No, I still would like to buy that small black one!" "Do you think this is too short?" "I have to go back to that shop and try..." Wrong! This wasn’t heard among girls...

With the added attraction of cracks (girls) in mini skirts running, plus men dressed as Katoeys, the Hare House meeting point for sign-up wasn’t crowded only with the regular numbers of hashers. A considerable amount of cracks, all looking lovely in their outfits and an even bigger turnout of katoeys showed up. Some had obviously been raiding their and other girlfriends’ wardrobes. Some came in sarongs; some in long dresses; some in tights and various shapes of ‘silicone’ boop jobs and some not so in.

It was time to board the bus. After running the gauntlet of shrieking "working girls" in Soi Post Office, we made it all safely aboard the bus. Off it was up past Phoenix Golf course for today’s A to A run. New shoes were aptly dealt with and the hares, the lovely saronged Drippy and the even lovelier Baloot, told us all about the run: checks are crosses and false trails f.t.’s in a circle. And away we went. The first check was easily solved, but the second had us running on a really long false trail. Through some good countryside we jogged/walked/catwalked. The clever local farmers locked their families away at the sight of the oncoming farang katoeys. Yao Yao in purple maternity smock (looking like he needed a hand crossing the road) with C.F. alongside in red tights, flowered mini, pink sweater, and large boobs.

The next check took some time with two very long false trails. Word must have spread as the pack sped along with Fossil (with real fake boobs) and BHC in mini skirt and black camisole nickers and false boobs - amazed faces were boarding our trail while we all charged along. Eventually, after just over the hour, we hit the on-in. Time for fruit, chips, cold beers, and for us katoeys to get out of our gear. As for the latter - think again. They took the ‘out of the closet’ opportunity with both hands and stayed ‘made up’ for the reminder of the night.

Who Ate All The Pies was in charge of distributing the new Betty Boop shirts. Then, form a circle. Welcoming returners with an on-in and a down-down. Sir Airhead (resplendent in a printed flower sheath dress) on-in for some religion - Airhead could not go wrong tonight. George from the north east of England on-in and aptly named Boy George. I do believe we had a rule 6 song. Two special prizes put up by the GM. After intense voting the sexiest crack award went to Butterfly Tiger in her self-made hash ass mini skirt. Next was the katoey vote. Needle D. was looking good in his spaghetti straps dress, but so was the doctor. S. Slammer in a sexy two-piece-cum-one-piece and nothing else. Sir Airhead looking really tight and ‘slender’ (and from the backside even better). Mitch in cerise mini and g-string... the competition is strong. However, big Yao Yao pulled it off. His purple maternity smock too overpowering he won the Best Dressed Katoey on 742 award. Well done to everybody who made the effort to make such a good day.

Sir Airhead on-in for his 550th run pewter plate. Hares song, which had to be The Ugly song - of course.

After the hash hymn it was off to TQ2, one of our new happy hour bars. Good food provided by Spunk Bubble and partner Smooth Detonator. Thank you! A good time was had by all. It was then time to go our various ways, not trying to get picked up on the way home in our katoey outfits. Another great day with the Pattaya Hash House Harriers comes to a close. Good health to all and sundry, and good night.

ON ON

C.F. the Grand Master

Note: More pictures are posted in the PH3 Home Page <members.tripod.com/~The_Nerd/hashsheet.html> Look for the link ‘Special Runs’.

Pattaya - Phuket ‘Ryder Cup’ 8-10 June '98

This was the inaugural ‘Ryder Cup’ Match between PSC Golf and Phuket Ex-Pats Golf Society, played over three days at Rayong Green Valley, Laem Chabang and Great Lake. Society President Justin O’Donohghue and Phuket Captain Kevin Cooney, with their team, were welcomed at a briefing on Sunday afternoon at the Green Bottle by PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin and team Captain Bill Thompson with the Pattaya team.

Playing teams of 14 players each side, the visitors, in relaxed mood, took a commanding lead over the first two days and this really set the scene for a real head to head in the final day Singles Matches.

On day one, Monday 8th June, in the Better Ball Match Play at Green Valley, Phuket took an early lead with 4 points against Pattaya’s 3 points. Top team on the day was Alan Enderby and Michael Wilson, winning 7&5 over Neil Hughes and Michael O’Meara.

On day two, playing a Two-Man Stroke Play Scramble at Laem Chabang, the visitors again inferred their supremacy by winning five of the matches with Pattaya winning just two. However, the best two-man score of the day came from a Pattaya ‘senior’ pair in the form of Carl Bauman and Ron Herbert with a creditable net 66.4, after giving six shots on handicap to Phuket opponents Michael Wilson and Alan Robinson.

Phuket, in supremely confident mood, came to the 1st tee at Great Lake on the third day leading by 9 points to 5 and needing just five and a half points from fourteen to take the trophy to Phuket.

The weather had been kind and stayed dry for the three days, but three evenings in Pattaya can take their toll and this seemed to be the case with the 14 Singles Matches. PSC Golf, with all the stamina required, managed to win ten matches, halve one and lose just three, giving a final result of Pattaya 15.5 points to Phuket 12.5.

Best individual performance on the final day came from Serge Straeten winning his match 7&5.

Individual prizes for best performances and near pins on the three days were presented at Great Lake by PSC Chairman Mike Franklin, and the ‘Ryder Cup’ Trophy was presented to PSC Captain Bill Thompson by Kevin Cooney and Justin O’Donoghue.

The Teams returned to Pattaya for an excellent Mexican Buffet at Hare House and a not inconsiderable number of beers at a very enjoyable farewell get together.

In all, a very successful event both on the course and socially, and one which we hope to repeat on a regular basis both in Pattaya and at Phuket.

The Near Pins over the three days were claimed by:

Green Valley #4 Brian Sloper #7 Gez Tracey #11 Jim Shand #15 Serge Straeten

Laem Chabang 5B Mike Franklin 8B Gez Tracey 5C Brad Vernon 8C Brian Sloper

Great Lake #5 Rob Gregory #7 Serge Straeten #12 Stan Fry #16 Bill Thompson

Scandis tame PCC, while Beard blows his own horn

PSC TAGGS Golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, June 10 - Pattaya Country Club (Pairs Medal)
1st: Sture Brisholm and Svein Vistung, Net 59
2nd: Patrick Palmer and Jay Singh, Net 59
3rd: Mark Campbell and Kevin Townsend Net 63

Were a pair to shoot a better ball score of 59, they would be pretty sure of winning. And just in case someone should equal that score, certainly a 28 on the back nine would win any count back. Well it didn’t happen that way on Wednesday at Pattaya Country Club. Sweden’s Sture Brisholm and Norway’s Svein Vistung teamed up in the TAGGS Pairs Medal tournament and shot a 59 taking first place in a count back with an incredible 27 on the back nine. Those last nine holes included two pars, five birdies, and two eagles.

In second place were New Yorker Patrick Palmer and Londoner Jay Singh, who can’t be too disappointed with their 59, with 28 on the back nine. Patrick shot his best score in Thailand with an even 100 and a 44 on the back. "V Jay" Singh is a Pattaya first timer who hadn’t bothered to bring his clubs and had wandered into the Hare House after hearing about their great chicken fajitas.

In third place were Yorkshire’s Keven Townsend and Tennessee native Mark Campbell who had to be a little dismayed to shoot a 63 and lose out by four strokes. In fact it was a great scoring day as there were nine pairs who shot in the 60s in spite of the wind and rock hard greens.

Friday, June 12 - Green Valley Golf and Country Club (Stableford)
1st: Stephen Beard, 40 points
2nd: Jimmy Little, 37 points
3rd: Vic Cross, 37 points

Londoner Stephen "Foster" Beard, playing off 18, shot a 43 on the front and 43 on the back to take in 40 Stableford points and a fine win on a tough Green Valley layout. Stephen, who had won three tournaments in a row back in April, hasn’t been on top of the leader board since April 22. Too many golfers out of the Hare House have gotten hot at the same time. In the last ten tournaments (pairs competitions included) there have been ten different names on the first place trophies. Steve wanted back on top and his fellow golfers were glad to have him there. When Steve wins he blows the horn twice!

Taking second place in a count back was Jimmy "Wrong Way" Little who had 37 points. Playing off 22, Jimmy, who hails from West Raleigh, NC, had 20 points on the back to edge out Vic "Rocky" Cross. Vic, who comes from West Hollywood, CA. and plays off a 20, had 19 points on the back. Vic was not too disappointed, however, as he graciously accepted yet another payment into his pension fund.

PSC Golf next week

In the week of June 22nd we again provide the opportunity to play twice on three of the best courses to improve course management and overall performance.

Monday the 22nd begins with a Better Ball competition at Green Valley from PSC Golf Cafe Kronborg, while PSC Splinter Golf from the Green Bottle goes to Khao Kheow, also for a Better Ball competition.

On Tuesday the 23rd, Pattaya Golf Society goes to Siam Country Club, leaving J.B. Bar at 10.00 a.m. On Wednesday June 24th it is Stableford at Bangpra from the Green Bottle; Hare House go there too at the earlier time of 8.30 a.m. for a two-man scramble.

Cafe Kronborg returns to Pattaya Country Resort on Thursday the 25th and on Friday the 26th, Splinter Golf play their monthly medal at Green Valley, while Hare House go to Siam Country Club, playing Stableford.

For more details of June fixtures visit the PSC Golf Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: ptymail@loxinfo.co.th
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.