Sponsors sought for Thai Junior Sailors

by Peter Cummins

The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, through its affiliated Junior Sailing Squadron (JSST), is seeking sponsorship for the 25-strong Thai team which will compete in the Eleventh ASEAN Optimist Championships.

The event will be held off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, South Pattaya, from the 23rd to the 29th of October.

Loneliness of the long-distance Opti sailor. Photo Peter Cummins

As preparations for the Championships intensify, Al Chandler announced from the JSST secretariat in Bangkok that the anticipated entry will be seven ASEAN countries, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, plus several possible entries from non-ASEAN Optimist Associations in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and Pakistan.

Each competing country is entitled to send one team of five sailors, born in 1984 or later. Thailand, however, as host country, is entitled to two teams and 15 individual sailors, a total of 25 competitors.

Fifty top-class dinghies will be placed at the disposal of the juniors, on a charter basis, by the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand which had imported the boats for last year’s Thirteenth Asian Games.

Chandler pointed out this week that sponsorship for a Thai sailor, including boat charter and all expenses, is Baht 22,000, and at press time, eight sponsors had come forward in amounts ranging from the full package to a token 10 percent.

Royal Varuna junior sailing secretary Linden Phanpho has just finished conducting the last training session for Royal Varuna Optimist sailors prior to the Championships. Although the south-westerly Monsoon still rules the northern Gulf, it is now the time of the season when the north-easterly begins to take over, with consequent doldrums during the “inter-regnum” period. As Linden said it last week, some of the races held for the newest batch of beginners actually ended up as paddling contests.

Nevertheless, by the last week of October, as was the case at last year’s Laser Pacific championships, there will probably be more wind than some of these sturdy youngsters can handle.

The Thai contingent is particularly strong this time, due to the large number of intensive training courses and much practice racing, racking up the “flying hours” on the Gulf, with practical hands-on experience.

Any persons interested in full or partial sponsorship for one of these young, eager and bright boys and girls should contact: Junior Sailing Squadron of Thailand, 7th Floor, Bubhajit Building, 20 North Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Tel: (662) 266-6485 Fax: (662) 266-6484 E-mail: [email protected].

1st Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend

by Dr. Iain Corness

The international Grand Prix circus has finally come to Asia, with all the hopefuls in the World Championship assembled at the new Sepang Circuit outside Kuala Lumpur. This is the first Malaysian GP at the new multi million facility. The circuit officials have been attending for practice sessions for the last three weeks, and additional, experienced marshals have been imported for Spain and Portugal.

For championship contenders Mika Hakkinen (McLaren Mercedes, 62 points) and Eddie Irvine (Ferrari, 60 points) this could be the all important race of the year. With only ten points available after this meeting, a win for Hakkinen and no points for Irvine would seal the championship for the Finn. For Ferrari, the return of Michael Schumacher has lifted team morale and it will be a very different attitude in the pits from that which we saw at Nurburgring.

Formula 1 action comes to Malaysia this weekend.

Ferrari are also relying on their reliability and (relative) lack of mistakes. In the other camp, Hakkinen and McLaren have been trying to lose the plot this year. Unforced driver errors by Hakkinen and pit crew bungles have resulted in the Finn being only two points in front, despite an obvious superiority in their machines.

The other championship hopefuls are only outside chances, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan) and David Coulthard (McLaren) the only other drivers with a mathematical chance of winning the world title.

The GP commences at 2 p.m. local time, which should be 1 p.m. here in Thailand. Delaney’s Irish Pub should have it on the big screen live this Sunday 17th.

Pattaya Sports Club Darts League

After the first few rounds of the Pattaya Sports Club Darts League, which saw a bundle of 180’s thrown and a lot of close matches, play started really hotting up.

On October 4, an epic struggle took place between Pleasure Dome and Mick’s Place, won by Mick’s Place by the Team Game 6-5. Steve Rose (a PSC member) made the highest peg of the season so far, 160 in his singles. To top this, the bull will have to be the finishing double.

Reports of feverish practise are expected any day, while Len is reputed to be experimenting with the Lost Wax process. Nobody knows yet whether it’s in case he has to cast a gold medal for 170, or he’s just trying to improve his hearing.

Standings ended up: Mick’s Place (14), Cafe Kronborg (13), Pleasure Dome (7), Thistle and Londoner tied on (6) and Kennel Dogs (2), with 2 games and 2 full rounds to go.

The last game of the second round is scheduled for the 18th October, after which the following Monday (25th October) will be reserved for a drawn pairs tournament for Pattaya Sports Club members only. The PSC will be sponsoring the event and Cafe Kronborg will be hosting it.

Any PSC members who wish to compete in the tournament will need to bring their current membership card with them to the event and register before 8 p.m. so that the draw can be made in time to start play. Snacks will be provided free.

Last year the tournament ended up as a thoroughly enjoyable night out for the players, despite torrential rains making it unpleasant to travel. This year we hope for a better deal from the weather and a bigger turnout from those members who haven’t played darts for a while, and have forgotten how much fun it can be.

There will be a good attendance from the PSC Dart League on Monday, and win or lose they haven’t forgotten how to have a good time, they do it every Monday, and sometimes oftener.

Any enquiries contact: PSC Darts Chairman Len Banfield, Phone 420-432.

PSC Deep Sea Fishing Tournament

Organized by the Fishing Section of the Pattaya Sports Club

Join the fun on Wednesday October 20, 1999. Each team pays an entrance fee of 600 baht to the Pattaya Sports Club Fishing Section. Registration and entrance fee must be paid 24 hours in advance of the tournament, listing name of boat or boat captain and fishermen on board. Each team hires their own boat. No limit on persons or tackle on board. Leave shore no earlier than 4:00 a.m.

Weigh in for trophies at SGP Caf้ Soi Yodsak North Pattaya. Weigh in will start at 5:30 p.m. and close at 6 p.m.

The Pattaya Sports Club Fishing Section will award individual trophies for the biggest game fish caught by weight and the second biggest game fish caught by weight. Third place for the most fish over one kilogram caught by weight.

In addition, a trophy will be awarded for the largest shark, ray or skate caught by weight.

To register for the tournament, please contact Carl Engel, Pattaya Sports Club Fishing Chairman, tel. 410-228, fax 426-121 or e-mail [email protected].

Registration and entrance fee can also be left at the SGP Bar or Bull Ring Bar Soi Yodsak, North Pattaya, or the Atlantis Caf้ Soi 15 South Pattaya.

Stan’s Birthday Scramble

Golf tournaments take weeks and weeks of careful planning. In order to attract any sizable field, there has to be a lot of pre-event publicity, a promise of wonderful prizes, and a little bit of luck. The exception might be when you are arguably the most popular publican in Pattaya.

Stan Fry, who owns Classroom on Soi Pattayaland 2, held an impromptu Two Man Scramble at Rayong Green Valley on Wednesday, October 7, 1999, to celebrate his birthday. With no advanced publicity other than some printed flyers put up at the last minute, and word of mouth, Stan’s birthday party attracted a field of eighty-four golfers. The price was right. Six hundred Baht got you a day of golf at Green Valley and a night of food and entertainment at the Classroom.

Ironically, one of the winners in this pairs event was another of Pattaya’s very popular bar owners, Woody Underwood. Woody teamed up with Murray “Muffy” Kerr to take this first prize with a net score of 63.3. “Muffy” plays off twelve and as you would expect from a twelve handicap, he hits the ball a ton. Woody plays off 31 and can hit the ball as far as his partner. Of course, if somebody could talk Woody into playing more than once a blue moon, he’d be playing off eighteen. Together, they shot a two over par 74 off the sticks and took home a couple of huge baskets of goodies that included Johnny Walker in two colors.

Second place went to Scott Haynes and Arthur Wood who were one stroke off the pace with a net 64.3. Scott also picked up a Near Pin, which for a twenty eight handicapper in a field as good as this one was a pretty good haul for one day. One of the rules that might have undone lesser golfers was the “eight drives minimum” rule. With both teams members having to contribute eight drives, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for “squat boxes”.

Stan Fry’s handicap hovers around ten, which makes him a fine golfer. But he can’t claim to be the best golfing bar owner in Pattaya. That title would probably go to one of the owners of Lewiinski’s on Soi Pattayaland One. That would be one of the Mascari brothers. Right now, Dave Mascari probably has the upper hand, but his brother Steve is always real close, and it was Steve paired up with Paisan who took the third place in Stan’s Birthday Scramble with a net 64.9.

Last year, Steve Mascari won the Green Jacket in the TQ Masters. This year the owner of the TQ, Woody Underwood is one of the winners in Stan Fry’s birthday bash. If this collusion among bar owners keeps up, this year’s winner of the TQ Masters will have to be Stan Fry. Stan might laugh at that, but then he is already a winner. He had a great birthday party. The real reason those eighty-four golfers showed up was not because the price was only B600. They wanted to wish Stan a happy birthday and they knew they were going to have a lot of fun doing it.

Stan’s Birthday Scramble Results

First Place: Lewis Underwood & Murray Kerr, 74 - 10.7 = 63.3
Second Place: Arthur Wood & Scott Haynes, 76 - 11.7 = 64.3
Third Place: Steve Mascari & Paisan, 73 - 8.1 = 64.9
Near Pins: #4 John Kendall, #7 Jeff McLaury, #11 Steve Mascari, #15 Scott Haynes.
Long Drive: #18 Dan McLean.
Long Putt: #18 Jim Hamilton.

More PSC Golf in October

On Sunday 17th October, Lewiinski’s go to Green Valley to play Stableford, leaving at 11.00 a.m. On Monday 18th October, PSC Golf from the Caf้ Kronborg go to Khao Kheow, while the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle go to Green Valley, both groups playing Stableford.

On Tuesday the 19th, Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker play a medal round at Natural Park Resort, while Lewiinski’s play Stableford at Khao Kheow.

On Wednesday 20th October, the Green Bottle go to Khao Kheow for stroke play, while Hare House go to Phoenix to play bogey.

On Thursday 21st October, PSC Golf Caf้ Kronborg also go to Phoenix for a stroke play competition, and on Friday 22nd the schedule is clear for the 6th TQ Masters taking place at Eastern Star. Full details and entry at TQ, Beach Road (see Woody), or see Richard Livingston or Mike Franklin. Details also at all PSC Golf venues and at Delaney’s. This is the last call for the TQ and the field is limited to 120 players.

The full October Schedule can be seen at PSC Golf Venues, at Delaney’s, in Pattaya Mail and on the PSC Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Looking ahead to early November, Bjarne Nielsen’s Birthday Scramble takes place on November 4th. This year a charity event in aid of a project to honor His Majesty the King’s 72nd Birthday. The tournament will be held at Natural Park Resort who are sponsoring the event by donating all green fees to the charity project. Entry will be strictly limited to 120 players and the entry fee will be B.600 which includes the green fee and buffet at Caf้ Kronborg with many prizes. B.450 from every entry fee will go directly to the Charity Project. More details in the next issue of Pattaya Mail

PSC Golf plays the first ‘Ryder Cup’ match against Hua Hin Golf Society

A group of 16 PSC golfers traveled to Hua Hin this past week to play the third ‘Ryder Cup’ match of the year, having previously played the American Embassy Golf Association and Phuket Ex-Pats Golf Society earlier in the year, both successfully. Hoping for a third win, the results will be in the next issue of Pattaya Mail.

Hartley tops TAGGS leader board

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Friday, October 8 - Natural Park Resort (Medal)

1st: Paul Hartley, 69 net
2nd: George Jackson, 70 net C/B
3rd: Jens Gunnarsson, 70 net

Paul Hartley broke one hundred for the second time ever as he shot a 99 off 30 to win the TAGGS Medal competition at Natural Park Resort on Friday, the eighth of October. The first time the Selby, North Yorkshire native broke through the century barrier was back in August when, playing off 32, he also won a TAGGS competition.

The second spot on the podium went to George “One Ball” Jackson who shot an 83 off the sticks and just missed taking the medal by one stroke. The first time that George ever showed up on the podium at the Hare House was back in February when he was playing off twenty-one. Here it is eight months later and he has taken eight strokes off his handicap. That is an incredible achievement and nobody on Soi Post Office will be surprised when he is down to single digits.

Third place went to Iceland native Jens Gunnarsson who shot a net 70 and is also whacking away at his handicap. Three weeks ago, Jens was playing off 36, and it won’t be long before he is playing off something in the twenties.

Whether the handicap is high or low, most golfers want desperately to improve and the truest measurement of improvement is to watch the handicap go down. Congratulations to all three of these golfers for doing a good job of playing better golf.

Tennis Tips

by the Royal Garden Spa & Fitness Club

Tennis has changes a lot in the past few years as you may have noticed by watching the pros on TV. There is a new common sense, be your own coach approach to teaching now. Every other week we will be giving you an idea how easy it is to play tennis now, especially as the whole game has changed due to new improved rackets and coaching techniques.

Ever hear that classic saying, “racket back, follow through”? Well that was OK if you wanted to look good and miss the balls. Now we teach functional tennis; it doesn’t matter how you look as long as you hit the ball. The swing isn’t as important as the contact that gets the ball back. So when you are playing next, try to think about the contact, not the swing, and you will find it a whole lot easier.

Shorten your stroke to a minimum and focus on the contact to get control of the ball. A good way to practice this is to play mini tennis (in the services boxes only). As you move back in the court you just lengthen your contact to send the ball further. You do not have to swing more; this only creates more mistakes. As you make contact, squeeze your bottom two fingers to make the contact even firmer and gain even more control.

Good luck with your contact and if you have any questions please feel free to call Sean Panton, Peter Burwash International Tennis Specialist, at the Royal Garden Spa & Fitness Center, tel. 412 120, ext. Fitness.

Copyright 1999 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: [email protected]
Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk