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Papa Ray Rogers puts on another
great “Turkey Day” feast
“What a beautiful day in the neighborhood” are the
opening lyrics to the theme song for Mr. Rogers’s Neighborhood, an
American TV program that has been on PBS for over thirty years. Thailand
has its own version of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. It’s called the
Pattaya Sports Club. It also has its own Mr. Rogers. Papa Ray Rogers held
his twelfth annual Thanksgiving Day block party and it really was a
beautiful day in the neighborhood.
One hundred and thirty six golfers teed it up in Papa
Ray’s “Turkey Day” golf tournament at the Pattaya Country Club. It
was a perfect day for golf and if the golfers complained a bit about the
heat, they didn’t complain about the lack of wind. The conditions were
ideal for good scores and the good scores came in buckets. Mike Hill won
the A Flight in this Stableford competition with 42 points and topped last
year’s A Flight winning total, shot by Serge Straeten, by two strokes.
Mike had 22 points on the back nine and that was the cushion he needed to
edge Magnus Johansson in a count back. Magnus had nineteen points on the
back nine en route to his total of 42 points. Third place in the A Flight
went to Colin Mathers who had 40 points.
The B Flight (handicaps 19 - 36) was won by Bob Jess
who had a whopping 44 points. Last year Mike Larsen won the B Flight with
43 points. Egon Nielsen took second place in the B Flight with 42 points.
Three golfers came in with 41 points, with Erich Wandaler taking third
place in a count back over Greg Russell and Bob Allen.
Nalinee Suriya who had 37 points turned in the Ladies
Best Score. The Callaway Trophy went to Robin Wilkin who shot an 82 Gross
and a 73 Net.
The trip from Pattaya Country Club to Papa Ray’s
house was short and sweet. There were trophies to be presented, prizes to
be won in the Lucky Draw, and a turkey or two to gobble. As an American,
Ray understands that this is one day where it is a patriotic duty to be a
glutton. And this was no place for a vegetarian to be hungry. In addition
to the turkey, there was baked ham, roast chicken, and pork loin. The only
place to put the potatoes and gravy was smack on top of all that meat.
Pattaya Sports Club Golf Chairman Mike Franklin was
able to be heard over all those smacking lips and do his usual fine job of
emceeing the awards ceremony. Mike was assisted by a host of volunteers
from the Pattaya Sports Club, but a Good Neighbor Award needs to go to
Bernie Tuppin who did yeoman service in helping to organize this
tournament. Bernie was also the one who hand printed all 136 score cards
with a print so stylish it would make a computer jealous.
Pattaya Country Club was in good shape and the fairways
were almost lush; but it’s not the course that makes Papa Ray’s
“Turkey Day” special. It’s not the Thanksgiving feast that is served
when the golf is over; although the food scratches an itch that can’t be
scratched by fried rice. By tradition, Thanksgiving Day is always the last
Thursday in November. That is a time when a lot of old friends are back in
Pattaya. In fact, everybody who has spent some time here wants to be at
Papa Ray’s house for Thanksgiving because the whole fam damily is there.
You can’t wander out back to the beer well without having three
different conversations on the way. There is something about being at
Papsan’s place that makes you feel like you belong. It feels like home.
Results
A Flight
Winner: Mike Hill, 42 Pts. (C/B 22 Back 9)
2ND: Magnus Johansson, 42 Pts. (19 Back 9)
3RD: Colin Mathers, 40 Pts.
B Flight
Winner: Bob Jess, 44 Pts.
2nd: Egon Nielsen, 42 Pts.
3rd: Erich Wandaler, 41 Pts (C/B 22 Back 9)
(Greg Russell 19 Back 9, Bob Allen 18 Back 9)
Ladies best score: Nalinee Suriya, 37 Pts
Callaway trophy: Robin Wilkin, 73Net, 82 Gross
Near pins: #5 Norman Brooks, #7 Mike Johnston, #12 Brian Ellis, #16 Barry
Tregurtha.
Long drives: A Flight #18 Archie Armstrong, B Flight #8 Walter Hanak,
Ladies: #11 Anni Andersen.
Long putts: #3 Ray Woodruffe, #17 John McMullen.
Yodsanan retains PABA super
featherweight belt
Defending PABA super featherweight champion Yodsanan 3K
Battery scored a 5th round TKO over Kanat Sikhimbaev from Kazakhstan at
Pattaya City Hall on November 28.
Pattaya
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and Sifu Mac Innis from the ISS Boxing
Promotion, organizers of the match, congratulate Yodsanan 3K Battery after
he defeated Kanat Sikhimbaev from Khasakistan to retain his title.
The fight was mostly even through the first 3 rounds,
with Kanat holding Yodsana at bay with effective jabs. Yodsanan was able
to land a flurry of solid body punches in the 4th round, which took its
toll on the number 1 contender, leaving him with a dazed look in his eyes.
The assault continued in the 5th round, and near the end of the round,
Kanat began to fade. The referee called in the doctor to examine Kanat,
and the doctor’s decision was that Kanat was unable to continue.
In the under card bouts, Yokthai Sidyod, the former WBA Champion in the
Junior Batam weight division (115 pounds) bested Kid Hamzah from
Indonesia. Saen S. Pleunjit, another former world boxing champion from
Thailand, knocked out Jose Sarabia from Mexico in the 5th round. Yod
Damrong Sidyodthong also won his match against Henry Makkawilbal from
Indonesia.
Bull Ring Bar takes first in the PSC
Deep Sea Fishing Tournament
Selwyn Leightley, fishing with the Bull Ring Bar
fishing team on Captain Loot’s boat, fishing near Ko Lin, landed a 14
pound Cobia for the individual fisherman top prize in the PSC Deep Sea
Fishing Tournament on Wednesday November 17. Other members of the team
were Buddy Ditchburn, Big Eddy, and Ivor The Taff.
The next PSC Deep Sea Fishing Tournament is scheduled
for Tuesday December 14. This will be the year-end tournament for 1999.
To enter please contact Carl Engel, PSC fishing
chairman, at phone 410-228, fax 426-121, or e-mail [email protected]
or drop by SGP Caf้ or the Bull Ring Bar on Soi Yodsak in North
Pattaya to register for the tournaments or just compare your fish stories
with some other fishermen.
On December 5, the Fishing Section of the PSC will sponsor their annual
Pattaya Sports Club Presidents Cup Deep Sea Fishing Tournament. All
contestants in this tournament fish in this tournament at no charge. To be
eligible a person must have participated in at least one of the fishing
tournament organized by the PSC during the 1999 fishing year. They must
also be a current paid up member of the PSC.
Competing with the Jones Boys
Tuesday November 23 - Natural Park Resort (Stableford)
Three Jones boys - Bill, Len and Mick - all competed
with 24 other members of the Pattaya Golf Society on a beautifully
manicured Natural Park Resort course. It was only Mick who registered any
success, attaining 2nd position in the B Flight with 34 hard earned
points. Joining him, also with 34 points, was joint attainer (a new
innovation of the PGS secretary who seems to be having problems with the
C/B method of calculation, deciding that all scores of equality will be
treated accordingly) was Peter Mackay.
Gary
Hamill, playing off a 35 handicap, scored 35 points to win the B Flight.
Gary Hamill, playing off a 35 handicap, scored 35
points to win the B Flight. Gary hit 39 points last week and is a
contender and favourite to win the Player of the Month award. His improved
play will certainly merit him with a handicap review.
The A Flight regulars had a surprise when recent
addition to the club, Peter Renngli (20 handicapper), working like
“Swiss timing” (his country of origin) recorded his first golf win
with an exciting round of 38 Stableford points. All A Flight players take
note: Peter is going to ruffle a few feathers and will be a handful to
compete with. The club offers Peter and his associates a profound welcome
to the club.
2nd position went to popular Norman Brooks who’s
becoming a legend on the courses of Chonburi - always in the forefront and
such a stylish golfer. Off 18, his 34 points were enough to win. Both
Norman Brooks and Peter Renngli are from mountainous countries, but this
has not handicapped the production of fine golfers.
3rd position in A Flight was again a joint venture with
visiting pro golfer Keith Smithson and Wilf Latham each recording 33
points. Whoever plays with Keith has the good fortune to witness his
excellent play and must surely benefit in some way. It is suggested that
all A Flight players have the opportunity to play with Keith on a rotation
basis.
Wilf Latham’s recent consistent form is possibly due
to his stabilized domestic situation along with the arrival of the
possible “Future Mother in Law”.
Instructions for nearest the pins on par 3s went
unnoticed by the tail end players. In their anxiety to patronize the BB,
they became casualties and failed to return to base in time for the
presentation. Some form of reprimand will be sanctioned and certain
establishments placed out of bounds.
A very special welcome to the friend of Peter Renngli
(the A Flight winner), Miss Annop Namprasert, described as the girl with
the “Beautiful Swing”. She along with Viv Lill are an added attraction
for the “Bunker Boys”. Annop is pursuing her fifth card for handicap
purposes and PGS all trust she will be a regular at the Bunker golf days.
Without plenty of absentees by regular members, the
club would have seen the turnout well over 30 players. Seems the “Flying
Finn” is still in orbit, and Lover Boy Remi has activities of the
nocturnal nature making inroads; Colin Morgan busy with 70th birthday
celebrations, along with both Viv and Ken Lill possibly absconded with
last week’s haul of loot from the Bunker or practicing for Papa Ray’s
annual event. Andy Anderson, Dickie Barbie and the promised return of Les
Winche, a previous regular since the inception of the original Pattaya
Golf Society founded by Peter Johansson.
The Player of the Month competition is hotting up and at publication
Gary Hamill is in the lead and favored to win. Three outsiders are still
in the hunt: Colin Morgan is 5 points behind and both Wilf Latham and
Norman Brooks are a further 7 points adrift. Just one more game to play
before the club’s pairs and singles competition for club honors.
Peter Burwash International Tennis Tips
by Sean Panton, Royal Garden Spa & Fitness Center
Having problems with your volley? This is one of the
fundamentals of the sport so you had better get it right. Here are some
easy steps to improve your volley overnight:
1. Make sure your wrist is locked. Squeeze your bottom
3 fingers and this will automatically lock your wrist giving you a more
solid volley. If the racket is like a wall the ball will rebound with more
consistency.
2. Make sure you do not swing at the volley. Think
“catch” not swing as you have less court to hit into and the ball is
traveling 3 times faster when you volley (due to the fact that it is still
accelerating).
3. Use the continental grip (hammer grip). This is so
you do not have to change grips between the forehand and the backhand
volleys. Keep the racket in front of you and use the hammer grip to
increase your reaction time to the volley.
So remember, next time your volley goes to pieces,
focus on a locked wrist, catch and a hammer grip and it will improve for
sure. Watch the players on TV when they volley - the wrist is always
locked and they do not swing!
Good luck with your contact and if you have any questions, please feel
free to call me: Sean Panton, Peter Burwash International Tennis
Specialist at the Royal Garden Spa & Fitness Center. Tel: 412 120,
ext. Fitness.
Rachot Kanjana-Vanit: A King’s Cup
Tribute
by Peter Cummins
Over the past two weeks, the Pattaya Mail has
featured a two-part story on the history of the Phuket King’s Cup
Regatta, established to honour His Majesty the King on the occasion of his
fifth cycle, sixtieth birthday, December, 1987.
Now, on the eve of the Thirteenth Regatta, which opens
on HM the King’s sixth cycle, seventy-second birthday on Sunday, regatta
stalwarts, many of whom have joined every event since the inaugural, are
astounded that the decade has passed so quickly.
One of the founders and, certainly, one of the keenest
participants over the years, Siracha’s own Dr Rachot Kanjana-Vanit, who
passed away three years ago, is sadly missed - particularly at this time
of the year. His son Radab keeps Rachot’s memory alive, however, and
continues his father’s tradition as a most competent sailor.
Dr Rachot Kanjana-Vanit became ill during the Tenth
Regatta in 1996 and died shortly after. There was a poignant irony in Dr
Rachot’s demise, for he had trailered his F-31 trimaran “Cedar Swan”
to Phuket, as he had done with other craft previously, to participate in
every regatta, the event he co-founded to honour His Majesty the King’s
fifth-cycle birthday in 1987.
There was no way Dr Rachot would miss any of them,
especially the tenth, dedicated to the Golden Jubilee of the King’s
accession to the Thai Throne in 1946.
But fate intervened. After the practice race preceding
the opening, Rachot knew he was unwell. Back to Bangkok, he survived a
by-pass operation at Bamrungrad Hospital, but succumbed two days later and
passed away on Friday, 20 December, at the age of 72.
It is impossible to encapsulate in one brief article
the life, the times and the achievements of this remarkable man. He was at
once an engineer, a teacher, a philosopher and, for those who love the sea
as much as he did, he was, above all, a highly skilled sailor and builder
of sailing boats.
Born on 5 August 1924 in Songkhla where his father was
a senior engineer with the State Railways of Thailand building the
Kingdom’s railways, the young Rachot had his mind set on a navy career.
“I was born with salt in my blood,” was one of his
favourite remarks, even as he was rejected from becoming a naval cadet at
the age of 14, because he was “too young and puny” to pass the
physical examination.
But the bloodlines were too strong and engineering was
passed through the generations. His German grandfather (a Gutenberg with a
lineage harking back to the 15th century genius who printed the Gutenberg
Bible) was an engineer, sent out to Siam by the Kaiser to design a port
system for Bangkok. His father, his brother Rachan and finally his elder
son Radab, all became engineers.
Rachot was quick to recognize at that time that it was
not so much the navy, but rather the sea which absorbed him and
engineering brought him close to this life-long fascination.
In an honour-packed academic career which culminated in
a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Sheffield, Rachot
directed his own R.K.V. Engineering Consultant Company and held two
patents: one, the “spread foot pile” met with much success in Bangkok
and beyond where poor condition top layer soils hampered building.
The second, a tide-dependent ship transfer system,
allows the transfer of vessels up and down the shipyards, utilizing tidal
energy. One operates at Samut Prakan.
As a natural teacher, Rachot believed in the benefits
of education and was one of the principals behind the establishment of the
Asian Institute of Technology.
His philosophy was steeped in the tenets of Buddhism
which guided him through what he referred to as the “dark side of
life.” To him, it was quite clear that if you suffer and experience
pain, you are lucky, for you will finally understand the meaning of the
guiding principles which had helped him through the obstacles in his life.
Some of his many other pursuits included mountain
biking and flying his “Blue Angel”, a four-seater Aerospatiale Tampico
for which he obtained his pilot’s license at age 60.
But even in a lifetime of many achievements, his
enormous contributions to sailing in the Kingdom were outstanding. Dr
Rachot represented Thailand at three successive Olympics - Japan 1964,
Mexico 1968 and Germany 1972 - racing the single-handed Finn dinghy, one
of the sport’s toughest and most demanding classes. He also competed in
numerous South East Asia Peninsular and South East Asian Games (SEA).
Dr Rachot served as secretary general of the Yacht
Racing Association of Thailand through eight of its difficult formative
years and was Commodore of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club from 1967 - 1970,
moving the Club to its present site at South Pattaya in 1967. At the time
of his death, he was Vice Commodore of the Yacht Cruising Association
(Thailand) and, as noted by the Commodore, David Pollard, “Dr Rachot’s
contribution to yachting and cruising in Thailand was inestimable.”
Through his determination, sailing increased in
popularity through the 1960s, as Rachot moved the frontiers outwards. He
enjoyed the challenge of “offshore” racing, and designed the first
open-dinghy races to sail beyond the sight of land.
The longest was the “Trans-Gulf” Race, first held
in 1970, from Pattaya to Hua Hin, finishing off the Klai Kangwol Palace,
sailed to commemorate His Majesty the King’s single-handed crossing of
the Gulf in his OK dinghy, “Vega”, on 19 April 1996.
Rachot led the “Trans-Gulf” fleet in towards the
Palace, to be met by His Majesty sailing out to meet them. The King, at a
ceremony at the Palace, presented the rudder of the “Vega” to Dr
Rachot.
Dr Rachot was close to His Majesty, not only in the
sailing world but even more so as an advisor on aspects of the Royal
Development Projects. In fact, it was the King himself who conducted Dr
Rachot’s funeral rites some three years ago.
I had the good fortune to spend some time with Dr
Rachot at his Sriracha seafront home the year before his death, gathering
some material for a feature story. He told me of the time that he had been
interviewed about retirement. “That reporter seemed to think that I was
looking for ‘greener pastures’ - maybe even that great pasture in the
sky,” he recalled, with a laugh. “He thought he could write my
epitaph,” smiled Rachot. “Impossible! I had too many more frontiers to
open, boats to build, projects to launch...!
“In fact, at age 55 I had intended to leave this
world, but not the way that newshound was suggesting!” He looked
seawards at his ferro-cement ketch, riding easily at the private pier in
front of his Sriracha spread which included a fully-equipped boat-building
facility. “I built that one to retire from the rat race and cruise the
world. I sailed as far as Koh Si Chang (which we could see some 10
nautical miles to the west) but then I remembered some unfinished jobs so
I came back,” he recalled with a knowing grin.
Now, his son Radab takes the helm of “Cedar Swan”,
keeping his father’s legacy to the yachting world alive and lending full
support to the Phuket King’s Cup, determined to win the Ocean Going
Catamaran Division this year, “in memory of my father,” Radab points
out.
We have all been beneficiaries of Dr. Rachot’s foresight, dedication
and wisdom: the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, specifically and the marine
world, generally, will continue to thrive, thanks to this great sailor.
1999 Varuna Cup this weekend
The 1999 Varuna Cup will be held 4-6 December at the
Royal Varuna Yacht Club, South Pattaya.
The Organizing Authority is the Sailing Committee of
the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in conjunction with the Yacht Racing
Association of Thailand.
Classes: The 1999 Varuna Cup will include Hobie 16,
Open Class, Laser, Fireball, Enterprise, 470 and Optimist. A minimum of
five boats must be fully registered before 09:00hrs on the morning of the
first race to constitute a class. The Open fleet will classify as a class
providing there are a minimum of 5 boats. The Organizing Authority may add
classes based on actual entries received.
Programme and Schedule of Events: A total of eight
races are scheduled in each class. Races may be back to back. No races
will be started after 12:00 hr. on 6 December. Courses will be Olympic
Triangle, Trapezoid or Windward/Leeward type configurations depending on
the class and prevailing conditions.
December 3: 19:00 - 21:00, Registration.
December 4: 07:00 - 09:00, Registration and Measurement; 09:00 Briefing.
December 4 - 6: 10:30, First Warning Signal of the Day
December 6: 14:00, Prize Giving
Eligibility Requirements: A competitor in the 1999
Varuna Cup shall be a member of an ISAF member national authority, or one
of its affiliated organizations.
Regatta
founders, Rachot Kanjana-Vanit (L) and M.L. Tridosyuth Devakul (R), with
keen sailor, Denmark’s Royal Consort, Prince Henrik at a recent regatta.
Entries: Competitors shall enter in writing on or
before 09:00 hrs 4 December 1999, using the official entry form.
Equipment: Competitors are expected to bring their own
hulls, spars, foils, sails, control lines and other requirement as allowed
by class rules. A limited number of boats may be available for charter on
a first come, first serve basis. Contact David Race at (662)-258-7430 or
email:[email protected] for details on availability, rental fees,
security deposits.
Scoring: A minimum of four of the eight scheduled races
shall be completed to constitute the 1999 Varuna Cup. The Low Point
Scoring System, Appendix A2.2 of the Racing rules will apply. The wind
adjusted handicap system will be applied to the Open fleet.
Prizes: Prizes will be awarded to the helm and crew of each boat
placing first through third in each class.
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
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