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Sportsman UK Club of Pattaya Sports Day
On Sunday March 17 th,
The Sportsman team recorded the best overall total in several different
sports competitions to win the UK Club of Pattaya Sports Day.
Seven teams participated in the competition: Sportsman,
Royal Heritage, Bowling Green, Rose Garden Hotel 1 and 2, Pig &
Whistle and Pig & Whistle Ladies. The Queen Vic had to bow out due to
illness.
 The
winning Sportsman team have a jolly good time accepting the winner’s
trophy.
The day commenced with ten pin bowling where each team
played 4 games to produce a total for the points. A very close competition
saw the Bowling Green win by the narrowest of margins. Their total score
of 528 was only 2 points ahead of The Sportsman, with Rose Garden 1 third
on 467.
 The
ladies team from the Pig & Whistle did themselves proud at the bowling
alley in Jomtien.
Teams then made their way to the Bowling Green for the
other games. Because of the heat, the lawn bowling was delayed until
later, while the darts and pool competitions were played down to the final
stages. In between games, all who competed enjoyed a fine buffet.
Due partly to the inexperience of the dart players and
perhaps also the good service at the bar, the final scores were not
recorded until much later than expected. This did not appear to worry the
participants who stayed on to watch the chairman present the two
magnificent trophies.
The overall winners were the Sportsman, with Rose
Garden Hotel a very close runner up.
Those present voted this yet another great day for the
UK Club of Pattaya and many asked that the day be repeated soon.
Dabber celebrates his birthday in Style
IPGC TAGGS Golf from The Haven
Friday 22nd
March - Khao Kheow B & C
1st:
Mike Dabanovich, 64
2nd: Serge Straeten, 70
3rd: Rick Schramm, 71 cb9 33
4th: Mark Gorda, 71 cb9 37
5th: Peter Hall, 72 cb9 34
6th: Brian Kelly, 72 cb9 35.5
Mike “Dabber” Dabanovich celebrated his birthday in
fine style, shooting under 80 for the first time in his life and sweeping
away the field by six clear shots. Again he is just running into form
prior to returning to the Middle East to resume selling soap by the bucket
to the locals.
Serge Straeten led home the chasing pack to make up in
some small way for missing out on the recently abandoned competition.
Meanwhile, after his big win on Wednesday, Dale
Drader’s second outing of the week proved to be a more sobering affair,
as he only managed a net 81 on the day.
Doug Campbell, who scored two, won the twos’ alone.
It was the highlight of the day for him, the lows being a 9, 8 and 7
elsewhere on the course.
Back at the Haven on Soi 13, Richard Livingston the
resident PGA professional welcomed new members Ted Smith and Dave Lee, and
welcomed back George Thompson. It was also the last time that Dave Barritt
will play until November, as he has to return home to England so that his
wife can earn enough money from her dressmaking business to pay for
another three-month visit.
Monday 18th
March - Sattahip North & West (Stableford)
1 st: Jimmy
McHugh, 42
2nd: Brian Beaupre, 41
3rd: Rick Schramm, 38
4th: Michael Dige, 34
5th: Peter Hall, 33
Jimmy McHugh, playing very steady golf, shot a gross 74
to take the top position at the very tough Pluataluang Navy Course with an
excellent score off his 13 handicap, surprising newcomer Brian Beaupre,
who finished second. Rick Schramm was in close attendance but never really
got into the hunt, while Michael Dige and Peter Hall rounded out the
podium to make it a clean sweep for the lower handicappers on the day.
Back at The Haven, Richard welcomed new members Brian
Beaupre, Ralf and Natsuda Heitmann, whilst welcoming back Peter Hall. The
twos’ were shared between Jeff McLaury, Al Rolnik and Jimmy McHugh.
Wednesday 20th
March - Burapha West (Bogey)
1st
Division
1st:
Tony Barritt, 5 up
2nd: Peter Hall, 2 up, cb9 1
up
3rd: Brian Beaupre, 2 up, cb9
all square
2nd
Division
1 st: Dale
Drader, 8 up
2nd: Tom Gingerich, 1 up, cb9
2 up
3rd: Mo Bertrand, 1 up, cb9 1
down
Tony Barritt at last showed why he used to be a single
figure handicap player, firing his best round in Thailand and relegating
Peter Hall and Brian Beaupre to squabble over the minor places in the
first division.
Dale Drader made one of his rare visits to the local
golf courses and shattered his personal best score to leave the rest of
the field trailing in his wake, and easily took the honors in the second
division. “Ginger Tom”, also making an infrequent visit, just edged Mo
Bertrand into third place, with a great display of old fashioned golf
played with a massive hangover.
Prior to the prize giving, Richard welcomed Ratsmee
Sriutta and welcomed back Dale Drader and Harry Riley.
Dave Spendley, Brian Edinboro and Brian Beaupre shared
the twos’.
McLachlans the perfect pair in Shenanigans March better ball
Bob and Kawintida McLachlan returned the best score of
the day to take the podium at Shenanigans March Pairs Better Ball on
Tuesday March 19th at Eastern Star Resort.
 (L
to R) Bob and Kawintida McLachlan are congratulated for their March win by
Mike Franklin at Shenanigans, Pattaya.
Their score of 46 Stableford points was almost equally
shared, with Bob scoring 24 points and Kawintida giving excellent support
with 22 points to make the winning total.
Not too far behind were Bill Hurd and Phil Groves
scoring a creditable 43 points to claim the runners-up spot.
Bill Hurd also claimed the first of the near pins on
hole four, with Mike Dabanovich, George Jackson (still clutching the back
page of Pattaya Mail reporting his win with Clive Bruce on the
previous outing), and Kuan Sudar claiming the other three.
The Franklins pulled off the unprecedented feat of
sinking both the long putts, Banjob on hole nine and Mike on the
eighteenth. Inevitably, Banjob had the longer of the two putts!
No new faces this week, but it was nice to see the very
friendly Mark Gorda back, with Mike Dabanovich, Russell Finch and lawyer
Bill Kirkpatrick.
The weather was fine, but noticeably hotter even with a
cooling breeze, and the course well presented with continuing
improvements.
The next outing is on April 2nd,
the day after April Fools day, for a ‘Fools Scramble’. Just like the
usual Pairs Scramble but with the luxury of ‘Shenanigans’ (alias
Mulligans) to boost the silly scores that are likely to result.
Sign-up for this at Shenanigans, in pairs please.
Shenanigans sets sail for the ‘Funhill Cup’ 2002
By Mike Franklin
Innovation has always been part of the golf policy at
Shenanigans, Pattaya, so the Funhill Cup this year moves location to
Plutaluang Royal Thai Navy Golf Course.
The South and East courses set the scene for the
traditional Funhill Pairs Scramble on Friday April 26th and a Starboard
Canon start at 10 a.m. The South and East nines present a friendlier
challenge than the more difficult and intimidating holes on the North and
West courses.
A highlight of the day will be to experience the
excellent new clubhouse facilities, officially opened by the president of
the Privy Council, Gen Prem Tinsulanonda on Saturday March 16. This
splendid occasion also featured a celebratory stroke-play golf tournament
with a ‘Broadside Start’ using all four courses for the two flights,
necessary to accommodate the many admirals and senior officers from the
Royal Thai Navy and other distinguished guests.
Led by ‘Anchorman’ Trevor Allen, there will be many
celebrities and friends of Shenanigans Bangkok taking part in this
year’s Funhill Cup on April 26th, so an early sign-up by local Pattaya
golfers is recommended with the field limited to 120 players.
Entries, only with entry fee please, to Kim Fletcher at
Shenanigans Pattaya, or see me, Mike Franklin. Entry forms with full
details are available on Shenanigans Very Friendly Golf Society notice
board, to the right just inside Shenanigans entrance, and available at the
bar.
Qantas and Casa Pascal play football friendly for HIV victims
Qantas Airlines and
the Casa Pascal Restaurant each put together teams last weekend and played
an energetic football friendly to raise money for victims of the HIV
virus. Organized by Phillip Price and Pascal Schynder at the football
field in Soi 17 South Pattaya, the friendly match strengthened ties
between the companies. Although the final score of the match was not made
available, perhaps more importantly, after the match Price and Schynder
presented 20,000 baht to Dr. Philip Suer of the Heartt2000 project.
Thunder and lightening couldn’t stop the good scores
PSC Golf Cafe Kronborg
Monday 18 March - Khao
Kheow (Stableford)
The Khao Kheow B & C layouts were host for a
Stableford competition in two flights: A flight 0-18 and B flight 19 &
above.
 Laurina
Brinn won the B flight at Khao Kheow.
The skies were threatening at the start and low and
behold a rip-roaring thunder & lightning storm stopped play for about
1 hour but did not appear to affect the scores.
Icelander Kjartan Palsson took the A flight with 40
points, Im Woodruffe was second with 37 points and Ray Woodruffe third
with 36 points.
Laurine Brinn took the B flight with 39 points, second
was Pete Galle on 36 points and the ever solid Frank Sinclair third on 32
points.
Thursday 21 March - Siam
C.C. (Medal)
The return to normal numbers taking part in the
competitions and fewer busloads of visitors after the bulge of the last
few months has led to quieter courses and a much more peaceful atmosphere,
only spoiled by the higher temperatures, more humid conditions &
occasional local storm.
Siam proved quiet and hot and humid, but a pleasure to
play. PSC only had one flight and this was dominated by the Siam
‘specialists’, and three of the four winners could be put in this
bracket. The winner was Herbie Ishinaga with net 69. Herbie is also well
known as ‘Mein Host’ of Three Sisters.
 Herbie
Ishinaga was the winner at Siam.
Second was Fast Eddie Kristienson with net 71 and
Stephen Cooper Reade with net 72 won the race to win the count back for
third beating Bob Moberg into fourth place.
Footnote: For worldwide ‘Friends of the Kronborg’
who have expressed interest in recent news from there and particularly the
recent promotion of Stoker 1 st
Class Richardson to the acting rank of Admiral, a sitrep has been decided
on.
This recent acting promotion is the subject of a
‘Promotion Bored’ by the ‘Knights Of The Round Table’ under the
Patronage of Baron Bjarne Van Kronborg and headed by its ‘Chair’ man
Sir Ray Rogers and his trusty chair Trigger. (Did you know Trigger had
three brothers at home?)
The most difficult problem to be decided, if his
promotion is to be confirmed, is whether to put him forward as Vice
Admiral or Rear Admiral. Sir Dave (Stokers are cur, knights & Admirals
are Sir) insists during all his time in the Navy he never found the golden
rivet, and he also insists he never visits boy’s town, so Rear Admiral
may have to be put behind him as a long shot only. Also having just spent
a month on bread and water, and being kind to, and keeping cats, he could
be something of a ‘Cat’astrophe as a potential Admiral of Vice.
 Cook
- probably best known caddy at Siam.
The Promotion Bored of the Knights of the Round Table
faced with this hard decision is ‘Chaired by Sir Ray as said, with
Warlock and Chancellor to the Knights Sir Merlin De Bennison and Commander
of the Military Wing Sir KSM McRiver (or Stream, Beck, Burn or such).
Special advisors are Sir Wayne McBeerless, (many) Heineken and Singer
Gold.
In Sir Dave’s interview with the Bored he requested a
month’s freedom after the many years he had spent, day after day,
teaching the troops to hurl small round white missiles at the enemy, as he
intends to return home for a month of solitude and seclusion at the Dave
Richardson Charm School he founded near his home in the USA. The Bored
accepted this and the assurances of Sir Dave we will see a new more laid
back (definitely not Rear Admiral) person on his return if he is promoted.
In is absence the KSM will stand in and if anyone will help out please let
him know.
The betting at present is 2 to1 Vice Admiral, 5 to 2
Stoker 2 nd class, 3 to 1
Seaman, 10 to 1 pensioned off and 12 to 1 Rear Admiral. Anyone wishing to
vote for or against this promotion may do so via the PSC email address.
Till the next news letter, from the secret mole T.T.F.N
Gerry Carpenter firing on all cylinders
PSC Three Sisters Golf
Monday the 18th brought Gerry
Carpenter alive and firing on all cylinders. Prior to his trip to Hong
Kong and to the Philippines Gerry showed the rest of the field that he is
still to be reckoned with on the golf course. Climbing to the top of the
pile by a long shot, he came in with a brilliant 42 points. The nearest
competitor was at 37 points - 5 strokes back.
 Gerry
Carpenter won the ‘bragging rights’ with a whopping 42 points, while
Earl Kershaw was left holding the ‘bag’ with 27 at the 3 Sisters
weekly golf competition at Siam CC on March 18.
Sitting at 37 points were Kevin Mitch and Derek Brook,
the group’s second place finishers for the day.
Competing for the bottom were Herb Ishinanga and Erle
Kershaw. Both cards were at 27 points, but after checking, it was found
that Herb had 28 big points to escape from being the bag holder for the
week. Erle slipped in to earn the right of being the bag holder for the
week, upholding the rest of the pile.
Don Ratcliffe provided snacks this week, and as the
bragging went on and a load of beer was consumed, the ham sandwiches
tasted awfully good - thanks Don.
Visitors are victors at Treasure Hills
IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Bunker
The demanding course at Treasure Hills was the venue
for the largest group of Bunker boys and girls this year, when forty-three
aspiring players, swelled by many first time visitors, descended on the
peaceful club on Tuesday, 19 th
March. Medal play was the format and the field was cut at 17 and under.
In division one the Bunker “rookies” were
successful as Ian Priestly took victory with net 73, three shots ahead of
Brian Maddox and Brian Beaupre, both shooting net 76.
In division two, regular Bunker Boy Bill Jones played
his best ever round at the course to register net 77, three shots ahead of
his nearest rivals, Alan Alexander, Bob Flynn and Chris John.
For the first time ever there were enough ladies to
have their own competition and this was won by tourist Natsuda Heitmann on
net 77.
The Bunker Super Sawng award was shared by Bill Jones
and Michael Dige, who both recorded very good two’s on their cards.
The IPGC “Rabbits” Champion 2001, David Johnson,
has been taking lessons to improve his short game and this has obviously
been money well spent. His embarrassing gross 120 easily earned him the
Bunker Banana Booby and he left the Bunker jealously guarding his prize!
On Tuesday, 2 nd
April the Bunker Boys are playing at the seldom visited but nevertheless
enchanting course at Bang Plakong, between Chonburi and Bangkok, and all
players are advised the party will leave the Bunker at nine o’ clock
that day, and not at ten as usual. Please make a note in your diaries.
Happy returns to Noble
Place
On Friday, 22 nd
March, the Bunker Boys returned to Noble Place after an absence of more
than two years, and how the course has improved! A comfortable new
clubhouse and well-kept greens are among the nice surprises and it will
certainly feature as a venue again in the near future.
In division one visitor Ian Priestley concluded a good
week at the Bunker by winning with 38 Stableford points, edging out Norman
Brooks on 36 and Harry Cowling on 33.
Good scores were evident as well in division two with
Mikael Andersson shooting the round of the day, with 40 points, one ahead
of Ralf Heitmann, on 39, and the third placed pair of Kerry Jonsson and
Peter MacKay, both scoring level par 36 points.
In the ladies competition Natsuda Heitmann again ran
out winner with 37 points.
Both Ian Priestley and Harry Cowling recorded two’s
on their cards thereby sharing the Bunker Super Sawng award and the famed
Bunker Banana Booby went to John Hughes for claiming he was “the victim
of his own success” when he hit the ball too far! Whatever will they say
at his club in North Oxfordshire!
Visit the new Bunker Boys website at http://www.the
bunkerboys.com
Junior cricket receives support from UNICEF ambassador
Story and photos by Peter Cummins
Since it started in 1988, the Chiang Mai International
Cricket Sixes has become a most popular event, played out at the
century-old (in cricketing jargon, 105, not out) Chiengmai Gymkhana Club
Cricket Ground and, as the fifteenth tournament approaches, one focus will
be on the development of cricket in Thailand, especially among Thai
children.
As UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) Ambassador
to Thailand, H.E. Anand Panyarachun said in the introduction to the 2002
programme, “I am very pleased to issue this message for the third
successive year, with my congratulations and best wishes to the organisers
and participants of this event. I have myself participated actively in
sports and therefore admire and appreciate sports as a vital element in
physical, mental and emotional development of any person. Now, in my
capacity as the UNICEF Ambassador in Thailand, I see the value of sports,
especially in the context of the options and opportunities available for
our children and adolescents.
 UNICEF
Youth Envoy, Kathaleeya McIntosh meets budding young Thai cricketers at
Chiang Mai.
“Today,” he added, “we see increasingly the need
to promote friendship, peace and harmony in the world, as well as within
nations. Sport is a good vehicle in this context, as it cuts across the
boundaries of nationality, race, religion, and culture. Young people are
particularly good in promoting and cultivating new habits and we must
ensure that they adopt and nurture good things which can help in their
survival, development and protection. Cricket as a sport seems to possess
such good elements for team building, tolerance and perseverance which are
needed for any society,” H.E. Anand continued.
“Sports and recreation are not just a necessity for
every child or adolescent, but also a right by itself - according to the
Unites Nations Convention in the Rights of the Child. This Convention is
the most universally ratified of all UN Conventions to date. UNICEF’s
aim to promote this, by facilitating the most essential and most conducive
conditions, without any discrimination, for survival, development,
protection and participation of each and every person up to 18 years of
age. Among the specific rights enunciated in this convention is the right
to leisure, play and to have opportunities to participate in cultural and
artistic activities. Therefore, the Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes, both
directly - and indirectly - contributes to the promotion of the rights of
children through this sport,” H.E. Anand concluded.
 UNICEF
Youth Envoy Kathaleeya McIntosh autographs a shirt for one of the young
cricketers at Chiang Mai.
The Children’s Tournament of “Sawasdee” cricket
starts Tuesday 2nd April and will run through Saturday the 6th. The
children will have two fields of their own, beside the main field. Geoff
Thompson, Chiang Mai-based cricket aficionado - especially for the
children’s participation, therein - requests assistance with the
“Sawasdee” junior competition, by asking incoming players to bring
with them “Kanga/Kwik” cricket balls which cannot be purchased in
Thailand. “As the programme has now expanded to some 22 schools, with
more than 2,000 children playing, there is an acute shortage of balls,
particularly the larger ones,” Geoff reports.
Running in tandem with the main event, on an adjacent
field, will be the Third Sixes Junior Cup. This competition for local
school teams is part of a successful on-going programme started two years
ago and funded entirely by donations from Chiang Mai Sixes’
participants, to introduce a junior form of cricket into Thai schools.
The focus, outside of the record 30-plus teams coming
to Chiang Mai, will be on the development of junior cricket which, since
the founding of the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance (CSMA) over a year
ago, with just four teams, has now expanded to 20 schools enthusiastically
embracing local cricket competitions. The only obstacle to more rapid
progress, according to Geoff Thompson, one of the leading supporters of
the CSMA, is the necessary funding for trainers and coaches for the
juniors, a prerequisite also recognized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)
and the Thailand Cricket League (TCL).
 Tournament
Director Maurice Bromley poses with UNICEF Youth Envoy Kathaleeya McIntosh
- and the Winners’ Cup
Maurice Bromley feels that “junior cricket is at a
very tricky stage”. As chairman of the Organizing Committee for the
Sixes for more than a decade, Maurice has handed this over to another
well-known and respected member of the community, Bryan J. Baldwin OBE
whose high standing in the community will be most helpful. Maurice, who
remains as the tournament director, told the Pattaya Mail recently
that, “the Chiang Mai juniors are going well and constitute an excellent
pilot example, but emphasis must be placed on developing the Bangkok
scene, to attract the attention and support of the ACC.”
Further, the hard-driving director added, “We require
a well known and respected Thai national to be the figurehead. There is no
question in the minds of anyone associated with this program that Thais
could make excellent cricket players; far better, in fact, than soccer,
basketball or any of the other sports they play.” Sponsors are
desperately needed, Maurice concluded, “to move the programme
forward.”
Coaching and sponsorship:
the way forward
History has shown that cricket is a sport well suited
to hot climates, perhaps even more so than soccer. Former British colonies
such as India, Pakistan, Australia and the West Indies have excelled at
cricket and, generally, failed dismally at soccer! In Chiang Mai there is
demand, and the talent for cricket is there in Thai schools. The CMSCA has
proved in a small way that a viable programme to introduce and foster
cricket at a junior level in Thai schools is not difficult or particularly
expensive to achieve.
Given active commercial sponsorship and a qualified
coach to lead the process, it is estimated that over a million Thai
children could be enjoying the game of junior cricket within a year.
Certainly, it seems likely that with a programme to introduce junior
cricket nation-wide, the Asian Cricket Council and cricket’s governing
body the ICC, could eventually be prevailed upon to look at Thailand as a
‘developing cricketing country’ - or, could that read a ‘country
developing cricket’? Perhaps, in a decade or so, given the right
sponsorship, Thailand could play internationally as a national team.
Panthers to host Rugby 10s in May
The Pattaya Panthers Rugby Club are once again hosting
the forthcoming Pattaya 10s Tournament 2002, this year on the weekend of 4 th
and 5th May. This will be the
third tournament to be organized by the Panthers; the previous tournaments
have been extremely well run and very successful.
This tournament is growing in stature and Jim Howard,
chairman of the Pattaya Panthers RFC said, “We are confident that it
will become one of the most prestigious competitions in the region.”
This year there will be a Cup and a Plate competition
and it is anticipated that there will also be a Ladies Touch Rugby
Tournament. All of the teams that participated last year have already
confirmed their places in this year’s tournament and there has been a
huge growth in international teams from last year.
Jim Howard went on to say, “The Pattaya 10’s is a
‘club’ tournament and the objective is a standard commensurate with
‘mature touring teams’. There will be heavy emphasis on off the field
activities and we aim to create a competitive spirit in a festive
atmosphere all in the camaraderie associated with the game of rugby.”
The tournament format will be round robin on the
Saturday with each team expected to have three games to determine the
seeding for the knock out stages to be played on Sunday. Each team will
have at least one game on the Sunday and the tournament will conclude with
the presentation of trophies and possibly the odd celebratory drink at a
huge party organised by Shenanigans, one of the club’s principal
sponsors and the home of rugby on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand.
This year’s major sponsor is Santa Fe. Other sponsors
are Foster Wheeler International, Maconnell Dowell, CR Industrial
services, Shenanigans-Pattaya, and the Dusit Resort Sports Club.
The entry fees will be US$300 for the Pattaya 10’s
Tournament 2002 and US$100 for the Ladies Touch Rugby Tournament. Teams
interested in participating in this year’s tournament please reply ASAP.
Additional information is available from the Panthers’ web site (www.pattaya-panthers.com).
Any queries can be directed to either David Garred, who is chairman of the
Pattaya 10’s organising committee (tel. 038 425611 ext Fitness Club,
email [email protected]) or Jim Howard (tel. 01 843 6907).
Teams participating are:
London Scottish - U.K.
Letchworth - U.K.
Manilla Nomads - Philippines
Bognor RFC - U.K.
ATR Pirbright Pirates-U.K.
5bn REME - U.K.
DEA Hong Kong - China
Flying Squad - U.K.
Tokyo Crusaders - Japan
Saigon RFC - Vietnam
British Club Bangkok - Thailand, Manila 10’s champions
Southerners - Thailand domestic champions
Bangkok Japanese - Thailand
Pattaya Panthers - Host, Thailand
Girl’s teams for touch football:
Red Lion - Singapore
DEA Hong Kong
Saigon - Vietnam
Southern Soul Sisters - Thailand
Corsettes - Thailand
Vientianne Buffalettes - Laos
Pattaya Panties - Thailand domestic champions & host
Chiang Mai Sixes: cricket, anyone?
Story and photos by Peter Cummins
With just a few days to go it is, literally, ALL GO for the forthcoming
Fifteenth Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes, to be held at the
century-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club Cricket Ground, from 31 March until
Saturday, the sixth of April. “It will be,” according to Aussie
Michael (“Cat”) Maher, world co-ordinator, Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes
Tournament, “the greatest Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes
Tournament ever: 30 teams, two women’s teams, two star teams and a full
programme for the budding junior programmes, the Sawasdee. What a festival
of cricket it will be!”
Chiang Mai Sixes always attracts guest stars who play
with the club teams and enliven the already active social scene. One such
stalwart, who expects to return again this year, is former England and
Middlesex captain, Mike Gatting. In spite of being “clean-bowled” by a
‘youngster’ during one innings last year - and then spending a night
or two in hospital suffering from some heat exhaustion and dehydration -
Gatting loved it! “This tournament is about making friends, and I’ve
enjoyed myself immensely!” he said after it was all over last year -
heat prostration or not!
 “Bowling
is fun - especially when there is a nice coach to help me.”
Thus, there will be a big line-up of stars coming again
this year, with Tom Hogan joining Gatting, back for a follow-up on last
year’s Stars Forum. Kenny Jackson will be at his wild best again with
fellow South Africans Meyrick Pringle, Dave Callaghan and Richard Snell
all returning. Zimbabwe Test and World Cup player Neil Johnson will be in
Chiang Mai (hopefully without Robert Mugabe).
Sri Lankan Airlines is sending a team led by
experienced former test players Roshan Mahanama and Malinda Warnapura.
Long time supporters Amal, Lanthra and Hemal will all be here again. To
complete the line-up, Ruchira Palliyaguru and Saman Jayantha, hard-hitting
batsmen and all-rounders who recently played in the Hong Kong Sixes, and
K.T. Francis international test match umpire, will be high profile at
Chiang Mai. These stars will compete against the “rest of the world”
in the Challenge Trophy as well as playing individually for the amateur
teams.
Aussies Trevor Chappell and Tom Hogan and Kiwis Scott
Styris and Peter Evans will form the backbone of the Antipodean challenge.
The women’s teams will be as formidable as ever. Out
to de-throne the perennial champions, the “Chiang Mai Chassies”, are
the World Women’s “Dixie Belles”.
 A
“Chiang Mai Chassies” batsman (lady?) lashes out - a trifle late!
Among the 30 teams at Chiang Mai will be newcomers, the
Shanghai Cavaliars (China), Ashwell Crusaders (England), CMW Warriors
(Thailand), Manila Nomads (The Philippines), Wocca’s Seagulls
(Australia), Kiteboys (England) and Dunnie’s (John Dunn’s team from
England).
“We are still hoping that a proposed team from
Afghanistan will join,” said tournament director Maurice Bromley, this
week. “We have learned,” he continued, “that his week the Afghan
Cricket Association played a match against a team from the International
Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, as a ‘warm-up’
(appropriate terminology, one could say), for Chiang Mai. We had hoped to
welcome the very first team from Afghanistan, which was eager to come.”
But, alas, up ‘til now, there is no sponsorship for
the Afghanistan-Thailand fare. The Sixes organizers are ready to take up
the team’s expenses ex-Bangkok. “We have been looking forward to
having them in our midst and it would be a great fillip to all the efforts
of the international community to assist the war-ravaged country and to
the cricket community to welcome them to the Chiang Mai Sixes,” Maurice
added.
 Commentator
supremo Rick Davis also tries his hand: not just a pretty face.
Many other teams just cannot stay away from the action,
competition and fun of the Sixes: the Gloucester Gipsies (England),
Kelawar CC (Malaysia) and a contingent of hard-hitting (drinking?) Aussies
- the Wombats and Darjeeling - who have been coming to Chiang Mai ever
since it all started. Silver State, Los Malakas and the Drifters are also
‘recidivists’, as are the long-term Australian teams, the Darwin
Dilettantes, the Warathai’s, the Perth Postels & the Lords Taverners.
A contingent of local teams will again take on the visitors: the Gymkana
Cavaliars, Irish Pub, the Southerners and Pattaya’s Pectels 69 are all
out for “foreign blood”.
Almar CC (South Africa), the Warbler Bunny Club
(Bahrain), the Bangkok Postels (Australia/Thailand/England), British
Airways Dragons (Wales), Kirkby Vampires (England) and Jack Frost
(England) many under new names but same bodies - especially the Vampires -
are all anxious to take up where they left off last year.
Alma-Marist (South Africa), the Awali Taverners
(Bahrain), the Bangkok Postels (Australia/Thailand/England), British
Airways Dragons (Wales), Kirby-Malzeard (England) and Jack Frost (England)
are all anxious to take up where they left off last year.
It is all these participants also who, coming from many
points of the globe with the inevitable expenses their travel entails,
contribute so generously to the success of the Sixes and to the
development of Thai junior cricket.
 Former
England and Middlesex captain, Mike Gatting belts a four at Chiang Mai.
The usually-great social side will be even better this
year, with a broad range of parties, ranging from east-meet-west themes,
the traditional “pig-out”, cultural exchanges, and, even - courtesy of
the “Cricket Queen of Chiang Mai”, Renita Bromley who will arrange it
- a Thai cooking class!
The programme will consist of welcome cocktails, Sunday
31st March, stars forum, Tuesday 2nd
April, pig picking - fancy dress, Wednesday 3rd,
quiz night, Thursday 4th and
the awards night & final dinner on Saturday 6th
April, to feature the “Grand National” live telecast!
Games will be played every day from around 8.30 a.m.
until 6.00 p.m. and, unusually, there will be six games played on the
afternoon of Sunday 31 st
March. “With a record 30 teams this year,” said tournament director
Bromley, “by starting on Sunday, we are ensuring that there will be
sufficient time to complete the matches.”
For further information, on the Chiang Mai Sixes,
please contact: Michael P Maher, World Coordinator, Chiang Mai
International Cricket Sixes Tournament, tel. (Australia) (8) 9328 4892,
fax: (Australia) (8) 9443 6255, mobile: (Australia) 40 738 5481, e-mail.
mmaher. [email protected]
Or Geoff Thompson, Chiang Mai Sixes Organizing
Committee, 244 Chiang Mai-Praw Road, Ampur Sansai, Chiang Mai 50210,
Thailand, email : [email protected]
Sponsorship enquiries can also be directed to Maurice
Bromley, tel. (66 2) 229-4747-8; fax (66 2) 229-4749; e-mail [email protected]
Web site: www.chiangmai cricket.net and www.chiang
maicricket.com
If you have any photos, stories or about anything you
would like on your team or about the tournament, please forward to Khun
Pim, e-mail: [email protected]
Please see related story on page 44.
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