The Medds, Gary Baguley take the nacra titles
By Peter Cummins
Claire and Simon Medd just edged out Antony Chapman/Jouke
Postma, to win the two-person Nacra National Championship of Thailand while
Gary Baguley, with a telling win in the long-distance race, constituting the
fourth of the four-race series, fought off Les Nyerges, to take out the
single-handed division title.
Peter
Ole Herning comes ashore: next stop - Spain. “OLE”
Actually, in the double-handed division, the Medds and
Chapman/Postma finished equal on eight points but the former took the
honours on a count-back, with more first placings.
The championship was sailed off the Royal Varuna Yacht
Club last weekend, with quite unusual conditions for this time of the year,
with some rain squalls, interspersed by flat sea and long windless periods,
followed by enormous shifts, as Principal Race Officer Dick van den Heuvel
struggled to set challenging courses for the fleets.
At the end, it was difficult to see who was more tired:
the sailors out there looking for wind or Dick keeping his lonely vigil for
long hours at the race center.
Nacras
jump off the start line
The Bluewave Water Sports Company and the Varuna/Ocean
Marina Chandleries were joined by the Aussie Nacra connection, Rosco and
Warren Guinea in Queensland, to provide some sponsorship for the event.
Meantime, a fleet of Lasers competed close-in to the
shore, with Philippe Narbonne winning both races - albeit by only about half
a minute on each occasion - in very close finishes between Philippe, Nick,
Chris Menke, Malcolm Thomas and Ota-san.
Nacra, Full results, 2005
National
Championships.
Double-Handers:
1. Claire/Simon Medd (N 5.8 spin, 8.0); 2. Antony
Chapman/Jouke Postma (N. 17 spin 8.0); 3. Stefaan/Matheo de Voss (N 5.5
spin, 14); 4. Patrice Lesage/Benoit (N 5.8 spin, 15); 5. Andrew/William
Connelly (N 5.8 spin, 15); 6. Alex Warboe/Maxi (N 5, 26).
Single-Handers (all racing Nacra 16 Sq., spin, except
Jan Holdorff and Adrian Baguley who sailed Nacra 14 Sq, spin).
1. Gary Baguley (6); 2. Les Nyerges (13); 3. Frank Teeuwen (16); 4. Alex
Skaria (17); 5. Alberto Cassio (18); 6. Jan Holdorff (23); 7. Olaf Reese
(31); 8. Peter Ole Herning (34); 9. Christoph Hoppen (34); 10. Adrian
Baguley (35).
Itthipol Khunplome elected president of Thai Windsurfing Association
First order of business: select athletes for international events
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Thai Windsurfing Association committee and
association members unanimously voted Itthipol Khunplome president for the
next two years. Voting took place last Friday afternoon at Pattaya City
Hall.
Itthipol
Khunplome was unanimously voted president of the Thai Windsurfing
Association, a position he will hold for at least the next two years.
Itthipol began by stating that his first order of
business will be to send Thai athletes to compete in the 2005 Mistral
Class & Formula Windsurfing Class Asian Championships, due to be held
in Japan this April, and the 2005 World Mistral Championships in Italy
this coming May. He also plans to send athletes to the 23rd SEA Games in
the Philippines towards the end of this year.
Itthipol said that for the first major event, the
association will send 2 classes of athletes, 2 in the Youth category and 3
in the Open category, with the main goal of sending athletes to Italy for
the world championships. He said the association would use the same system
as if selecting for the Olympics and that a budget to help athletes would
be requested from the Athlete Development Project and Pattaya City. The
issue of the 2008 Olympics in China was also raised.
As for furthering the association’s development, the new president
plans further training of athletes and marshals. The marshal training
would fall into line with world standards, with a maximum of 20
participants. Registration for the 5-day course is due to open this month,
with the course being run towards the end of April.
King of cobias caught
Captain
Mut with his prize catch, “king of cobias”.
As reported to me by Frank Collins of
Fish and Trips, one of his Captains - Captain Mut - caught a little fish
the other day off Koh Kram, out from Bangsaray. I do not normally report
on single little fish but Frank assured me this one took between 4 and 5
hours to land after a great fight, and was the size of a small whale.
As whales and giant sea monsters go this was maybe
small, but as cobias go this was one monster of a fish.
If it is not in your dreams to catch such a fish, do
not set your feet on another boat, but if like me you set off every trip
with the dream of a fish such as this, fish on.
Incidentally, no one can remember a cobia of this size
landed here in the recent past, so they are still out there. T.T.F.N.
The Beautiful Gamme?: Keegan :
Football’s Loss
Riz Taylor
Kevin Keegan’s recent exit through the Premiership’s
revolving managerial door might see him walk away from the game for good, by
all accounts. It seems the lovable KK has had his fill of management and
everything that comes with it, and that is disappointing news for football.
Kevin
Keegan
After announcing his intention to walk away from
Manchester City at the end of his contract (in the summer of 2006) rumours
leaked that the club might replace him a year early. Keegan seems to have
jumped before being pushed.
Forgetting his tendency to quit when the going got
difficult, his supposed “tactical naivet?”, his tantrums when his
club’s money ran out and finally that irritating tendency to wear his
tracksuit top around his mouth, I’ll miss Kevin Keegan and I don’t think
I’ll be alone with that opinion.
The story of his playing days is barely believable.
Starting out as an apprentice at Scunthorpe he was signed by Liverpool for a
ฃ35,000 fee that Bill Shankly would later describe as “robbery
without violence”. A sackful of medals followed, and his partnership with
John Toshack is still talked about by misty-eyed Liverpool fans even today.
After European Cup success in 1977 ‘Special K’ moved to SV Hamburg in
Germany, collecting the ‘European Footballer of the Year’ award not once
but twice. After a surprise spell at Southampton Keegan finished his career
at Newcastle United, attaining a kind of God-like status with the Geordie
fans. And then he left in a helicopter.
It sounds like a script from a movie, and a very dodgy
one at that. Put me in a cinema watching this tale and I’d choke on my
popcorn laughing at how unbelievable it all was. If he hadn’t had the
misfortune to be part of a forgettable era for his country the story might
be even more sensational.
As a manager it would always be near impossible to reach
the same heights, and indeed Keegan didn’t really come close, but he will
best be remembered for that roller coaster spell with Newcastle United. He
brought good times back to St. James’ Park as he took the club from
obscurity back into the Premiership, and won the club many new fans in the
process thanks to their brand of attacking football. His ever-growing list
of successors, however talented, cannot seem to recreate the buzz of the
Keegan-era.
His departure means one less character in football. Who
can forget THAT outburst on live television a few years ago, for example?
Fantastic viewing. His unfailing honesty, love of entertaining football and
his tendency to pour out whatever was on his mind are just three things
we’ve taken for granted, but Keegan’s departure will be football’s
loss. Sven Goran Eriksson may be more successful with England but his boring
interviews have me reaching for the Prozac.
This isn’t an obituary though, and with any luck Keegan
will stay involved in some fashion, hopefully back as a commentator. With
that in mind here’s a handful of his greatest ever quotes. Hopefully there
are plenty more where these came from: “There’s a slight doubt about
only one player, and that’s Tony Adams, who definitely won’t be playing
tomorrow.”
“England have the best fans in the world and
Scotland’s fans are second to none”
“People will say that was typical City, which really
annoys me. But that’s typical City, I suppose...”
And finally: “You can’t do better than go away from
home and get a draw.”
The Colonel is awarded the medal
IPGC golf from Lewiinski’s
Sunday March 13
Eastern Star, Monthly Medal
1st A Flight: John Emmerson, net 68 - Monthly Medal Winner
2nd A Flight: Adi Mayer, net 71
3rd A Flight: Rick Sharp, net 73
1st B Flight: Sean Murphy, net 72
2nd B Flight: Colin Davis, net 72
3rd B Flight: John Allen, net 73
1st C Flight: Toy Theobald, net 74
2nd C Flight: Jim Bell, net 78
3rd C Flight: Peter “Lumpy” Lee, net 78
Near Pins: #3 Steak - Alec Hoare; #6 Jez Lees; #13 Steak - Paul Walia; #17
Jim Wickstrom
For the first time since November 2001, the Lewiinski’s
Golf Society played its Monthly Medal at a venue other than Green Valley.
Eastern Star Resort was kind enough to accommodate the big field on
relatively short notice. The change apparently set well with the Golf
Manager as he won his first outright Monthly Medal with a creditable net 68
off his 10 handicap. That left second place in A Flight to Adi Mayer’s low
gross on the day 75, net. The ol’ Hermit rounded out the top Flight.
The Wee One, Sean Murphy, edged The Donkey on count back,
no easy task as the readers of this column know, for the top rung in the
penultimate flight. John Allen, the brother of the Ethereal One of the
family, Bob Allen, the latter on old friend and consistent Pattaya visitor,
made the best of his short stay with a third place net 73.
Auntie Toy, the better half of Uncle Fred, continued her
current fine play that has seen a precipitous drop in her handicap to 29 and
won C Flight with a net 74. Jim Bell who has enjoyed success himself, and
has seen a equally dramatic drop in handicap, showed he could keep his head
about even when the game wasn’t at its best, hung in there for a count
back win over fellow Aussie Lumpy Lee to round out the junior circuit.
Monday March 14
Burapha, A & B - Blue or White Tees
Stroke/Medal
1st Blue Flight: Rick Sharp, net 66
2nd Blue Flight: Richard Wardell, net 67
3rd Blue Flight: Jim Brackett, net 70
1st White A Flight: Paul Coutoumas, net 68
2nd White A Flight: Derek Reading, net 69
3rd White A Flight: Kevin Dunne, net 70
1st White B Flight: David Earthrowl, net 68
2nd White B Flight: Ken Kutzing, net 69
3rd White B Flight: Jim Bell, net 71
With a big field of bombers away for the balance of the
week on a Match Play Road Trip, the remaining good sized group was split
into three Flights, one Blue and two White. Once again, the Ol’ Hermit
crawled out of his hovel (actually it is nicer than that) and staggered back
to the Blue Tees and hit away with a consistency that has bore out over more
than a decade in Pattaya. As has happened too many times to count, he gave
the majority of the field a schooling on how the games is played. His gross
76, net 66 was the low net round of the day, including the two flights of
White tees! Richard Wardell hung with him stroke for stroke, save one, to
hold down the second slot in the Blue Flight and the second best overall net
round on the day, net 67. Jim Brackett took third with a not-to-be-slighted
gross 79, net 70. Mark Haffenden, virtually unaided by his miserly 1
handicap, was low gross on the day with 73.
While this scribe is unburdened by specific information,
sometimes low handicappers play the shorter tees to accommodate the balance
of their fourball and such may well have been the case for Paul Coutoumas
who shot gross 74, net 68 to take the A Flight of the shorter configured
White Tees. Derek Reading and Kevin Dunn followed Paul across the finish
line with net 69 and 70, respectively.
Dave Earthrowl, who all are happy to see joining the play
of the Society, led the B Group of the White Division with a very creditable
net 68, with K4 just a shot back at net 69. Jim Bell, yep the same guy
again, snuck onto the podium with the highest winning score of the day, a
still very good sub-handicap 71.
Wednesday March 16
Khao Kheow, B & C - Yellow or White Tees
Stableford
1st Yellow Flight: Julian Summers, 40 pts
2nd Yellow Flight: Serge Straeten, 37 pts
3rd Yellow Flight: Charlie Li, 36 pts
4th Yellow Flight: Steve Mascari, 35 pts
1st White Flight: Ralf Heitmann, 48 pts
2nd White Flight: Tik Mayer, 45 pts
3rd White Flight: Klaus Schackt, 37 pts
4th White Flight: Lyn Foote, 35 pts
Near Pins: #B8 Julian Summers; #C8 Harvey Samuel
Poor Ralf, who along with his wife Natsuda, form one of
our favorite golfing couples, was advised that he could not play off his
well-seasoned 31 handicap but rather the Society maximum of 28. With that
burden strapped to his back, Ralf set out on the barely friendly, albeit
shorter, White teed B Course. By the time he walked of the C Course he had
gorged himself on 48 points! Hats off to the round of his life! Frankly, he
needed nearly every point to edge Tik Mayer who started this visit hot,
cooled off, but finished in a flame with 45 points. The Volkscomputer,
relying on statistical information suggesting he was better suited to the
short configuration, stepped forward to the whites and bettered his
handicap. Lyn Foote, a part of another favorite Society couple, tasted her
first loot with fourth place, having just returned from a hiatus to Oz.
Newcomer Julian Summers showed he was up to the
competition as he amassed 40 points off the testing Yellow tees to top the
premier Flight. That score was three clear of Monsieur Serge Straeten and
four beyond Charlie Li. Fourth place was counted about by three Founder
Members, as the Pres. edged the Sen. (from the fine State of Wisconsin) and
the Ol’ H.
Friday March 18
Siam C.C. , White Tees
Stableford
1st A Flight: Jim Brackett, 41 pts
2nd A Flight: Colin Davis, 37 pts
3rd A Flight: Bob Philp, 35 pts
1st B Flight: Jan Eriksen, 39 pts
2nd B Flight: Keith Johnson, 34 pts
3rd B Flight: Roger Koehler, 33 pts
We don’t have a chance to go to venerable Siam C.C.
often, but the proximity is a hit with all especially those who are planning
a big Friday evening. Jim Brackett, who would be the first to acknowledge
that his game has been in a slump, showed that his lessons with Richard
Livingston were paying dividends as he continued an improving week with 41
points off his 9. That’s a gross 76 folks! The Donkey led Bob Philp and
Mike Allidi across in the A Flight. Bob then relegated the 2-handicapper to
the welfare lines with a count back victory.
The Quiet One, Jan Eriksen, whose play had been minimized
during his recent house acquisition, put a five point licking on the B
Flight as his 39 points were well ahead of Keith Johnson. Roger Koehler
swept up the last remaining loot left with his modest 33 points.
A special thanks to Bob Patterson and Colin Davis who
undertook to manage the daily tournaments, to the satisfaction of many
during Road Trip John Emmerson’s absence.
Road Trip - March 20-25
Nichigo Resort & C.C.
32 Person, 9 hole, Double Elimination,
Match Play Tournament
On Monday, March 20, 37 intrepid soles traveled to The
Kanchanaburi/River Kwai area. The occasion was a double elimination match
play tournament. Each match was a nine-hole test over one of Nichigo’s
three layouts, the Lake, the River and the Mountain. Once a player lost
twice he had the option of playing a shadow nine-hole tournament up to three
times a day. Thirty-two of the field were in the Match Play and the other
five came along for the vacation and to play in the daily “loser”
matches. The formats for those “loser” tournaments varied from Bogie,
Two-person Scramble, Two-person Better Ball with Skins, Stroke/Medal and
Stableford with Near Pins. Needless to say, everyone had their fill of golf
and their fill of food as they returned to Lewiinski’s for an awards
banquet buffet on Saturday evening.
Although stories and drama abounded, this scribe regrets
that space restraints disallow a detailed description. The highlights of the
big show found Eddie “Beau Brummel” Blackwell going straight through the
Winner’s Bracket with nary a loss. The Golf Manager dropped into the
Loser’s Brackett on the third nine of the Day Two and had to beat Ray
Dell, J.J. Wright, Perry McNeely and eventual third place winner John McHugh
to set up a showdown with Eddie. John Emmerson had to win two straight
matches from the undefeated Winner’s Bracket entrant to claim the crown.
Perhaps it was the weight of administrative duties, perhaps it was the
inspired play that Eddie had shown all week, but the result was a new 2005
Match Play Champion, Eddie Blackwell. Congratulations Eddie and thanks to
all that attended and to John Emmerson for his fine work!
Sunday Quiz League
Wednesday Quiz League
PSC golf with The Bunker
Royal Lakeside Golf
Club
What a wonderful way to begin a new week. On March 14,
the journey began earlier than usual because the Boys from the Bunker where
off to the Royal Lakeside Golf Club which lies on the banks of the
Bangpakong River. The course was in excellent condition with no shortage of
water. The competition was medal play with Bill Hewitt winning Division
“A” returned a net 67. Joint runner-ups were John King and John Hughes
with 71 scored. Jan Von Spellen won “B” division with a net 66. Runners
up were Mick Ramshaw and Glen Reaume with 67. Near pins went to John King,
Neil Griffin, Jan Von Spellen and Don Francis.
Frank
Baker (left) and Jim Payne (right) discussing their strategy before taking to
the course.
Khao Kheow Country Club
“Great day, bad scores” is the usual occurrence
when playing Khao Kheow Country Club and Wednesday was no different.
Richard Waddell won division “A” with 35 stableford points; in
Joint second with 33 points were Geoff Parker and John Hughes.
Division “B” was won by Glen Reaume with 37 points. Second came
Thea Von Spellen with 34 and third was George Redgewell with 32
points. Near the pins were won by Mick Ramshaw, Unal and John Hughes.
There was a special presentation given to John Preddy from the players
from the Bunker. John Preddy expresses his thanks to everyone.
Eastern Star
The week ended with a medal competition at Easter
Star. The course was in good condition and the scores were low. In
division “A” a fine round 67 net by Granville Swanton took first
prize. Two shots behind with 69 net came Brian Bellis and third went
to Alan Sullivan with 71. Division “B” saw Glen Reaume again top
of the leader board with a net 67. Second was Mick Ramshaw with 69 and
third was John Gibson with 76 net. Near the pins were won by Jan Von
Spellen, Thea Von Spellen, Brian Bellis and Glen Reaume.
The Bunker Boys are playing three times a week during the high
season, (Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s) so if you would
like a round of golf, call into the Bunker Bar on Soi Chaiyapoon (near
X-zyte disco and across the street from Tony’s Disco II) to pick up
a golf schedule or consult the Pattaya Mail every week.
Fantastic ‘four-under’ Fabian
Mike
Franklin
Four-under in itself does not sound all that fantastic but,
when you consider it was on just two holes, a par 5 and a par 3 with an eagle
and an ace, that is some going.
Fabian’s previous eagle of note, (and probably his only
one), was on the East # 9 par 5 at Plutaluang, when we played together in the
2002 Funhill Cup. It was the last hole of the round and he drove 310 yards over
the trees and hit a 3-wood 215 yards to 9 feet below the pin. I just watched,
and insisted he take the putt that he then calmly rolled into the hole.
Fabian
with caddy at Plutaluang.
Fabian’s latest achievement was at Laem Chabang
on Friday March 11, playing off the white tees. The eagle was on the
par five B #9. That is the par 5 going up towards the Clubhouse, with
the hill and tree on top right that obscures the green unless you are
well left in the fairway. Fabian played driver, and 3-wood left of the
hill, had a bounce off a rock to 12 feet and sank the eagle putt.
Later in the day on C# 8, a 146 yard par 3, Fabian
hit a 9 iron to a yard from the pin and the ball, a Titleist ProV1,
disappeared. A search in the bushes failed as the ball had dropped in
the hole for an ace. Obviously a favorite hole for Fabian as he has it
painted on the wall of his Thai-Ger Line shop in Soi Chaiyapoon.
Memorable moments on a memorable day, with just two
questions remaining.
His final score for the round? Just a tad over 80.
Fabian’s make of clubs? Thai-Ger Line of course, modeled on a
well known ‘Tiger’ brand.
Eventful week for Don Scott
IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday March 14
Treasure Hills
Stableford
1st Don Scott, 42 pts
2nd Micky Moore, 35 pts - c/b 22
3rd Takeshi Hakozaki, 35 pts - c/b 19
4th Claus Nielson, 34 pts
A smaller than usual group for the drive up the 331, but
probably not very surprising as the course is less popular than others.
Conditions were good though fairways dry and parched, as is the norm at the
lower end of the market. All failed to play to their handicaps off the
yellow tees except for Don and he destroyed the course with a magnificent 76
gross off his 10 handicap. A big feature of his round was his excellent
putting, just 27 in the round!
Other sharpshooters with “hot” putters in the 2s
competition were Barry Chadbourn who scooped the rollover in division 2 and
Trevor Schirmer and Norman Isherwood who shared the division 1 pool with Don
Scott.
Prior to the presentation, Richard Livingston, the
resident PGA professional, welcomed back Yasuo Suzuki and Klaus Lukarsch
before bidding a sad farewell to “Captain” Bob Heath, Bruce Horne and
Alan Bennett to the freezing depths of East Herts Golf Club.
Wednesday March 16
Phoenix - Lakes/Ocean
Medal
Division 1
1st Yasuo Suzuki, net 70 - c/b 32
2nd Brian Wilkinson, net 70 - c/b 33
3rd Doug Campbell, net 70 - c/b 38
Division 2
1st Peter Johansson, net 70 - c/b 34
2nd Glyn Nicholas, net 70 - c/b 37
3rd Graham Hiskett, net 71
As usual a large turnout for the ever popular Phoenix
layout and though very wet from heavy rain the day before, the course
didn’t disappoint and scores were generally good though not spectacular. A
whole lot of countbacks gave Roy and Richard a headache but at the end of
the day Yasuo and Peter came out on top of their respective divisions.
Unluckiest player on the day was Monday’s winner Don Scott, who threatened
another fine win until disaster hit him on the 18th (Ocean 9) where two
OB’s and a lost ball cost him a 12 when he was one under gross on the
back. The two winners really did enjoy a fine day as they were the only
players to record a 2, Yasuo scooping the pool in division 1 and Peter in
division 2. A happy Suzuki San was last seen wobbling home on his fold-up
bicycle brought over from Japan in order to save those 5 baht taxi rides
around Pattaya! Prior to the presentation, Richard Livingston welcomed Kuni
Wakabayashi from Japan and both welcomed back and bid farewell to Trevor
Edge on his brief visit from the outback, but the ATM was briefly open for
at least a few baht and a beer!
Friday March 18
Century Ban Chang
Stableford
1st Barry Chadbourn, 40 pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer, 35 pts - c/b 21
3rd Roar Berger, 35 pts - c/b 16
4th Claus Nielson, 34 pts
Not quite the usual large turnout, some regulars opting
to join McAllisters competition, teeing off earlier, no doubt encouraged by
the free buffet, whilst a few others chose to give Century a miss after a
few too many recent visits. However the intrepid bar-hoppers were all
present and were well and truly beaten by Barry Chadbourn who shot an
outstanding 40 points, which will undoubtedly see him with yet another
handicap reduction! Solid scores by Trevor, Roar and Claus saw them complete
the podium positions whilst poor Don Scott just missed out on countback. In
the 2s competition, Claus Nielson, Trevor Schirmer and Kuni Wakabayashi
shared the division 1 pool whilst Trudie Chadbourn made it a real family day
by scooping the division 2 pool. Prior to the prize giving, Richard
Livingston, welcomed David Kim and welcomed back Unto Kilvonen.
PSC golf from the Cafe Kronborg
Monday March 14 Burapha East Course
Stableford
The Burapha East Course was Host to a Stableford
Competition in two Flights, A Flight 0 to 19, and B Flight 20 and up.
Ted
Morris
There was a surprise in the A Flight when Big
Aussie, Jeff Wylie, won. The surprise was not that he won, that has
become a regular occurrence in the past few weeks, but that off his
new handicap he managed to score 44 points and shoot a gross 73. This
is really great golf. In second place on countback with 39 points was
Cyril Wallwock and Rick Evans in third. In fourth we had another
countback on 38 points, won by Rob Brown with Ebrahim just missing
out.
In the B Flight we had a countback for First place,
on 40 points, won by Bob Rasmussen with Cilia Bosman in second. Leif
Kirkegaarde was in third with 39 points and Campbell Johnson in fourth
with 38 points.
Richard
Kubicki
Near Pins: A3 Laurinne Brinn; A6 Clive Robinson; B3
Ulf Larrson and B8 Ebrahim.
Long Putts: A9 Walter Kiemble; B9 Thomas Semadeni
Wednesday March 16:
Crystal Bay Stableford
I always liked this course, even before it was called
Natural Park Resort; I also disliked the drive there for about the same
length of time. Maybe a change of day to Wednesday, to help those playing
the competitions the next day, slightly restricted the numbers, but not by
much.
Kris
Helgasson
So it was that a pretty full crew teed off at
Crystal Bay, and a little apprehensively at that, due to the
competitions rained off the previous day, and a slightly forbidding
sky. Would it or would it not?
Well it did, but fortunately not too bad, and only
in two major downpours. This only served to freshen the air and make
for a fine day out on this super course.
In the A Flight, Ted Morris took advantage of some
fine play to score 42 points. Kris Helgasson was second with 39 points
and in third place was Rob Brown with 38 points.
Jim
Lucente
In the B Flight we saw what the spirit of the game
is all about. The winner with a fine 45 points was Richard Kubicki, in
second was Jim Lucente with 41 points, but in third was T.J.
Stockinger with 38 points. T.J. as we call him, had a serious illness
a few years ago that left him a fair bit weaker. T.J. still goes out
with us and plays, does not hold anyone up, and enjoys his golf. This
was nice to see. T.T.F.N.
Near Pins: A5 Derek Brook; A8 Ted Morris; B4 Ted
Morris; B6 Peter O’Donnell.
Long Putts: A9 Rob Brown; B9 Richard Kubicki.
PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s Beach Bar
Tuesday March 15
Plutaluang Stableford
Drying
out at Bert’s!
This was to be a story set amongst the heroic men
of the Tropical Bert’s Golf Set, who after a hearty breakfast, set
out to venture into the wilds of Thailand, and prove themselves on the
obstacle course there at The Royal Thai Navy Course.
This course is variously known as a golf course, or
a walk spoilt. In this case our intrepid explorers ventured out to
this test, and it rained. Being the hardy souls they are, they packed
in, and continued their sports day at Tropical Bert’s. Here they
were comforted by hot soup and cold beer by Bert, as they told
harrowing tales of their day out.
Our hearts go out to these brave men, and we hope to hear more
tales of their bravery in tales to come, we may even ask them to buy
an umbrella. T.T.F.N.
Dixon’s Electric at Eastern Star
IPGC Bunker Boys from the OK Corral
On Tuesday, March 15, the Bunker Boys left the OK Corral
amidst a very heavy unseasonable storm, to travel to Eastern Star for their
weekly medal event. The heavy rain held up the start for an hour and a half
and left sodden fairways and greens to add to the golfers’ worries. The
field of thirty-three was cut at eighteen and under and, with three
exceptions, scores were destined to be higher than normal, the field
averaging net eighty.
In division two a word of praise must go to the
diminutive Scotsman Angus MacFarlane who fired the best round of his life to
finish on net 80 and drew the day’s loudest applause back at the OK later.
In third place came Ben Findon with net 77, two behind Roy Mitchell who took
second with net 75.
The divisional winner was Les Hall and his net 71 was a
good score in the difficult conditions. As usual division one saw better
efforts generally with Robert Deane getting on the leader board with net 73,
three behind Brian Wilkinson’s steady sub-par net 70. The star performer
on the day was Denis Dixon whose net 69 contained twelve pars and a back
nine of just 37. Denis’ best gross of 80 was matched by Stefan Andersson
who also took a share of the Super Sawng award, with Nile Sheehan. Roy Mann
had arrived the day before for his annual two weeks of golfing mayhem and
was duly awarded with the Banana Booby for his shabby worst gross figure,
but he was destined to receive it anyway, being Mr. Loy’s annual
“beer-a-round” protagonist. The rain had failed to detract from a fine
competition. Golfers are reminded that presentations at the OK Corral are
scheduled for 6:30 p.m., traffic conditions permitting.
Don Does It Again
The Bunker Boys from the OK Corral travelled to Bangpra
on Thursday, March 17 for their weekly stableford competition and found the
course in reasonably good condition, considering the current drought, and
the day was set fair for a tight tournament.
The two flights were divided at eighteen and under and
inevitably, on a tough course, division two scores were inferior to those of
the “big boys”, with the top seven scores for the day all coming from
the top flight. In division two, three shared the honours, namely Neil
Griffin, Peter Fitton and Les Hall, for whom it was his second consecutive
victory, this time scoring 32 points. In division one Brian Wilkinson and
Mike Allidi shared third place with 36 points, Mike shooting an admirable 74
for the days best gross round. In second place came the form man Wilf Latham
but even his 38 points was insignificant compared to that of the winner, Don
Frances, who repeated his big win of two weeks ago with an astounding 42
points off his fourteen handicap.
Difficult greens led to many putting errors and
unsurprisingly there were no birdie twos. Mr. Loy lost his way (he certainly
strayed!) on the return journey, thus delaying the presentation and for that
Mr. Denis awarded him the Banana Booby, thereby sparing the boss from the
embarrassment for his day’s lowest score. No such fears for Don Frances
however as his round was a round to savour.
Nigel fires up at Siam
PSC golf from the Three Sisters Bar
It was a nice day at Siam as the skies were overcast but
no rain for the day. John Sinclar who started early finished the day with a
great score of 41 points. His picture was taken with the bag holder for the
day as John was leaving early for places unknown. As it was, John got blown
away by a cannon to be knocked back to second place at the end of the day.
Winner
Nigel Cannon with the bag holder conspicuous by their absence!
The cannon that blew John away was none other than Nigel
Cannon who came in with 42 points. Nigel shot a great game and managed to
squeak by John Sinclar to take the top position for the day.
A new comer to the Monday golf session and winning the position of bag
holder was Mee Sinpru. I believe that Mee is just beginning to play golf at
this stage. If she is anything like the other Thai girls, it won’t be long
before she hits the top of the list. Paul Donahue was afraid that he would
again be in the cellar holding the bag but was relieved to find out that the
position had been taken. Paul is hoping that Marvin and Rollie will show up
so that he will have more competition for the cellar position. Come on guys;
give Paul a hand in carrying the bag for a week.
Standings remain unchanged as Brother D gains another point on the field
Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League
Brother D took all four points in their match for the
third week in a row to increase their first place lead by another point.
Their victim this time was Domicil. Second place team got great bowling from
their bowlers to grab three points from third place Cafe Kronborg.
200 bowlers
- (Front) Kran, Tue, Dang, Mio, Nual; (Back) Wade, Mai and Antero.
VFW Post 9876 took three points from Q Cars. Cafe Ole lost
three points to Mai’s Thai Restaurant and House of the Golden Coin beat
Friends three points to one. Jack & Tar and Shenanigans split their match at
two points each. The lanes at PS Bowl were in good condition for a change and as
a result some really good bowling scores were turned in on this bowling day.
Best bowlers of the day were:
Kran, Cafe Kronborg: games of 179, 245, 203 - 627 series
Mai, Jack & Tar: games of 192, 203, 187 - 582 series
La, Three Sisters: 238 game - 560 series
Morn, Three Sisters: games of 182, 189, 176 - 547 series
Tue, Shenanigans: 202 game - 545 series
Mio, House of the Golden Coin: 203 game - 537 series
Antero, VFW Post 9876: 213 game - 519 series
Christian, Spare Bowler: 203 game - 517 series
Nual, Cafe Ole; 200 game - 514 series
Leo, Brother D: 509 series
Dang, Cafe Kronborg: 202 game - 507 series
Aun, Three Sisters: 504 series
Peter, Domicil: 209 game
Wade, Mai’s Thai Restaurant: 201 game
PH3 - Run 1097
Always read the announcements when doing something at a
certain time. Just by a coincidence, I realised the bus leaves a half hour
earlier than my brain had noted. The running up Yamato had a highlight when
a guy screamed: Boat to island? Banana boat?
‘A’ site was a nice place with a decent view, which I
learned, that has been used heavily before. Since it comes with a concrete
wall, roof and all, it’s rainy season heaven. As Sir Airhead pointed out
later during the circle - it was what the hash needed a few years ago when
Mother Nature gave the Monday Hash a show in the form of a typhoon.
Pre-run circle called with the usual explaining from the
hares, and the new shoes dealt with. A more serious announcement from GM
Frog and the mismanagement followed. Will probably be explained with capital
letters somewhere here in the Trash but basically... The Happy Hour bars
started serving free food as a “thank you” years ago, around the time
when the Hash Happy Hour was more or less where we spent the rest of the
evening, drunks as we were those days (hmm, still are). Today it is a place
where most of us grab a beer and food and leave happy a bit later. So it
should be! Buy 1 beer or more if you’re eating! ‘Nuff said (stolen). And
the other announcement was about bringing the Hash Horrors into the Happy
hour go-go bars. This is a no-no, and in these Taksin days, it could not
only give the bar very bad press, it can mean at least 30 days closure and G
knows what.
Then after a last warning from the hares to King Yao Yao,
to be careful and not play with the barbwire out there, it was time for
another mystery tour in the land of smiles, in the city where men are men,
and cracks are cute.
I had a quick meeting with my favourite Kraut, The Stupid
C’one, and decided to rather watch the hares prepare all the Irish stuff
than running. So sorry for not filling in with which dog that was barking,
which barbwire the King missed, and if Sir Airhead actually caught up with
you after arriving 3.5 minutes late. Instead I will give you a behind a
scene look of all the work going on backstage by the hares while you are out
on the afternoon stroll. Stroll for most of you, a bit more serious running
for my fellow countrymen Karamba and Peler. Wonder if Karamba got a heart
problem coming up with that blood pressure measurer thing around his arm.
Hares got straight into action as soon as the pack turned around the first
tree. First they had a quick meeting deciding it was way too hot in the sun
for the pick-up truck, so they backed it 2- meters into the shade of the
wrecked building that surrounded us. Then it was table, gas, pan and oil
out, all organised by the cracks, while Seaman and Cl*t Face organised ice
cubes and got out a bottle of Jameson. After 15 minutes when the first bunch
of spring rolls still looked like a pale Norwegian night guard, supervision
from Cl*t Face was needed again. The gas can was changed faster than the ice
in a Jameson’s glass can give away a drop of water, and the oil was back
to boiling, the rolls started to get a tan, and the girls all smiled again.
The front runners arrived and we spent an hour in the sun
solving more problems like how they manage to remove the taste from airline
food, cinema hot dogs, etc, etc, and so on. Enough spring rolls to feed a
bunch of hungry drunks. Wonder how many of you who got a soar tongue today,
like me. And it is not from licking something you shouldn’t have licked,
but from almost eating the rolls straight from the oil. After fruit, rolls,
doing the only shopping (hash stuff) we males like (that is of course
‘cept for electronics we didn’t realized we needed until we saw it), it
was time to deal with the run and the last weeks events. Circle was called
and I suddenly realized I was scribe. Always loved you, Flying Frog, thank
you for asking. You saved my Tuesday morning. Would have been bored silly in
the rain, and I got the perfect excuse for an 11 a.m. G/T. Flying Frog
welcomed us to run number something, with hundred and something hare and
hounds, and he iced those guys who always use 3 minutes to end a
conversation after the circle is called. Among the housewive’s was Karamba
as usual. Will try to get most down here but since half what I wrote is just
as understandable to me as reading a hand, bare with me. Hares in, and we
all thought it was an OK run on a well used location. Karamba was iced for
having his fly open. Raffle followed and it lasted a bit long. Hashers have
a tendency to buy tickets but not check when they have to use the brain. Not
easy when you hear a number and at the same time compare it to what you look
at, at least for us men (hey, we are the ones who turn down the volume at
the stereo in the car while looking for house numbers). At the same time the
kids found out how much noise you can make when you have a combination of
concrete and small new lungs.
Religion followed and Sir Airhead honoured Rottweiler,
Ewok and Miss Chivas for the food organizing, and iced Cl*t Face and Seaman
Stains for not doing enough of the work. Sir Airhead followed by mentioning
that there is nothing left of the St. Paddy day celebration in the Pattaya
hash. Green beer and most of the Irish men - all gone. Derelick iced for
last weeks photo - he don’t believe in underwear. Monster joining him on
the ice for leaving. Derelick will return home to take up a profession as a
male prostitute in jail. Icy Davidson joined them on the ice, explaining law
problems regarding Derelick and his lawyer’s. The questions to the US
lawyer’s office were something like: I know I was not suppose to leave the
US... the reply was: Please do not contact us again! A naming followed,
which I lost completely due to a visit to the bush, picking up a new can.
Leavers, visitors from Egypt, Subic, Darwin and a least two more places.
Then the huge bunch of returners. I forgot I was one, missed my beer. A few
birthdays which I only remember V.V was one. Chicken F’r took over the
circle and Iced Spaghetti Head. He lost his car last week, so a bicycle was
his form of wheels this week. Was it stolen? Was it locked? Yes and no. Then
I missed one. Think it was the girl who had the trauma of seeing
Derelick’s “thing” last week. She is now looking for something bigger
and better. Then it was more from poor Ewok’s love life. No need for all
the details about the poor man but it involved a third floor and the impact
it can have to the legs when not using the stairs.
Song of the Day from Chicken F’r was about the happy
life you can have as a lady boy.
Peler was iced for calling Chicken F’r and interrupting
while he was playing with his rubber friend. The call was about some
unimportant stuff he lost on the Bush Hash.
Anniversaries, a few, all listed somewhere (yes I was in
the bush shooting rabbits again). Then we welcomed 5 virgins to the
wonderful world of Hashing, the hares did a good job with the hare song, we
did the Hash Hymn and it was time for the bus back to town, and to finally
have a look a Jameson’s. I’ve seen the photos on the net during the
process and now it even looks like a pub. I only had time for a drink and
missed the food, but I know. Kim and the staff do it well when it comes to
serving us b*stards. Thanks Kim!
Thanks to the hares for the most un-Irish Paddy
celebration I have tried, but hey, do it again, please. All in all, another
boring afternoon with the hash.
On On
Oslo F ‘ere aka Vodka
The Square Ring
by Howie Reed
There’s an old axiom that boxing is only as good as the
heavyweight division. That may have been true in times past, and may still
be, so if that’s the case boxing is in worse shape then anyone guessed.
When Lennox Lewis retired there was the window of opportunity for the
“heavy’s” to get their collective acts together. To retain the
spotlight and retake control of boxing. And darned if it didn’t look like
that was exactly going to happen. But then reality set in. A tiger is a
tiger, a bar girl is a bar girl and 100 baht is too darn much for a
Klosters. The dysfunctional heavy’s have reverted to form. Which is?
Whining, crying about more money and the brothers Klitschko’s doing a
pretty darn good imitation of the now retired Lennox Lewis.
First the “empty headed” whiners. Hashim Rahman has
to go to the head of the class. Honest Don King arranges a fight for Rahman
against Vitali Klitschko in New York’s Madison Square Garden where Rahman
would get $3 Million American. Not a bad pay day for a guy that has
squandered more chances than a “Lady that Walk to Music.” Nope he
won’t sign but wants the fight to go to “purse bid.” In this process
the right to promote the fight goes to the highest bidder with the champion
getting 75% and the challenger 25%. Now for Rahman to get $3 million the
purse bit would have had to be $12 million dollars. Won’t happen, never
will. Never did! Mr. Rahman agrees that he’ll take $3 million except
that’s off the table so he takes less for a proposed April 30 fight.
Whoops, Klitschko sustains an injury while “jogging” so fight postponed.
I don’t think he got injured by jogging. I think he got hurt patting
himself on the back. The contest is maybe rescheduled for June.
In jumps WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz (41-5)
“I’ll fight you on that date” he tells James Toney. That fight has
been made, contracts signed it goes April 30. “I’ve been calling for a
heavyweight tournament to help clean up the division, and a title defense by
me on April 30 would help to bring us closer to the
champion-against-champion matches the public wants to see.” Honest Don
King, “I can make that happen. We should not let April 30 go by (they
didn’t) without one of the world heavyweight titleholders defending his
crown. My goal is have world title unification matches this year and I’m
fighting to get it done.” Don King is not telling the entire truth. His
goal is to control all the fighters that are heavyweight champions.
Meanwhile Chris Byrd sits on the sidelines moaning that “I don’t get no
respect.” Maybe. If he ain’t fighting he ain’t getting either money or
respect. Not to be lost in the shuffle is the WBO Heavyweight title fight
coming up between Lemmon Brewster and Andy “The Foul Pole” Golota.
Since last we’ve had some time together a couple of the
Thai lads ventured to the Land of Toyota with the expected results. There
were three fights held on a Sunday night and two of them involved Thai
boxers. In Kitakyushu, a young Japanese prospect at 105 (13-1-1) laid the
TKO deal on Thailand’s Yodphet Sor-Sakhunphan before a minute could elapse
in round 5. The Thai’s record in news story’s was announced as 10-7. His
official record is listed as 1-3. As they write, This Is Boxing. The same
night in Shizuoka, Tsukasa Kashiwagi, (12-8), blasted out Thailand’s
Chartchai Kiatpayathai, (0-1) at 2:18 into the opening session of a
scheduled ten. True fact!
Not all was bad for the local lads as 24 years old WBA #2
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (21-0) didn’t have a great deal of trouble with
Reman Salim who lost his undefeated record and now is at 8-1. Over 12
stanza’s Poonsawat got the maximum 120 scores from two of the three
judges. The aggressor from the opening bell Poonsawat might have gone for
the KO except for an accidental head butt in the 6th that had his left
eyebrow spewing like the Dolphins at the roundabout if they in fact they
spewed . They don’t, but that’s not important. No one can argue but that
when he ruled the roost in the WBA at 105lbs.
Chana Porpaoin (54-3-3, 19 KO’s) was “the man”.
Since he lost the title to Juan Landaeta last year things have not gone
well. A rematch in Bangkok last May ended in a draw. Since then Porpaoin has
two wins against questionable opponents and then last week a draw against
Rocky Fuentes (9-2-1). Seems the wheels have gone flat on the old Baht Bus.
WBA #1 lightweight Prawet Singwancha (25-2-1) ought to consider boxing
better fighters. He’s at that stage where he’s got to take the step.
During the card at Lumpini Stadium he obatined a 4 round KO over Armin Canja
who had no official record. So Prawet’s last three were a MD decision
against a 29-15 boxer and a UD against a guy 15-10. If he gets his mandatory
challenge against WBA king Juan Diaz he’ll be in deep water and the fight
will probably be in Texas. Wash out.
Big old “whamping” box fighting card today in a
temporary ring in front of City Hall in Samut Songkram Province. WBC#4
Superfly Medgoen Singsurat (39-3) will defend his WBC Asian Boxing Council
(ABCO) title against Dragon Zheng.
Zheng is reportedly 21-0, which I would take with a grain
of salt. If Zheng wins he’ll be the first Chinese fighter in history to
win an International Title. ABCO International Title? Funny old game boxing.
Not funny is the clownish behavior of those “mishandling” the career of
Joe Calzaghe (38-0). He was suppose to be at Kings Hall in Belfast last
Friday night for a title defense (WBO Super Middle) against Brian Magee
(23-1). “The fight was cancelled after Universum Box-Promotion (promoter
of mandatory challenger Mario Veit) protested to the WBO that the bout was
taking place less than 60 days prior to the enforced mandatory against Veit
on May 7, which is against WBO rules. The King’s Hall card will go
ahead.” Who cares?
What would a boxing column be without either a Tyson
sighting or news of Iron Mike? Correct. Boring. The BBC is reporting that
member of the Tyson camp are interested in using Muay Thai training
techniques for his June fight and have contacted Police general Kovid
Bhakdiphum, chairman of the World Boxing Council Muaythai. “Tyson’s
representatives contacted us and asked what I can do to help him. If he’s
not punching people outside the ring or biting the ears of opponents and
shows he’s well disciplined, we will take him.” Let me get this straight
if I’m Tyson. “I can hit people outside the ring. Can’t bite ears and
must be well disciplined. But I can go where lady’s walk to music. Let’s
go to Thailand.” I’ll drink to that!
The war in Vegas
By Howie Reed
(almost ringside)
For years Las Vegas Nevada USA has been known as the
fight capital of the world. That’s probably stretching things but then Las
Vegas is “big on being Big”. “What Happens in Las Vegas stays in Las
Vegas.” If truth were known there haven’t been a lot of mega fights
anywhere in boxing the last few years anywhere. The sport has taken it on
the chin. In the golden age of TV boxing the names of Leonard, Hagler, Ali,
Holmes, Hearns and others knew they had it made when they played the Strip
in Las Vegas. It was an actor playing Broadway. Then it was Caesar’s
Palace or the Hilton Hotel (no Paris Hilton then. She had yet to make her
video debut) that could claim fame as the home of boxing. Then fights were
held outdoors in temporary arenas under the burning sun or star filled
skies. Those days have sadly gone by the wayside. The last big outdoor fight
was at Caesar’s Palace in March of 2000 when Felix Trinidad went
toe-to-toe with a then 14-0 David Reid over 12 gruelling rounds. Trinidad
not only won the fight, after getting off the canvas, but ended Reid’s
career as he was never the same. Little did we know that would be an end to
an era.
Since then there have been a lot of less “stellar
attractions” billed as “something special”, Caesars Palace the once
grand lady of the Las Vegas strip has show signs of age and new younger
better looking venue’s have emerged. The MGM, which should maybe be the
8th wonder of the world, has come out of the pack as the premier showplace
for championship boxing in Las Vegas. Their theory of quality ahead of
quantity will always work. The MGM stands on the corner of Las Vegas
Boulevard and Tropicana with it’s majestic 40 foot lions standing guard
over maybe the world busiest corner. Manny Pacquiao (39-2-2) and Eric Morles
(47-2) like that mighty lion wanted to be King of the Boxing Jungle. They
wanted to leave their scent which meant, “I am the King”. Last weekend
the MGM hosted what could have been not only of the fight of the year but
maybe of the decade. Of course we’re only 4 years into the 2000s but still
that’s something. With over of 14,000 screaming fans, almost equally
divided, the evening might have been transformed from a sporting contest
into “an event”. For some reason it didn’t happen. ‘The best laid
plans of Mice and men.” It was a good fight, a very good fight but not
great. What happened?
Here was a match up of two cultures with similar
backgrounds (they both tossed the Spanish out) and a passionate love for the
sport of boxing. No one supports their boxers like the Mexican and Filipino
people. It’s their lifeblood after Corona and San Miguel. Like the two
fighters the fans would give their all on this extended St. Patrick’s Las
Vegas Weekend. Both fighters weighted in just under the 130 pound limit with
Morales hitting the mark dead on. In a city where gambling is not only legal
but encouraged the odds had swung in favor of Pacquiao in the last 48 hours.
To win a dollar on Manny would take a bet of $1.75. A dollar bet on Morales
would return $1.50. There was no argument but that Pacquiao’s power would
be the ultimate key along with the “beard” (chin) of Morales. Except for
some unexplained reason Pacquiao’s camp deviated from their previous
battle plan that had seen them successful against Marco Antonio Barerra and
Juan Marquis. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach was “teaching” Pacquiao
to throw the left. That was the secret weapon. If so it was as absent from
this fight as WMD’s from Iraq. There was a power outage for Pacquiao.
The fight itself was exciting with 115-113 score in favor
of Eric Morales spot on. Both fighters showed heart, guts and courage. Even
in the slower rounds there were enough flurries to bring the raucous fans to
their feet screaming, waving, yelling and usually spilling their $6 beers.
Pacquiao never was able to put up a sustained rally. He was never able to
capture back-to-back rounds. Either his power was ineffective or the timing
off. This is a fight that might well have been lost in the gym. That does
happen! A game plan that sounds great just doesn’t work. Pacquiao
certainly wasn’t help by his Promoter Murad ‘The Bumbling” Muhammad.
Just days before the fight Muhammad signed a contract to
use the “Winning” brand of boxing gloves when Pacquiao prefers the
punchers glove “Reyes.” With all due respect, these gloves are
insignificant,” Murad. “We’re gonna beat Erik Morales whether it’s
Everlast or Reyes or Winning - and I like that name because it compliments
what we’re going to do on the 19th. Maybe Freddie (Roach) ought to be more
concerned about how he wraps Manny’s hands than what gloves he puts on.”
Make the Murad the Stupid. Even those with an elementary knowledge of the
sport know that a boxers mental state is 90% of the battle. Upset that and
you’re asking for trouble. After the fight Pacquiao said, “I would have
knocked out Morales if we had used Reyes Gloves.”
In the 5th round Pacquiao suffered a cut from either a
punch or an “unintentional head butt.” “I could not see out of my
eye.” With one eye his performance was the same as in the preceding
rounds. One reporter stated that Morales “dictated the pace of the
fight.” That’s true up to a point. Morales was able to dictate the
“pace” of the fight because Pacquaio never was able to keep his momentum
going. Morales saw to that. “Styles make fights,” something that is
commonly heard in boxing. It’s nothing but a crutch for those that are
looking for an easy out. Morales fought better, was better prepared and won.
Period and end!
Will their be a rematch? Bet on it! A high ranking official of MGM said
in the press room after, “That was the first fight in what will be a
trilogy.” The results will be the same again unless Pacquiao reverts to
what made him the dominate fighters against the likes of Barerra (who beat
Morales twice) and Marquis. Unless Pacquiao toss’s more than two shots at
a time Morales will again be able to dominate the action with his offense
and a chin that is a great defensive weapon. That will make this trilogy a
duo unless the gloves did make a difference. Then wash out!
Convincing win for Hong Kong’s Marsh
Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia - Round 1
March 20, Sepang
International Circuit, Malaysia
A-Ha Racing’s Matthew Marsh got his campaign to defend
his Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia title off to literally a flying start
last weekend, winning the opening round with an impressive margin of almost
three seconds in front of the Formula 1 fans at Malaysia’s Sepang
International Circuit.
However, there was drama even before the race began. Pole
man and local hero, Rizal Ramli of Jaseri Racing was heartbroken after he
was forced to abort the start just seconds before the off, having set the
fastest time ever in a Porsche 911 GT3 machine on Malaysia’s Sepang
International Circuit the previous day. “I don’t know what happened, but
I couldn’t engage first gear. It was five, maybe even four seconds before
the start. I have to put this behind me now and look forward,” said an
emotional Ramli.
A-Ha
Racing’s Matthew Marsh (front centre) got his campaign to defend his
Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia title off to a flying start last weekend
at Malyasia’s Sepang International Circuit.
At the re-start, the race was shortened from 10 to nine
laps of the 5.6 km circuit.
For Marsh, the win in front of the Formula 1 crowd made
up for his disappointment in Shanghai last year, when he crossed the line
first but a penalty later cost him victory: “What I learned in Shanghai
taught me a lesson. On the grid there I was in the wrong frame of mind - too
aggressive. I was so lucky to learn a lesson and win the championship. This
weekend, I was very fortunate to win obviously,” he said, referring to the
last-minute retirement of hot favourite Ramli.
It was a good day for Hong Kong drivers with Team
Jebsen’s Darryl O’Young taking second spot after a strong drive which
saw him hold on to his position off the start during some frenzied driving
amongst the field, and survive an incident which damaged his exhaust.
“It was tough for a while at the start, but I held them
off and from there just put my head down and looked forward,” said the
24-year-old. “It’s a great start to our season!”
Third was Charoensukhawatana Nattavude of Thailand,
giving his SCC Racing team a podium finish in their first ever race outside
China. The seasoned professional was delighted to have been awarded the
drive by SCC following the retirement of Fuspeed Racing’s Adrian Fu at the
end of last season. “I thought I would disappear from the series,” he
said, “But SCC has given me this opportunity which is tremendous. This
result is great for the team.”
Starting from 6th on the grid, Nattavude was involved in
the frenzied action off the start, but his skill and experience ensured he
emerged unscathed: “At Turn 1, I took the inside. I didn’t see what
happened, but someone made contact and I saw water on my windscreen and then
realized it wasn’t from me! Later on I could see Danny getting closer and
my temperature gauge was flashing so I had to ease off.” The Thai made it
through, however, to take the final podium spot.
British single seater ace and guest driver this weekend
Danny Watts just missed out on a podium finish in his first outing in a
Porsche since 2002. Watts finished fourth, just ahead of reigning British GT
Champion Jonathan Cocker and, although his goal going in to the weekend was
a top three finish, was pleased with his progress nonetheless: “I needed
just one more corner!” he said. “I had a rocket of a start and made up a
couple of places. I tried to conserve my tyres early on as I knew it would
help me later. I was all over the back of Nattavude and had to keep watching
out for Jonathan (Cocker) behind me. I really enjoyed the weekend and made
massive progress throughout. A new car, a new circuit, and I’ve beaten
drivers with tons more experience in this than me. I owe a huge ‘thank
you’ to Porsche Asia Pacific and Noble Group for this great opportunity.
I’d love to come back - if I could be back tomorrow, I would.”
It was a disappointing return to the series for Eurokars
Racing’s Nigel Albon. On the opening lap, Albon was tapped which put him
into O’Young, damaging the radiator and putting a premature end to his
race.
It was a highly successful weekend for yet another Hong
Kong driver, Alain Li. In his first race in six years and inaugural
competition in a Porsche, Li took victory in Class B and an impressive 10th
overall. “I didn’t have the best start, but tried to hold on to my
position. The guys in front were a little too quick for me, but it makes me
even happier that it’s such a competitive field.” However, Li would not
be drawn on his Class B title aspirations: “Maybe it’s a little too
early to start eyeing the championship, but it’s a good start. I really
didn’t expect this!”
Second in Class B was fellow Hong Kong driver Philip Ma,
with Sontaya Kunplome, of Team Thailand, in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In Class A, Marsh tops the points table followed
O’Young, Nattavude, Cocker and the second Team Thailand driver, Vutthikorn
Inthraphuvasak. Li tops the Class B leaderboard followed by seasoned
campaigner Ma, and series newcomers Kunplome and William E. Connor II.
The Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia returns to
Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit for Rounds 2 and 3 of the 11-Round series on May
14 and 15. This season the series will also visit Thailand, Beijing, South
Korea, Shanghai - where it is once again a support race to a round of the
FIA Formula 1 World Championship - before the final round as part of the
Macau Grand Prix weekend in November.
Supporting the Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia are two
of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and
Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close
co-operation in research and development has to led to every new Porsche
engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Infineon
Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge
tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and
leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of
many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and
the Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement
signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group. The Porsche Infineon
Carrera Cup Asia runs as part of the Asian Festival of Speed. (Motorsport
Asia)
|