HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

5th annual Pattaya Longboat races – a great victory to all

When the world’s biggest circus came to town

Skål at the Pinnacle

Dr Iain Racks Up 64 N.O.

5th annual Pattaya Longboat races – a great victory to all

Longboat races bring history alive in a display of color and excitement

The historic longboats once again took to the water as the 5th Annual Pattaya Longboat races got underway at Mabprachan Reservoir on November 19.

Kimchoon Suksawad (left) manager of the ‘Sao Duangkaew’ team from Singburi holds the HRH Princess Sirindhorn Trophy and Suthep Kalong manager of the ‘Thepprathanporn’ team from Nakhorn Pathom with the HRH Princess Soamsawalee Trophy.

Organized by Chonburi province in conjunction with the Provincial Administration Department, Pattaya City, Tourism Authority of Thailand and private organizations, the races attracted a crowd of several thousand that lined the reservoir banks to cheer on the teams of oarsmen.

The racing teams during the two-day event at Siam Country Club were competing for the Princess Sirindhorn and Princess Soamsawalee trophies.

Part of the event’s fun is all the pageantry.

For the past five years both the public and private sectors have strived to conserve and continue local customs and traditions by staging these “rua yao”, or long boat, races which are indigenous to the region. Originally designed for battle against aggressors, the longboats have always played an important role in Thai society.

Throughout history communities along the rivers, canals and waterways of the kingdom have depended on boats for fishing and transporting goods.

During the races, young, powerful rowers from towns along the waterways compete against each other in crews of 5, 30 and 55 rowers.

Excitement and thrills are seen in every race.

The Pattaya Longboat Races were first held in 2001 and have increased in popularity with more teams participating and the number of spectators growing each year. This year’s races were delayed as Banglamung experienced a drought and the water level in Mabprachan Reservoir was insufficient. But the rains have come, bringing the races.

Buffalo racing competitions were also held and they were categorized into five different divisions depending on their ages, not the kilograms.

Madly paddling for the finish line.

The winner of the 55-rower class was the Sao Duang Kaew from Singh Buri who competed against 11 other teams from different provinces and crossed the finish line first in every race they took on. They were awarded the HRH Princess Sirindhorn Cup and 100,000 baht prize money.

The 30-rower class winner, Thepprathanporn from Nakorn Prathom, was presented with the HRH Princess Somsawalee Cup and 50,000 baht prize money after making it ahead of seven other teams in the category.

For winning the smallest in size boat and number of rowers, the five-rower class, Pradu Thong team from Chonburi took home 5,000 baht.

The races will be held again next year, the timing to some degree resting on the rainfall and the depth of the reservoir water.

Thousands of rowing fans flock to the reservoir bank to get a closer look at the races and cheer on their favorite teams.

Thundering hooves, a cloud of dust, and they’re away!

A mad dash, hooves pounding, jockeys barely staying on, some falling off ... this is what buffalo races are all about.

When the world’s biggest circus came to town

Mike Franklin

When the clown awakes from his dream of being a circus Ringmaster, and the Fairy Queen tells him that he has a wish for anything he wants, he then knows his dream is realized and he can be Ringmaster of the Royal London Circus.

Karima and Murat perform a clever Unicycle Act.

That clever opening concept sets the scene for the performance and the clown, Russian Anatoly Gurov, embraces the audience and holds the attention of everyone while he segways through the thrilling acts that ensue. Clown Anatoly from Russia, with twenty five years experience in the circus ring, knows how to entertain and, in some of the clown gags, is backed by his wife Leyma from Lithuania.

The rig and setting inside the largest touring Big Top in the world is awesome, with air conditioning, superb sound and lighting, and seating for up to 4,700 people. The stage direction by Abdou Gomari is slick and the myriad of technical equipment for the aerial and stunt acts look totally safe and secure. The two and a half hour production by Malaysian owner/producer, Paul L B Lee, is of the highest quality and you come away happy and drained with excitement, and with the thought in mind of returning to see the show a second time.

The first act to thrill and amaze is the Wheel of Suspense performed by Jorge Castro & John Fredy Giraldo Arenas from Colombia.

For thirty minutes before the Overture starts the performance and the clown realizes his dream to be Ringmaster, there is great music to set the mood. Then, with Anatoly in command, the show begins with an impressive Opening Parade by the Royal London Circus artistes.

The energetic Shandong-Liaocheng Acrobatic Troupe thrills the audience with extreme Hand Balancing Acrobatics.

The first act to thrill and amaze is the Wheel of Suspense performed by Jorge Castro & John Fredy Giraldo Arenas from Colombia. Anatoly then entertains briefly while the stage hands clear Wheel from the Ring, and introduces the Shandong Acrobatic Troupe from China, a trio of acrobatic jugglers performing with straw hats.

As they exit the ring, the Royal London Circus Dancers from Russia and the Ukraine perform an Arabian Dance. Seven beautiful long-legged girls who would be equally at home on a stage in a Las Vegas Night Club. Anatoly and Leyma entertain again with the ‘fried egg’ gag and link to one of the highlights of the show. Romance in the Air, a stunning aerial ballet performed by the very attractive Chinese Chenyang duo, namely Chen Yang and the lovely He, accompanied by the beautiful voice of Rowena Dalupan from the Philippines.

Even the backstage interview is exciting, with acrobatics going on in the background.

A Juggling Act follows, performed by the very colorful Karima and Murat from Kazakhstan. Another Clown Gag from Anatoly and Leyma follows involving something to do with balloons.

The entertaining and amusing Dog & Cat Act is next, presented by Andrei Issaev from Russia. By now, the return of Anatoly and Leyma between acts is anticipated and the next amusing clown gag involves ‘imaginary hand guns’, exploding balloons and audience participation.

The final act is the Sphere of Terror.

The Royal London Circus Dancers are then back in the ring with a rousing Gypsy Dance building the atmosphere for the final act in the first half, the breathtaking Flying Trapeze performed with great skill at a great height by the Flying Ciobanu from Romania.

The fifteen minute intermission that follows cannot go quickly enough as the next act, Liberty Pony Act provides one of the more traditional circus acts involving three ponies, two dogs and a small monkey presented by Pavithran and Ravi from India, and Jahid from Bangladesh. While the carpet is re-laid in the Ring, Anatoly goes through his Hula Hoop routine involving children from the audience and expert ‘hooper’ daughter Kristina.

The Royal London Circus Dancers then return for the exciting Kazak Dance, this time with male Cossak dancers joining the group.

Anatoly Gurov and the cast open the show.

The colorful Karima & Murat return to the Ring next to perform Step Dancing on suitcases, suitably amplified by a radio mike nearby. Anatoly welcomes a child from the audience again, this time demonstrating origami and producing a Halloween style paper face.

The energetic Shandong-Liaocheng Acrobatic Troupe literally bounce back into the Ring and thrill the audience with extreme Hand Balancing Acrobatics.

The Liberty Pony Act provides one of the more traditional circus acts involving three ponies, two dogs and a small monkey, presented by Pavithran and Ravi from India, and Jahid from Bangladesh.

Athletic excellence in the air is demonstrated in the next exciting act, the Cradle Act by Inga and Andrei from the Ukraine.

A more restful sequence follows with the Illusion Act, performed by Alexey Panarin from Russia. The ‘piece de resistance’ of his theatrical performance is the disappearing chicken – a skill that might have wider application in the advent of more Avian Flu.

Karima and Murat follow that with a clever Unicycle Act dressed again in their very colorful costumes.

The final act is the Sphere of Terror. A four meter diameter metal sphere is rolled into the Ring on a transporter, skillfully and humorously directed by Anatoly’s whistle while the sphere is being secured. The Sphere of Terror act is frighteningly performed by the Colombian Brothers on motor bikes riding inside the metal sphere. First one, then two, and finally three riders rode around the Sphere at speeds pushing 40 mph. And, as if that was not enough to amaze the audience, two more bikes appear and enter the Sphere to make a world record five. Breathtaking and exhausting to watch, and a fitting climax to a wonderfully entertaining show.

The Finale brought all the artistes back into the Ring for a final and well deserved bow to great applause and appreciation by the audience. Music throughout the show was played by the Royal London Circus Band from the Philippines.

Acts of daring provided the excitement; other acts were pure enjoyment, and Anatoly Gurov, Ringmaster & Clown, made you laugh so you felt you were, for two and a half hours, a part of the Royal London Circus.

Skål at the Pinnacle

The active Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand held its networking evening at the Pinnacle Resort last week. With the local secretary of Skål International being Ingo Raeuber, who is also the GM at the refurbished Pinnacle Resort, it was natural to use the spacious grounds of his resort as the meeting place.

Panadda Saelor, Cristina Boden, Paul Sinclair, Malcolm Boden, Kevin and Som Fisher enjoying drinks before dinner.

Local President Andrew Khoo (GM at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya) spoke on the recent visit to the 66th Skål International World Congress which was held in Zagreb. This was attended by several of the local members, plus representatives of Pattaya City Hall and local TAT, as congresses like these are important in world tourism. With the 67th Congress being held in Pattaya in October 2006, it was important that the local members and officials could see at first hand just what would have to be done in Pattaya. All present were more than sure that the many attractions of our city would make for a superlative world congress next year.

Kevin Fisher, Marlowe Malhotra and Malcolm Boden looking on the bright side.

With the members of the local Skål International being the acknowledged ‘movers and shakers’ in the tourism and hospitality industry, there were many guests who were looking to confer with the assortment of GM’s and other top tourism professionals. This included the very hard working husband and wife team of Malcolm and Christine Boden (Charity Club of Pattaya) and Kevin Fisher and his delightful wife Som. The beer drinkers were also pleased to see Kenneth Whitty, the MD of Danmark company, the importers of Paulaner beer from Munich. Several bottles were gulped. Another guest was Fabian Arp from Thai-Gerline golf tours, which has been progressing very well, said Fabian. But like all tourism based businesses, the more tourists which come to Pattaya, the better for his golf tours.

Dr. Iain Corness, Stefan Heintze, Sasichol Thongnak, Peter Malhotra and Andrew Khoo having a jolly good time.

Deborah and Paisan Bundityanond, Dr. Iain, Ingo Raeuber and Rene Pisters at the monthly meeting.

Since the facilities of our top hotels will be used during the world congress, it was natural to see Alex Hauesler (GM Royal Cliff Beach Resort), Stefan Heintze (RM Dusit Resort), Rene Pisters (GM Thai Garden Resort) and Paisan and Deborah Bundityanond (Rabbit Resort) sitting together, discussing common business.

Whilst it could be thought that the individual members of the local Skål International are working towards their own aims, President Andrew Khoo dispelled that myth, pointing out in an exclusive interview on Pattaya Mail on TV that 1,500 of the world’s top tourism professionals are expected to come to the congress next year. This will boost the name of Pattaya as a tourist destination, and that includes all the hotels, guest houses and tourist attractions. It is for this reason that the city hall officials and the TAT are all behind the Skål International organization, and its world congress 2006.

You can contact the local chapter of Skål International to see if you are eligible to join, through the membership director, Benny Singh, email [email protected] or telephone 038 370 195.

Dr Iain Racks Up 64 N.O.

by Peter Cummins

For the uninitiated, 64 n.o. (not out) is a relatively respectable cricket score. In life, it is a great “innings”, and as Dr Iain Corness turned that magic number last Saturday, he is definitely a living example of a “great innings”, in top form with a lovely wife (Som) and two little ones, both under two years old.

He huffed and he puffed … good thing there weren’t 64 candles on his cake.

Like Iain, I have worked for this marvellous ‘organ’ of the Eastern Seaboard, the Pattaya Mail for several years and, during these seven years or so, I became even more aware of a rather numerous geriatric population in Pattaya. No; not at the Pattaya Mail, I hasten to mention, for, apart from myself, the rest - even the venerable medic - are all too young to have experienced a mid-life crisis. Even Managing Director Peter Malhotra is too young to know!

Anyway, Doc had a most memorable birthday bash last Saturday - of course at the Jomtien Boathouse. He informed me that he had invited 16 friends to celebrate with him. My calculated guess, before the brain cells were all eliminated, was somewhere in the vicinity of 60 of Pattaya’s “Glitterati” - yea, even, maybe the magic ‘64’. It was standing room only for those who could still stand.

The Doc and his lovely wife Som dance a birthday dance to the sounds of “Elvis”.

The old adage has it that “when a person hits 60, he/she is ‘over the hill’.” But, I contend, and Dr Iain is the living proof that once over the hill, one gains speed!

It is usually at such an occasion that one reflects a little on one’s own life and I immediately reverted to the “swinging sixties” in New York, when I was an avid Beatles fan, seeing their first North American appearance on the then-famous Ed Sullivan show. Ed, who was famous for not really having a neck, was mesmerized by the four lads from Liverpool.

Well, at Doc’s party, one of the Beatles’ many famous songs went the rounds: “When I’m sixty-four” and it went something like this:
“When I am old and am losing my hair, many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings, a bottle of wine?
If I’ve been out ‘til a quarter to four, would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, WHEN I’M 64?”

These prophetic lyrics of the Beatles, extracted from their album “Sergeant Pepper”, were among the thousands which they produced. However, as a raw “youth” of 35 then, struggling to survive the tough environment of New York City, the mere thought of ever being 64 was just a remote possibility on some far horizon. Frankly, I thought all the rest of these hypothetical projections would remain in place, but that I would never make it through to 64. Now I am almost 71 and Doc, Peter and co., seem mere youngsters.

Doc seemed not just mildly surprised that on Friday, the 18th of November, he celebrated reaching 64, thus becoming the longest-living male of the Corness clan, all others, including his father, having withdrawn from the longevity stakes by age 56 - or younger.

Born in Lisburn, Northern Island on the 18th of November, 1941, he has survived - rather, has thrived, considering the shaky start as a Second World War baby - for 64 years on Planet Earth and now working already towards 65, he still drives in the fast lane! Indeed, although longevity is not a Corness family trait - nevertheless, his Mum is “still going strong” at age 88.

Although born in Northern Ireland, Iain is quick to point out that he is not Irish; “if you are born in a stable, that does not make you a horse,” he contends with his penetrating logic. A move to Scotland and then the Corness family migrated to Australia in 1955 - with Iain then at the ripe old age of 13.

He acknowledges the influence of a tough, uncompromising father who instilled in him the tenet of not accepting the ‘status quo’ of any situation; rather, examine things - everything - to see how you can do it better.

In 1958, he finished at the Brisbane Boys College. A penchant for mathematics led him towards engineering but Mother - a strong influence on his life even now - aimed him towards medicine. Iain’s rational mind held sway - again - and he figured that if he became a doctor he would still be able to “fiddle around with engineering in his spare time.” Conversely, if he became an engineer, it would be rather difficult to “moonlight” as a medic. “One could hardly use an acetylene torch to fuse broken bones,” he surmised at the time! So he became a doctor.

By 1968, aged only 27 and already having taken on many challenges, Doc headed back to Australia, working his way as a ship’s surgeon, with “a suitcase full of ‘go- fast’ bits” for an MGB sports car. He opened his own medical clinic in Brisbane and built his first MGB racing car under the house.

Successful racing soon caught the attention of British Leyland for whom he worked and the by-then modified MGB was recognized as the fastest of its class in the world. Along the way Doc has racked up a number of records and went through many changes, finally coming to Thailand for a visit in 1975 and, like many of us, he was “hooked” instantly by the magic of the Kingdom and vowed, like General Macarthur at Guadalcanal some 30 years earlier, that “he would return”.

A hugely expensive Hasselblad imported from overseas was the deciding factor in the Doc becoming a professional photographer and, after setting up a studio in the mid-1980s, he became highly successful as a commercial photographer.

“The camera was so expensive, it had to ‘earn its keep’ as quickly as possible,” he recalled. He is still accredited to the Institute of Australian Professional Photographers.

He dabbled for a while in a fast-food (Thai) restaurant, but motor racing was in his blood, suffering an horrendous accident in 1992, when he escaped from a blazing inferno, losing only his eyebrows and eyelashes. Of course he went right back on the circuit the very next day.

In 1990, Iain formed his own racing team, giving young drivers a chance, supplying cars and funding. The cost to the novices? An agreement to accompany him around the schools to spread an anti-smoking message.

By 1997, Doc was ready to ‘retire’ to Thailand, which he did. However, a usual “A Day-in-the-life-of-Doc” involves concentrating on his medical consultancy at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital and photo-journalistic coverage of events around the Eastern Seaboard.

Enter Peter Malhotra. In what must have been one of Peter’s shortest but most concise speeches, Peter recalled at the birthday party, that John Richerds  had brought Doc to the Pattaya Mail office and Doc’s question: “Why don’t you have a motoring column”? Why not? was Peter’s rhetorical reply. And that was just the start of a plethora of weekly columns continuing to this day: a gourmet column, automania, photography, modern medicine and personal columns and he contributes numerous news stories and fillers for the Pattaya Mail, edits the Chiangmai Mail, attends motor shows, reviews new models and follows many other interests.

Of course, that evening, the sixties were alive and well, with the Friday night Elvis impersonation - a specialty of the Boathouse - and it was brilliant.

So the Doc and his new family move ahead and we wish them well. As for me, racing towards 71, I can only finish with the words of a song by the incomparable Maurice Chevalier in the 1950s revue, Gigi: “And I’m glad I’m not young anymore!”

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