Chris Kays Pattaya International 10’s 2006

Story and photos by Kim Fletcher & Eoin Quirke
The annual migration of the rugby loving fraternity to Pattaya’s own green fields is now behind us. Cracking good fun it was too. They came from the UK, from the Middle East, from Taiwan and Hong Kong, from Singapore and Malaysia, from Bangkok and Chiang Mai, even from Naklua and Jomtien. The nationalities were as diverse as the range of talent on offer, and the game of rugby on the Eastern Seaboard is once again the richer for their visit.

The Four Winds girls - as featured on ESPN STAR’s Rugby Show - keep refreshments flowing.

From Thursday evening May 5, sixteen teams from around the globe assembled for the seventh staging of the Pattaya International 10’s. The tournament was enhanced by the presence of Harry Roberts, ex Springbok hooker who kindly agreed to come to Thailand to pass some coaching expertise on to local sides. He was also convinced to star for the home team in the competition.
Friday night saw official registration at Jameson’s the Irish Pub, a main tournament sponsor, and offered the first chance for the teams to eye each other up. It was clear that that the Tsin Chu Whistlers from Taiwan would be offering the keenest intellectual challenge! The seeds of tactics were sown - and liberally watered.
Dawn rose on Saturday morning over the picturesque grounds of the Horse Shoe Point Resort with little hint of the mayhem to follow. The grounds were wonderful with shade provided by CR Asia and AGS Four Winds.
The opening game saw the local Pattaya Panthers pitted against the Kaysie Crusaders, a side from Abby RFC in the UK, formed to honour past Pattaya Captain Chris Kays in whose honour the tournament is held. The Panthers looked the part in new kit from Mickey Price’s MJ X-Sport but despite Friday night, the Crusaders under captain Matthew Kimpton triumphed and the Panthers sights were lowered.
The pool games advanced with the rugby fast and hard, refereed brilliantly by Dave Viccars and his team of International talent including Frykke Van Wykke, Sid Schilling, Matthew Oakley, Alistair Cummings, Dave Williams and super refs from the Thai RFU. As the knocks took their toll the squads were patched up by K. Reine and her very professional team from the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
The organiser’s tent was a haven of efficiency and the tournament went off smoothly in no small part thanks to the help of Wayne (Blowfly) Orgnoski, Malcolm Clare, Karen Brent, Mickey Price and Kim Fletcher, landlord of Jameson’s The Irish Pub. Any minor squeaks were immediately lubricated by Graham McDonald, MD of MBMG and Hamptons, key tournament sponsors. Russel Jay and MAD located next door added tremendously to the atmosphere and played all the appropriate songs in-between the short gaps at half time and full time.
Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club, itself was in magnificent condition, and the staff willingly ferried round beer and water to all those that needed it, with noted help from Mark Thompson’s kids. Special thanks also to Wanchai and Moo from Jameson’s who worked tirelessly to keep the buses coming and going and the Scoreboard up to date.
On the field there were some notable contests. Ratcha Navy vs. the Hsin Chu Whistlers, Bangkok Japanese vs. Dr. Jon Maxwell’s Uni RFC Hong Kong, Southerners vs. Chiang Mai Suas and the British Club vs. the Singapore Cricket Club proving the picks of the pool games.
After a break for the inclement weather the first day’s play concluded with Hsin Chu Whistlers, Ratcha Navy, Southerners, Chiang Mai Suas, Uni RFC HK, BKK Japanese, Tanner De Wit Nomads and the British Club qualifying for the cup competition. Abbey, Tequila Mocking Birds, Kasetsart Uni and SCC made up the plate, and our own Panthers, Doha Dogs, Young Blood and Lard Krabang Uni made the bowl competition. The Ratcha Navy were playing some fantastic rugby and would be difficult to stop.
Following play the annual Quaich began, seeing all teams enjoying Pattaya’s nightlife. Starting off around the pool at Horseshoe Point, then moving on towards Jameson’s where everybody was treated to Abbey Rugby Club dressed up as Officers and Gentlemen, The Telawi Girls gave a startling dance display from the Cowboy days, whilst The Panthers came as their own pink Cheer Leaders. The Quaich then moved onto Tim’s Bar, Tequila Reef and finally Kilkenny on Walking Street.
The following day with more to feel a little delicate over than the heat, battle was recommenced. In the Ladies Cup, The Wontoks overcame the Lion Reds in the final... special thanks must go to Karen Brent for her organisation.
The Cup quarterfinals saw some good rugby with the Navy, Chiang Mai, Southerners and Hsin Chu progressing. In a great game the Hsin Chu Whistlers led by Ben Hall overcame the Southerners in the first semi and the Navy proved too strong for a brave Chiang Mai side to make up the other final spot. The spirited Hsin Chu side could not match the Navy’s ruthlessness in the final and the Ratcha Navy were well deserved champions of the Pattaya International 10’s 2006.
In the plate Abbey found their legs and went through to play the SCC in the final, running out eventual winners with some good scores from big men out wide, not least Pottsie on the wing! The Panthers had a win at last on Sunday morning against the popular Doha Dogs, but were overcome in the bowl final by a talented young Lard Krabang Uni Side.
The events were captured for evermore by Donald Ang and his ESPN/STAR team who seemed to enjoy themselves as much as we enjoyed their company, and have promised to return in greater numbers next year. Brunhilde Shultz captured the event in stills and her shots will soon be available at www. pattayapanthers.com.
The Prize Giving was held around the attractive Horseshoe Point Pool Side, hosted by Panthers club Chairman Jimmy Howard. The prestigious Chris Kays Memorial Trophy was presented to the person that everybody felt had contributed most to the tournament both on and off the field. This was awarded to Ultan Peters of the Southerners for outstanding work both at rugby and drinking: - The award was made by Ray Kays, Chris’ father. The player of the tournament award went to Siam Pong (Yam) the Number Ten for Ladkrabang University. Much merrymaking followed and then back to Jamesons, the Irish Pub where Kim Fletcher laid on a proper welcome for all the walking wounded.
Tournament organisers Jim Howard, Mark Coombs and Eoin Quirke would like to give a huge thanks to all involved in this year’s tournament. The 2006 version of the Chris Kays’ International 10’s proved once again to be a marvellous weekend of sport and social activity and everybody involved will be looking forward eagerly to next years event.
If you like rugby, please give your support to our sponsors: MBMG Hamptons, Jamesons, AGS Four Winds, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, CR Asia, Raimon Land, Chubb, Envirotech International, Bluescope Lysaght, K Tech, MJ X Port, Tenderloins, Manpower, Swissair and Pattaya Mail.
NB: The Pattaya Panthers train on Tuesday nights at the Ambassador. Please contact Eoin Quirke on 01 2951670 for details.

The host side, Pattaya Panthers featuring Harry Roberts front centre.

Spot the ball. Hsin Chu Whistlers secure lineout ball against the Southerners in the first cup semi-final.

The Telawi Girl Rugby Team hold a hoedown at Jameson’s.

Seaboard FC end Dubliner’s dream of fourth consecutive title

Last Sunday saw Seaboard FC travel to Bangkok for their final fixture of the MBMG International League to face a Dubliner side for which a win would guarantee them the League Title. Seaboard themselves were playing for more than just pride, with top scorer Mark Brittain requiring two more goals to assure him of the coveted ‘Golden Boot’ award for this season, but this would surely prove a tough challenge against the meanest defence in the league.
Following a wet morning the sun was shining at kick off time with a high level of humidity making conditions unpleasantly hot for both sets of players.
Seaboard kicked off and showed their intentions early on by moving the ball around nicely with Paul Derbyshire creating the first opening on 2 minutes. He cleverly turned his defender following a long ball from Dave Brown, but could not get any power in his shot and the ball went harmlessly wide.
A similar move 2 minutes later saw Derbyshire cross this time, for an unmarked Mark Brittain, but his effort from 6 yards out was scrambled away to safety off the legs of the Dubliner keeper.
Seaboard continued to enjoy the majority of possession and a further chance fell to Brittain on 6 minutes when a long throw from Keng surprised the Dubliner defence, reaching the Seaboard forward but his shot from the edge of the box cleared the crossbar.
The Dubliner finally managed their first attempt on goal 1 minute later but the speculative effort was well wide of the target.
Seaboard suffered a major setback on 14 minutes when experienced defender Gary Munro had to be withdrawn following the recurrence of a leg injury. Manager Rick Bryant reshuffled his pack by dropping Craig Banks back into defence and introducing Jake Baker into the midfield.
Seaboard were to go behind however on 17 minutes when they gave away possession on the right hand side, with the Dubliner forward taking full advantage of this mistake by cutting inside and driving an unstoppable shot in off the far post, leaving the Seaboard keeper Torn with no chance.
Seaboard continued to plug away at their passing game and came close to drawing level on the half hour when some clever interplay between Francis Taku and Pierre Ngalamo created space for Ngalamo to shoot, but he dragged his shot wide when he should have done better.
Seaboard continued to enjoy the majority of play up to half time but failed to create the opening they were looking for.
Half Time Score - Dubliner 1 Seaboard FC 0
Having left the field looking dejected at the end of the first half Seaboard returned for the second period clearly focused on the job ahead and it took less than 60 seconds for them to draw level. A long goal kick was flicked on by the impressive Derbyshire and Brittain outpaced the defender to the ball before lashing an unstoppable dipping shot on the volley past the Dubliner keeper and into the top corner of the net. Goal number thirty of the season for Brittain and one that will be remembered for a long time by the people watching.
Now with their tails up Seaboard continued to press and took the lead 12 minutes into the second period when Taku found young James Tatlock in space out on the left. His dangerous cross fell at the feet of Brittain 12 yards out and he cleverly steered the ball into the corner of the net for his thirty first goal of the season and the ‘Golden Boot’.
The Dubliner were now being over run in midfield with John Campbell and Emmanuel Tshuma working hard to control the game.
Seaboard were to go further ahead midway through the half with another wonder goal, this time from Derbyshire who collected the ball wide on the left following a knock on from Brittain and he cut inside before curling a sensational shot into the far top corner of the net. 3-1 to Seaboard and the Dubliner’s title aspirations were in tatters.
The Dubliner came close to pulling a goal back when a long ball into the box was flicked on from close range but Torn in the Seaboard goal reacted well and managed to push the ball up over the bar for a tremendous save.
The referee, who had appeared to make some questionable decisions all afternoon, then threw the Dubliner a lifeline 15 minutes from time when he awarded them a very dubious penalty for handball. The Dubliner forward stepped up to place the ball right in the bottom corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.
This was the spark that was needed to rekindle the Dubliner’s final title push and they threw everything at the Seaboard defence that stood firm and looked in control. However, with 4 minutes of regulation time left on the clock and with many tired legs in the Seaboard ranks, the Dubliner drew level when Seaboard failed to clear their lines and a Dubliner forward powered the ball into the corner from the edge of the box, with Torn getting a hand to the shot but being unable to prevent it from finding the net.
What could have been a very nervous final couple of minutes for Seaboard did not materialize as the Dubliner also seemed to have run out of energy after a long hard game in the Bangkok sun. The final whistle was soon to follow and with it the ecstatic cheers from the Londoner players watching, who were to claim the League Title on goal difference, with the Dubliner having failed to take all three points.
Final Score - Dubliner 3 Seaboard FC 3
Seaboard manager Rick Bryant was proud of every one of his players for their performance, not only on the afternoon but also for the previous 9 months of the season. He can look back with pleasure at some of the Seaboard performances this year but also mixed with some sadness as he knows that it could have been his team lifting the league trophy had they not suffered a dip in form for a few weeks in April.
Seaboard are in action again next weekend in Bangkok competing in the MBMG League Cup played over two days at Patana School.
Seaboard FC have been fortunate enough to secure the sponsorship of AGS Four Winds International Movers and Cranes and Equipment Ltd. Europe-Middle East-Asia for this season and would like to thank them for their continued support.
Anybody who could be interested in joining Seaboard FC, whether their stay in Thailand is for a long or short period is more than welcome to come down to the football pitch in Naklua every Tuesday evening at 6:30pm, contact us at [email protected] or call Peter on 01 810 1470.

The Beautiful Game?: Gerrard seals classic win

Riz Taylor
Harry Kewell limped off injured at the first sign of a twinge, the goalkeeper ended up the hero and Liverpool had to once again rely on Steven Gerrard to inspire an amazing comeback to draw 3-3 before clinching the trophy on penalties. Haven’t we seen this somewhere before?
The Champions League final came too late for this column’s deadline and we’ll talk about that next week, but Liverpool’s astonishing FA Cup win over the unfortunate West Ham brought back memories of last year’s comeback in Istanbul when, like Saturday, Liverpool came from nowhere to claim victory.
Once more it was Steven Gerrard that grabbed a final by the scruff off the neck and forced his side’s way back into what was easily the most exciting FA Cup Final in at least fifteen years. The midfielder’s pinpoint pass to Djibril Cisse for the first goal and two stunning efforts of his own sealed Gerrard’s reputation as arguably the world’s most effective footballer, and justified the player of the year award he was recently decorated with.
‘Miracle Man’, they said on the radio, and it was hard for anyone to consider suggesting otherwise. Gerrard almost left the Reds twelve months ago after Chelsea began dangling financial carrots in front of his nose, but the local boy stayed at Anfield and was rewarded with lifting this prestigious old trophy in the last game to be played at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Too often in recent years we’ve seen two of the top five sides in the final, paying each other too much respect and generally producing football that makes you want to jump from the nearest hotel balcony. But this game would be different, and West Ham arrived with a positive mindset and a commitment to entertain fans that would settle for nothing less.
They went for it. Hammers’ boss Alan Pardew’s game plan to get at Liverpool from the off paid off handsomely as, thanks to defensive errors from Liverpool, they raced into a 2-0 lead. But it was at this stage that Steven Gerrard decided enough was enough. You’ll have seen the rest.
As much as Gerrard’s performance lifted his own side, so did it improve the mood of a nation mourning the injury of superstar and children’s role-model Wayne Rooney. Gerrard has been hampered by Sven’s England midfield dithering that also accommodates David Beckham and Frank Lampard. Perhaps now is the time to admit that, shockingly, Lampard may be surplus to requirements. Gerrard’s marauding behind the strikers frightened the life out of West Ham during the second half, and this is a role that he might be asked to perform in Germany given England’s sudden lack of fit and available top-class strikers.
And while you’re at it, give Gerrard the captaincy too, they shout. And why not? Gerrard and John Terry are far more influential than David Beckham, in everyone’s books except Mr. Eriksson and the FA’s marketing men of course.
Alan Pardew hailed the Liverpool skipper after the match, but also reserved praise for his own side. “When I played with Crystal Palace in 1990 I came within eight minutes of winning it, today it was three. I thought we’d won it. We were defending quite well. They were not creating too many chances and then a special player popped up and produced a special moment. It was a body blow to us but even then we picked ourselves up and had a great chance. Unfortunately it fell to Marlon Harewood who was on one leg at the time. Bless him, he couldn’t move.
“We were up against a team who had won medals and had huge reputations,” he added. “We put that aside and almost pulled it off. It would have been a fantastic achievement if we had won, but they [his players] have been a part perhaps of one of the greatest finals ever. They can take great dignity and pride in their performance and the first big trophy is always the hardest one to win and you can’t come much closer than that.”
But his final word was on Gerrard. “I said to Steven at the end ‘I thought you might be saving that for the World Cup’. But maybe he has still got a few left.”
England fans will certainly hope so.
More penalty drama at Hampden
In Scotland, Hearts held their nerve to pick up the Tennent’s Scottish Cup 4-2 on penalties, destroying Division Two side Gretna’s hopes of a fairytale victory at Hampden Park.
The tiny club’s amazing season - which has seen them finish as Division Two champions and book a place in next season’s UEFA Cup by reaching the final - looked to be over at half-time after Rudi Skacel had given Hearts the lead after Deividas Cesnauskis had hit the post.
But Robbie Neilson denied David Graham a certain equaliser with an incredible saving tackle under his crossbar before Ryan McCuffie forced the ball past Hearts’ keeper Craig Gordon after his penalty was saved. That set up extra time and then the dreaded shootout, but Premier League side Hearts kept cool to bring home the club’s seventh cup win.
Juve board quit
Any remaining doubts of subtle match-tampering going on behind the scenes in Italy look set to be dispelled after Juventus’ board of directors quit the club last week. Three other Serie A clubs have also been accused of naughtiness, along with a number of senior officials at international level and a number of referees.
The timing could barely be worse for the Italians as they prepare for next month’s World Cup. Number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could be withdrawn from the squad after being accused of being involved in an illegal betting scandal - he is said to have wagered over two million euros over a number of games.
Arguably Italy’s biggest club, Juve could find themselves relegated from the top division and even have past titles taken away from them, should implications of false accounting and influencing the choice of referee for games be proven. The heart bleeds.
Spurs have new sponsor - No, it’s not Immodium
Spurs have begun the healing process of losing their Champions League spot on the final day of the season by signing a record sponsorship deal with Mansion, a UK-based internet betting firm. The deal will bring Spurs 34 million pounds over the next five years, and the Lilywhites look set to go on a spending spree by picking up some Bulgarian striker called Dmitar Berbatov and also testing Wigan’s resolve for talented right-back Pascal Chimbonda.

House of the Golden Coin leaves the rest behind

Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League

200 Bowlers - The men: Bill Key, Doug, Mark and Konrad - The ladies: Kran, La and Ooy

First place House of the Golden Coin took 3 points from Friends as they increased their lead. Grape Vine and Café Kronborg split their match 2and 2 but maintain second and third places. France dropped three points to Three Sisters but held on to fourth place. Jack & Tar got 3 points from Café Ole’ and moved up in the standings as they put Ole’ into the cellar. Montana, big winners for the day, took 4 from Mai’s Thai Restaurant. Domicil captured 3 points from Brother D. whilst VFW Post 9876 took 3 points from Shenanigans as the bottom 5 teams get tight.

The Square Ring

by Howie Reed

The boxing world mourns the loss of former world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. He died at age 71 at his ranch in New Paltz, New York. His passing ends the last touch of a period in boxing when it had a certain class. Floyd Patterson was a man with class, dignity and concern for his fellow human beings. Our loss of Floyd Patterson extends beyond boxing and sports. May he rest in peace.
Do you remember where you were 40 years ago on Sunday? That would have been May 21, 1966 for those that have just exited “Happy Hour” or stayed out too late celebrating last night. If you were a British fight fan you were either in attendance at the Sir Henry Cooper vs. Muhammad Ali heavyweight championship fight or watching it on the BBC.
When they fought for the first time in 1963 at Wembley, Cooper put Clay down in the 4th only to have referee Tommy Little stop the fight at 2:15 of the 5th as Cooper suffered severe cuts. Many believe that had referee Tommy Little not stopped that fight Cooper would have been world champion. One will never know.
The re match in 1966 was held at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London. This time Cooper lasted until 1:38 of the 6th round in a fight in which he was never in front. The 93 year old stadium closed a couple of weeks ago after the Arsenal Gunners finished their Premier League season with a win over Wigan (4-2) that propelled them to 4th place in the league table. Another landmark gone.
There is a chance that some boxing fans will feel the same way about De La Hoya-Mayorga as the British fans did Clay-Cooper. For many it was the first step on the way back for the sport. Pal O.R. checked in.
“Do you have any idea how frustrating it can sometimes be to have six sport channels that on more than one occasion are all showing soccer at the same time? I was almost ready to give up boxing and try to learn about that sport, along with cricket and something called IDS dancesport, which features stone-faced mannequins doing the Labamba, when the De La Hoya/Mayorga fight came on. To me, this was boxing at its best and it hearkened back to some of the old classics that guys your age fondly remember. Super stuff.”
On deck Sunday from Los Angeles is Marco Antonio Barrera (61-4) against Rocky Juarez (25-1) for the WBC & IBF Jr. lightweight title. This is a giant step for the younger Juarez who not too long ago was fighting in the Olympics. His lone loss came in 2005 when he stumbled against Humberto Soto, losing a UD (114-112, 114-113, 114-113) that was not nearly that close. Soto lost a point in both the 9th and 10th rounds for “hitting with his head”.
Juarez did come back with a couple of wins against guys he was expected to beat: a “washed up” Guty Espadas Jr. (38-6) and Zahir Raheem (26-1). The latter looked like a rank amateur against Acelino Freitas last month.
Since Barrera was KO’d by Manny Pacquaio in November of 2003 he’s had wins against Robbie Peden (25-2), Mzonke Fana (22-2), Eric Morales (47-2) and Paulie Ayala (35-3). Hard to see Juarez getting the win here.
Bummer from Merry Ole’ England last Saturday as Dapper Dave Stewart lost his first fight after 18 wins on the trot. In against former sparing partner Lee Meager for the British lightweight title, Stewart would last only part way through the 6th. The former sparring partners produced six cracking rounds of action with the momentum ebbing and flowing as the fight went on. Despite being floored in round four, Stewart, now 18-1(5), had Meager in trouble in the earlier rounds but after shipping a series of concussive hooks in round six, the referee intervened to call a halt to the action. No problem, Second Road Dave will get ‘im next time.
A frequent visitor to the Land of Smiles is world class boxing referee Bruce McTavish; originally from the “Land of Kiwi’s and Nervous Sheep” but now out of the Philippines. McTavish recently plied his trade in ‘Commie’ China where he refereed some “lady matches”. For years there was no ‘lady boxing’ in Thailand. “Thai lady no fight”. A statement obviously spoken by someone that doesn’t know Thai ladies.
That all changed last November when Japanese lady Champ Nanako Kikuchi won the WBC straw title from prison inmate Nongmai Sor Siripornwith. That fight took place at Klong Luang Prison in Pathum Thani. Last week Kikuchi was back in a Thai Jail, this one in Bangkok, to defend against Siriporn Thaweesuk with McTavish the only man in the ring when the opening bell sounded. Kikucki won a UD (97-93, 96-94, 96-94 ).
Siriporn Thaweesuk, who is serving a 10-year sentence for drug dealing, was not only fighting for a title but also a “get out of jail free card.” Using typical Thai logic the reduction was explained.
“If she had won the title then we could have freed her by suspending the rest of her jail term, because she would have had to defend her title outside the country,” said Siriporn Chutigulang, chief of the Woman’s Special Prison who also acts as the manager of its prison boxing camp. “But even though she lost today, we will consider reducing her jail term because she is a good prisoner.”
The story may still have a happy ending. Before the fight Siriporn had vowed she would fight her way out of prison. Cousin Bruce McTavish can now add to his resume, “Worked in a Thai woman’s prison.” After all this is Thailand.
Manchester’s Ricky Hatton (41-0) made his first world championship fight in the USA a winning one with a unanimous decision over now former WBA welter champ Luis Collazo (26-2) at the Fleet Center in Boston. The official scoring had Hatton winning 115-112, 115-112, 114-113. The Square Ring saw it 115-112 so that’s the way it must have been.
A “win is a win is a win” but this one for Hatton was not what he needed to crack the top level of the world’s welterweights. As a junior welter fighting at home, Hatton is king. At welter in America he’s ok but nothing special. The only knockdown came at 14 seconds into the first round when Hatton caught Collazo off balance. Collazo appeared to have Hatton in trouble in the 12th but couldn’t close the deal. A good fight but not a great one.
The Stadthalle in Zwickau, Germany had a double dipper last Saturday night. Markus Beyer (35-2) retained his WBC super middle belt on a technical draw, called mid way in round 4. Challenger Sakio Bika (20-2-1) had won the 3rd round after two sleep inducing opening stanza’s. In the 4th there was a clash of heads - Beyer was cut under the right eye and couldn’t continue.
In the other half of the double dipper, IBF middle champ Arthur Abraham (21-0) got a hard fought unanimous decision (115-112, 116-111, 117-109) over Kofi Jantuah (30-1). Referee Robert Byrd (Las Vegas, Nevada) took a point from Abraham at the end of the seventh for a punch that clearly landed on Jantuah’s ear, not behind the head. The fight was even more one-sided than the final score.
At The Ponds Forge Center, Sheffield, England it only took the better part of 6 rounds for Clinton Woods (39-3-1) to defend his IBF light heavy title against Jason DeLisle (18-5-2). In golf they say about putting, “never up, never in”. Well Aussie DeLisle was never “up” as he dined on a diet of right uppercuts that he had no answer for. In the sixth round the challenger was staggered by a punch and as he moved back onto the ropes, Woods landed with more uppercuts and hurtful punches. Top referee Dave Parris called a halt to the action at 1:55. Next up for Woods is a summer mandatory defence against Glenciffe Johnson.
A few weeks ago you read in the ‘Square Ring’ that when Naseem Hamed said, while attending a fight, that he would be coming back this year, I wrote “Horsedoodle - Naseem has a better chance of going to jail than he does fighting again.”
Guess what? The ‘Square Ring’ is right-on brother.
The press release said, “Former WBO and IBF Featherweight Champion Prince Naseem Hamed was today jailed for 15 months at Sheffield Crown Court for dangerous driving. The 32-year-old Hamed wrote off his $500,000 McLaren Mercedes when he was doing over 90 mph and hit an on-coming car that saw the other driver severely injured in the incident. The victim, Antony Burgin aged 38 years of age spent several weeks in hospital and doctors confirmed he broke every major bone in his body. Hamed has talked about making a comeback later in 2006 but this sentence will prevent this happening in the short term.”
Probably the long term also!
“Sir you seem in a particularly good mood today. Could it be Naseem going to the Nick?”
“Jeeves you are correct.”
“A beverage sir?”
“Yes Jeeves, and keep them coming.”

Saranya’s super show

IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral

The Pattaya Golf Society’s first May OM event was a medal competition at Eastern Star on Tuesday, May 9, and whilst Pattaya suffered heavy downpours the skies over Ban Chang remained friendly even if the atmosphere was exceptionally humid.
The course at the moment is not at its best with scarring on all the green fringes and a compulsory local rule bans shots from the fringe, necessitating a drop, usually into the semi-rough. This is hardly conducive to good scoring but the group made a good fist of their task.
Keith Barr played consistently again and presented a card bearing a fine net 75 to share third place with Arthur Hancock, whose triple bogey on the last robbed him of a higher place. In second was Mikael Andersson and his net 74 was a good score under the circumstances. At the top of the leaderboard was the elusive Saranya Chaiyanont, who is in the best form of her short career at the moment and she will yet again test the handicapper’s mathematics with her stunning four-under round of 68.
Other highlights of the day included a brace of birdies by Arthur Hancock and he took the rolled over twos pot with glee. The event also saw the return to the golf course of Len Jones, following doctors’ orders and “giving it a go” when he felt his recent pulmonary problems had eased. Fourteen holes served as fine mental therapy, the final four being better consigned to “experience”. However in admitting to a four-putt on the seventeenth he joined a similarly “putting challenged” Denis Smith and celebrated the day with the Booby Bevy. It had certainly been a day to remember, especially for Saranya.
Allidi’s roadshow continues
Thursday, May 11, the Pattaya Golf Society travelled to the Emerald course at Ban Chang for their weekly stableford event and on ‘National Ploughing Day’ they found what they expected, a course with fairways resembling a newly ploughed field.
Preferred lies were the order of the day as declared by leader Denis Smith, who also happened to be celebrating his birthday that day. That spice set up the day for an excellent competition and the large field was cut at 19 and under.
In division two the golfers found the going tough and it was left to Mick Moore to set the benchmark on only his second round with the PGS as he posted a score of 29 points to take third place. There were joint winners of the flight and Paul Quodomine celebrated his imminent return “stateside” with a good 32 points card, which tied with that of Tony Duthie to share the honours for the flight. It was also Tony’s first win with the PGS in more than a year.
The top flight saw the ‘real action’ with the top nine places on the day’s full leaderboard occupied by golfers on nineteen or less. It was, therefore, fitting that the podium places went to those who had broken par on the tough course. Jan Eriksen and Stuart Thompson recorded scores of 37 points to take third place whilst Chris Holmes, a professional caddy of some twenty years standing, read the course well to post a score of 38 points and take the runner-up spot.
What can you say about the winning score? Once again Mike Allidi turns up, having seen his handicap recently cut and again plays one of the rounds of the year in carding a gross 70, representing a three-under score of 39 points. Not only did it give him the divisional but also the warm glow of knowing that he was still inching towards the magic “scratch” mark in the handicap list. Well done, Mike, here’s to a hat-trick of seventies next time out at Phoenix!
Back at the OK Corral the presentation and birthday party saw the “twos” pot presented to Chris Holmes, Ya Chaiyanont and Mike Allidi (two) for their fine birdies and the special booby prizes went to Colin Reaney for the shortest drive of the day off the first. The low score prize in division one went to Les Hall (30) and in division two the recipient was Nick Cardy whose 23 points score won on count back from Ian Kidd and Mr. Denis. It had certainly been a happy birthday for the gaffer!

Deja’ Vu for Dale

PSC golf from The Three Sisters Bar

With storm clouds gathering on the horizon, the golfers moved out as they arrived at the course. Paul Kraft and his group led the way as Dougie Powell and his group brought up the rear. The winners though came from the middle of the pack.
Last week it was Murphy’s Law and this week it was deja’vu. Dale Murphy again laid down the law as he hammered the field with 44 Points. It was a close call as it came down to the last putt to determine the winner. Bob Benda was breathing down Dale’s neck. Bob parred the last hole as Dale bogeyed but he managed to hang on with 2 points for his bogey. Bob came in with 43 points to take second place. Get the razor blade out and give these guys a haircut.
Holding the bottom spot this week with 20 points was John Annison. Maybe he was thinking of going back to work instead of concentrating on his game. It paid off for Frank Skorpinski and Rollie Weese as they escaped with a big smile on their faces. It will be interesting as Marvin Smith and Tully get back into the fray next week.

McDonald’s massacre the field - revenge for Glen Coe?

PSC golf from The Bunker

Monday, May 8,
Khao Kheow,
Stableford
The Bunker Boy’s chose to play a Stableford competition at Khao Kheow golf course and it was the McDonald clan that took most of the honours. The B Flight had a tie for first place between Geoff Parker and Hakan Widestedt who both finished with 33 points whilst in the A Flight, Aussie John McDonald took second place with 33 points and Scotsman Rab McDonald won with 34 points.
One of the near pin prizes went to Geoff Parker and the other three went to the McDonalds again, this time it was John who took some consolation after losing out in the Stableford competition to his namesake Rab.
Wednesday, May 10, Burapha, Medal
The McDonalds were at it again in the Medal competition at Burapha. This time John won the day finishing with a net 74 ahead of Rab who could only manage a net 78 with Bruce Lawrence claiming third place with a net 79.
In the B Flight there was a tie for third place between Sunny Ruthsip and David Lightfoot who both shot a net 81, second place went to David Johnson who went one shot better and first place went to last month’s Golfer of the Month, Mick Ramshaw who finished with a net 75. The relatively poor scores were blamed on the downpour that came about halfway through the round, which held play up for almost an hour!
Only three greens were hit in the near pin competition, one prize went to PJ Redmond, one to Geoff Parker and the other to John McDonald.
Friday, May 12,
Emerald, Stableford
Friday, and it was off to The Emerald golf course in Ban Chang for the second Stableford competition of the week and, after the thunderstorm that greeted our arrival had stopped, there was some good golf played.
The course drained quite quickly and with the cut at eleven and under Tony Geeland won the B Flight with 33 points, in second place came Geoff Parker with 30 points and Bob Turner took third place with 28 points.
In the A Flight the McDonalds renewed their rivalry, this time it was Rab who took revenge winning with the best score of the day 39 points, second spot went to Bob Morrison with John McDonald coming in third with 29 points.
The near pin prizes were shared between Gavin Perfect Geoff Parker, William Macey and Rab McDonald.
Bunker Bar Charity Open
The Bunker Bar in conjunction with The Buffalo Bar (on 3rd Road) is holding a Charity Open Golf Tournament with the main sponsor’s being HomeHunters (located upstairs in Pattaya Bazaar on the Dolphin Roundabout)
The format will be Individual Stableford (Men Only), there will be two Divisions 0-18 Handicap and 18.5+ (Full PSC or IPGC Handicaps) and will be played on Friday, June 2 at The Phoenix Country Club.
To register call in at The Bunker Bar on Soi Chaiyapoon (near Exzite Disco) entrance fee is 1500B.
There will be a welcome hotdog and coffee on arrival and this includes green fees, caddy fees and polo shirt, a free post-event buffet at The Bunker Bar and many prizes and entertainment at The Buffalo Bar in the evening with all profits being donated to a local Children’s Charity.
Register early as the number of players is limited!