They didn’t win the race, but the Pullman Pattaya
Hotel G team did win the most colorful costume trophy in this year’s running of
the Pattaya Bed Race. Organized by the Rotary Club of Pattaya, for the 5th
straight year a convoy of decorated “beds” raced along Beach Road, much to the
amusement of the thousands of tourists who lined the streets to watch.
Derek Franklin & Warunya Thongrod
The Pattaya International Bed Race took place on the last Sunday of January.
This annual event, now in its fifth year, saw a convoy of decorated beds racing
along Beach Road, much to the amusement of the thousands of tourists who lined
the streets to watch.
Teams from the Hilton, Hard Rock, Pullman and Mercure hotels joined nineteen
other teams, including those from the Floating Market, the French Club Ensemble
and Planet Football, to make this year’s race one of the biggest ever.
Sonthaya Kunplome (3rd right) Minister of Culture
presided over the charity event.
The Father Ray Foundation entered four teams with the foreign volunteers pushing
beds for the Pattaya International Ladies Club and the Seashells Restaurant in
London.
Two teams of boys from the Father Ray Children’s Home pushed beds sponsored by
King Seafood and Lions Club, both located in Pattaya.
Sonthaya Kunplome, Minister of Culture, pressed the klaxon to start the race
which saw the participants pushing their beds from Central Festival Beach Road
to the finish line on Walking Street. The race started with two teams racing
against each other. They were followed one minute later when another two teams
started and this continued until all teams had left the starting point. The team
completing the course in the lowest time would be declared winner.
A Pattaya school marching band leads marchers down
Beach Road in the opening parade.
This year, there were two additional awards, Most Colorful Team, won by the
Pullman Pattaya Hotel G team, and Most Exciting Team, this year won by Hard Rock
Hotel.
Each team who crossed the finish line received a trophy, including the gentlemen
from Murphy’s Law, a local Irish bar which enters each year and who have
finished last each year.
In 2012 the Father Ray Foundation volunteers carried off the winner’s trophy,
but unfortunately they were not fast enough this year. They watched as the
winning team from the local Mercure Hotel was called to the stage to receive the
trophy for the fastest bed to cross the finish line.
The beautiful centerpiece of the bed pushed by the
Father Ray Children’s Home.
Once again this year, the event was organized by the Rotary Club of Pattaya,
along with Pattaya City Hall.
Thappraya volunteers were on hand to watch out for the safety of tourists and to
try to prevent any accidents as the bed racers sped down Beach Road. Nurses and
emergency medical staff from Pattaya Hospital were also on standby to attend to
the participants at the finish line.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Rotary Club of Pattaya for future charity
activities.
Not as easy to push as it looks.
Soowai mak - the Central Festival Pattaya Beach team
smiles during the opening parade.
Phyathai Sriracha Hospital’s team of doctors, nurses
and patients are certainly enjoying the activity.
The Sayama team features a bikini version of Jack
and Rose on the beach, an interesting site for tourists taking pictures.
The Club Ensemble team races towards Walking Street.
The Makro Pattaya team cooks up some fun during the
opening parade.
A Michael Jackson lookalike helped the Hard Rock
Hotel cross the finish line.
Sayama and Pullman Pattaya Hotel G are neck and neck
as they race down Beach Road.
The team from Murphy’s Law celebrate finishing last,
as they do every year.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh presents the winning
trophy to the Mercure Hotel.
Winners Mercure Hotel poses with their trophy and
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh (right).
The Cape Dara Hotel team poses with their souvenir
cup for the Pattaya International Bed Race.
The foreign volunteers from the Father Ray
Foundation.
Yeah! The Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya team gives out a
rebel yell at the finish line.
Jamlong Passara (2nd right), president of Rotary
Club Pattaya 2012-2013, presents the “wooden spoon” trophy to Murphy’s Law for
finishing last in the Pattaya International Bed Race 2013.
Hilton Pattaya General Manager Philippe Kronberg
(kneeling, center) celebrates with employees at the finish line..
Murphy’s Law poses with the Thappraya volunteers at
the end of the race after the latter worked to ensure the safety of all the
contestants and spectators.
