Khalsa Team brings home Prime Minister’s trophy

PSC Pattaya Festival Bowling Tournament

The Khalsa Team of Naini Grover, Sailor, and Manjit Singh out-bowled a large field of the area’s top keglers on April 12th & 13th to bring home the first Pattaya Sports Club H.E. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai Trophy.

The fun-filled tournament was organized by the Pattaya Sports Club to be an integral part of Pattaya Festival 1999.

Mayor Pairat and the pround winners in all categories of the 1999 Pattaya Sports Club Pattaya Festival bowling tournament.

Deputy City Manger Niran Watanasartsathorn got the proceedings underway when he opened bowling Tournament on the 12th.

Thereafter, hundreds of bowlers representing different clubs, organizations and nationalities took part in the two days of action packed bowling.

Naini Grover, Sailor, and Manjit Singh were perhaps warming up for their Khalsa Panth celebration tournament on the 14th. Whatever the case might have been, the Khalsa team, behind an outstanding performance by Naini Grover, got past an equally fine output from Ambassador Hotel’s Suthama Thana, Supatra (La) Traifuen and Somdeth Bunlang, who finished second.

The prize presentation ceremony on the 13th of April was presided over by Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Pattaya’s Deputy City Manager Wirawat Kakai, and Pol. Lt. Col Supaseth Chokechai, Chief of the Pattaya Tourist Police.

Mayor Pairat brought the tournament to a close, thanking the Pattaya Sports Club for their participation in the Pattaya Festival Bowling Tournament and wishing them well.

Pratheep Malhotra, President of the Pattaya Sports Club, thanked the organizers, Supatra Traifuen (La Montgomery), Suthama Thana, Ken Crow, Craig Lewis, Jan Olav Aamlid and Jon Tellefsen. Their hard work throughout the planning and competition days was most strenuous and they performed perfectly.

Pratheep also thanked the Woodlands Resort for supplying flowers and sofas for the opening ceremony, and thanked the many dignitaries that attended, including Supadit Maneeratjaratsri and Thanet Supaharangsri. He promised that next year the Pattaya Sports Club would organize an even grander sports event for the festival.

Final Results: 1st Place Team: Khalsa Team: Naini Grover, Sailor, Manjit Singh. 2nd: Ambassador Hotel: Suthama Thana, Supatra Montgomery, Somdeth Bunlang. 3rd: Café Kronborg: Songkran Sawassing, Egon Nielsen, Kannika Mak. High Game Men: Naini Grover High Game Women: Songkran Sawassing High Series Men: Otto Wester High Series Women: Saowkaew Thamyod

Deputy Prime Minister’s Tournament

Pattaya Sports Club Pattaya Festival Fishing

Thirty contestants on seven boats entered the Pattaya Sports Club’s Pattaya Festival Fishing Tournament to compete for Deputy Prime Minister Bichai Rattakul’s Trophy. The tournament was held on April 14th and 15th.

The boats left at 5:00 a.m. both mornings from South Pattaya and Bang Saray, returning at 6:00 p.m. in the evening for weigh-ins. The boats going out on Wednesday weathered some rough seas, high winds and rain. Thursday was forecast to be even rougher, and it was questioned if the Bang Saray boats would be able to participate due to the poor weather conditions. As it turned out, the storm by-passed the area, making for a great day of competition.

A happy crew of fisherman after a good day at sea in the 1999 Pattaya Sports Club Pattaya Festival deep sea fishing tournament.

Captain Dang’s boat, the Talay Tong, received all the awards for the largest fish. First place went to Ralf Bernard for a 21.5 kg black tip shark, second place to Frank Collins for a 6.8 kg Pompano, and third to Tim Bobos for a 6.3 kg Pompano. Middy Campbell and Roger Hirons on the same boat didn’t have as much luck.

Carl Engel, Dick Devin, Steve McCoy, Herbie Ishinaga and Bernd Bratsch on Captain Kae’s boat, the Somsaksamut 3, nearly took the number one spot. On Thursday, Carl battled for close to an hour with a 30 kg Sailfish, only to lose the catch as his tackle fouled while passing the rod across the bow of the boat as the fish was making his final run.

Unfortunately, Jim Smith had the same luck when losing his 40-kg Marlin, also on Thursday after struggling for an hour and a half. Jim’s partners included Tony Gooden and Michael Driffill on Captain Muq’s boat, the Chocburibun.

The Benjarmart, Captain Ting’s boat from Bang Saray with Banana Nielsen, Darl White, Sophon Pontuweth, Phanuthat Ruamsap and Captain Egon Nielsen came back with 17 Dolphin fish, but none large enough to place. Selwyn Lightly, Blondie Robinson, Banana Billy and Jan Andersen fishing with Captain Jong on the Namsap were also unlucky.

For the tournament, over 100 kg were caught, comprised of Sharks, Pompano, Tuna, Dolphin fish, and Leather fish.

The closing Ceremonies were held on the wharf at South Pattaya. Carl Engel, the Pattaya Sports Club Fishing Commissioner and Peter Malhotra, President of the Pattaya Sports Club conducted the ceremonies and presented the trophies to the winners.

Many thanks go to the joint sponsors of this event, the Pattaya Sports Club and the Pattaya City Festival.

The next Pattaya Sports Club fishing tournament is to be held on May 16th. It’s a great way to relax, have some fun and meet some people. For further information on this tournament or the Pattaya Sports Club’s monthly fishing events, contact Carl Engel at 410-228 or fax to 426-121. Frank Collins is also available to provide information, call or fax 723-511.

Navy Sailors thrash Royal Varuna at Laser C ‘ships

In light, shifting winds, a strong contingent of Royal Thai Navy sailors from Sattahip took away the top honours at the 1999 Laser National Championships raced off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, South Pattaya last weekend. Navy man Verasit Pougnak placed his name for the third time on the Pan Pan perpetual trophy.

Triple champ Verasit holds the Pan Pan trophy, flanked by the 1999 competitors. Peter Cummins photo.

Peter Cummins reports from Pattaya

It could have been remarked as "third time lucky" for Thai Navy man Verasit Pougnak who, last weekend, won his third Laser National Championship of Thailand. Luck, however, had nothing to do with the defending champion carrying away the title again, from a top field.

Leading a team of fellow ratings from the Sattahip Naval Base north to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club for the 1999 championships, Verasit scored a perfect five-race winning streak in the five races counted out of the six sailed, discarding a lowly second place as his worst score. "A rather enviable throw away," one competitor was heard to remark, with not a little grim humour!

The rout of the Royal Varuna sailors continued throughout the minor placings, as Thai Navy men Manas and Somkiat finished second and third on 12 and 13 penalty points respectively.

Fortunately for Royal Varuna, Morton Jakobsen sailed very well indeed, considering the very light conditions which prevailed, to finish fourth on 21 points. Then followed Thai Navy men Chulapong (25), Suthee (29) and Royal Varuna sailor Shin Suenaga (41), fifth to seventh. Navy’s Sakda (47) was eighth and Royal Varuna men Khan (51) and Suwan Poopoksakul (54) were ninth and tenth.

Varuna was redeemed in the special divisions, with Suwan Poopoksakul winning the Masters Division (the not-so-young category of 46 - 54 years) and Charlie Zbinden (the not-so-old ‘gray hounds of the Gulf", at 55 years plus). Thai Navy ‘youngster’ Somkiat bolyed home with the Apprentice Division - the under 45-ers!

Sathivee Sukarom, nicknamed "Nam" - rather apt, one could surmise, for a participant in a regatta held on the eve of Songkran - was awarded the prize for the first lady to finish.

It was also appropriate that there were 29 entries in this, the 29th sailing of the Laser National Championships of Thailand, first held in 1981. The inaugural winner was the incomparable Albert T. Chandler, the man responsible for introducing this universally-popular little single-hander into the Kingdom.

The list of winners over the past two decades is basically an insight into the "who’s who" of yacht racing in Thailand. Verasit Pougnak won the title first in 1992, last year and again this year. In some of his off years, he finished second to Somkiat in 1996 and Patrick Helms in 1997.

A two-time champ who finished mid-fleet this time around was the renowned Suraphol Tippawongse, winner in 1988 and 1989. On the contrary, notable absentees this year were the Helms helms - the three of them: father Wolfgang (who, it is rumoured, uses a different first-name when in Pattaya), son Patrick - double national champ (1995, 1997) and 17-year-old daughter, Bianca who is always lurking near the top and is usually the first Laser lady winner in these competitions.

Under the eagle-eye of international race officer Lawnin Crawford who took time out from his horrendous work-load in Songkhla to come to Pattaya and run the event, the 1999 championship was a fine example of top race management. With Emily Whitehead faithfully recording the numbers as they finished, not even father Neil, who finished in a very good twelfth place overall on 59 points, received any familial leniency from the race committee vessel anchored mid-stream.

With low, scudding cloud cover and some big wind shifts, Lawnin wisely finished four races on day one of the two-day event, leaving only two more needed for the second day. Even then, with massive storms building in the south-east and moving along the shore northwards, it was more than two hours before he could risk a start. Thus are some of the hazards of race management.

Results of the 1999 Laser National Championship of Thailand (place, points, first 15 only): 1. Verasit (5); 2. Manat (12); 3. Somkiat (13); 4. Morten (21); 5. Chulapong (25); 6. Suthee (29); 7. Suenaga-san (41); 8. Sakda (47); 9. Khan (51); 10. Suwan (54); 11. Les (56); 12. Neil Whitehead (59); 13. Charlie (59); 14. Dhani (60); 15. Neil Semple (65).

Darren wins dad’s tournament

John Ottaway’s 60th Birthday Paradise Classic

Pattaya Country Club, Friday 16th April 1999

John Ottaway wanted to combine his birthday with a golf tournament. There is nothing unusual about that in Pattaya. Papa Ray Rogers does it every year in May. Bjarne Nielsen does it every year with the "Banana" Scramble. Heck, even Stephen Beard does it with the Hare House Invitational. But John Ottaway was looking for a one shot deal. This was the big 6-0 and he wanted to celebrate it in style. On Friday, April 16, the Pattaya Sports Club, in association with the Paradise Club (Soi 8), held the John Ottaway 60th Birthday Paradise Classic at Pattaya Country Club.

Fifty four of John’s friends, relatives, acquaintances and fellow members of the Pattaya Sports Club teed it up in a Two Man Scramble. When the day was over, the message was clear. If you are going to become sixty years old, Pattaya is the place to do it; golf is the way to do it; the Pattaya Sports Club golfers are the people to do it with; and the Paradise Club is where to cut the cake. Or in this case, where to uncork the champagne. John had a helluva birthday party.

The winners of the John Ottaway 60th Birthday Paradise Classic were Stan Fry and Darren Ottaway. That is correct, Darren Ottaway - as in John’s son. What a Cinderella finish to a magical day. Together, these two golfers have a total gross handicap of nine. They were only allowed 1.8 strokes off their gross score. They shot a gross 65. If this really was a once in a lifetime event, it’s a good thing. There would be no way to top this.

In second place were Svend Berthelsen and Graham Faithful. They came in with a gross score of three under par. Knocking off 4.4 strokes with their handicap allowance, they ended the day with a net 64.6. That was just two tenths of a stroke over the third place team of Damian South and Lee Messenger who finished the day with a gross 67 and a net 64.8.

With any birthday party, there are the birthday presents. Only in this case, the guests were receiving instead of giving. There was an extensive Lucky Draw that had so many goodies almost everyone at the party got a gift. There were golf balls, golf shirts, a golf bag, and a Paul Way putter used in the 1983 Ryder Cup, but unfortunately not appearing on the carousel at Bangkok airport when John arrived. The search goes on for that, and a Maxfli Pro-Bag which disappeared in transit too. And for the thirsty guests there were yards of ale, jugs of beer, and a couple of bottles of champagne. There was even a large Viagra pill that was won by a certain Englishman who left the party looking like a man on a mission. And sandwiched in between the team awards and the Lucky Draw was a moving tribute to John Ottaway that evoked tears from John’s friends who were laughing so hard they had to prop each other up.

It is often said by the expat community in Pattaya that it is impossible to do justice to an explanation of what life here is like. John Ottaway’s birthday party was a typical slice of Pattaya life. First there was the Birthday Breakfast buffet at the Cafe Kronborg. Then an enormously fun day of golf at the Pattaya Country Club. Then a buffet dinner at the Paradise Club on Soi 8 that included Texas ribs, Italian calzone, and Thai green curry. The evening was capped with a cabaret show of Miss Tiffany wannabees. Not your typical day in the suburbs. That John Ottaway thinks he is in Paradise, and that most of us agree with him, says it all.

Results

Team Places
Winners: Darren Ottaway & Stan Fry, H’Cap1.8, Gross 65, Net 63.2
2nd Place: Graham Faithful & Svend Berthelsen, H’Cap4.4, Gross 69, Net 64.6
3rd Place: Damian South & Lee Messenger, H’Cap 2.2, Gross 67, Net 64.8

Near Pins; #5 Lee Messenger, #7 George Jackson, #12 Stan Fry, #16 Svend Berthelsen.

Long Drives: #8 Men (19-36) Mike Dabanovich, #11 Men (0-18) Ben Tidby.
Longest First Putt: #9 Graham Holmes, #18 Bob Westendorf.

Honda back on top at Bira

Following on from their trouncing by the Toyota Team Thailand Corolla last month at the local Bira International Circuit, the local Honda drivers came back with a vengeance at last week’s meeting in the Thailand Touring Car Championship.

The Toyota Team had worked night and day to field two cars this time, with regular driver Natavud in the lead car and "Pete" (the film star) in the second. However, Honda Civic drivers Apatorn and Ekprawat had done their homework and the first heat saw the two Honda drivers take the top two positions with Natavud one second behind them at the end.

In the second heat, Natavud received a helping hand towards the shrubbery and after rejoining at the tail end spent the rest of the race coming through from the rear. Up front, however, it was Apatorn all the way with "Pete" in the Toyota, and then the hard charging Natavud at the final flag.

In the Showroom (Under 1500 cc) class it was Anothai Eamlumnow all the way with three wins in the Honda City R. Anothai, a graduate of the Jim Russell Race Drivers School, has improved markedly since last year. He will now incur a weight penalty of 60 KG for the next round. His closest rival, Worapoj is already carrying 75 KG which will be increased to 95 KG following his second placing last week.

In the motorcycle Big Bike category it was a great win for the local hero Viroj on the Honda with the internationals Kaminao and Malucchi on the Kawasakis coming in for the minor placings.

Patterson and Pechoki: Songkran week winners

Pattaya Sports Club Golf from the Café Kronborg

The Songkran exodus resulted in small fields at Sattahip and Pattaya Country Club for the Pattaya Sports Club Golf crew out of the Cafe Kronborg.

Roland Pechoki’s 6 under par net 66 won the day at Sattahip on Monday, while Bob Patterson’s 41 Stableford points tamed Pattaya Country Club on Thursday.

Sattahip - Monday 12th April (Stroke)

Winner: Roland Pechoki, Net 66
2nd: Kristen Helgasson, Net 68
3rd: Graham Faithful, Net 71

Pattaya Country Club - Thursday 15th April (Stableford)

Winner: Bob Patterson, 41 points
2nd: Graham Faithful, 40 points
3rd: George Jackson, 39 points

More PSC Golf for April

April continues on Sunday the 25thth with Lewiinski’s playing stroke at Noble Place, then on Monday the 26th there is a choice of stroke at Natural Park Resort with PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg, or Stableford at Bangpra with the PSC Splinter Group from the Green Bottle.

On Tuesday the 27th, PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker goes to Green Valley for a medal competition, while the Smokers from Lewiinski’s go to Laem Chabang to play Stableford. Scandic Hotel go to excellent Bangpra to play Stableford.

On Wednesday the 28th there is a trip to Sattahip from the Green Bottle playing a two-man better ball, or a scramble at Green Valley from Hare House.

On Thursday the 29th of April, PSC Golf Café Kronborg goes to Pattaya Country Club for the Kronborg Monthly Mug medal round.

The week ends with the last major tournament of the month, Delaney’s ‘Funhill’ Cup at Rayong Green Valley. This is a new two-man scramble event with competing teams of the same nationality and a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start. Sign-up at Delaney’s with Kim Fletcher, with Mike Franklin or at the Café Kronborg. Sign-up early for this tournament as a large entry is anticipated from Delaney’s Bangkok.

The full May schedule can be seen at the PSC Golf Venues, in Pattaya Mail and at our Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Finch and Riley prove better pair

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, April 14 - Eastern Star Resort Country Club (Pairs Better Ball)

1st: Russell Finch & Harry Riley, 64 Net
2nd: Jimmy Little & Serge Straeten, 65 Net C/B
3rd: Stephen Beard & Mike Spear, 65 Net

Russell Finch and Harry Riley won the TAGGS Pairs Better Ball competition at Eastern Star on Wednesday, April 14. That was not too surprising a result considering that Russell had shot a gross 78 off sixteen at Siam the day before and everyone in the Hare House knew it. But in the off again-on again rain at Eastern Star it was Harry who came shining through. After a better ball score of 32 on the front nine, Russell began to falter and Harry won seven of the last nine holes outright to give the team another 32 and a net total of 64.

One stroke back in second place were Serge Straeten and Jimmy Little. Serge was a very tired man after carrying Jimmy on the front nine. It wasn’t until the twelfth hole that Jimmy finally woke up and won six holes in a row to salvage a dismal start.

In third place at 65 net and losing out on second place in a count back were Stephen Beard and Mike Spear. On this long and difficult course, Mike was the only player in the field to better his handicap.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.