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Over a dozen teams to face off in OK Cup International Ice Hockey Tournament in Chiang Mai
Ice hockey in the tropics? Sure enough, the OK Cup
International Ice Hockey Tournament is scheduled get underway next
Wednesday, October 30 at the Bully Sky Ice Skating Rink in the Kad Suan Kaew
shopping complex off Huay Kaew Road, just outside the northeast (or Hua Lin)
corner of Chiang Mai City.
Ice hockey teams from Korea, Hong Kong, Mainland China,
Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Dubai, Switzerland, Finland,
Thailand and two teams from host Chiang Mai will face off for the coveted OK
Cup.
Games will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, noon on
Thursday October 31, and 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday November 1 and 2 (see
schedule).
The format in the International Division will be a round
robin for teams within their pool, with the top four teams advancing to a
cross-over quarterfinals, and hopefully for them, onto the semifinals and
finals.
The format in the Asian Division will be a round robin
within the pool, which will determine rankings 1-4 for the quarterfinals and
semifinals.
Each game will be two 20-minute periods. Two points will
be awarded for each win, one point for a tie. Quarterfinal rankings will be
based on points, or in the case of ties inside the pool, wins, head-to-head
competition, least goals against, least penalty minutes, and finally goal
differential.
In case a game should end in a tie, then an 8-minute, three on three
overtime will be played. If the game is still tied after that, it will be
decided by a three man shoot-out, except for the final when additional
8-minute overtime periods will be played until a winner is decided in
overtime.
Chiang Mai youths fare well in table tennis tournament on the coast
Chiang Mai’s dynamic table tennis duo Atip and Aekapop
took one first and two second places in the 7th Tibhar Table Tennis
Tournament played in Pattaya earlier this month.
Champions
of the 7th Tibhar Table Tennis Tournament display their hard-won trophies.
Chiang Mai’s dynamic duo of Atip and Aekapop brought back three trophies,
one first and two second places.
The two rising table tennis stars, neither of whom is
over 14 years old, won the Boys’ Under 14 Doubles over the host team of
Apivith and Attaphon from Mike’s Tibhar team.
Atip and Aekapop then stepped up an age class and
finished second in the Boys’ Under 18 Doubles category, narrowly missing a
doubles sweep.
Aekapop then added to his team’s trophy cabinet by
finishing second in the Boys’ Under 14 Singles Division.
The 7th Tibhar Tournament, held October 12 and 13 in
Pattaya, drew competitors from around the country and from various part of
the world. Over 150 table tennis players competed in the tournament, coming
from as far as Chiang Mai in the north and Ranong in the south from
Thailand, and from Europe to represent an international contingent. Many
were preparing for the ‘big’ tournament to be held in December this
year.
The international over 40s nearly stole the show, as the
team of Thomas from Mike Tibhar and Pierre from Switzerland put on quite a
display en route to winning their doubles match over Somyos and Montri from
Ping Pong Pattaya.
Next month, Saturday & Sunday November 9 and 10, will
be the final round of monthly matches before the 3-day tournament in
December, which will have 100,000 baht in prize money up for grabs.
For further information or to enter a team in the “big show”, contact
DK Jaava Sport Co., Ltd. on Tel/Fax. 038 775312 or mobile phone: 01 333 9358
(English and German) or 01 524 3394 (Thai) or via email: tkjaava@hotmail.com
Chiang Mai Bike Week planning full steam ahead
Planning for the Chiang Mai Bike Week is going full speed
ahead, and organizers are nearly ready already. The event is scheduled to
take place December 6-9 in Chiang Mai.
The Chiang Mai Bike Week project is a travel and tourism
based activity for members of large motorcycle clubs both within and outside
of Thailand. Proceeds from the project will be added to the funds of the
Region 5 Provincial Police’s Anti-Drug (methamphetamines) campaign, as
well as to aid the tourist police and other charity organizations.
In addition, the project encompasses the promotion of
tourism in Chiang Mai and other provinces in Northern Thailand, the use of
helmets in accordance with Thai regulations and traffic laws, the exhibition
of motorcycles, and competitive games in order to establish and strengthen
relationships between all motorcycle enthusiasts. Last but not least, allow
us to host a charity ball.
The Chiang Mai Bike Week project was first organized in
Pitsanulok in 1999 by the North Comets Motorcycle Club (Chiang Mai), a club
for motorcycle lovers and the organizers of motorcycling activities in
Chiang Mai. About two hundred motorcycles participated in this first event.
The following year, the event was held in Chiang Mai and named, “K9
Drug-Busting Project” and the number of participating bikes and riders
rose to three hundred. Most recently the project was re-named “Chiang Mai
Bike Week” and has been very successful, with no less than eight hundred
participating members and bikes from a convention of motorcycling clubs from
all over the country, including the Immortals MC (Harley-Davidson Thailand)
Club, Nationwide Harley-Davidson Clubs, BMW Motosport Club (Thailand), Siam
Biker Club, Hanuman Club (Had-Yai), Southern Big Bike Club, Rider Club, and
Jumbo Club.
Also included are motorcycle clubs from other parts of
the world, including Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Germany,
Poland, and England.
This year, the organizing committee has coordinated with
a number of motorcycling clubs around the world and incorporated a wider
public relation’s campaign. Due to the success in the events of previous
years, it is expected that international participants will rise to 300
machines and the event will be considered a very large gathering to reflect
the promotion of something of great social value. This in turn can be used
to promote the country and the unity and harmony in Thai society in the eyes
of foreigners. It can also be considered as promoting the tourism industry
to participating foreigners which, in the long term, will eventually draw
tourist money into the communities in the Northern Region of Thailand.
Itinerary
December 6, 2002
09.00 Participating motorcycles begin to arrive in Chiang
Mai and check into their accommodations
16.00 Registration and welcome parade, including
exhibition of food, handicrafts and souvenirs
18.00 Welcome banquet for participants
December 7, 2002
09:00 Parade of motorcycles through the city to promote
safe and disciplined driving
10.30 Travel to various tourist attractions in the
province as well as visit different projects around the city of Chiang Mai
13.00 Exhibition of motorcycles (Mini Motorcycle Show) to
display or demonstrate products and services of the sponsors of the event
and the display of motorcycles from the various participating clubs. In
addition, there will be activities and other games, such as eating hot dogs
(or banana) while riding and the Miss Chiang-Mai Bike Week 2002 pageant.
19.30 Official Party or Charity Banquet with
acknowledgements and thanks to sponsors and participating clubs.
December 8, 2002
09:00 Shopping and travel to various tourist attractions
in the Province at Boh-Saang, Ban Tawai, Sankampaeng
19:00 Farewell Party
December 9, 2002
09:00 Parade of motorcycles through various provinces on their way home
Army, air force, police and the media stage friendly soccer matches
Wing 41 of the Air Force recently hosted a friendly
soccer tournament to develop better relationships between the army, air
force, police and mass media, so that the four separate Chiang Mai entities
will be able to cooperate better in future endeavors.
Teams
from the army, air force, police and media prepare for friendly competition.
The four teams that competed were from the 33rd Military
Circle (Kavila Camp), Chiang Mai Provincial Police Division, Chiang Mai mass
media and Air Force Wing 41.
The matches were held at the Wing’s main stadium, and the winner
received a trophy from Group Captain Arnond Jarayaphan, the commander of
Wing 41.
Trivia Quiz nights popular at the U.N. Irish Pub
The U.N. Irish Pub & Restaurant, on Rajawithi Road
opposite Denchai Photo Shop, has been organizing a very popular trivia quiz
every Thursday night. Paul Pitcher, the quiz master, said that the British
pub quiz concept was one that he was very familiar with, having worked in
pubs for many years.
The quiz starts at 8.30 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the pub
and usually finishes about 10.30 p.m. Each team pays 100 baht to register,
no matter how many players in each one. There are 5 subjects and 1 handout
round with 10 questions on each subject covering general knowledge, music
and entertainment, literature, science and nature, and current affairs from
the previous week.
The winner gets a free beer and 750 baht, the second
place gets a free beer as well and 250 baht, and the third place a jug of
beer. There are also booby prizes. The Thursday night competition is open
for everyone said Paul Pitcher.
Mountain Bike enduro comes to Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son provincial authorities in cooperation with
the Sam Mork Bicycle Club and the Lions Club of Mae Hong Son Pangtong will
hold the first “Sam Mork Bike Ride” mountain bike competition at Mae
Hong Son Province on November 17 this year.
The competition will start 6.00 - 12.00 a.m. beside the
Mae Hong Son Court with the entrants competing for a cup presented by the
Minister of Public Health, Sudarat Keyurapan.
This will be the first mountain bike competition held in
Mae Hong Son promoting the tourism to the region.
The main aims of this competition, apart from promotion
of the province, are:
1. Supporting Thailand Tourism
2. Promoting the Buathong (Mexican sun-flower) Flower
Festival in Mae - U - Kor Mountain, Mae Hong Son.
3. Supporting the sport of biking.
4. Encouraging youngsters in Mae Hong Son to exercise and
deter them from using drugs.
Anyone interested in this event should apply at the Sam
Mork Bike Club, 053 612101; Thailand Sport Gymnasium, Mae Hong Son, and K.T.
Sabai Ice Making Factory before the competition date.
Matti holes out in Chiang Rai
by Mike Franklin
Ray Matti scored his fourth Hole-in-One on October 9th
playing the ‘A’ Course par three 2nd hole at Waterford Valley, Chiang
Rai. Ray just needed an eight iron and a Nike ‘spin control’ ball to
successfully negotiate the 155 yards from the blue tee and was duly rewarded
with a one-year Gold Membership at Waterford Valley.
Ray’s playing partner on the day was Rick Cherry, a
professor at Chiang Mai University. Well done Ray!
Khum Khantoke Family Rally scheduled for November 16
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Anusorn Sawetkunchorn, the chairman of the Khum Khantoke
working committee, announced that the Khum Khantoke Family Rally will take
place November 16, beginning at 8 a.m. in front of the Khum Khantoke parking
area on the Chiang Mai - Lampang Road.
The rally is being divided into two categories: overall
and for ex-professional VIP’s. Overall first will win 10,000 baht, with
6,000 baht for second and 3,000 baht for third. All the winners will receive
trophies, including the winner of the VIP class.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sonthaya Khunpluem
will present the trophies for the overall class. The Deputy Minister of the
Interior, Pracha Maleenon and the consulting chairman of the Deputy Minister
of the Interior and a member of House Commission for Tourism Surapol
Kiatchaiyakorn will give the trophies for the VIP class.
The event is being billed as a celebration of Loy
Krathong tradition and a leisure holiday trip.
Anusorn Sawetkunchorn said that this program aims to
promote Loy Krathong Culture, Khantoke (Thai northern style) dinning and
rallying in Chiang Mai.
For more information, call in to the Khum Khantoke
Restaurant.
The sky’s the limit, says Doi Saket District
Supatatt Dangkrueng
A new dimension for tourist experiences is being
enthusiastically promoted by Doi Saket District, according to Chiang Mai
Adventure Flying Club and the Oriental Balloon Flights.
Up, up
and away - see Chiang Mai like you’ve never seen it before, from way up
high in a colorful balloon.
Prayod Chaimongkol, the president of the Chiang Mai
Adventure Flying Club, said that the club is offering scenic flights over
Chiang Mai, costing only 1,200 baht for 15 minutes or 2,200 baht for 30
minutes including transportation from the city.
Wonnapa Takaew, of Oriental Balloon Flights, said they
offer once in a lifetime experience flights to view the beautiful local
countryside with balloon trips, which can cater for groups of four, six or
ten people for a one to one and a half hour flight.
The flights start daily from 7 a.m. covering a radius of
5-10 km from the launch site.
Balloon flights run from the middle of October to the end
of March, as the weather is not suitable at other times of the year.
This new tourism adventure travel is being supported by
Doi Saket District. “Doi Saket is located in the northeast area of Chiang
Mai, which is safe from the aviation point of view,” said the president,
Samarn Pangwatcharakorn.
First Asian Transplant Games to be held in Chiang Mai
Wasant Pothaprasert and Nuttanee Thaveephol
Chiang Mai is ready to hold the 1st Asian Transplant
Games in November this year. It will be at the 700 Year Anniversary Stadium
and all Asian members from 28 countries will be invited to participate in 8
sports. Princess Galyanivadhana will be presiding over the tournament’s
opening ceremony.
Phaibul Jitprapai, the president of the Transplantee
Society of Thailand said that he will be pleased to welcome transplantees
from all over Asia and nearby countries to attend the First Asian Transplant
Games in Thailand November 3 - 9 this year.
Udom Puasakul, Chiang Mai’s deputy governor, who is
also the chairman of the organizing group, said that the tournament will
encourage people to become interested in organ donation. There will be
extensive media promotion both in Thailand and abroad and it is hoped that
local enterprises will assist.
The Transplantee Society of Thailand is supported by the
Sport Authority of Thailand, the Sport Authority Region Center 5, Chiang Mai
Provincial Administration, and the Chiang Mai governor in promoting the
tournament. Sports being represented include athletics, badminton, table
tennis, bowling, tennis, golf, swimming and petanque.
The Chiang Mai deputy governor said, “In this
tournament we are hopeful that the people from Chiang Mai and nearby
provinces will encourage the sportsmen from Thailand and all countries.”
The Elephant Conservation - Thungkwean Mountain Bike tournament will
be held on October 27
Jumbo’s on mountain bikes? Actually, no...
Nuttanee Thaveephol
The National Elephant Institute (Thai Elephant
Conservation Center), and the Forestry Industrial Organization in
co-operation with the Lampang Bicycle Club will hold a cross-country
mountain bike tournament called the 4th Elephant Conservation - Thungkwean
Mountain Bike on October 27 at Thungkwean Park.
Elephants
at work in a Chiang Mai. They won’t actually be competing in the mountain
bike race, but riders will be competing for their benefit.
The tournament will be divided into A, B, junior, VIP,
and family classes. The entrance fee is 100 - 350 baht. There will be tents,
food and toilet facilities available for the riders. In addition, there will
be a show put on by the Lampang students starting at 9 a.m.
The competition will publicize mountain bike riding
activities and generate income for the Thai Elephant Conservation Center,
which supplies elephants’ food and medicines.
For more information, please contact the National Elephant Institute Tha-Ma-O
Road, Muang District, Lampang, tel. 0 5422 8108 or at Thungkwean Park tel. 0
1885 3697.
Chiang Mai launches aerial tour for aviation enthusiasts
The northern resort province of Chiang Mai has come up
with an idea to arrange airborne adventure activities to lure thrill seekers
to experience the beautiful scenery of Chiang Mai. Samarn Pangwatcharakorn,
Doi Saket district chief officer said that in cooperation with the private
sector, the district has launched scenic tour services on aircraft and
balloons to fulfill the need of adventure seekers. (see related story about
the balloon flights)
He said under the tour program, tourists get a rare
opportunity to get a bird’s eye view over Chiang Mai in a glider provided
by a private company. The program, which includes a city tour, will bring
adventure lovers to visit Wat Phratad Doi Saket, Mae Kuang Udom Tara Dam and
other famous historical sites, said the district chief.
Apart from getting a first hand experience of rural life,
tourists, almost all of whom are foreign tourists from Japan, England,
France, and China, would also be able to buy local products which could
generate income for poor villagers.
Sqn. Ldr. Prayod Chaimongkol, head of Chiang Mai
Ultra-light Flying Club said that the club - officially certified by the
Department of Aviation - offers flying lessons, training courses and
ultra-light aircraft flying services for tourists to view the mountainous
region of Chiang Mai from the air. “The powered aircraft are
safety-guaranteed as our qualified pilots are well-trained,” he said,
adding that the club is open every day from dawn to dusk.
“At 300-500 feet above ground level the spectacular
scenery and rural landscape of Amphur Doi Saket and San Kam Phang can be
seen from the ultra-light aircraft,” said Prayod. (TNA)
Fitness Tips: G’Day Readers,
Welcome to Fitness Tips - a weekly look at fun and easy
ways you can keep fit. This week we’ll keep it short and go off into a
couple of different directions, but both basically focusing on water.
Saunas decrease risks of heart failure
A study released recently by a team of Japanese
scientists found that 15 minutes per day in a sauna might improve cardiac
function in heart failure patients.
The study analysed two groups of people with stable,
moderate heart failure. The first group spent 15 minutes in the sauna,
followed by half an hour rest under a blanket every day for two weeks. The
second group spent 45 minutes in bed rather than a sauna. Ultrasound tests
were performed at the beginning and end of the study testing the blood for
BNP, a protein marker that indicates how well the heart is pumping blood
around the body. Blah, blah, blah and so the study went on; the findings
indicated that the combination of 15 minutes in the sauna and the half hour
rest appeared to reduce stress on and the function of the heart. Have a
think about it.
Helping Osteoporotic patients through Aqua
It has long been recognised that weight-bearing exercise
is beneficial in maintaining and increasing bone density. But how beneficial
is aquatic exercise, which primarily reduces impact, for participants with
osteoporosis and other problems involving bone density?
Studies to date cannot conclusively show that aquatic
exercise creates positive bone mineral balance; however, they do show that
aquatic exercisers gain muscular strength, improve range of movement and
increase cardiovascular fitness. Research also indicates that participants
build bone at the same rate if exercising on land or in combination with
water exercise. Therefore, participants improve functionally, but don’t
actually reverse the osteoporotic process.
Impact loading seems to be the essential element in
increasing bone density, so how can you effectively use aquatic exercise to
help osteoporotic participants? Use aquatic exercise to improve fitness and
when the participants are strong and stable enough incorporate dry land
exercises as well as continuing their time in the pool. This will maintain
and improve strength, range of movement, overall fitness and all the other
benefits that aquatic exercise has to offer.
Remember, “Carpe Diem” - “Seize the Day”
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