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Local interest gears up for another Chiang Mai Sixes
12 countries are represented this year
Geoff Thompson
Just as the weather heats up every year, the Chiang Mai
cricketing community prepares for its annual runabout in the sun at the
Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes, held at the venerable Chiengmai
Gymkhana Club during the week of April 4 - 10, this being the 17th year of
this popular festival of cricket.
 On
an adjacent ‘field’ to the Sixes, the 5th Sawasdee Cricket Cup
competition between local school teams will be held from April 6 - 10.
Schools expected to take part include Montfort, Prince Royal’s College,
Wat Rong Or, Sahagon 2, Saimoon, Nam Phrae, and Chol Prathan Phataek and
Prem Center. An exhibition junior ‘hardball’ match is also scheduled for
the morning of Saturday April 10 to demonstrate progress in local junior
cricket development.
In all, 29 teams will contest the various trophies at the
Sixes this year. Most will jet in from overseas. However, as usual Chiang
Mai has a team (or teams) to cheer for at all levels of the tournament. In
the main event, and vying for honours in the Sixes’ Cup, Bowl or Plate
competitions are local entries Te Pakeha and the Lions of CMW.
In the more social atmosphere of the Sixes’ Spoon
trophy competition, local claims are upheld by Gymkhana Cavaliers and the UN
Irish Pub team.
In the
social Spoon Division, Gymkhana Cavaliers are the defending champions. The
Cavaliers’ captain Eric Little (front row, centre), is coaching
coordinator for the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance (CMSCA) which runs
the junior cricket program for Thai school children. Several other Cavaliers
are also involved with the junior program. Maurice Bromley (left) is
Sixes’ tournament director.
The Ladies Challenge match has become a regular fixture
and is contested every year between the local Chiang Mai Chassies and a team
of visiting ladies who gather under the title World Women’s Dixie Bells.
Last, but certainly not least from a local point of view,
the Sixes sponsors a parallel competition, now in its 5th year, entirely
among Chiang Mai teams - it is of course the Chiang Mai Sixes Sawasdee
Cricket Cup. This junior event is part of the program to introduce cricket
into Thai schools, and usually attracts school teams from Hang Dong, Doi
Saket, Mae On and San Pee Sua, as well as the Muang district.
Apart from the local interest at this year’s 17th
Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes, many overseas teams will take part.
In all, 12 countries are represented this year - Australia, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, China, Dubai, England, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa,
Wales, and of course Thailand.
It promises to be another glorious week for cricket and for socialising.
Admission is free at the Gymkhana Club ground, and local spectators are
encouraged to come along and support the Sixes, one of the most popular
events of its kind worldwide, and Chiang Mai’s longest running annual
international sporting event - April 4 - 10.
Prem girls win basketball tournament in exciting overtime finish
Katherine Voll
In a nail-biting finals match-up versus the Grace A
basketball team, Prem senior girls pulled ahead in overtime to win 24-20,
placing them first in the CMAC year-end tournament.
 The
champs: Prem celebrates their victory!
Yupin Laosue (Prem) was a top scorer, sinking an amazing
eight of eight free throws, and Naomi Hossain (Prem) scored two sensational
last-minute three pointers to even up the score 20-20, sending the game into
overtime.
Renee Pun (Prem) played remarkable defense, blocking
several key shots, and Hannah Smith (Prem) brought the final score to 24-20
with a perfectly timed lay-up, clinching the victory.
The fierce sense of competition, but also great
sportsmanship displayed by both teams in this final game reflected the
atmosphere of the entire tournament. The tournament, hosted by Lanna at
Grace, was a fun one to watch for spectators from all schools.
In the final tournament standings, Prem placed first, Grace A team
second, Grace B third, CMIS fourth, APIS fifth, and Lanna sixth. Great job
to all the girls who played!
Prem
player Hien drives hard to the hoop.
Maxxis Asia Enduro held at Thapae Gate
Motocross - an international motorcycle mania
Autsadaporn Kamthai
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in cooperation with
ORTEV Inc, from Japan promoted the “Maxxis Asia International Enduro
2004” during March 18-21 in Chiang Mai.
Motocross
racers headed to Thapae gate for the opening
The welcoming ceremony was held at Thapae Gate, Chiang
Mai where deputy Chiang Mai governor, Thongchai Wongrianthong, along with
Chalermsak Suranant, director of TAT’s, Northern Office, Region 1,
presided.
98 racers from 13 countries in Asia, USA, France,
England, Canada, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Switzerland participated in the
competition. The Maxxis racing was certified by the Federation International
Motorcycle (FIM), as a truly international event.
TAT’s Tokyo branch and TAT, Northern office, Region 1
supported this event because they realized the potential of Chiang Mai
province for holding international events, especially international sports
related tourism.
The route started behind the Mae Ngad Dam, Mae Taeng
district and finished in Phrao district. It was mostly set out in national
park and non-residential areas to prevent traffic jams and pollution.
Motocross (aka Moto-X) is very popular overseas and in last three years
international Moto-X events have been arranged in Mae Hong Son province in
the North of Thailand.
It’s not what you know
it’s who you know!
Linda Buck
I am sure most people in Chiang Mai are aware that from
April 5 until April 11 the town will be invaded by over two hundred guests,
here on the pretext of playing cricket. If you were thinking about spending
seven hours a day at the Gymkhana Club watching this event, I thought I
should point you in the right direction of people you must meet - the Chiang
Mai Schools Cricket Alliance coaches.
 Peter
Dawson and David Buck listening to how Bill Beasley got his bowling hat
trick - again!
Chairman Puttivat Poshyanonda: He loves the game, has
played for Thailand and is very knowledgeable. Unfortunately he is the
buffer between ‘keen’ coaches and the parents who think it might be nice
if their children sat a few exams.
We have two lady coaches, ‘Awn’ who is not only a
good coach, an incredible help with the everyday running of the Alliance but
she also fits the coaching t-shirt beautifully!
‘Mook’ is relatively new, having been taken on as a
translator, she very quietly let on that she has a diploma in physical
education! Her husband Ray Twine coaches for the Alliance, but his first
love is tennis, so be warned, not only could you be boring your pants off
watching cricket, but you could have to listen to the art of playing tennis
- torture for someone who came to have a few quiet beers.
Peter Dawson, a great organizer of meetings, teaches
softball cricket, by his own admission is clueless about cricket proper but
can give you a good account of nightspots to visit whilst in Chiang Mai.
Eric Little, they don’t come any keener than Eric, but
you will need a translator if you are a non-Aussie speaker. He takes great
photos too!
David Walker, a Brit who thought he had come here to
retire-from experience it is best if you don’t approach him before noon.
Graeme Monaghan, another Aussie with a great cricketing
past - don’t approach Graeme unless a) you have a great love of the game,
b) you have an hour to spare.
Bill Beasley, again an Aussie, played in the sixes last
year, bowled a hat trick and is still in shock.
Last but not least David Buck - just let me give you a
warning, my wedding was on a ‘Four Wickets and a Wedding’ cricket tour
to Goa - get the picture?
Seriously, you won’t go far wrong if you sit down with
any one of these coaches and learn about the game, or alternatively
listening to them is a very good way of having 40 winks!
If you would like further information on the work of the Chiang Mai
Schools Cricket Alliance please contact Linda Buck on thaibucks
2003@loxinfo.co.th or thai bucks2003@yahoo.com
Chiang Mai Pool League
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