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Honours shared in weekend tournament
Text: Linda Buck
Photos: Eric Little
This weekend the Chiang Mai Under 13 Squad hosted Khon
Kaen at a two-day tournament of both indoor and outdoor cricket. This return
visit by Khon Kaen began on Saturday with a 35 over cricket match held at
the Gymkhana Club. Khon Kaen batted first. The decision to bowl first seemed
to backfire on Chiang Mai as the bowlers found it difficult to control the
wet ball (due to overnight rain), and Khon Kaen got off to a good start, and
by the tenth over were 46 runs without loss.
 Size
counts
Chiang Mai then fought back with a steady spell of
bowling and Kurt Penny broke through by taking the important wicket of Noot
who had scored a very creditable 32.
Khon Kaen continued to bat sensibly and by the end of
their 35 overs had scored 129 for 4. Bank having taken two wickets for
Chiang Mai. In reply Chiang Mai had a disastrous start by having a run out
in the first over, and losing the other opening batsman in the second.
Gun and Poon recovered the situation and by the tenth
over had pushed Chiang Mai to 52 for 2. Shortly after the drinks interval
another mini-collapse saw the loss of 3 quick wickets to put Khon Kaen in a
very strong position. Bank then joined Gun (who was still there) and
together they put on 42 runs to bring Chiang Mai back in with a chance. Just
as Chiang Mai were easing towards the target, Bank was brilliantly caught,
and shortly afterwards the very impressive Gun played on for 28.
The Man
of the Match award went to a Khon Kaen player, Pook.
With tension mounting both on and off the pitch, you
could hear a pin drop as Chiang Mai needed six runs to win in two overs. Fuk
was then caught with four runs to win, and it was left to Nai and number 11
batsman Noon to score four runs to win the match in the last over. By the
fifth ball of the last over Chiang Mai had scampered quick runs to bring the
score to a tie at 129.
The Khon
Kaen Cobras Winning Team
With one run needed off the last ball Noon was
brilliantly caught by Noot, who was later awarded Man of the Match. Although
the scores were tied Khon Kaen was rightfully declared the winners as they
had lost fewer wickets than Chiang Mai.
After overnight at the superb facilities at Prem
Tinsulanonda International, both teams met up again to play the first indoor
tournament every held in Thailand.
This was played on a round-robin basis of four sides of
seven players each. Although Khon Kaen had never played indoors before, they
showed tremendous ability and skill in adapting to the indoor game.
Throughout the day the scores ebbed and flowed resulting in the Chiang Mai
Tigers winning the tournament with Khon Kaen Cobras second, Chiang Mai Lions
third.
The Man of the Match award went to a Khon Kaen player,
Pook.
This weekend formed great friendships between boys from
contrasting environments and backgrounds. The games were played in the true
spirit of competition, and both sides were a credit to the game of cricket
both on and off the field.
For further information on Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance please
contact Linda Buck on thaibucks2003 @ loxinfo.co.th
Press and police fight it out
A draw called after 90 minute slugfest
Saksit Meesubkwang
Journalists and law enforcement officers from Chiang Mai
clashed at the 700 Year Anniversary Stadium on May 26 - but it was a friendly
encounter.
The football match between the Chiang Mai Press team and
officers from the Immigration Checkpoint Office, Chiang Mai Tourist Police
and Highway Police Station was instituted to strengthen ties between the
different groups and media.
The press
team (right) shakes hands with the police team (left) before the start of the
friendly match.
The two teams proved equally strong, with the final score
being 2 all. Pol Col Shinapat Tansrisakul, superintendent of the Chiang Mai
Immigration Checkpoint Office, said that he saw the importance of the
relationship between the police and the press as they had to interact with
one another as part of their duty.
“We do not have much chance to talk to each other in a
relaxed atmosphere. Therefore I thought the two parties taking part in a
mutual activity such as football would help strengthen relations and help
coordination between them,” he said. After the football match, the two
teams went to dinner at Rim Nam Restaurant, hosted by the police team.
It is planned that similar friendly soccer games will be
held every three months to strengthen cooperation and communication between
them. Rumor that a certain northern Thailand businessman wishes to buy 30
percent of the teams is without foundation.
Bon voyage to a gentleman
Text: Linda Buck
Photo: Eric Little
Bill Beasley came to Chiang Mai, accompanying his wife, who
was appointed director of library at Prem Tinsulanonda International School.
They arrived from Bendigo, Australia where Bill had worked as an
artist/musician. He had trained as a portrait painter, and taught adults art,
as well as illustrating books and drawing cartoons for newspapers. Bill’s
other great love was the trombone and he played in traditional jazz bands and
brass bands.
 Bill
with Nai, one of the Under-13 squad, who is sponsored by Bill and Marg.
At Prem, Bill became involved with the Art Department, the
Jazz Band and the Choir. As if that wasn’t enough he volunteered to take
children for cricket practice as an after school activity!
Bill will be remembered by cricket fans for his hat-trick in
the 2003 Sixes Tournament. He hadn’t played for 18 years but was persuaded by
Eric Little to play for the Gymkhana Cavaliers in the Spoon competition - they
beat the Irish Pub in the final.
Bill was hooked back on the game and joined the C.M.S.C.A.
coaching panel visiting local schools, and he eventually teamed up with David
Buck when Prem became the venue for specialized indoor hard ball cricket.
Speaking to David Buck (as I do, living with him), he said
that Bill would never really appreciate how much he would be missed, he had
become David’s ‘right hand man’ with the indoor coaching, and the
children related so well to him.
Bill and Marg’s very generous support of sponsoring Nai,
one of the Under-13 squad, ensures that we will have constant contact with them
when they return to Bendigo - perhaps twinning their junior cricket with Chiang
Mai?
C.M.S.C.A sends you both our very best wishes for your return to Bendigo.
Charity super bowl fundraiser at CMU
Welfare the big winner, literally and metaphorically
Jiraphat Warasin
A charity bowls contest was held to raise money for the
“40 Years Chiang Mai University Fund”. It was organized by the
University Academic Service Center of Chiang Mai University (Uniserve) and
the Golf Club of Chiang Mai University, and held at Chiang Mai Bowl on May
22.
The CMU’s Welfare Division team scored 1,375 points and
was presented the winner’s trophy by Assistant Professor Niphon Tuwanon,
CMU’s president.
The Office of the President Team 1 garnered 1,361 points
and received the first runner-up trophy from Prof Pongsak Anggasit, the
university’s vice-president.
The Faung Fah 3 team, combined with officers from CMU
Office of the President, managed 1,349 points and was awarded the second
runner-up trophy from Prof Suphot Wuttigarn, dean of CMU’s faculty of
medicine.
Other team winners included the men’s CMU Student
Affairs Division team, and the women’s top scorers were the Manud Ruam Jai
Team. They received the their trophies from Dusit Siriwan, a board member of
the CMU Council.
The highest scoring individual was Chagard Suaouam from the Faung Fah
Team with 248 pins in a single game.
CH4: an extra choice for happy runners
Saturday May 22nd was the inaugural run for a new Hash House
Harriers chapter in Chiang Mai.
What are the hash house harriers? A running group with
extraordinary runs in beautiful areas set by experienced members with a paper
trail. Afterwards there is time for enjoyment and fun.
30 people
turned up for the inaugural run - a good turnout for a new hash that was not
advertised much.
We asked one of the founding members what was so different
about this new chapter: “Well, everyone is welcome and must FEEL welcome”!
At least that was a clear answer. “There are also a few other variations on
this hash, where the emphasis is on socializing.”
Those changes turned out to be that there are runs set from
hashers’ own property so that BBQ parties and relaxing can be part of a
special day out. The inaugural run was a great success: 30 people turned up
for the run even though it wasn’t really advertised. According to one of the
founders, 30 is a good number so that everyone gets some attention. “It’s
also a great way to mingle with the expat community of Chiang Mai, most are
businessmen or retired and have lived here for years.”
This first run had an excellent atmosphere, was very
relaxed and with a great sense of camaraderie. There are a few other changes
to normal “hashing”: The circles (the joke part) are done sitting down if
possible, the runs are not very hard but still about 40 minutes and no drinks
are obligatory. A normal run will cost 100 B for non-alcoholic drinkers and
200 B for beer drinkers. Prices for members and non-members are the same,
except for special runs where there is BBQ or other food involved.
“This hash is not trying to specifically attract hashers
away from the other chapters (unless, of course they want to themselves) but
should be an addition to what’s already here,” says one of the founders.
This inaugural run was held at the Bungee Jump center in
Mae Rim, as one of the hashers is the owner (a New Zealander of course!).
Asked if some of the runners would come back again one of
them said, “Wow, I didn’t know that running could be so much fun!”
The party went on until the last people left at about 9.30
in the evening, all in all a successful event and an addition to Chiang Mai
hashing, now available for all who want to join a friendly hash.
CH4 stands for Chiang Mai Happy Hash House Harriers. The
meeting point is every Saturday at the fish and chips shop (opposite the Irish
Pub).
This coming Saturday the CH4 run/ride no. 3 will be at Huay
Tung Tao Park near the entrance of the park. Bus leaves from Fish ‘n Chips
at 16.30; run starts at 17.30. Hope to see you again at the CH4! It will be a
special one with bicycles.
CH4: Don’t worry be happy!
Chiang Mai press goes down 3-2 to Chantaburi/Rayong
Perhaps too tired after the trip?
A press team, which included representation from the Chiangmai
Mail, traveled to Rayong on the Eastern Seaboard to compete in the annual
friendly soccer tournament against a press team from Chantaburi/Rayong.
The local team was led by Pol Lt Suchai Kengkarnkha of Kad Suan Kaew Journal,
and at half time things were not looking too good for the northerners, down 3-0.
However, a spirited rally by the Chiang Mai team saw two quick goals, but this
was not enough to topple the Eastern Seaboard press who held on to win 3-2.
Chiang Mai
team’s Suchai Kengkarnkha (left), exchanging flags with Suchin Kwanchai
(right), the president of Chantaburi Press Club before the friendly match.
School children compete
in day of sporting fun
Saksit Meesubkwang
The Sport Authority of Thailand in Chiang Mai province
arranged a “Sport for the Chiang Mai Masses 2004” event at the 700 Year
Anniversary Stadium on May 26.
Students from Wattanotai Payap, Regina Coeli, Dara
Academic, Suksa Sonkkroh Chiang Mai, Toong Siaw Sanpatong, Weruwarn, Suksa
Song Kraoh Mae Jam, Settha Wittaya and Baan Na Huek schools participated.
The children competed in various challenges that included tug-of-war,
three-legged race, sack relay race, and novelty events.
Aerobics
at the 700 Year Anniversary Stadium.
Ready to
cheer on their friends.
Olympic Marathon to strengthen ties between Thais and Burmese
Free T-shirts if you are interested
Samphan Changthong
Over 5,000 Thai and Burmese joggers have been invited to
join the Olympic Day Run to Strengthen Relationships 2004 at Mae Sai district
in Chiang Rai this month.
Maj Gen Jaroek Areeratchakarun, secretary of the Olympic
Committee of Thailand, met with the Olympic Committee of Myanmar, including
Oo-Ton Sauw, its deputy secretary, and Lt Col Sormo-ae, governor of Tachilek
province, to prepare for the event which will be held on June 20.
The Olympic Day Run 2004 consists of a mini-marathon, which
requires 3,000 Thai runners and 2,000 Burmese. It will begin in front of the
Mae Sai district police station and cross the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge to
enter Tachilek province in Myanmar.
All runners will return to Thailand over the second Sai
River Bridge and San Phak Hee Road and reach the finish line in front of the
Tambon Mae Sai Municipality Office in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. The run
will cover about 11.5 kilometers.
Free T-shirts will be given to the runners at the starting
point. Thai participants will wear blue while Burmese runners will wear white.
Those interested in taking part in the marathon should call
Tambon Mae Sai Municipality and Sports Authority of Thailand on 0-5371-1004
during office hours.
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