MAI KHAO: After six triathlons, John Douma and Teischa Jones were named Triathletes of the Year at the June 23 award ceremony for the 2007 SILK TriBallistic triathlon series.

Douma, winner in the senior category, won a seven-day triathlon training camp with professional triathletes Team TBB, at the Bor Saen Villa resort in Phang Nga.

Top senior triathlete John Douma received a chance to train with international triathletes during a seven-day camp.

Teischa, the junior winner, received a Trek racing bike from Thalang Bikes.

The awards ceremony followed a final day of racing in the series. The race took place early in the day at the JW Marriot Phuket Resort & Spa, with the competitors moving to the Silk Restaurant & Bar at Surin Beach for the awards.

The final race in the family-oriented series was a reverse triathlon with three categories: a Splash ’n’ Dash with a 750-meter run, three-kilometer bike and a 50m swim; a Junior division with a 1.5km run, 6km bike and 250m swim; and a Senior division with a 5km run, 20km bike and 350m swim
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Teischa Jones stands with her new high-end Trek racing bicycle she won as top female junior triathlete in the six-race series.

More than 80 participants raced in this year’s premier, and at the awards the top three athletes in each category were announced. The triathletes gained points throughout the six races of the season to win their awards.

Nick Dobyn crossed the finish line first during the June 23 race, a reverse triathlon at the JW Mariott resort.

Presenting the awards, Organizer Hugo Jones said that announcements about next year’s series will be made on the group’s website at www.triballisticclub.com

Final Results:

Males, senior division: 1. John Douma; 2. Jaray Jiaranai; 3. Richard Cracknell

Females, senior: 1. Timana Hossack; 2. Lizelle Van den Berg; 3. Michelle Hossack

Males, junior: 1. Marcus Gotz; 2. Philip Johansson; 3. Taj Jones

Females, junior: 1. Teischa Jones; 2. Melissa Kegans; 3. Emilie Kirstein

Most Improved Triathlete: Victor Kirstein

Top Team Award: Coffin Cheaters

Triathlete With The Most Potential: Josh Henthorne

By janyaporn Morel

Phuket gets first badminton courts with rubber floors

PHUKET: Rubber-floored badminton courts have arrived on the island in the form of four deluxe courts at the new Andaman Badminton facilities off Chao Fa East Rd, near the Siam Commercial Bank.

Kanpitcha Srikitjaroenchai, 25, the owner of the courts told the Gazette, “Our courts meet competition requirements. We have four rubber courts and four cement courts. Our target is people who love to play badminton, especially company groups and students. Most of our customers come to play after work, about 6 pm and later.

“We are open every day from 10 am to 10 pm. The fee for the rubber courts is 150 baht per hour; the cement courts go for 100 baht per hour.

“Membership costs 1,200 baht per year. Members get a 20% discount and can reserve courts in advance with just a phone call,” she added.

The club already has about 40 members and three coaches are on staff to help anyone age 5 and up improve their skills.

Fitness equipment and a restaurant are on the premises, and badminton equipment is available for rent.

K. Kanpitcha said they offer yoga classes for 100 baht per class in the daytime, when the courts are not so busy. She is also looking for other activities to add to the menu, she added.

“Phuket has never had a privately-owned badminton club before. We know that many players want to play and not have to worry about hurrying off the court because other people are waiting for it. Here you can play as long as you want,” she said.

For more information or to reserve a court call 089-6452848. Andaman Badminton is located at 106/1 Phattana Thongtin Rd, Tambon Taladnua in Phuket City.

 

Tasars taking over Ao Yon bay

At least 58 two-person Tasar boats are scheduled to compete in the world championships in Ao Yon from July 2 to 11.

AO YON: Sailors in Ao Yon be warned: 58 teams have confirmed entry to the G4S Tasar World Championships 2007 to be held on the bay from July 2 to 11.

Rob Douglass and his daughter Nicole, from Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast, will be defending their title as champions in their 14-foot dinghy Chukkel.

The event has also attracted Jonathon McKee, who worked the mainsheet on Luna Rossa, the Italian entry in the America’s Cup held off Valencia in December.

Luna Rossa knocked out early favorites for the cup BMW Oracle Racing, but were later eliminated by runners-up Emirates Team New Zealand.

Jonathon will be racing in Phuket with his wife Libby on the helm.

Andrew De Bruin and Tom Basquin are Phuket’s sole duo in the event. Basquin, at 15 years old, will be gunning for the Under-21 Junior Helm prize.

Robert Warnes, who is organizing the event, said that he rates the youngster’s chances of winning pretty high. “He came in seventh in the junior nationals in Australia recently,” he noted.

The first race of the day will start at 1 pm on July 4, and all are welcome to come and watch the racing, Mr Warnes said.

CHALONG: Scott Duncanson on Somtam Express returned to racing on Chalong Bay with a bullet in the Racing class in Race 6 of the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) Keelboat and Multihull Race Series on June 23.

In standard wet-season sailing conditions with breezes of eight to 10 knots all day, cloud cover and some rain, Ben Copely’s Asia Spirit placed second and Mike Downard’s Tua Lek finished third.

Tim Milner on See Krung Huk, with Mark Pescott on board, won the Multihull class, with Bob Brindley’s X Cat Riot finishing second and Chris Jungerius on his Firefly 850 The Frog finishing third.

Tony Swain-Dudman on Onyx sailed well to take top honors in the Cruising class. John Fenn on Four Winds, in his first ACYC outing this year, placed second in the class, while Tony Kipps on Wild Orchid finished third.

The ACYC was the day sponsor of the event, and the Image Asia encouragement award went to Tony Knight of the ACYC for his perseverance in organizing the ACYC race series but only finishing in third place at best, regardless of his countless fine race starts.

The next ACYC race day will be on July 15. All are welcome to join regardless of sailing experience.

For more information call Tony Knight at 081-7470074 or visit www.acycphuket.com