The schoolchildren from Bangkok (front, yellow with trophy), and Chiang Mai who took part in the Sawasdee Challenge junior hardball match. PHOTO: PETER CUMMINS

The amateur tournament has grown and improved each year and is now the first date that many of its regular participants circle when they are planning their annual holidays. This year, despite fears that the war in Iraq or the Sars virus might cause some players to cancel at the last-minute, 28 teams from England, Wales, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Spain, various Middle East countries and, of course, Thailand turned up for the annual run fest from March 31 to April 5.

Once again the ranks of amateur teams were boosted by the inclusion of international stars - including Sri Lankans Roshan Manahama and Sidath Wettimuny, Australians Trevor Chappell and Tom Hogan, South Africans Meyrick Pringle and Kenny Jackson, Zimbabwe's Neil Johnson and ex-England opener Kim Barnett.

The tried and trusted formula worked as well this year as any other an intoxicating mixture of high-scoring, fast- paced Sixes cricket, camaraderie on and off the pitch and in bars and restaurants all around Chiang Mai and a well- organised array of social functions for cricketers and supporters alike. As Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee said at the end of his week in Chiang Mai back in 1994: "It's working well, don't change it" and those sentiments would be shared by almost all of those who took part this year.

Cup winners the Gloucestershire Gipsies, led by captain Paul Lazenbury (with trophy), after beating defending champions Lord's Taverners in the final. Also pictured are Gymkhana Club Chairman Surapong Sukannasilp (left), ACC Chief Executive Syed Ashraful Huq (second left) and Tournament Director Maurice Bromley (right). PHOTO: PETER CUMMINS

Although not as talented as some of those parading their cricketing skills in Chiang Mai, O'Hara was deservedly named Player of the Tournament, not only for his feats with bat and ball and as captain but also for personifying the spirit of Sixes cricket. He threw himself at every ball in the outfield with no regard for personal safety, refused to countenance the possibility of defeat for his team and, above all, conducted himself with true sportsmanship throughout. The same could also be said about the very popular winners of the second string Bowl competition, the Warathais from Newcastle, Australia Like many other sides, the Warathais are regular visitors to Chiang Mai an over the six years they have been coming have added greatly to the tournament with their unfailing good humour, the way they take part in all the fun and games both on and off the field and the spirit in which they play the game.

Captained in most of their games this year by Chappell, it was fitting that the Warathais finally picked up the trophy their efforts have deserved, and indeed they also won the annual Fancy Dress Parade, although male onlookers might be grateful if their costumes were a little less "cheeky" next year.

Other trophy winners were the B.A.Dragons from South Wales (Plate) and another popular team, the Gymkhana Cavaliers, representing the host club, in the Spoon competition. Among the ranks of the veteran players in the Cavaliers team was tournament director Maurice Bromley, who along with wife Renita works incredibly hard before, during and after the tournament to make sure all goes off smoothly. Bromley is backed up by a dedicated committee and an army of volunteer workers without whose efforts in the scorebox, the catering and refreshment tents, as umpires, match steward and in many other areas, the tournament simply could not take place, not forgetting the many valued and loyal sponsors. The voice of the Chiang Mai Sixes is chief co-ordinator and quiz master Rick "Viking" Davis, whose unique and humorous commentary style adds an extra dimension to the event.

For the past few years, the Sixes has been extending a valuable helping hand to the dedicated band of cricket-lovers who are introducing cricket into schools both in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Anyone who was on hand to see the mostly 11-year-old Thai schoolchildren participate in their first proper hard- ball match on the main pitch on finals day, will know that the efforts of the likes of Australian coach Brian Wiggins in Bangkok and men like Eric Little and Peter Dawson in Chiang Mai are paying off handsomely with the Thai youngsters showing an amazing mastery of a full range of cricketing skills.

With generous teams like the Southerners from Bangkok, and Cup finalists the Gipsies and the Taverners, donating much-needed cricket equipment to the youngsters, and with around 84,000 baht being raised at an auction of cricket memorabilia at the awards dinner thanks to the efforts of smooth-talking auctioneer Ian Liddell and bidder-extraordinary Wally Pohl it's clear that the cause of introducing cricket to Thai children is dear to the heart of all Sixes participants. This year, the chief executive of the Asian Cricket Council, Syed Ashraful Huq, was on hand in Chiang Mai to see at first hand the progress of schools cricket in Thailand and he left the Kingdom greatly impressed by everything he witnessed.