- It’s an attempt to get better matches. We’ve limited Round 1 to two matches per team so that we quickly get to Round 2 where teams are more evenly matched. We hope it makes for a better tournament. Feedback welcomed as always….
- To sort out marginal cases where the scoring system doesn’t quite do it or where obvious anomalies creep in, a Panel of 3 venerable Judges has been appointed whose decisions on match pairings and trophy division selection will be final. At the risk of encouraging bribary, the Judges who have kindly agreed to serve are : Dasher (Ken Dashwood), Hagar (Paul Jones), and Jenny “Ducks” Morgan. Our inscrutable judges have indicated that bribe cheques should be made payable to the junior cricket fund…….
- For new players (and a reminder for veterans) Chiang Mai Sixes on-field match attire rules require long white cricket trousers (unless special dispensation is asked for as in the case of a full team strip) and no spiked shoes please as they will tear the artificial pitch surface.
- The Sixes used up whatever money we had left in the bank buying labour and turf to repair the cricket field after last year’s floods. So please don’t bring booze in from outside, buy your beer and other booze supplies at the Boundary Bar – the tournament finances rely heavily on bar takings.
- Some old friends have popped their clogs since we last met in 2005, notably our Chairman, a self-confessed non-cricketer, but a lovely fella and good friend, Bryan Baldwin who died in July, aged 68. Another good friend and long-time Sixes regular, running the scoreboard year after year was dear old Brian Neve who died in October, aged 72. And more recently , in early January, Tony Knowles died, also 72 – the last time we saw friend Tony at the Sixes was back in the ‘90s sharing a beer with old Dick in Woods View tent . But prior to his becoming wheelchair-bound, Tony had helped with custodian duties in the days when the Sixes was played on a grass wicket.
- This year marks the 108th birthday of Chiengmai Gymkhana Club – in Thai terms, counting in 12-year stages, this is an important 9th cycle celebration.
There is extant an item in the Bangkok Times of Nov 8, 1890 announcing:
“The Bangkok Cricket Club will play a scratch match this afternoon on the
ground opposite the Palace, commencing at three ’o clock sharp….” So we
know our sport was played in Thailand before 1898 when Gymkhana was
founded. However the northern Club, which was then an in-town place of sport & relaxation for ex-pats working in the teak industry in the surrounding
countryside, was in all probability the first sporting club to be formally set up
in Thailand. It was established along British club lines (it has been said –
whenever two or three Brits gather they invariably found a club, and so it was
with Gymkhana). In those early days it very much devoted to horse racing and
polo. Cricket was played especially at Christmas meetings when the teak
wallahs came back into town for the holiday. The Chiang Mai Sixes is fortunate
to have this venerable club as our host and its pastoral setting as our
playground. We wish Gymkhana in its current poor state following last year’s
flooding, a happy birthday, swift recovery and a much brighter future!
- People often think it’s a misspelling when we write “Chiengmai” Gymkhana Club . But its name is officially registered with that old phonetic English spelling and running both words together as one. The officially sanctioned modern English spelling is Chiang Mai (two words), but actually Thai’s will tell you the old spelling with the “e” is infact closer to Thai pronunciation.
- The Ladies Challenge now has its very own trophy. It was provided we understand in the name of the Cricket Association of Thailand by the Southerners’ Vaughan McClear..Thanks Vaughany.
- The dates for next year’s big 20th Chiang Mai Sixes will be April 1-7, 2007. Make a note !
- We expect to be short on guest ‘stars’ this year since so much of the Sixes kitty had to be spent on re-surfacing the cricket ground . However as we went to press, old friends Amal Silva, Roshan Mahanama and Trevor Chappell were expected to come. Great to see you guys , welcome as always!
- Ever thought of joining the Gymkhana Club? To help the club’s restoration effort, a special “flood membership” fee of only 5,000 Baht is offered for a limited time only on ‘Social Membership of Chiengmai Gymkhana Club. To find out more, enquire for details at the Sixes’ Cashier’s Desk.
- The estimated cost of turf to restore the Gymkhana golf fairways (as it was for the cricket ground), excluding labour, is 25Baht / sq metre. The plan is to start on holes 7 , 8 and 9 – the worst affected fairways. Donations most gratefully received.
- Meanwhile the junior cricket programme run by Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance still needs support. Don’t forget our young Thai cricketers ! (10 Baht on every beer goes to junior cricket. So, drink up !)
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