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 bribery, 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.

In a similar vein, proper dress for all umpires consists of a white shirt and dark shorts or trousers. On finals day, long pants are mandatory.

The Sixes continues to improve the cricket grounds and to provide support to the local junior cricket. 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.

This year the Boundary Bar will have Bulmers Cider on sale.

In a late development, the Boundary Bar has obtained a sponsor, and there will be signs and perhaps some representatives on hand during the Sixes. The official sponsor is “Bullion Express". Welcome to them!

San Miguel beer will be the official beer at the Sixes, with both standard and light versions available.

Bus capacity limits. Can we please ask teams who will have more than 10 people in their group to take a 2nd bus. Cost is only Bht 1,200 per bus per day. Two reasons: (1) we don't want anyone being arrested by the local gendarmes, and (2) the bus supplier says that even with 12 (10 team members, guide and driver) in a bus they are a bit over the legal limit, but definitely they should not have more. If you feel you don't want the extra bus then there will be tuk-tuks. I think it is about Baht 50 one way. The main thing is though - don't carry more than 10 team members in the bus. Please contact your local Sixes coordinator if you will need an extra bus.

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 21st Chiang Mai Sixes will be March 30 - April 5, 2008. Make a note.

Ever thought of joining the Gymkhana Club? To find out more, enquire for details at the clubhouse.

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 and feel good about it !)

This year marks the 109th birthday of Chiengmai Gymkhana Club. There was 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 a 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 was 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, already recovering from the many effects and aftereffects of the flooding in 2005, a happy birthday, continued recovery and a much brighter future!