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Prayad Marksaeng edged out the competition this weekend to win the Queen’s Cup golf event, which is part of the Asian Tour. The tournament took place on the resort island of Samui. After his win, which came after a close battle with the second-place player, Khun Prayad said, “I’ve come so close to winning here but couldn’t finish the job previously. So obviously this win really means a lot to me.”
 
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Thailand PGA, the Queen’s Cup is held in honour of Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit and is one of four tournaments in Thailand to feature on the Asian Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season after establishing itself as a players’ organisation in 2004.
 
http://www.iseekgolf.com/news/44389-prayad-marksaeng-wins-again-in-thailand

Michael Page of the UK won the eighth Laguna Phuket International Marathon (LPIM) as the annual running festival took to the island’s roads with more than 4,000 entrants of all ages and abilities from 45 countries competing on a variety of distance courses in an atmosphere of community fun and charity fund-raising.
 
Page finished the 42k marathon in a time of 02: 41:02, followed by Yasuhiro Saito of Japan in 02:52:01and Panom Khansamol of Thailand in 02:58:23.
 
The women’s 42k race was won by Naomi Ochai of Japan in 03:19:38 with another Japanese, Fumie Terahata second in 03:27:24 and Ninik Sugawati of Indonesia third in 03:34:48.
 
Also joining the race were Australian “Couple on the Run” Andrew and Sue O’Brien, who have run some 80,000 kilometres side-by-side at marathons and ultramarathons around the world; and 79-year-old British veteran Robin Wilson, the Laguna marathon’s oldest 42k runner and one of the last home in seven-and-a-half hours to chalk up the 400th marathon finish of his running career.

Hua Hin, a beach resort town on Thailand’s Gulf Coast, is set for a jazzy weekend of great live music with the launch of its annual Jazz Festival today (May 31). Both local and international artists are set to play tonight and tomorrow from 5pm till midnight on the beachfront of Centara Grand Beach Resort, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Admission is free.
 
https://www.facebook.com/HuahinJazzFestival

Beach volleyball fans have reason to cheer, now that Phuket is once again a stop on the women’s world volleyball tour for 2013, it has been confirmed. The tournament, which is the largest annual beach sporting event in Southeast Asia, is part of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Open series and will be held over six days from October 29 to November 3.
 
The 2013 tournament is expected to draw over 50 top women's beach volleyball teams from around the world to Karon Beach which, as one of the few natural beach venues on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, has been popular with the teams. Up to six Thai teams will be eligible for the event.
 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/FIVB-Beach-Volleyball-Swatch-world-tour-2013/422960974408371

Philippine airline Cebu Pacific is set to start direct flights between Phuket and Manila this August, linking the Thai holiday island to one of Asia’s largest cities. Starting on August 16, the carrier will operate a thrice weekly Manila-Phuket service every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
 
"Cebu Pacific is proud to make the island of Phuket accessible to even more travelers," said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog. Special fares will be on offer for a limited time.
 
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/05/17/13/cebu-pacific-start-flying-phuket

French video director Brian Camusat recently released a spectacular video capturing the rhythms of life in Thailand through a traveller’s eyes. Since being posted online, more than 150,000 have watched the video, cheekily titled ‘Never Go To Thailand’.
 
Covering a wide swath of Thailand, the scenes include Bangkok’s Wat Po and Wat Arun, street food dining, elephant riding, ziplining in the forest, Muay Thai, beach DJ dance parties, diving and more. Those who have never been to Thailand will certainly be tempted to come, while for those already here it’s a good reminder of why we love this fabulous Kingdom. Watch and enjoy!
 
http://vimeo.com/61561546

The second Phuket Health & Fitness Festival is set to run this year on May 18-19 in the Rawai-Nai Harn area. Activities to help people shape up and boost their health include yoga classes, seminars on well-being, raw food cooking courses, Zumba sessions, a fitness boot camp plus a standup paddle (SUP) challenge.
 
Tickets for the festival are 500 baht each, available at Atmanjai, Mangosteen Resort or the Serenity Resort. http://www.rawainaiharn.com/

Phuket Darkroom Club, a group of avid photographers based in Phuket, is showcasing its members’ works in its first photography show, ‘World in Grey’, at the Chalermraja Cultural Centre (the old Standard Chartered Bank) in Phuket Town. The exhibition features charming and rare black and white photos from past to present made from a genuine darkroom process.
 
The exhibition is open daily from 11am to 8pm until May 14 with free entry for all.
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355969014457391/

The American Chamber of Commerce Greater Phuket Chapter together with the local membership of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and BBAP (British Business Association Phuket) will stage a joint social networking event at the Pullman Arcadia Resort at Naithon Beach on May 10.
 
The tribes have merged and every nationality is invited to join for sundowners to meet old friends or make new ones. Admission is 200 baht and includes two free drinks and snacks. A cash bar will also be available.
 
For more information and to register, visit www.amchamthailand.com.