Sports Update April

The first golf major of the year and many people’s idea of the best tournament on the calendar, The Masters, starts on Thursday the 11th and concludes on the Sunday. The star studded line up, the familiarity of Augusta National and the inevitable drama on the Sunday afternoon make this essential viewing for golf fans everywhere. I’ll be hoping that Rory McIlroy wins this year and completes the grand slam, putting his name into the pantheon of true golfing greats.

The biggest horse race in the world, the Grand National, also takes place this month and is the highlight of a top quality three day meeting at Aintree racecourse, which along with Punchestown in Ireland is becoming a viable alternative to the increasing dominance of Cheltenham, which is becoming a point of criticism for many racegoers, especially with dominance of Willie Mullins this year. The start time has been brought forward to 4pm on Saturday the 13th.

The Formula 1 circus travels eastwards in April with the Japanese race taking place on the 7th of the month followed by the Chinese heat leaving the grid on Sunday the 21st. Aside from a scandal or two and the introduction of a few potential new stars, the actual results look familiar with the domination of Max Verstappen and Red Bull continuing unabated.

Last but by no means least on the calendar is the Snooker World Championship, which starts on the 20th and runs right through until it’s traditional date for the final, bank holiday Monday, May the 6th. You’ll find much more about this year’s tournament in a separate article in the April edition of Discover Pattaya – Pattaya Trader. In print, online and on social media everywhere.