The Adventures of Trevor Corner; Camel Racing! (From The Northern Echo)

The Adventures of Trevor Corner; Camel Racing!

6:19pm Saturday 17th April 2010 in Cockfield

Here’s part two of Trevor Corner’s tales from The Arab Emirates.

When I left the UK, as a laugh, I said, “Give me 6 months and I will have dinner with the King!”

Well it started as a normal weekend, which here is Friday/Saturday and as my son was visiting the following week I was thinking of things to do.

Camel racing in the emirates is a national sport, a bit like a cross between Newmarket and whippet racing on the fell, unfortunately it starts at 7am in winter, as its too hot at any other time.

So, we set of on Friday afternoon to find the place, so I could be there on time the following Friday morning.

When we found the place I asked the police where and when the camel racing was on and he said over there, NOW!

Apparently we had gone at the start of the festival week, the equivalent of royal ascot.

We went to the start and saw hundreds of camels with robot jockeys tied to their backs, all with rotating whips activated by mobile phone; they use robots as too many jockeys were getting killed!

At the start, they hold the camels in a line and when they say ‘GO’ they all run to get out of the way of the camels before they get trampled (a regular event!).

The camels run in all directions, its manic, but to add to the interest all the locals follow the camels in 4wd cars honking horns and activating the whips by the mobiles to get them running!

We watched a few races and I noticed that the royal family were sat beside us!

After a couple of hours, I needed the bathroom and the only place was in the grandstand at the finishing line, so off we went.

I told the wife to keep walking until we are stopped!

We were then greeted by an Arab gentleman who welcomed us and sat us on a white leather sofa next to the royal family and ordered the waiters to bring us Arabic afternoon tea; we watched the racing and presentations and left.

A few days later my son arrived and we visited the festival for him to see.

We went through the same procedure and back to the grandstand again. We were greeted by the same man and this time put on the sofas with the royal family and served the refreshments.

At the end I thanked the guy for his great hospitality and he said “Come tomorrow, the final day and join us for dinner, the princes from all the Emirates will be here.”

I turned up only to be met with armed guards! I just pointed to the restaurant and was beckoned in.

It was my Arab friend and he walked me down a double sided row of golden thrones with senior Arabs seated to the end and he introduced me to the ruling prince.

I was seated in one of the thrones until all of the other princes arrived.

We then got beckoned into the great hall where everyone was seated, approx 200 Arabs plus me and my son for the royal banquet.

The food was awesome and we were quite overawed!

I told my son to forget the chicken, “I’m eating lobster and camel!” (yesterdays looser) We had a great lunch and then went racing.

We were again welcomed in typical Arabic style with all the hospitality and left with wonderful memories. I remember thinking at the time; ‘What’s a boy from Cockfield doing here?’

FOOTNOTE…

As I was putting this blog together, (Monday 12th May) there was a news item on Tyne Tees TV about camel racing at Sedgefield Race Course, uncanny or what? and I’m sure I spotted my old mate and one of our ruling princes… George Reynolds!!