Colin and Graham’s Excellent Adventures – in Oman

Oman newspaper – gives coverage to Colin and Graham’s involvement in a race (bottom left

Making the Oman national newspaper – Colin Carroll & Graham Little created a stir as they did a unique double – a regional Camel Race and a local Camel Race in Oman.

Thrills and Spills in Camel Racing

On two consecutive days they joined in the quintessentially Omani pastime of Camel Racing – not as spectators as I often do – but as participants for their program ‘Colin and Graham’s Excellent Adventures’

Thrills and spills was the order of the day – but as we are sworn to secrecy you will have to watch the program on RTE and BBC – to see how they survived the gruelling desert events.

The Camel Team in Oman

Masirah has won the iShares Cup Champions 2009 for Oman

In an extraordinarily close finish in the last leg of the last race on the last day (just as they won the Gulf Cup in Football – nail biting) Oman Sail’s Masirah has won the “iShares Cup Champions 2009” in Almeria, Spain.

Whats even more extraordinary is that this was their first season – hopefully more to come.

What a shame the America’s Cup isnt in Oman’s waters.

Ramadhan Football in Oman

Looks like a winning side

The younger players of Arabesque’s sponsored team, Al Taawn , had a friendly competition during Ramadhan .

The Ref - in a DishDash

Plenty of passion but really just a league between the neighbourhood. Of course medals wouldn’t go amiss so some nice Gold and Silver ones were purchased with a very clever glass inlay and two cups for display.

Medals for the final 2 Teams

Wimborne in Dorset wants to twin with a town in Oman

In the heart of the English country side  Wimborne Minster might not seem to have links with Oman; but! In what will be a wonderful first Wimborne apparently wants to twin with an Omani town.

So perhaps we will have Rustaq and Wimborne Minster as twins .

Oman at the Seminar for Arabian Studies

It was good to join the Seminar for Arabian Studies at the British Museum.

Held annually it focuses on the history and archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula . It was especially nice to meet up with Ali Al Mahrouqi on July 23rd, which is Oman’s ‘Renaissance Day’. He was attending on behalf of Oman’s Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and put up a Poster of the project he is working on, including Adam which I enjoyed visiting with him last year.

Ali Al Mahrouqi and his Poster

At this years Seminar I found the overview by Derek Kennet on pre-historical sites in Wadi Andam and also Axelle Rougeulle talking about the first season of excavation at Qalhat very interesting.

Derek Kennet talks about pre-historical sites in Oman