The Dubai Loyal Desert Bears (www.thedesertbears.com) welcomed ex-Gers favourite Mark Hateley to Dubai recently to take part in a weekend football quiz and golf double header against local rivals the Dubai Hoops CSC. The Hoops were represented in the competition by Tommy Gemmell, a known Rangers supporter as a boy although he told us not to tell anyone.
The weekend kicked off at the Hoops’ local watering hole the Dubliners, where Mark and Tommy took part in a question and answer session with members of both clubs.
Mark deftly answered probing questions such as "You have played and scored against such European giants such as Juventus, Marseille, Liverpool and Inter Milan, but failed to hit the net against East Fife – were they really that good?" While Gemmell body swerved the contentious "five of the Lisbon Lions were from Lanarkshire – if it had been more, do you think you’d have had a better team?"
The following night saw a return to the Desert Bears’ haunt- Champions at the Marriott- where the Old Firm Quiz night provided a night of celebration for the participating bears, who turned the Hoops over with a mixture of guile and wit. Mark Hateley, Gerry Wilson and John Kerr made up the Desert Bears select, who won at a canter with the Celtic team suffering from failing eyesight and bad spelling.
The table competition was won by Desert Bears’ communications man Robin "Stellaman" Duff’s team, which unfortunately won the honour of unlimited drinks for the evening, which resulted in 2 empty lager barrels.
"It’s been a great weekend, and I would like to thank Mark and Victoria for making the trip over here – if the end of season bash is as successful, we will be delighted. Clearly, we are disappointed that we didn’t win the golf, but, we expected to clean up in the intelligence stakes, as the quiz result emphatically proves and cheating was kept to a minimum," said Norman MacDonald, Chairman of the Desert Bears.
On the golf, organizer, Social Convener Grant ‘Jakey’ Douglas commented: "Many thanks go to Nad Al Sheba Golf Club who helped organize the event and donated ‘nearest-the-pin’ and ‘longest drive’ prizes, and the 40 golfers representing Dubai Loyal and Dubai Hoops. Highlight of the day for me was watching Bryan McFadden of Westlife play his 2nd shot at the 6th hole from the roof of the greenkeepers shed. He should stick to singing!"
For any future Dubai Loyal Desert Bears Events, including the last Friday of the month meetings at the Biggles Bar, Millennium Airport Hotel, please contact Norman MacDonald on Norman.macdonald@disney.com . Details can also be found on the club’s recently launched site, www.thedesertbears.com
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