Withington Pub Quiz League

QUIZBIZ - 21st October 2009

SPW, Charabancs of Fire, Albert and the Opsimaths remain unbeaten after the first 3 weeks of competition

The Results: Charabancs of Fire just squeaked home ahead of the Electric Pigs - Damian writes: This was definitely a game of two halves. A relatively sober Charabancs team lapped up the first 4 rounds sweeping into a commanding 22-6 lead. In the 2nd half however, once the effect of 5 months Robbies's abstinence began to assail our weakened immune systems, the ability of the Charas to recall obscure news items from last July deserted us. The Piggies stormed ahead winning each of the last 4 rounds. In the end we clung on by a mere 2 points! History Men fought an even battle against SPW for 5 rounds, and then crumpled in the last 3. Albert won a low-scoring match fairly comfortably at the Fletcher Moss against Snoopy's Friends. Prodigals couldn't get a first win under their belt against an impressive Ethel Rodin at the Albert Club.

		The Paper: This week The Men They Couldn't Hang compiled the paper. They served up a classic in the special style we've come to expect. Out in New Mills where the Opsimaths were entertained to a friendly against a local team with TMTCH Dave in the QM chair, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dave delivered the questions in his inimitable north eastern brogue (I've been warned on no account to use the word 'Geordie'). We were treated to oodles of extraneous and interesting information both before, during and after the questions - and to cap it all we walloped the local Sett Valley team. I think our favourite round was the 'stone' themed one which thankfully Howell cracked early on through an inspired piece of lateral thought. Elsewhere the reaction could be summed up by the adjectives: 'tough', 'lengthy' and 'interesting'. Damian's view from the Swan: There was something in it for everyone. As for the QoTW our nomination goes to the 1st round 'twin' question which asked what Zeus, Denis Thatcher and Darth Vader had in common - that George W Bush did not. Our initial thought that they were all married to first-class bitches, unlike George W who WAS one, was discounted when someone mentioned twins. From the Fletcher Moss Mary comments: We found it a difficult paper. Although there were many interesting questions, the length of some of them made it difficult at times to understand what was being asked. From the Red Lion Kieran adds: Extraordinary quiz! A hard close-fought slog for five rounds and then we all but doubled our score in rounds 6 and 7 while the Historymen all but stood still. It was always an interesting quiz though. Maybe it would have been a better idea if either round 6 or round 7 had been inserted into the first half to ease the slog. Couple of great pairs - the peculiarities of children named after where they were born and the fathers of mixed sex twins being one pair, and the schematic drawings leading to Rome and infinity being the other. A lot of thought had clearly gone into the paper. ...and finally from James at the Albert Club: A tough quiz. Very impressed by the stones round, as any themed round that still leaves you searching for a link after 4 or 5 questions has to be pretty inspired. My alternative tennis answer for the campanology question was "a hell of a racket" - and however diminutive the Welsh may be, both teams think Snowdon to be more than a hill!
The Question of the Week: This week SPW nominate Round 1 Question 5: What peculiarity includes Florence Nightingale, Winona Ryder and Casey Jones, the driver of the cannonball express, amongst its population - but NOT Chelsea Clinton? For the answer to this and all the week's questions click here.
		The Chatterbox: I have received the following from the people who make the BBC4 Only Connect programme. Only Connect is quite the best quiz programme on the box at present - a sort of visual version of Round Britain Quiz. If anyone fancies a go I'd happily join up with them. Nick Mills of the Opsimaths got to the semis last series with a team called The Chessmen. Hello, Please let your quiz league members know that we’re on the hunt for contestants. Show details below: Victoria Coren presents the third series of the popular BBC Four quiz show ONLY CONNECT where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It’s all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all. We’re looking for teams of three players who share a common passion, ability or profession, to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles. Only Connect: the quiz where general knowledge meets lateral thinking. To request an application email contestants@presentable.co.uk including a telephone number. All entries must be received by no later than midnight on Tuesday 10th November 2009, so get your application in as soon as possible. If you’ve applied for a previous series but were unsuccessful you’re welcome to apply again for the new series. Auditions will be held in regional centres throughout the UK. All applicants must be aged 18+ and U.K. residents. If you have any queries please get in touch. Many thanks Claire Claire Jones Production Co-ordinator Presentable \| 46 Cardiff Road \| Llandaff \| Cardiff CF5 2DT Tel: +44 (0) 2920 575729 clairej@presentable.co.uk \| www.presentable.co.uk