14th Feb home to the Park Timers

 Home again with some changes to the team - Sunil was out of town (something to do with the date?) but what a joy to welcome Bob back to the team, having resolved his transport difficulties.

We made all the usual preparations, sitting the visitors next to Brian's roaring fire so by round 2 they were no longer huddled round a table but spread out along the bench backs to the wall.

Despite this they remained very friendly and it was a most enjoyable game.

The questions we liked very much that were not the usual quiz book run of the mill but a mixture of classical music, myth, sport (no soccer) and a sprinkling of foreign or obscure English words.Plus a hilarious Dumb Britain round.

At the end of the Specialist the WGN had crept ahead with 61 to 51.

The General Knowledge questions were as interesting as the specialist rounds and the WGN managed to push ahead with 86 to 54, final score 147 to 105'

Indivual scores were Bob 15/24, Nick 12/9 and Paul 18/21 conferred were 10/17 and 6/15 pass overs. The home team gave away 1/4 Pass- overs.

It was a really pleasant evening rounded off with very tasty sandwiches - many thanks Brian, to the visitors and special mention must be made of Chris the question master who kept everything under control despite struggling bravely with some of the foreign and obscure words

7th February Home to the Chester Road Tavern

 The first game on the return leg and we met again with the Chester Road Tavern who have been playing in the League for many years. We were met with a roaring fire that was very welcome on a bitterly cold night and there was a fine selection of real ales to fortify the players.

It was a very friendly game and at the end of the Specialist rounds the WGN had crept ahead with 78 to 70. They continued this form with the General Knowledge rounds finishing with 99 to 61.

Individual scores were Paul 21/27   Nick 6/15, Sunil 18/15 and Ian 24/24; conferred points were 3/12 and pass-overs 6/6 and the visitors picked up 4/3 pass-overs. Final score 177 to 145.

The game was rounded off with a fine selection of sandwiches

31st January Away to the Sutton Club

 The Sutton Club are based in the Sutton Community Hall at the centre of the charming village of Sutton. It is a pleasant place with three handpumps (including the well-kept Wainwright's) and Stowfords on draught. But the real joy was to meet up and play against Wendy a former member of our team. Lovely to see her.

The questions were a bit of a mixed bag with some very obscure although the General Knowledge were felt to be better.

At the end of the Specialist the WGN led by 54 to 30 and kept the momentum going taking the General Knowledge 79 to 63, final score 133 to 93.

Individual scores were Paul18/21, Sunil 6/0, Nick 9'/6 and  Ian 12/24 conferred points 8/10 with pass-overs 7/12. The home team took 3/6pass-overs.

It was an enjoyable game splendidly controlled by Pat the question master that was rounded off with very tasty sandwiches and excellent pork pies.

Many thanks to the charming staff, to the home team, to Pat and a massive hug to Wendy

24th January Away to the Plough

 Great to see the Plough has emerged from lockdown unscathed  - friendly familiar faces.

A very pleasant evening with a pretty good set of questions. At the end of the Specialist Ian had got a full house and the visitors were leading 78 to 52; General Knowledge went to the WGN 79 to 61 final score 157 to 113

Individual scores Paul 18/15, Sunil 12/9 Nicik 9/3 Ian 24/18 conferred 8/21 pass-overs 7/13 and the home team collected 1/5 pass-overs.

The evening was rounded off with a fine curry with a choice of rice or chips - many thanks to the landlord, to the question master from the Chester Road Tavern and to the home team for a most enjoyable game.

17th January Cup game away at The Dolphin

 

The Dolphin is a very friendly Robinsons pub in an interesting part of the town sitting on Windmill St halfway up the valley wall towards the Hollins hills well known for the quality of its beers.. Neighbouring streets give clues to the area's industrial activity - Charles Roe set up a copper smelting factory (much of the ore coming from Alderley Edge) and used a windmill to grind the ore - other clues are Copper St and Calamine St used to process zinc.

Opposite the pub stands a large play area where the big top used to be assembled when the circus hit town and Nick remembers seeing a demonstration of horsemanship by Cossacks in the early fifties. Nick's Dad used to work in the foundry that once stood behind the pub and wore wooden clogs as splashes of molten metal burned right through leather easily. Nick and his brother also wore wooden clogs with a steel hoop on the sole - when they got too small Dad would take them across the playing field to a cobbler who would dig out a bit more of the insides so they would fit again - the comedian Charlie Williams sometimes included in his sketch skidding the floor in clogs so the metal hoop would strike sparks, just as we used to do.

It may be that the pub was built to house the navvies digging the Macclesfield just up the road.

The Dolphin Hatters (recently changed name following the tragic death of a team member) are sitting proudly at the top of the League table not having lost a game yet and although the visitors are second they knew this would be a toughie as the home team contains a Mastermind winner.

The questions were a bit of a mixed bag, perhaps too much sport, a reasonable mix of pop and classical music, some obscure geography - and the WGN felt they had made a wrong call at the start of the game as there seemed to be some imbalance in the questions.

The question master zipped quickly through the questions as the snow had started to fall and all wanted to get home - he did a good job.

Scores for each round were (home team first) 22/14, 19/18, 21/18, 20/14, 16/19 and 14/17 final score 120 to 100. A very pleasant game rounded off with a very tasty selection of sandwiches and a huge tureen of hot soup with bread Many thanks to the landlady, to the Hatters (good luck for the rest of the competition) and to the question master.

3rd January Home to the Park Taverners

 

The Park Taverners have been friendly opponents over many years and have become good friends - it was good to see them again.

We quite liked the questions, ideally if you were a Welsh speaking music lover, 

the rounds ending with the WGN having a slight lead with 68 to 62 and a similar result in the General Knowledge with 87 to 80 mainly thanks to strong performances by Paul and Ian. 

Individual scores were Paul 21/21 Nick 9/9 Sunil 6/15 Ian 18/15 with conferred 9/16, passed over 5/8 while the visitors picked up 5/8 pass-overs.

We very rarely give away pass-overs as we're extremely good at conferring but Nick confusing Russian and American space shots worked against us. Final score 155 to 142.

It was a very pleasant game with lots of laughter rounded off with a splendid selection of sandwiches from Brian - many thanks Brian, to the visitors and to David the question master from the Dolphin Hammers.

13th December Away to the Pack Horse Bowling Club

 The green itself looked lovely with a crisp layer of snow glistening in the moonlight as we arrived. Although the pub itself is now long gone, the Bowling Club is a real community centre - there was already a children's' party in full swing and the Argentina Croatia quarter final was on the TV. It is many years since Nick had been in but he was pleased to see an old friend Reg playing there.

It was a very pleasant evening and the questions were pretty good although Sunil and Nick struggled a bit but Ian and Paul saw us through. Paul actually got a magnificent full house in the Specialist questions giving us a lead of 67 to 43.

The general knowledge questions also favoured the WGN finishing with 81n to 57. final score being 148 to 100.

Individual score were Paul 24/18, Sunil 3/6, Nick 3/6 and Ian21/24 conferred 11/19, Passed over 8/5 with the home team picking up 2/2.

Avery pleasant evening was rounded off with a splendid selection of sandwiches = many thanks to the landlord, to the home team and to the question master