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

6th December Question Masters

 Having missed a week as there was just one game in the Cup the previous week the Waters Greem Nags still had a narrow time scale to prepare both sets of questions for this week.

 Personally I think they were pretty good and not just copied from a quiz book but regretably there were some whinges from all the B League venues - interestingly the General Knowledge showed a revival, each team on top at the end of the specialist were knocked back in the General Knowledge.

One more game to Christmas

15th November away to the Park Timers

 

It was good to be back in the Park Tavern, part of the growing Bollington Brewery group. It is a very cosy pub with a large selection of ales, friendly staff. and supports two quiz teams. The WGN were riding high after learning that their score last week was the highest in both Leagues and the best ever in the B League - could they repeat that performance?

The questions had been set by the Sutton Club who should be congratulated for completing both sets in such a short time but although Paul and Ian played very well this would not be a repeat of the previous week with Nick in particular suffering.

At the end of the Specialist the WGN were leading with 58 points to 52 but not feeling terribly confident as the General Knowledge questions started - they needn't have worried too much though as those rounds finished 78 to the home team's 72 - pretty close again.

The question master was Emma from the Sutton Club who controlled a friendly game with a light touch. Individual scores were:

Paul     Sunil   Nick   Ian   Conferred Pass-overs 

21/18    9/6      3/6     9/21    9/17          7/10  

and the home team picked up 5/3 pass-overs with a final score of 136 to 124 in the WGN's favour.

Nick and Sunil had to leave abruptly when an impatient taxi driver was blasting the horn just as a large portion of chips arrived that looked very tempting. It was a pleasant evening, many thanks to the Timers, to the landlord and to Emma.

8th November Away to the Chester Rd Tavern

 

A new dawn for the Quiz League, after the scourge of Covid pubs closed leaving fewer venues and just two Leagues. The former Lemmings too changed significantly and are pleased to welcome Paul and Ian from the former Nags Head team, hence the name change to the Waters Green Nags.

Our first game was against the Chester Road Tavern a former Greenall's tied pub but now a part of the Punch conglomerate. It is a warm, friendly comfortable pub with a selection of real ales including the excellent Wainwright that was well kept and in form. The team have played in the League for many years and it was good to see them again.

We thought the questions were very good and the Nags moved ahead in the Specialist with 84 to 51 before moving on to the General Knowledge which the WGNags won with 115 to 82 with excellent debuts from Paul and Ian who both scored 48!!

Individual scores were Paul  18/30  Nick 15/18  Sunil 15/15  Ian 21/27 with pass-overs 8/12 and conferred 13/7. Final score 199 to 133.

It was a very friendly game rounded off with a fine selection of sandwiches - many thanks to the home team, to the landlord and to Glynn the excellent question master from the Park Timers

April 5th Final league game home to the Dolphin Dragons

 

So, with apologies to Paul Anker and to Frank Sinatra who helped out

"So now the end is near, and I must face the final curtain ..."

Yes the last game of what has been a very testing season for the Lemmings who started with a team of four and a reserve but played most games with just three. 

Our last game was at home against the Dolphin Drgons who gave us a sound thrashing in the frst half of the season but we were confident as not only was our highest scorer (Jack The Hat) playing but the Tavern was offering the magnificent Eden Valley Citra guaranteed to lift spirits, even the mood of impending doom.

It ws a very pleasant game but history was repeating itself as the Lemmings at the end of the Specialist questions were trailing with 40 points to the visitors 62 - as Marx said ""History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."

The Lemmings did a little better with the General Knowledge questions that ended with a deficit of 10 and a final score of 117 to 85.

Individual scores were Bob 9/3 Sunil 6/12 Nick 6/6 with conferred (mainly Jack) 14/10 and pass-overs 5/10

But the Citra had worked its magic enriched with a splended selection of sandwiches - many thanks Brian, to the visitors and the question master who guided us briskly through the game.

29th March Awayto the Nags Head

The Nag's Head is a lovely old pub that probably started  providing accommodation  for the drovers  who would bring cattle and sheep to the cattle market opposite. It has retained many original features and over the years was a gathering point for striking silk workers and is a regular gathering  point for bikers. The quiz team  are old friends and it is always a pleasure to meet them.

We did not have aa game last week, and once again Jack The Hat was playing to make up a team of four.

The questions had been set by Queens that were perhaps too sport-heavy (but the Nag's strong point) and the Lemmings frequently said why can't we get those. But no complaints, we were always going to get beaten despite a fine performance by Bob. We were sustained by Dizzy Blonde on top form.

 Individual scores were Bob 15/24 Sunil 12/3 Nick 3/12 with  conferred (Jack mainly) 14/17 and pass-overs 1/6.

A very pleasant evening controlled by Julian with a light touch and rounded off with a magnificent chillie with chips. Many thanks to he landlords, the team and Julian

 

15th March Home to the Harrington Academicals

 

It started badly – Nick and Sunil had popped into the Tavern for a pint before nipping round the corner to play the Nags Head – fortunately the Harrington Academicals arrived as they were preparing to leave and saved a ridiculous situation.

Things could only get better – or could they. The Specialist rounds found the Lemmings struggling with Jack the Hat (i.e. conferred) leading the scores with 18 and Nick failing to score – at the end of the Specialist the Academicals were leading with 63 to 26 – but the Lemmings do well in General Knowledge.

Flushed with optimism the Lemmings prepared to close the 37 point gap and maintained the form they had in the Specialist rounds to receive a sound thrashing of 79 to 62 losing the game with 86 to the visitors’ 142.

Individual scores  were Bob 6/9, Sunil 6/6 Nick 0/24 and conferred 13/12 with pass-overs 1/9.

It was a very pleasant game with lots of fun and laughter rounded off with a fine selection of sandwiches. Many thanks to Brian, to the Harrington Academicals and the question master.

8 March Away to the Plough

 

Again, the Plough are old adversaries and friends and the pub is very friendly and welcoming with several rooms so there is little interference. Once again, despite the appearance of a former team member being on a winning team on The Chase the previous week we were playing with Jack The Hat who continues to score well. The specialist questions we liked although some were too hard for either team to answer. The scores read 37 to the Plough and the Lemmings put up a good fight with 36.

General Knowledge were a good mix of questions including some fine art,

 

 

 but the visitors did not do so well scoring 56 to the home team 75. Final score 112 to 92 – a well earned victory with lots of fun and laughter.

Individual scores were Bob 6/21, Sunil 3 Nick 12/9 with Jack racking up 14/15 and pass-overs 4/8.

It was a most enjoyable evening, the Wainwrights was on top form and there was a fine selection of sandwiches – many thanks to the landlord, to the home team and especially to Shauna the question master who controlled the game lightly and with humour.

 

1st March Home to the Park Taverners

The Lemmings had no game last week having already been eliminated from the Cup/Plate rounds.

It is always a pleasure to play the Park Taverners, we have known them for many years and they have become firm friends. Jack The Hat was again playing for the Lemmings(i.e. all conferred)  as we settled in to a lovely log fire and an excellent selection of real ales among which was a new recipe from the Abbeydale brewery released under their testing label Dr Morton.

We liked the specialist questions very much as they were all interesting with a mixture of classical and popular questions although at the end of that section we were trailing with 44 points to the Taverners' 53 - not bad for three people.

The general knowledge however seem to have been a vetter's nightmare and although some questions had been changed other suggestions had been ignored - perhaps from a lack of experience. The Lemmings were again trailing at the end with 50 to the visitors' 61 making a final score of 114 to 94.

Individual scores were Bob 15/15, Sunil 6/3 Nick 9/9 with conferred 11/13 (thannks mainly to Jack) and 3/10 pass-overs.

We were then offered a splendid selection of sandwiches (included Brian's roast beef!!) to round off the evening - many thanks Brian, thank you to the Park Taverners for a very pleasant evening and to Andy the question master from the Nag's Head.

15th February Away to the Chester Road Tavern

 The Chester Road Tavern has been playing in the Quiz League for many years - it is a very cosy and friendly pub and very much a local centre - during our game there was what sounded like an exciting game of dominoes. in the bar area There is an offering of four or five real ales including the excellent Farmers Blonde that was in top condition.

Like the Lemmings, the team has been struggling this season - in fact this was that the one victory the Lemmings had achieved so we were just two points above them on the night.

The questions set by The Poachers were fine with two different rounds to the normal run: one was that each of the answers contained the name of a street in Macclesfield, and the other Highbrow and Lowbrow with two questions and the the same answer for both (say one for opera and one for pop).

Sunil was unfortunately away but Tim from the former Robin Hood team stepped in to cover and Jack The Hat continued to make a valuation contribution.

At the end of the Specialists we were trailing 51 to 42 and 61 to 45 eventual score 117 to 87 -so the two teams are now level - well done CRT!!

Individual scores were Bob 9/3, Tim 9/15 Nick 9/6 conferred 11/16 and passovers 4/5

The game finished with a large selection of sandwiches - many thanks to the landlord, to Tim for helping us out (and scoring very well) and to the team for a very pleasant enjoyable game.

8th February Quiizmasters

 

RIP BAMBER GASCOIGN

 

He taught us how to do it

As question--masters we owe a massive vote of thanks to Tomo who although unable to play for domestic reasons helped out by covering the Plough.

Nick and Sunil were at the Park Tavern for a very pleasant game spoilt only by Nick who kept trying to read out the answers instead of passing over.

The game ended with a generous helping  of chips - many thanks to the landlady and the two teams. 

Swamped by the Dolphin 2nd February

 

This was the turning point in the season after which all other teams will have been played. The Dolphin is a lovely old Robinson's pub with a fine reputation for the quality if its ales - on the night they had the famous Old Tom that at 8.5% is best avoided during a quiz, but the Dizzy Blonde was on excellent form.

Once again Jack The Hat was making up the numbers and since all his questions were conferred he did rather well! The specialist questions were very interesting with intriguing headings - Groundhog Day, what's all that about? In fact there were two rounds with that heading that were very interesting. Despite liking the questions however the Lemmings were left trailing 64 to 38 at the end of the Specialist.

The General Knowledge followed the same pattern with the Lemmings losing 162 to 89; individual scores were Bob 6/15, Sunil 9/3, Nick 6/9 with conferred (mainly Jack) 13/19 and 4/5 pass overs.

There was a good supper of chips and pizza that was delicious - many thanks to the landlord, to the home team for a friendly and pleasant game, and to the Queen B's for an excellent set of questions and question master.

Burns Night Away to the Plough Horntails in the Cup

 It is very pleasing that the Plough has survived the pandemic and retains its friendly atmosphere with a very pleasant landlady. On the night there was an excellent Wainwrights beer and the quiz team are old friends and always a joy to play.

A special mention and thanks to Andy Ridgeway who at very short notice had provided all the questions  without which there would have been no games.

Once again Jack The Hat made up the Lemming's numbers but as all questions were conferred he wasn't much use. The Lemmings were on the back foot throughout a most enjoyable game despite many questions being within living memory but one in particular had everyone struggling - what is the name of the wrinkle in a cat's ears? Bob suggested the nine banded armadillo but  the answer was cutaneous marginal pouch but an answer of Henry's pocket would have been accepted!!! No-one got it.

The final score was 94 to the Plough to the Lemmings' reasonable 77 - the home team go through to the next round.

The visitors did not wait to enjoy the pub's hospitality (very generous pizzas) but in view of the date hopped into a taxi to the Tavern where Brian had laid on a Burns Supper, a most delicious haggis, creamy mash and excellent carrot and swede mash that was complemented with a pint of Salopian's  Oracle. Thank you so much Brian and Kay, to the Horntails for a very pleasant enjoyable game and to the Plough landlady for the friendly atmosphere.

 

18 January Home to the Nags Head

 The Nags are long-time opponents and friends and it is always a pleasure to play them. The Lemmings numbers were made u this week by Jack The Hat, a rather natty beanie that may well be invited to play again.

The specialist questions really impressed the Lemmings with different takes on familiar subjects, including a round on the 'Fifties and the General Knowledge were fine too. Nevertheless the Lemmings were thrashed in bot sets.

There was an interesting historical discussion on how long various players had been playing in the League - for decades some!!

Brian had prepared a really interesting range of sandwiches to round off the evening.

Inbdividual scores were Bobg 12/12, Sunil 9/3 and Nick 6/3 with 10/20 conferred and 7/3 pass overs.

Many thanks to Brian, to the Nags Head and the question setters and the questionmaster for the evening

FOND MEMORIES

 

It is not often we play in this wonderful country pub, but with many others we have fond memories of smoky rooms (not very fond really), pickled onions and the formidable Mrs Bailey who put up a spirited resistance to Robinsons Brewery who wanted to install handpumps when she wanted to collect beer in a jug in the cellar - and of course the magnificent huge till on the counter on which a second round of the same drinks was infinitely variable in price. And let's not forget the folk music nights!!Although since her passing there has been some modernisation it still retains a lot of that old world charm.

Along with many teams the Lemmings have suffered with the Covid pandemic and their numbers were made up this week by a beer mug called Andy - Andy was a friend, a neighbour and a regular at the Waters Green Tavern who always drank from his own pewter tankard - sadly he passed away (pre Covid) and one of his tankards seems a respectful way to remember him.

Both sets of questions were good with an interesting round on chefs with flowery names (unfortunately Nick went for Blumenthal instead of Nigella!!) but at the end of the Specialist the Lemmings were trailing with 35 to the Academicals 65. Little change in the General Knowledge where the home team triumphed with 98 to 47. Final score 165 to 84.

Individual scores were Bob 12/12 Sunil 6/12 Nick 6/6 Andy and Conferred 11/12 and just 2/5 pass overs.

A very pleasant evening on a rather misty night with lots of laughter and a splendid tray of delicious sandwiches from the landlord - many thanks to the landlord, to the home team and question master from Rushton Diamonds.

SORRY HAVING PROBLEMS UPLOADING PICTURES BUT WILL KEEP TRYING

Stung by the Horntails

 Once again the Lemmings were a player down and since the ashtray was not a lot of help last week we decided instead to to play with a pint glass. Our opponents were the Plough Horntails who incidentally we should have played in the last season before Covid brought everything to a standstill. We have known and played the Horntails over many years and it is always a very pleasant evening with laughter and jokes. I must also express my admiration and thanks to Heather from the Park Tavern who acted as question master with a gentle but firm hand spiced with humour.

The specialist questions were rather difficult but balanced and fair with a rather different round on film quotations. General Knowledge were not quite as interesting but again had been vetted well.

One answer was David Whitfield that stirred some queries, but I remember sitting in Granellis on Chestergate when a friend who had just been dumped kept playing one of his songs, probably Answer Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qS2akliM_s

Bob and Sunil both put in really good scores but Nick and the glass didn't do so well and we trailed by 80 to 65 finishing 103 to the Horntails 137.

We finished with a splendid cheese tray - many thanks Brian, the Horntails and Heather