To Any Regular Readers

 

Just a reminder that we are having a party on 12th July and all quiz teams are invited – if you don’t have the details please email me or in extremis add a comment below.

Cheers – enjoy the summer

30th April–And Now The Final Curtain

 

Yes, the curtain falls on the Cup Final, the last gasp of the 2013-14 Macclesfield Pub Quiz League, a season that saw several ups and downs and was in all probability completed thanks to the National Health Service to which several of us owe a big debt of gratitude.

The finalists this year were the Dolphin Dragons,  proudly sporting their TV star Liz, old stalwarts of the A League and a serious (if friendly) force to be reckoned with.

Facing the Dragons were the new kids on the block, the Waters Green Rams who have made remarkable progress in the past couple of years and have just won promotion to the A League and pass the Lemmings on their way down.

It was a closely fought contest with a fine set of questions prepared by the Knot ‘Arf and the Weaver from questions offered by all teams in all three Leagues. The contest was overseen with a light touch by Rick Davies as questionmaster, and very few questions were not answered. Except for the last round there was very little in it, but the Rams put in a storming finish to win the game with 112 to 97.

Congratulations to the Rams for winning the double – top of the B League and Cup Champions – an excellent season. Well done!!!

A thrilling end to a season that despite ups and downs still ran like clockwork for which the committee must be congratulated.

April 1st–A Night For Great Decisions

 

Macclesfield Town playing Cambridge United in a bid to reach the play-offs – defeat would demolish such hopes.

Manchester United in the first leg of the Championship League quarter final against Bayern Munich, the much fancied current holders. Even staunch supporters expect them to lose.

And the really important game – the Waters Green Lemmings against the British Flag on which their future in the next season rests. Sitting next to bottom, the Lemmings have 10 points, equal to the Knot ‘Arfs who lead on scores difference. The Flag have not won a game all season, although running some games very close, so the Lemmings take their seats confident of victory but dependent on how the Knot ‘Arfs get on. If the latter lose the Lemmings will remain bathed in the sunlight of the A League but if they win the the Lemmings are consigned to the funeral parlour awaiting the drop into the B League.

All in all a night of tension, anticipation, high hopes and potential disillusion. So, the results in ascending order of importance.

United shocked the pundits by taking the lead 8 minutes into the second half with a Vidic header from a Rooney corner. Munich scored shortly afterwards but with an uncharacteristic excellent defence United hung on to go into the second leg with a goal each.

Sadly Macc Town surprised nobody and lost 1-0 effectively securing their place in the Skrill League next season.

Then the big one!! The last game of the quiz season. Perhaps the smug confidence of the Lemmings blinded them to the clouds on the horizon. Not only was Rosie the mascot missing, but so was Wendy her owner!! Wendy was replaced by Graham, who had started quizzing many years ago with Bob when the League was first formed. Bob seized the opportunity to  remind Graham of some of his jokes.The questions had been set by The Weaver and whilst the balance was OK, there were several times when the Lemmings groaned “I wish we’d had that”. The British Flag seemed to have no such problem and it soon became clear that they were running away with the game finishing the Specialist with 54 points to the Lemmings’ 36. – Only 18 points – we’ve made that up before!! But not this time – the Flag won the General Knowledge with 74 to 63 with a remarkable margin of 29, 128 to 99.

One point must be made – both teams felt that the answer to question 6 in the History was wrong, but in fact it was quite correct and fortunately made no difference to the outcome.

Individual scores were Bob 3/18, Graham 6/6, Nick 3/9 and Tomo 6/9; conferred points were 10/13 and pass-overs 8/8. The Flag collected 6/12 pass-overs.

Well done the British Flag, the Lemmings resume their hereditary place in the B League and and on the way pass their sister team the Rams who are promoted to the A League.

Despite the fate at stake the game was played with much laughter and jokes, and rounded off with an excellent cheese board from Brian. Thank you Brian, the Flag and the question master from the Weaver.

And so ended the Lemmings’ season of missed opportunities, mixed fortunes and metaphors.

We enjoyed our season in the A League and hope to get back at the end of next season.

25th March–Home to th Ox-Fford C

 

 

The penultimate game of the season, and after a promising start the Lemmings have had a rather disappointing time of it. Tonight was against the Ox-Fford C and clearly it would take a miracle to change the Lemmings’ fortunes and save them from relegation.

They took their usual place in the Tavern feeling rather despondent, as if led like lambs to the slaughter. But then there was a ray of hope!! Only three players turned up from the Ox-Fford C as one of the team had fallen sick at the last moment and they had not had time to find a replacement. Perhaps miracles do happen – but it was a slender hope.

As the questions  began it was clear that they were very much to the Lemmings’ interests and they began to draw away leading by 21 points at the end of the Specialist with 69 to 48.

Peter the question master from the Dolphin then remarked that considerable work had been required to bring the General Knowledge questions up to standard, for instance several very obscure ones required the answer to be turned into the question. And now the visitors showed their mettle and they clawed back into the game, eating into the Lemmings’ lead. However the Lemmings recovered their composure and with much discipline managed to cling on losing the General Knowledge with 62 to 81 – but winning the game by two points, 131 to 129.

Individual scores were Bob 12/9, Wendy 15/9, Nick 9/12 and Tomo an excellent 21/12; conferred points were 6/15 with 6/5 pass-overs, the visitors picking up 4/10 pass-overs.

It was a most enjoyable game rounded off with a fine lamb curry from Brian with popadoms, naans and a fiery mango chutney. Thank you Brian, Peter and the Ox-Fford C for a splendid evening.

18th March–Away to the Knot Knowalls

 

Like old times – the original Lemmings team playing together again. And against one of our favourite teams, the Knowalls.

The Knot is a warm and welcoming pub and the grumpy mood from travelling there was soon dissipated.There was a novel start to the game in that the other Knot team (question masters) had asked Nick to bring along the questions and there was a little banter about opening the envelope before delivery. However this was not necessary as the questions had been delivered to the Waters Green Tavern uncollated and without envelopes and although the manager Stephen had valiantly sorted them into order there was still a transparent lack of envelopes. Undeterred, Nick wrapped the question papers in the Daily Mail thus serving the dual purpose of defending customers from its mindless bile.

Having settled in and collected our respective drinks we faced Round 1 from the jovial question-master. It was from this moment that things went downhill. There was nothing wrong with the questions, it was just that we didn’t know the answers and by the end of the Specialist we were lagging by 15 points, 52 to 37.

Undeterred and fortified with another round of drinks the Lemmings reminded each other that they have made up bigger deficiencies in the past and would do so again – and why not tonight??

Indeed the Lemmings began to claw back the points and at one point were just five points behind the home team – but it was not to be, once again the Knowalls lived up to their name and drew away ending the game with a clear lead of 19 points, 127 to 108.

No complaints and in any case what more proof could anyone ask that the Lemmings had not looked at the questions before handing them over to the question-master since each scored well below their average.

Individual scores were Bob 6/15, Wendy 6/15, Nick 0/12 and Tomo 9/9, conferred points were 9/11 with 7/9 pass-overs; the Knowalls picked up 9/11 pass-overs.

Nevertheless it was a very pleasant evening rounded off with fine sandwiches and excellent chips – many thanks to the Knot, the Knowalls and the laid-back question-master.

And finally although there were no serious objections to the questions, there is another nomination for the nine-banded armadillo!! Yes, “What was Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s first son called?” (Q33 General Knowledge – one almost wonders if this was a deliberate entry to the armadillo challenge!!). No doubt everyone was on the edge of their seat waiting to hear the answer which apparently was Sonny.

11th March–Questionmasters

 

Firstly a word of thanks to Mark Watson – the Lemmings have recently been struggling with absences, Nick being stuck in London for two months and Bob being away; nevertheless they managed to get together both sets of questions but with no regular reserves could not cover the four venues despite an appeal to each team in all Leagues and several personal approaches. Much against his better judgement, Nick was forced to disturb Mark who is recovering from serious surgery for advice and Mark managed to cajole his own team and the British Flag to cover their own game. We have always recognised that the smooth running of the Quiz League owes much to Mark’s skills but this was much beyond the call of duty and is very much appreciated and Nick again offers his apologies.

A word of appreciation is also due to the Harrington Academicals and the Nags Head who thoroughly vetted the questions and whose suggestions certainly improved thee Lemmings’ efforts and proved the worth of all Leagues being involved in the questions.

The games at the Knot and the Dolphin both seem to have been good-humoured affairs with much laughter and fun. Nick however was at the Weaver where the home team were in typical belligerent mood that reached a low point with complaints that there were four football questions in the Sport round (“Don’t you know any other sport?”) that spilled over into the next round (All Saints) with a petulant display of football teams beginning with St holding up the game. The Ox-Fford C retained their composure and usual light-hearted approach whilst cries of “Boring” and “crap question” peppered the rest of the game.

At the end of the Specialist the Weaver had a slight lead of 58 to 54 which they retained as the General Knowledge was a dead heat with 54 each. The Weaver pub has vastly improved following refurbishment and the refreshments were a generous selection of sandwiches with chips

4th March Cup/Plate semifinals

 

The Lemmings had already been knocked out of the Cup and Plate so it was a night off for the team.Nick watched the game between the Knot Originals and the sister team from the Waters Green Tavern the Rams – it was a very good game and Nick wished he was playing as the questions appealed to him.

If there is any further news I will update this blog.

25th February–Away to the Weavers

 

Again I am indebted to Bob for supplying details as I was again out of town - Nick

Tuesday we played at the newly refurbished Weavers in the newly foreshortened Thornton Square, no longer a vast, pitch-black, ankle-breaker car park, but a bright parking lot with some new-build adjacent. The pub itself has been changed just sufficiently to make it more homely, which was just what it needed. A bright, cosy atmosphere and a good selection of ales.  Perhaps this lulled the WGL into a false sense of security as it went steadily downhill from there...  The questions were OK - not an armadillo in sight, and the

Chester Road Tavern provided two great 'free' specialist rounds - "A colourful life" and "Trigger Points" - a good little tribute round to the great Roger Lloyd-Pack.

In Nick's absence, WGL were joined by Dave Jones who scored a creditable 18 points for us. The home team were welcoming, as were the butties, and Caroline, the QM hosted the quiz really well. But all this didn't stop the Lemmings going further and further behind until we were somewhat bemused that an enjoyable quiz had drifted into a thumping win by the Weavers of 196 points to 115.   A good quiz, we thought, but for us on the night a bad toss to lose.

We have decided not to mention that it was the opposition wot got the question "What great American Folk Singer died recently?" Yes, we know it was Pete Seeger, but what group did he play in for many years..... The Weavers!

18th Feb Away to the Knot ‘Arf

 

It is always a pleasure to head for Rushton Spencer to play either of their two teams and this was no exception. Much fun was had from the repetition in previous games of Trowbridge being the county town of Wiltshire (see comments from 28th January) that fuelled more humour with the evening’s questions – hedgehogs were flavour of the evening but the questions were fine, especially the Specialist although the Knot’s avid interest in cricket served them well.

At the end of the Specialist the Lemmings were trailing by just 5 points with 68 to 73 – not usually a problem as the General Knowledge is pretty good for the Lemmings and they were slowly making up the deficit until two disastrous rounds where they scored practically nothing at all and fell impossibly behind losing the General Knowledge with 60 to 110. Final score a great win for the ‘Arfs with 183 to 128.

Individual scores were Bob 18/12, Wendy 18/9, Nick 6/9, Tomo 18/6, conferred points 7/16, with pass-overs 1/8; the home team picked up pass-overs 4/13

A most enjoyable evening rounded off with generously filled sandwiches with chips – many thanks to the Knot, the ‘Arfs and the Dragons for interesting questions

11th Feb Away to The Ox-Fford

 

Nick was again out of town and his place was taken by Tony – Bob has been kind enough to send in the following report:

“ We played the Ox-fford, including Mark and got off to a very slow start - after round two it looked like we were in for a thrashing almost equal to Arsenal at Liverpool, but the ship steadied and we were only four points behind at the end of the specialists! Although Wendy's figures showed that at one stage we got within a point of them, we couldn't keep it up and they ran out winners by 146 to 123.  Another demonstration of us knowing a lot of the questions that they knew but it was like an Arab celebration - no Passovers! There was a "who am I" round which everybody seemed to enjoy, and I found my questions not too bad, but Tommo and Tony in particular, were not having much luck with their questions. The company was great, though we did have one complaint. They were selling Marstons' bitter for £2 a pint which we thought was a deliberate ploy on the part of the Ox-Fford team to lull us into a false sense of security. There was a large slice of humour to the match and we couldn't help but dwell for a moment on the fact that as soon as the floods hit the Thames Valley, including Windsor, Marlow, Eaton and other bastions of Tory heartland, the first thing the Prime Minister shouts is "Money's No Object". I wonder if he'd have said that if it was Sunderland? The whole quiz was excellently and entertainingly refereed by the Knot Know-All's, and rounded off with good butties! Thanks to the Ox-fford for hosting such a good evening.

Match stats:

Final score: Ox-fford 146.

Waters Green Lemmings 123.

Specialists: Ox-fford 57; WGL 53

GK:              ox-fford 89; WGL 70

Conferred: Ox-fford 33; WGL 17

Passed Over: Ox-fford 23.  WGL 7

Bob: 33

Wendy: 33

Tony: 12

Tommo: 21”

The questions have been unavoidably detained (stolen laptop) but are now available in a rather different format.

Thanks all

4th February–Away to The Dolphin

 

Revenge is mine; I will repay saith the Dolphin (with apologies to the King James version Romans 12:19)

In the first game after the Christmas break, Alan the question-master from the Dolphin had sworn to “leather” the Lemmings who had won the first round against the Dolphin, so it was with some trepidation that they headed up the hill to the pub safe only in the knowledge that the Robinson’s beer is one of the best (if not THE best)  in town.

On a serious note our opponents like a laugh and are good fun to play and this was no exception. It was a very pleasant game and the few quibbles about the questions or answers were resolved with good nature and laughter under the watchful eyes of the question masters from the British Flag.

It was one of those nights when the questions fell easily for some and were a real headache for others although as usual conferred questions served the Lemmings well. Some in particular stretched the rules a bit, in particular round 4 of the Specialist that were arithmetical (admittedly easy) but required two other answers as well (a glance at the round will make this clear). Nick suffered his usual problems with names (Van Eyck for Vermeer) and the whole team played an over-cautious game conferring questions only to confirm the original knee-jerk answer.

At the end of the Specialist the Lemmings were 10 points behind with 46 to 56 but hopes were undimmed as they have often picked up that many points in the General Knowledge – but it was not to be – the General Knowledge finished with equal scores of 82 and a final score of 128 to the Lemmings and 138 to the Dolphin.

Individual scores were Bob 18/18, Wendy 0/18, Nick 6/6 and Tomo 9/24; conferred points were 9/11 with 4/5 pass-overs whilst the Dolphin collected 8/10 pass-overs.

The evening ended with a supper of an outstanding cheese and potato pie with an excellent shortcrust pastry, a superb meat and potato pie and if that was not enough there were chips!! Thank you The Dolphin and the team for a very pleasant evening.

To sum up, revenge is a dish best served cold, but that supper steeled the Lemmings to face the dreadful rain and cold outside.

28th Jan CUP/PLATE Questionmasters

 

The Lemmings were questionmasters this week and Nick was out of town – however one or two comments on the questions have been passed as follows:

Dave P from the Harrington Academicals:

“Alain Prost did not win 4 consecutive F1 championships

Magical Mystery Tour was not released as an album until 1976 – it was originally a double EP

Matt Baker is a co presenter of Countryfile as well as the one show

We didn’t use the supplementary for who replaced Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes Team. They answered Peres and pointed out that it was the McLaren Mercedes team and he moved to Mercedes.”

Brian from the Knot ‘arfs suggested that some questions have been used so often they should be formally banned – Fred Perry in particular.

Vetting lessons for us all there!!

Two more late entries from anonymous in the comments:

And Stafford is on the river Sow.

And Sydney Opera House opened in 1973, not 1956

Nothing for the Armadillo trophy then??

21st Jan Home to the Dolphin Dragons

 

The first game of the second half of the season,the Lemmings once again faced the Dolphin Dragons – the first clash resulted in a draw so it was with some trepidation that the Lemmings gathered on the home turf.

The dragons play a relaxed and friendly game and we all looked forward to an enjoyable evening.

The Specialist questions started well with Arts and Culture but then some rather odd rounds were introduced including one on trains and  another on numbers – not particularly wrong but certainly did not suit the Lemmings, reflected in the uncharacteristic low scores. At the half-way stage the Lemmings were trailing by 61 to 46.

It was therefore with some relief that we turned to the General Knowledge questions – how wrong we were!! These seemed to have been written by a committee comprising a computer programmer, a maths teacher and a daytime TV fan with a primer in quiz questions – so much so that it seemed at times that questions had been written in an attempt to gain nomination for the armadillo trophy. As in the Specialist the very low scores(except for Tomo and Bob respectively)  reflect the level of the questions. At the end of the General Knowledge the Lemmings lost by a similar margin with 86 to 70 – final score 147 to 116

Individual scores were Bob 6/27, Wendy 3/12, Nick 6/9 and Tomo 15/9; conferred points were 14/6 and pass-overs 2/7. The Dragons picked up 4/9 pass-overs.

All questions were borne with good humour on both sides and the evening ended with an excellent selection of cheeses and French bread – many thanks to Brian and Stephen, and to the Dragons for helping us through a difficult evening assisted by Mark from the Ox-Fford who asked the questions with patience and good humour.

And finally I’m sure everyone who reads this will join me in wishing Mark Watson a very speedy recovery and return to full health.

14th Jan Away To The British Flag

 

The British Flag are old adversaries as we have had many clashes over the years but this was to be the first one in the A league.

There was the usual distraction as Macclesfield were playing Sheffield Wednesday in the replay of the FA cup, but the game was played in a comfortable room away from the screens .

The questions did not really suit the Lemmings’ interests (not that they should!) and by about the half-way mark of the Specialist rounds they were trailing by 15 points but they managed to pull themselves together and ended the Specialist with 53 to the Flag’s 57.

The Lemmings fared rather better in the General Knowledge with 88 to the Flag’s  70 with the game finishing 141 to the Flag’s 127.

Individual scores were Bob 9/18 Wendy 12/21 Nick 6/9 Tomo 6/21 conferred points were14/12 and pass-overs 6/7; the Flag picked up 5/9 pass-overs.

It was a friendly game with little worthy of comment (other than Macc losing 4-1) ending with a tasty selection of sandwiches. Many thanks to the British Flag and their team.

7th Jan Away to the Ox-Fford C

The first game after the Christmas break and after two weeks of intense eating and drinking the Lemmings managed to waddle to the Tavern and get a lift across town to the Ox-Fford, a pub that has seen some ups and downs during the economic crisis but now seems to have settled comfortably under new management. The pub still supports two quiz teams and other activities. It has always been a pub for football supporters so it was bound to be a noisy night as Manchester United were playing Sunderland.
I don’t think the Lemmings have ever played this team before so it was with some trepidation that they trooped onto the the Ox FFord C’s home turf. The game was played in a small back room in a very pleasant atmosphere presided over by Alan from the Dolphin with an ebullient style and occasional charade, in particular West Life’s Go West.
When the game was interrupted by a great cheer from the other bars following a goal from Sunderland, it became clear that the TV watchers were Man City fans, assuming Sunderland had not bussed fans into Macc. Sadly this was to be repeated following a very muted equaliser.
The questions were much to the Lemmings’ taste, two rounds in particular: Sport in which we were asked to identify certain international sporting venues and a round on the usually frowned-on capital letters and acronyms in which only the letter M was to be identified.
By the the end of the Specialist the Lemmings had stolen a slender lead of seven points with 67 to 60.
The General Knowledge were not quite as inventive but again suited the Lemmings’ interests. A very clever idea was to include a question to which the answer was an armadillo and the Lemmings did not get it!! There was just one mild issue when Alice gave the Polish name for Stettin and Nick was able to confirm this was right because in his days as an overseas telegraphist all telegrams had to begin with a handshake sequence of ZCZC and Szczcettin always caused a problem as the message kept starting again!!
The Lemmings won the GK 86 to 67 and the game finished 153 to 127.
Individual scores were Bob with a remarkable 15/24, Wendy 9/12, Nick 18/12 and Tomo 12/12; conferred points were 10/20 with 3/6 pass-overs. The Ox-Fford C picked up 4/5 pass-overs.
It was a most enjoyable game rounded off with a generous selection of sandwches and a quiche – another first!!!
The final flourish was when Alan the questionmaster recalled that the Lemmings had beaten his team in the first half of the season but that the next game they would leather us!! Bring it on!!!
Many thanks to the Ox-Fford and their team.

10th December–Home to the Knot Know-Alls

 

This was the last of the Lemmings’ long run of home games in the first half of the season. We were facing our co-promotees, the Knot Know-Alls who had kindly helped us out when we were short of a question master a couple of weeks ago. They are a very friendly group and it is always a joy to play them.

It was also a delight to welcome back to the fold our founder-member and captain Bob looking lean and fit after his jolly in the Everglades and with the expectation that we would enjoy a return to form with his reappearance. He certainly had not forgotten his old jokes,

We liked the questions very much and in fact gave the Specialist the highest score ever; the General Knowledge were not quite as good and there was some concern that a couple required two answers not just one – Nick in particular whined about this as he did not know the date of St Andrew’s Day but shares the starsign (Q62). But there’s always one!!!

The two teams were pretty evenly matched with the Lemmings edging ahead by just 5 points at the half-way stage, 63 to 58. The General Knowledge rounds are usually the Lemmings’ strong point and after a round of drinks returned confidently to the fray.

But it was not to be!! By now the ladies’ darts teams had arrived creating the usual noise problems and this combined with Nick’s whining led to the Lemmings being distracted as they ended the General Knowledge lagging by a shameful 20 points, 105 to 85.

Individual scores were Bob 9/18, Wendy 15/21, Nick 12/15 and Tomo 15/18; conferred points were 5/10 (very low for the Lemmings!) with 7/3 pass-overs whilst the visitors picked up 6/10 pass-overs. Final score victory to the Know-Alls with 163 to 148.

No complaints – they were the better team and fully deserved to win,

The evening finished with hot dogs and onions – a first for the Tavern!! Many thanks Stephen and Brian, and to the Know-Alls and the question master from the Knot-‘Arfs.

And finally, if anyone has got this far, a very merry Christmas to everyone associated with the Quiz League and their families, and may we all look forward to health and fun quizzing in 2014.

CUP ROUND 2–AWAY TO THE BATE TAVERNERS

 

As far as I know this is the first season that the Bate Hall has been in the Quiz League – and they now have two teams!!  Whilst this is a welcome development, it reflects a rather sad fact as both teams were formerly playing for the Plough that sadly now stands empty.

The Bate Hall has a long history having been built in 1525 and served as a coaching house.  There are several reminders of its past in and behind the building, such as a priest hole that sheltered itinerant Catholic priests after the Reformation, medieval walls and a magnificent Jacobean staircase behind the bar. The pub has had its ups and downs in recent years but is now in the hands of a very pleasant young couple who have set strict standards and made the Bate a very welcoming place – and the mannequin monk has been restored to its rightful place on the staircase.

Rosie the mascot was with us but Bob was still absent and Ken stepped in to fill the gap. The Bate Taverners are old friends that we have followed from the Cricket Club and The Plough – it is a pity the Plough has closed as it was always a very friendly pub with generous refreshments. The questions were wide-ranging covering science, fine art, history and much else and question masters were Shauna and Pete from the Park Tavern who controlled the game with a light touch.

The opening rounds were fairly close swinging from one team to the other (home team first 19/17, 18/11, 16/19) with the Bate six points ahead with 53 to 47 at half-time; things then picked up in the second half (17/10, 13/12 and 20/11) giving the home team victory by more than 20 points!!

The evening ended with chip butties – many thanks to the Bate’s new couple, to Shauna and Pete and of course the Bate Taverners for a most enjoyable evening.

November 26th Question Masters

 

It was the Lemmings’ turn to ask the questions this week and they were helped out by the Knot Knowalls who kindly supplied their own question master as the Lemmings only had three available. Greatly appreciated and many thanks to Mark for facilitating this.

All went smoothly and perhaps some of the criticisms that arose were due to a bit of a mix-up with the printing but no fights broke out and we move on to the next round of the Cup next week.

19th November - Stitched Up By The Weaver

 

Not in any malicious way, but the Lemmings’ recent success was brought to a shuddering halt.

The Lemmings got off to a bad start as Bob, founder-member and long-time quizzer was on holiday but Graeme manfully stepped in to play his first game in the Macc Pub Quiz League.

Perhaps it was the changing weather that dampens spirits but there was none of the usual banter and jokes that we have enjoyed so far in the A League.  Or maybe it was just Bob’s absence.

We liked the questions but felt perhaps the general knowledge were weakened by too many music questions. Nick as usual struggled with names, confusing Lana Turner with Rita Hayworth, Rhode Island with Long Island and perhaps most oddly using the mnenomic “Everard, shut that door” for Grayson Perry … and still getting it wrong.

This failing alone however cannot explain the scores for the evening, as at the end of the Specialist rounds the Weaver were leading with 79 points to the Lemmings’ 57; and with remarkable consistency they won the General Knowledge with 89 to 64 leaving a final score of 168 to 121.

Individual scores were Wendy 21/3, Tomo 9/24, Nick 15/15 and Graeme 3/3; conferred pints were 7/16 with 2/3 pass-overs. The Weavers collected 6/14 pass-overs, which alone tells a story.

The question master Alice controlled the game and timing very well with a light touch and sense of humour so we finished the game in record time, perhaps because there were no distractions from the ladies’ darts.

 

And yes, we have pour first nomination for the nine-banded armadillo trophy – see here.

The evening was rounded off with a selection of Brian’s home-cooked beef and ham sandwiches that were delicious – thank you Brian, Alice and the Weaver.