The last semi final, then. Let’s have
a look at the last 5 contenders hoping for a place in the final.
|
Alan Keys
|
Olympic Track and Field 1896 - 1948
|
13
|
0
|
13
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
|
Helen O’Connell
|
The History of Prague
|
12
|
2
|
18
|
2
|
30
|
2
|
|
Sean Climo
|
Life and work of Egon
Schiele
|
14
|
0
|
13
|
1
|
27
|
1
|
|
Lena Gazey
|
Emma, Lady Hamilton
|
12
|
0
|
12
|
2
|
24
|
2
|
|
Derek Caudwell
|
John Hawkwood
|
12
|
0
|
16
|
2
|
28
|
2
|
You can’t dismiss anyone’s chances
based on just one round, but you’d be forgiven for looking at the list and
picking out Derek Caudwell and especially Helen O’Connell. Now as I said, form
in the heats is sometimes no indication of semi final performance – as we’ve
seen some contenders in previous semis scored very well in their heats, but
nothing like as well in their semis. Nonetheless, Helen’s 18 in GK was exceptional.
Alan Keys kicked us off then, as the
last of the repechage runners up. I’d love to know how it is that not all of
the highest scoring runners up appeared in the semis – it may genuinely be that
some who scored 28 were unable. Can’t help wondering though. Anyway, Alan was
answering on Charles II which made this my specialist round of the night. I
likes my kings and queens rounds, and took 7 on this. Alan didn’t have a
perfect round, but anything in double figures in a semi final specialist round
will always put you in contention, and Alan scored a good 10.
So, my pre-race favourite, Helen O’Connell,
came next. Helen was answering on the Plant Hunters. – Not very sporting – I quipped
– I mean, they’re not exactly a moving target- boom boom. Helen whacked in an
excellent 11 – incidentally only 1 point down on her specialist round in the
heat, where she had an extra 30 seconds. If she could find a GK round which
approached her round in the heats, she’d be very hard to beat now.
Sean Climo was answering on Delta
Blues, about which I proved that I know very little. In all honesty I though
his round was a little better than the 8 which he scored – it didn’t look that
much worse than either of the preceding rounds. However being 3 points behind
he was always going to need the GK round of his life to have a hope of
progressing.
Lillie Langtry I did know a little
bit more about – although I only achieved three points on Lena Gazey’s round on
the Jersey Lily. Lena again put in a terrific round to score 11, which again
was only 1 point down on her specialist score in the heat, on Lady Hamilton. In
real terms, that’s an improvement.
Finally my other tip for the top in
this contest, Derek Caudwell. Last time out Derek answered on John Hawkwood.
Last night his subject was Robert Fitzroy, captain of HMS Beagle when Charles
Darwin made his voyage, and pioneer of the Met Office. Derek looked pretty calm
and unflustered as he too powered his way to a score of 11. To get to a semi
you’ve got to have already prepared one specialist subject well enough. I do
like to see all 5 contenders in a semi having been able to prepare a second
subject well too.
Sean returned to the chair. Last time
out he scored 13 on GK, this time out 11. Off a shorter round, that’s an
improvement, and it took his s core to 19. It was a good round, but it wasn’t
the spectacular round he was going to need to give himself a realistic chance.
Following him to the chair, Alan Keys actually started his round rather well.
However he became becalmed mid round, and struggled to add much to his s core
in the last 45 seconds or so. He levelled out at 17.
So we came to the three contenders
who’d shared the lead with 11 at the half time interval. First of them to go
was Helen. Now, in real terms, I would say that her 14 in a 2 minute round was comparable
to her 18 in a 2 and a half minute round in the heat. It was a terrific display
of GK quizzing, and well and truly laid down the gauntlet to the two contenders
who followed.
Lena Gazey had scored 12 on GK in her
first round heat. Even if she accrued this score from 30 seconds less time it
wouldn’t be enough. Under the circumstances the 10 that she added to her score
was an improvement on the heat, but left her some way behind in second. Only
Derek Caudwell remained. If he could repeat the same total he’d scored in the
heat, 16, then that would be enough. In fact 15 would have done it. That was a
tall order, mind you, and it wasn’t long into the second minute that it became
clear Derek was going to fall short. In the end he too scored 10 to also finish
with 21.
Very well done Helen. A great performance,
and the very best of luck to you in the semi finals.
The Details
|
Alan Keys
|
The Life of Charles
II
|
10
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
17
|
0
|
|
Helen O’Connell
|
The Plant Hunters
|
11
|
0
|
14
|
0
|
25
|
0
|
|
Sean Climo
|
Delta Blues
|
8
|
0
|
11
|
4
|
19
|
4
|
|
Lena Gazey
|
Lillie Langtry
|
11
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
21
|
4
|
|
Derek Caudwell
|
Robert Fitzroy
|
11
|
0
|
10
|
3
|
21
|
3
|
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