The Teams
Bristol
Sam Kehler
Jacob McLaughlin
Tess Richardson (capt.)
Alejandro Ortega
Southampton
Ethan Lyon
Magda Steele
Dom Belcher (capt.)
Elliot Miles
Well, dearly beloved, just two more shows to go this
season. Last week we saw Durham secure their place in the final. By a quirk of
fate both of last night’s teams incurred their only loss to Durham. Also, JP
pointed out that whichever of these teams won would be making their first appearance
in the final. My gut feeling was that Bristol were the stronger team and the
more likely finalists.
For the first starter Bristol’s superbuzzer, Jacob
McLaughlin identified a couple of Hamiltons. Classical music and riots seemed
an unusual subject for bonuses, and Bristol managed to answer one of them
correctly. Ethan Lyon struck back for Southampton recognising several quotes
all referring to Love. Literary terms with Greek origins brought a couple of
bonuses and the lead. Jacob McLaughlin struck a second time, recognising
quickly a series of words beginning with a-z. Now, if I said I had the tiniest
understanding of any of the three bonuses on cell biology, you’d know I was
lying, but as it happened Bristol didn’t manage to answer any of them either.
Nobody identified the wheel of Dharma symbol for the picture starter. Jacob
McLaughlin came in early for his third starter with the Sinatra Doctrine –
which surely was make them an offer they can’t refuse, wasn’t it? Three more
symbols from religions originating in India provided two correct answers. I can’t
say that I really understood the next starter, but Ethan Lyon knew that the
answer was Blast. The pioneering sculptor Edmonia Lewis provided a couple of
bonuses which meant that the score at just past the ten minute mark stood at 45
– 35 to Bristol.
Tess Richardson opened her personal account with the next
starter, with the Battle of Bosworth. A UC special set, on words whose first
three letters are repeated, brought a useful full house. Jacob McLaughlin took
his fourth starter, knowing that the capital city of Turkey ends in a-r-a. AT
the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I did not understand any of the
questions on Vector Geometry, but they brought Bristol a second consecutive
full house. Asked for the two word name of a religious book, as soon as JP said
Oppenheimer I said Bhagavad Gita, at the same time as Sam Kehler buzzed in with
the same answer. This took Bristol into triple figures, and took Southampton
into the doodoo. Horace’s Ars Poetica brought a single bonus. This then led to
the music starter. None of us recognised Faure’s Pavane. Jacob McLaughlin took
starter number knowing of the travels of
Ibn Battuta which brought Bristol the dubious benefit of the music bonuses.
They took one. Jacob McLaughlin took his sixth starter by working out that Ajaz
Patel of New Zealand became only the third cricketer to take ten wickets in an
innings of a test match. English towns ending with -bury brought a single bonus.
Sam Kehler came n too quickly for the next starter, allowing Elliot Miles to
answer that the capital city taking its name from the Greek for wisdom is
Sofia. Polish History provided Southampton with one bonus. This slightly
ameliorated Southampton’s position, but they had a real mountain to climb,
trailing 135 – 50.
Jacob McLaughlin took his 7tth starter, knowing that Guy de
Maupassant was the ‘father of the short story’. Actresses of the silent film
era whose surnames began with the letter B all passed Bristol by, but such was
their lead that this was only a minor impediment to their progress. Nobody recognised
a photograph of Andre Breton for the second picture starter. That man
McLaughlin took an 8th starter , on some Maths thing. This earned
the picture bonuses on photo montages which brought two bonuses. Sam Kehler
recognised the names of two of the ruling houses of Sparta. Two bonuses on the
Africa Cup of Nations pushed them closer to 200. Elliot Miles knew that the
year 1660 fell during the lifetime of Matsuo Basho. Works in French brought
them a single bonus. Jacob McLaughlin earned a 9th starter knowing
that Margarita Cansino was better known as Rita Hayworth. The Nilotic Language
Group of Eastern and Central Africa took the Bristol score to the magical 200.
The next starter mentioned N People – search for the hero inside yourself? –
and the answer, which Dom Belcher provided was 23. No, me neither. The
International Space Hall of Fame brought no points and the contest was gonged.
Bristol ran out comfortable winners by 200 – 70.
Hard lines to Southampton. Congratulations on reaching the
semi final in a pretty competitive series, though. Many congratulations to
Bristol. This gives us a final with Durham. Thus the last match of the series
turns out to be a replay of the very first match of the series. That’s a
pleasing irony. Will the result turn out to be the same? Well, it was a very
close run thing first time round, and it will take a braver man than me to call
a winner. I will post a few observations ahead of the final, though.
Interesting Fact That I Didn’t Already Know Of
The Week
Ajaz Patel of New Zealand became only the third cricketer
to take ten wickets in an innings of a test match.
3 comments:
I believe the Sinatra Doctrine was the ability of each Warsaw Pact country to deciding its own policies - in other words, they were able to do it 'My Way'. No, seriously.
Thanks Stephen! Needless to say, I did not know that.
Starter watch:
Sam Kehler - 2 (1)
Jacob McLaughlin - 9
Tess Richardson - 1
Alejandro Ortega
Ethan Lyon - 2
Magda Steele
Dom Belcher - 1 (1)
Elliot Miles - 2
Winner: Jacob McLaughlin
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