Saturday, 14 June 2014
In case you're wondering
- Yes, sorry about this. I literally haven't had a chance to post yet this weekend. It should be a one off, since I've spent most of today either travelling to, travelling from, or playing in a quiz event, which I'll be telling you about in the not too distant future. I will do my best to catch up asap, although I have no idea whether I'll be able to do much tomorrow, since it's my 50th birthday, and I don't know if my family have anything special planned or not.
So just for this weekend, thanks for your patience, and I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Can you help me with a bit of information?
This is a bit of a strange request, but there we are, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. I’ve been trying to compile a list of venues where the Mastermind Grand Finals were all recorded. Magnus Magnusson’s wonderful “I’ve Started So I’ll Finish” has been invaluable for the first 25 years, but there are still a few I haven’t been able so far to find out. For the Magnus years these are: -
1973
1976
1981
1983
As for the Radio 4 years – 1998 – 2000, I am presuming that they might have been recorded in Broadcasting House in London – but I don’t know. So if anyone can put me right on that I’d be grateful.
Discovery Mastermind I haven’t a clue – again, if you know I’d be really grateful if you could drop me a line. As for the Humphrys years, well I know where 2003 was filmed, and also 2007/8 and 2009. As for the others, well, I’m guessing that prior to 2013 they might have been filmed in TV Centre in White City in London – but I don’t know. Likewise with 2013 and 14, I guess that it was in media City in Salford – but I don’t know. So if you do know any of these, could you just drop me a line? I’d be really grateful.
1973
1976
1981
1983
As for the Radio 4 years – 1998 – 2000, I am presuming that they might have been recorded in Broadcasting House in London – but I don’t know. So if anyone can put me right on that I’d be grateful.
Discovery Mastermind I haven’t a clue – again, if you know I’d be really grateful if you could drop me a line. As for the Humphrys years, well I know where 2003 was filmed, and also 2007/8 and 2009. As for the others, well, I’m guessing that prior to 2013 they might have been filmed in TV Centre in White City in London – but I don’t know. Likewise with 2013 and 14, I guess that it was in media City in Salford – but I don’t know. So if you do know any of these, could you just drop me a line? I’d be really grateful.
Pass me my Helmet of Invisibility
If you should be just embarking upon your quiz odyssey, or dipping your toe into the murky waters of quizdom before taking the plunge in at the deep end, then I should perhaps warn you that while quizzing can bring you great pleasure, it can also bring you more than your fair share of frustration. I have written along these particular lines in the past. Allow me to explain.
I wasn’t sure whether I was going to go to Newport last Monday night. Barry and John weren’t available which meant ¾ of an hour there and ¾ of an hour back driving all on my Jack Jones, and we knew that Trevor wasn’t going to be doing the quiz. But what the hell, I went for it. Brian, who did the quiz, is a very nice guy, and you can’t say that the quiz he produced on Monday night wasn’t a good quiz, because it was. Alright, we went out with the washing in the last round which didn’t suit us, but there you go, you can’t win ‘em all. As I said, a good quiz, and an enjoyable evening. So why did I go home with a face like a smacked bum, which delightful expression never changed once until I’d fed the cats and got into bed? Well, it all came down to one question in the last round.
Who was the owner of the Helmet of Invisibility in Greek Mythology?
I’ve written before about the dangers of being a self-declared authority on a given subject. Perseus was immediately thrown on the table. I confidently shot this down in flames saying, yes, Perseus definitely used the Helmet – or cap – of Invisibility, but he was lent it by Athena, who in turn had borrowed it from Hades. So, bearing in mind that the question had asked who ‘owned’ the helmet, I insisted we put Hades down. Come time for the answers, and the answer he gave was Perseus. Cue indignation from me, and when I pointed out that Perseus never owned it, he borrowed it from Hades, the QM chuckled and answered words to the effect of – yeah, I know, but Perseus was the one who used it – so Perseus is the answer. Even when I reminded him that he had specifically asked for the owner he cocked a deaf ‘un, and mindful of the time, and the fact that one more point would not make any difference I shut up.
I suppose it’s the English teacher in me, but that kind of error – asking for the owner when he wanted the most famous user – can still really get under my skin, even though I like to think I’ve mellowed in recent years. Did it spoil the quiz? Absolutely not. Did it affect the result? No, the results were clear cut, I think. But . . . it’s Greek Mythology! In either late 1980 or early 1981 I won Elthorne High School’s inaugural Mastermind competition using Greek Mythology as my specialist subject. I just hate getting questions on this subject wrong, or as I prefer to think of it – having my answers on this subject marked wrong.
Oh well, not all doom and gloom this week. Dai Norwich was question master on Thursday, and he produced a difficult, testing, and at times rather uneven quiz. Dai has the habit of asking things which, well, you’re never going to guess off the top of your head, and more to the point, neither is anybody else. Several times on the evening he said “Nobody had this one . . . “ Mind you, at least he didn’t say “Nobody had this one, and I didn’t really expect anybody to.” This usually leads me to make the observation – if you don’t think anybody can answer it, what are you doing asking it? Still, as I said, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. For once there was a picture hand out that was right up my street. 30 stills from British sitcoms past and present. The only one I wasn’t sure of was Derek Nimmo in ecclesiastical get up, after all you could go for All Gas and Gaiters, Oh Brother or even Oh Father. In the end I went for the first and was right. We won the questions as well with a mixture of knowledge, knowledge of the question master’s likes and dislikes, and a couple plucked from the ether. With regards to the question master’s likes, Dai asked
Which TV programme has featured on the cover of Radio Times most times – 21 in total?
Now, I didn’t know for definite. But I do know that Dai is a big Dr. Who fan – sensible fellow – so that seemed like the percentage answer to give. Correct. As regards answers plucked from the ether, well the very first question of the evening was this one: -
Tomb Thumb is the name of one of the Two Bad Mice in the story by Beatrix Potter. What is the other?
Just before we were about to hand it in, the name Hunca Munca popped into my head. Now, it is well over 40 years since I read it, or had it read to me as a kid, and about 20 years since I would have read it to my own kids, so I didn’t trust the answer, but in the absence of anything else, I shoved it down. Well it wasn’t as if we had anything else, so I wouldn’t have needed to reach for the Cap of Invisibility if I’d had it wrong.
Which reminds me of another thing. You must have heard questions being asked before where you think, either the QM is misreading his own questions, or he’s copied it down wrongly from a book. Dai asked this one. It started with “Troika Pottery – “ and immediately I said “Cornwall” – the usual question being in which county is it manufactured? Dai continued “- is manufactured in which countRy?” Without thinking I immediately blurted out “Don’t you mean in which COUNTY?” Dai came over for a chat, saying no, that was exactly what he meant, and asked why I thought it would be which county. I said something along the lines of that it was just that every time I’ve heard it asked – every time it’s been asked down the club – the county has been asked for. It just struck me as a bit easy, bearing in mind that if you watch any Antiques based TV programmes, Troika comes up on them almost as often as the ubiquitous Clarice Cliff. Well, there we are, despite that, and despite my giving the game away that the country in question did in fact have counties, apparently 2 teams had it wrong anyway, Dai gleefully informed me. All good clean fun.
I wasn’t sure whether I was going to go to Newport last Monday night. Barry and John weren’t available which meant ¾ of an hour there and ¾ of an hour back driving all on my Jack Jones, and we knew that Trevor wasn’t going to be doing the quiz. But what the hell, I went for it. Brian, who did the quiz, is a very nice guy, and you can’t say that the quiz he produced on Monday night wasn’t a good quiz, because it was. Alright, we went out with the washing in the last round which didn’t suit us, but there you go, you can’t win ‘em all. As I said, a good quiz, and an enjoyable evening. So why did I go home with a face like a smacked bum, which delightful expression never changed once until I’d fed the cats and got into bed? Well, it all came down to one question in the last round.
Who was the owner of the Helmet of Invisibility in Greek Mythology?
I’ve written before about the dangers of being a self-declared authority on a given subject. Perseus was immediately thrown on the table. I confidently shot this down in flames saying, yes, Perseus definitely used the Helmet – or cap – of Invisibility, but he was lent it by Athena, who in turn had borrowed it from Hades. So, bearing in mind that the question had asked who ‘owned’ the helmet, I insisted we put Hades down. Come time for the answers, and the answer he gave was Perseus. Cue indignation from me, and when I pointed out that Perseus never owned it, he borrowed it from Hades, the QM chuckled and answered words to the effect of – yeah, I know, but Perseus was the one who used it – so Perseus is the answer. Even when I reminded him that he had specifically asked for the owner he cocked a deaf ‘un, and mindful of the time, and the fact that one more point would not make any difference I shut up.
I suppose it’s the English teacher in me, but that kind of error – asking for the owner when he wanted the most famous user – can still really get under my skin, even though I like to think I’ve mellowed in recent years. Did it spoil the quiz? Absolutely not. Did it affect the result? No, the results were clear cut, I think. But . . . it’s Greek Mythology! In either late 1980 or early 1981 I won Elthorne High School’s inaugural Mastermind competition using Greek Mythology as my specialist subject. I just hate getting questions on this subject wrong, or as I prefer to think of it – having my answers on this subject marked wrong.
Oh well, not all doom and gloom this week. Dai Norwich was question master on Thursday, and he produced a difficult, testing, and at times rather uneven quiz. Dai has the habit of asking things which, well, you’re never going to guess off the top of your head, and more to the point, neither is anybody else. Several times on the evening he said “Nobody had this one . . . “ Mind you, at least he didn’t say “Nobody had this one, and I didn’t really expect anybody to.” This usually leads me to make the observation – if you don’t think anybody can answer it, what are you doing asking it? Still, as I said, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. For once there was a picture hand out that was right up my street. 30 stills from British sitcoms past and present. The only one I wasn’t sure of was Derek Nimmo in ecclesiastical get up, after all you could go for All Gas and Gaiters, Oh Brother or even Oh Father. In the end I went for the first and was right. We won the questions as well with a mixture of knowledge, knowledge of the question master’s likes and dislikes, and a couple plucked from the ether. With regards to the question master’s likes, Dai asked
Which TV programme has featured on the cover of Radio Times most times – 21 in total?
Now, I didn’t know for definite. But I do know that Dai is a big Dr. Who fan – sensible fellow – so that seemed like the percentage answer to give. Correct. As regards answers plucked from the ether, well the very first question of the evening was this one: -
Tomb Thumb is the name of one of the Two Bad Mice in the story by Beatrix Potter. What is the other?
Just before we were about to hand it in, the name Hunca Munca popped into my head. Now, it is well over 40 years since I read it, or had it read to me as a kid, and about 20 years since I would have read it to my own kids, so I didn’t trust the answer, but in the absence of anything else, I shoved it down. Well it wasn’t as if we had anything else, so I wouldn’t have needed to reach for the Cap of Invisibility if I’d had it wrong.
Which reminds me of another thing. You must have heard questions being asked before where you think, either the QM is misreading his own questions, or he’s copied it down wrongly from a book. Dai asked this one. It started with “Troika Pottery – “ and immediately I said “Cornwall” – the usual question being in which county is it manufactured? Dai continued “- is manufactured in which countRy?” Without thinking I immediately blurted out “Don’t you mean in which COUNTY?” Dai came over for a chat, saying no, that was exactly what he meant, and asked why I thought it would be which county. I said something along the lines of that it was just that every time I’ve heard it asked – every time it’s been asked down the club – the county has been asked for. It just struck me as a bit easy, bearing in mind that if you watch any Antiques based TV programmes, Troika comes up on them almost as often as the ubiquitous Clarice Cliff. Well, there we are, despite that, and despite my giving the game away that the country in question did in fact have counties, apparently 2 teams had it wrong anyway, Dai gleefully informed me. All good clean fun.
RBQ - Wales v. Midlands
Midlands v. Wales
In the last show we heard Stephen Maddock and Rosalind Miles comfortably defeat the North of England. In Last Monday’s show they took on the combined might of reigning champions David Edwards and Myfanwy Alexander of Wales. Myfanwy Alexander is a writer and broadcaster, and although I doubt that my friend David needs any introduction to readers of this blog, he’s going to get one anyway. David was the 1990 Mastermind champion, won the jackpot on Millionaire, and runner up to Pat in Are You An Egghead 2. On with the show.
Wales kicked off with this first questions: -
Psychological bullying before a cricket match, creative use of hairdresser’s tongs, and the dance of death. Which one of these activities would not have been welcomed in Sochi?
Well, my first thought was sledging – as in psychological bullying in cricket, would actually not have been welcome in the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Bobsleigh – yes – luge – yes, but no actual sledge. Creative use of hairdressers’ tongs – ‘surely curling. I struggled with the Dance of Death, David brought out Danse Macabre which Tom suggested was relevant. We were looking for the name of a sport which would not be at the winter Olympics. With Tom’s help they arrived at skeletons doing the dance of death, meaning skeleton bobsleigh. Tom awarded 4 to the team, and I think that’s about what I would have got.
The first question for the Midlands was : -
2010 was in 1982; 2061 was in 1987; and 3001 came in 1997. What is this about, and which year started it all off?
Now, I was pretty sure I had a full house on this. Immediately I heard the question I thought – Space Odyssey sequels – 2010 Odyssey 2 being first published in 1982 etc. So the one that started it off - well – you could actually say that the one that started it off was Arthur C. Clarke’s short story ‘The Sentinel’ which was the basis for “2001 A Space Odyssey”. I stopped feeling quite so smug when Midlands dealt with it almost as fully and quickly as I did – they didn’t mention The Sentinel, but then they didn’t need to. 6 points for both of us.
As usual the second questions for both teams were music questions. Wales were asked,
Why, and in what circumstances, a monied man of the 18th century might have expected to come across all of them?
I didn’t recognize any of the pieces, which was no surprise. Myfanwy started by outlining the concept of the Grand Tour. That made sense, because I’d heard the word Vienna as well as they had in the first piece. It was by Beethoven, apparently, the Vienna Chorus. They eventually arrived at April in Paris for the second, and guessed Rome for the second piece. If it’s Rome, you go for Respighi, and I came in with this just before David chanced his arm, with Fountains of Rome. So overall Wales earned 3, and the best I would have had was 2, and maybe even just the one.
The Midlands are usually very secure on music – Stephen being in the business as it were. They were asked
To which late, great musician is this sequence a (rather unlikely) tribute?
I knew the second – Abba’s Money Money Money. The other pieces – not so much. Rosalind recognized Claudio’s speech from Much Ado. Claudio and Abba, as they explained, meant you just needed – do – for Claudio Abbado. Bu tthey didn’t know what it was, until given a clue , when they recognized it was Grainger, but not the title – The Immovable Doh. This gave them 5. And me 1.
Back to Wales, who were asked this little teaser: -
If London buses times Jumbo jets equal Wales, why would Wales times Eiffel Towers offer a field of contest to Phelps and Spitz?
Well, the field of contest for these two record breaking Olympic swimmers seemed like an Olympic swimming pool. Like David, I was thinking of the number 747 for jumbo jets, but this was apparently barking up the wrong tree. Apparently we were not looking for specific numbers. Let’s be honest, none of us had a Scooby doo. Tom said that we should be looking at units of measurement. Lightbulb. These are often used as comparisons – eg such and such is so many times the length of a London bus. Area – Wales – time height – Eiffel Tower = volume – Olympic swimming pool. Tom himself said it was a tough question. It didn’t stop him restricting them to only 2 points, which is about what I would have had too.
Looking good for the win already, the Midlands faced this set: -
What connects a King who became a President after a scandal, the creator of Ashburnham and Tietjens, and a director best known for his love of the great outdoors – and why might they not be as shallow as they first appear?
Well, I started barking up the Ford tree here. Gerald Ford was the president – whose original name as Leslie Lynch King. Fords certainly aren’t as deep as they seem. I didn’t know about Ashburnham and Tietjens. However Stephen put me right on that – Ford Maddox Ford being the creator of those. John Ford had already sprung to mind as the director. None of us knew that the director and writer were not born Fords either. Midlands had 5 points – they knew Ford Maddox Ford which I didn’t, but on the other hand I did know Gerald Ford’s original name. So I would have been either 4 or 5.
Already we had reached Wales’ last question: -
Why might a toccata for organ, Father Mulcahy and the north wing of the Capitol all sound as if they have no sound?I knew that Father Francis Mulcahy was the chaplain in the film and TV series MASH. David had that. He knew the toccata they were looking for which I didn’t, which is Vidor’s the one much favoured by brides when they leave the church. This made sense of the Senate being the part of the Capitol. I didn’t have it before David gave us Vidor, but Charlie Chaplin, Mack Sennett and King Vidor all directed silent movies. Chaplin and Sennett both acted in them as well, though I didn’t know if King Vidor ever did. So Wales finished with a flourish of 6, with 4 or 5 for me.
The last question Midlands were asked was: -
How would the addition of the gas constant transform: The composer of ‘The Protecting Veil’ into the composer of the ‘Western Wynde Mass’; A Benedictine monk and historian into a journalist and former MP; But a double dose be required to transform a ‘fifth Beatle’ into the creator of Westeros and Essos?
For the second week running Midlands got a question apart from their own music question where a very detailed knowledge of classical music was a real help. Right, well the last part was pretty straightforward as far as I could see. To turn fifth Beatles George Martin into creator of Game of Thrones George R.R.Martin – in which Westeros and Essos are continents, I think, you add a double R. So these were all add R questions. As it was, because it is not that long ago that he passed, I also knew that John Tavener composed The Protecting Veil. So I guessed that John Taverner would have composed the Western Wynde Mass – which was right. Never heard of him. Matthew Paris and Matthew Parris was an irresistible conclusion to which I leapt for the second pair – correctly as it happened. A nice set. 6 points for all of us.
Midlands played extremely well, and deserved to win, which they did, by 22 to 15. Very well played Midlands. A word of consolation for Wales, though. It’s all in the ear of the behearer, but I thought at least 2 of the Midlands’ sets were considerably easier than anything served up to Wales. That’s just my opinion, though, and as always . . .
In the last show we heard Stephen Maddock and Rosalind Miles comfortably defeat the North of England. In Last Monday’s show they took on the combined might of reigning champions David Edwards and Myfanwy Alexander of Wales. Myfanwy Alexander is a writer and broadcaster, and although I doubt that my friend David needs any introduction to readers of this blog, he’s going to get one anyway. David was the 1990 Mastermind champion, won the jackpot on Millionaire, and runner up to Pat in Are You An Egghead 2. On with the show.
Wales kicked off with this first questions: -
Psychological bullying before a cricket match, creative use of hairdresser’s tongs, and the dance of death. Which one of these activities would not have been welcomed in Sochi?
Well, my first thought was sledging – as in psychological bullying in cricket, would actually not have been welcome in the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Bobsleigh – yes – luge – yes, but no actual sledge. Creative use of hairdressers’ tongs – ‘surely curling. I struggled with the Dance of Death, David brought out Danse Macabre which Tom suggested was relevant. We were looking for the name of a sport which would not be at the winter Olympics. With Tom’s help they arrived at skeletons doing the dance of death, meaning skeleton bobsleigh. Tom awarded 4 to the team, and I think that’s about what I would have got.
The first question for the Midlands was : -
2010 was in 1982; 2061 was in 1987; and 3001 came in 1997. What is this about, and which year started it all off?
Now, I was pretty sure I had a full house on this. Immediately I heard the question I thought – Space Odyssey sequels – 2010 Odyssey 2 being first published in 1982 etc. So the one that started it off - well – you could actually say that the one that started it off was Arthur C. Clarke’s short story ‘The Sentinel’ which was the basis for “2001 A Space Odyssey”. I stopped feeling quite so smug when Midlands dealt with it almost as fully and quickly as I did – they didn’t mention The Sentinel, but then they didn’t need to. 6 points for both of us.
As usual the second questions for both teams were music questions. Wales were asked,
Why, and in what circumstances, a monied man of the 18th century might have expected to come across all of them?
I didn’t recognize any of the pieces, which was no surprise. Myfanwy started by outlining the concept of the Grand Tour. That made sense, because I’d heard the word Vienna as well as they had in the first piece. It was by Beethoven, apparently, the Vienna Chorus. They eventually arrived at April in Paris for the second, and guessed Rome for the second piece. If it’s Rome, you go for Respighi, and I came in with this just before David chanced his arm, with Fountains of Rome. So overall Wales earned 3, and the best I would have had was 2, and maybe even just the one.
The Midlands are usually very secure on music – Stephen being in the business as it were. They were asked
To which late, great musician is this sequence a (rather unlikely) tribute?
I knew the second – Abba’s Money Money Money. The other pieces – not so much. Rosalind recognized Claudio’s speech from Much Ado. Claudio and Abba, as they explained, meant you just needed – do – for Claudio Abbado. Bu tthey didn’t know what it was, until given a clue , when they recognized it was Grainger, but not the title – The Immovable Doh. This gave them 5. And me 1.
Back to Wales, who were asked this little teaser: -
If London buses times Jumbo jets equal Wales, why would Wales times Eiffel Towers offer a field of contest to Phelps and Spitz?
Well, the field of contest for these two record breaking Olympic swimmers seemed like an Olympic swimming pool. Like David, I was thinking of the number 747 for jumbo jets, but this was apparently barking up the wrong tree. Apparently we were not looking for specific numbers. Let’s be honest, none of us had a Scooby doo. Tom said that we should be looking at units of measurement. Lightbulb. These are often used as comparisons – eg such and such is so many times the length of a London bus. Area – Wales – time height – Eiffel Tower = volume – Olympic swimming pool. Tom himself said it was a tough question. It didn’t stop him restricting them to only 2 points, which is about what I would have had too.
Looking good for the win already, the Midlands faced this set: -
What connects a King who became a President after a scandal, the creator of Ashburnham and Tietjens, and a director best known for his love of the great outdoors – and why might they not be as shallow as they first appear?
Well, I started barking up the Ford tree here. Gerald Ford was the president – whose original name as Leslie Lynch King. Fords certainly aren’t as deep as they seem. I didn’t know about Ashburnham and Tietjens. However Stephen put me right on that – Ford Maddox Ford being the creator of those. John Ford had already sprung to mind as the director. None of us knew that the director and writer were not born Fords either. Midlands had 5 points – they knew Ford Maddox Ford which I didn’t, but on the other hand I did know Gerald Ford’s original name. So I would have been either 4 or 5.
Already we had reached Wales’ last question: -
Why might a toccata for organ, Father Mulcahy and the north wing of the Capitol all sound as if they have no sound?I knew that Father Francis Mulcahy was the chaplain in the film and TV series MASH. David had that. He knew the toccata they were looking for which I didn’t, which is Vidor’s the one much favoured by brides when they leave the church. This made sense of the Senate being the part of the Capitol. I didn’t have it before David gave us Vidor, but Charlie Chaplin, Mack Sennett and King Vidor all directed silent movies. Chaplin and Sennett both acted in them as well, though I didn’t know if King Vidor ever did. So Wales finished with a flourish of 6, with 4 or 5 for me.
The last question Midlands were asked was: -
How would the addition of the gas constant transform: The composer of ‘The Protecting Veil’ into the composer of the ‘Western Wynde Mass’; A Benedictine monk and historian into a journalist and former MP; But a double dose be required to transform a ‘fifth Beatle’ into the creator of Westeros and Essos?
For the second week running Midlands got a question apart from their own music question where a very detailed knowledge of classical music was a real help. Right, well the last part was pretty straightforward as far as I could see. To turn fifth Beatles George Martin into creator of Game of Thrones George R.R.Martin – in which Westeros and Essos are continents, I think, you add a double R. So these were all add R questions. As it was, because it is not that long ago that he passed, I also knew that John Tavener composed The Protecting Veil. So I guessed that John Taverner would have composed the Western Wynde Mass – which was right. Never heard of him. Matthew Paris and Matthew Parris was an irresistible conclusion to which I leapt for the second pair – correctly as it happened. A nice set. 6 points for all of us.
Midlands played extremely well, and deserved to win, which they did, by 22 to 15. Very well played Midlands. A word of consolation for Wales, though. It’s all in the ear of the behearer, but I thought at least 2 of the Midlands’ sets were considerably easier than anything served up to Wales. That’s just my opinion, though, and as always . . .
In the News
In the News
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl
2. Edinho
3. John Wilkinson
4. Gareth Huntley
5. Lady Soames
6. Gerard Benson
7. Nairo Quintana
8. Ernest Gulbis
9. Alexander Shulgin
10. Eimar McBride
11. A Girl is a Half Formed Thing
12. Jos Buttler
13. ITH Pharma Ltd.
14. Chester Nez
15. Ann Barnes
In Other News
1. Who was sworn in as the new president of Ukraine?
2. The world’s oldest example of which form of clothing was found near the Great Wall of China?
3. Which national team achieved their first ever win at football when they defeated Malta 1 – 0?
4. Harvard University carried out tests on a book in its library which revealed that it is made out of what?
5. Which was the first song to gain over 2 billion hits on Youtube?
6. Why were calls made to rerun the vote for the host of the 2022 world cup?
7. What was the result in the women’s FA Cup Final?
8. – and the Froch v. Groves world championship fight?
9. Who won the Gotzis Heptathlon?
10. What was the result of the English rugby Premiership final?
11. Marc Marquez has now won how many motogp races in a row this season?
12. Which dancer is quitting Strictly, although his wife will stay on?
13. Which rally was hit by tragedy last weekend?
14. In a YouGov poll, what was voted the nation’s favourite children’s book?
15. King Juan Carlos of Spain is to abdicate in favour of whom?
16. Andy Murray defeated whom in the quarter final of the French Open?
17. Which English club will James Hook be joining?
18. Which are deadlier – ‘male’ or ‘female’ hurricanes?
19. Which actress, known for many 60s and 70s comedy roles, passed away?
20. Which ‘drug cheat’ will be returning after a 1 year ban in the Diamond League meeting in July?
21. What has President Hollande proposed for the regions of Alsace and Lorraine in France?
22. Which world leader was unreachable on a celebrity version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ in her own country, when they reached her answerphone?
23. What was the result of the Syrian election?
24. Who proposed the Loyal Address at the Queen’s Speech in parliament?
25. Which two ministers was it revealed last week had blamed each other for the Birmingham schools ‘trojan horse’ furore?
26. Last week saw the 25th anniversary of which world event?
27. A set of royal mail stamps featuring what was issued last week?
28. What was the score between Ecuador and England?
29. At which stage of the competition was Olympic champion Nicola Adams defeated in the European championships?
30. Which club won their return to English rugby’s premiership?
31. What was the score in the Italy friendly match against Luxembourg?
32. Which song will be used for BBC’s World Cup coverage?
33. Ed Milliband said that the NHS must be – what – after the next election?
34. Who denied that he said that fairy tales are bad for children?
35. Which classic computer game celebrated its 30th birthday? 36. Which two players won the French Open women’s singles semi finals?
37. Which England player was injured in the friendly v. Ecuador?
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl
2. Edinho
3. John Wilkinson
4. Gareth Huntley
5. Lady Soames
6. Gerard Benson
7. Nairo Quintana
8. Ernest Gulbis
9. Alexander Shulgin
10. Eimar McBride
11. A Girl is a Half Formed Thing
12. Jos Buttler
13. ITH Pharma Ltd.
14. Chester Nez
15. Ann Barnes
In Other News
1. Who was sworn in as the new president of Ukraine?
2. The world’s oldest example of which form of clothing was found near the Great Wall of China?
3. Which national team achieved their first ever win at football when they defeated Malta 1 – 0?
4. Harvard University carried out tests on a book in its library which revealed that it is made out of what?
5. Which was the first song to gain over 2 billion hits on Youtube?
6. Why were calls made to rerun the vote for the host of the 2022 world cup?
7. What was the result in the women’s FA Cup Final?
8. – and the Froch v. Groves world championship fight?
9. Who won the Gotzis Heptathlon?
10. What was the result of the English rugby Premiership final?
11. Marc Marquez has now won how many motogp races in a row this season?
12. Which dancer is quitting Strictly, although his wife will stay on?
13. Which rally was hit by tragedy last weekend?
14. In a YouGov poll, what was voted the nation’s favourite children’s book?
15. King Juan Carlos of Spain is to abdicate in favour of whom?
16. Andy Murray defeated whom in the quarter final of the French Open?
17. Which English club will James Hook be joining?
18. Which are deadlier – ‘male’ or ‘female’ hurricanes?
19. Which actress, known for many 60s and 70s comedy roles, passed away?
20. Which ‘drug cheat’ will be returning after a 1 year ban in the Diamond League meeting in July?
21. What has President Hollande proposed for the regions of Alsace and Lorraine in France?
22. Which world leader was unreachable on a celebrity version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ in her own country, when they reached her answerphone?
23. What was the result of the Syrian election?
24. Who proposed the Loyal Address at the Queen’s Speech in parliament?
25. Which two ministers was it revealed last week had blamed each other for the Birmingham schools ‘trojan horse’ furore?
26. Last week saw the 25th anniversary of which world event?
27. A set of royal mail stamps featuring what was issued last week?
28. What was the score between Ecuador and England?
29. At which stage of the competition was Olympic champion Nicola Adams defeated in the European championships?
30. Which club won their return to English rugby’s premiership?
31. What was the score in the Italy friendly match against Luxembourg?
32. Which song will be used for BBC’s World Cup coverage?
33. Ed Milliband said that the NHS must be – what – after the next election?
34. Who denied that he said that fairy tales are bad for children?
35. Which classic computer game celebrated its 30th birthday? 36. Which two players won the French Open women’s singles semi finals?
37. Which England player was injured in the friendly v. Ecuador?
Friday, 6 June 2014
Answers to News Questions
In the News
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Elliot Rodger
2. Petro Poroshenko
3. Wojciech Jaruzelski
4. Bill Heffernan
5. Catherine Bearder
6. Guillermo Garcia Lopez
7. Dave Smith
8. Malavath Purna
9. Mario Pocchetino
10. Lord Oakeshott
11. Meriam Ibrahim
12. Matthew Saad Muhammad
13. Chris Jordan
14. Solva
15. Quirke
16. Garbine Muguruza
17. Shoko Maru
18. Lord Rennard
19. Abdel Fattah al Sisi
20. George Hamilton
In Other News
1. Who won the Monaco GP?
2. In which position did the Lib Dems finish in the European elections
3. Who won the PGA?
4. What was the result of the Division 1 play off final?
5. – and the Heineken cup Final?
6. Which team won the Championship play off?
7. – and the Champions League?
8. Pfizer dropped their takeover bid for which company?
9. What was voted the nation’s favourite fairy tale?
10. What was the result of the League 2 play off final?
11. Who announced that he is saying his goodbye through his poetry?
12. Who announced that he is to sell Tracey Emin’s My Bed?
13. Which song did Rolf Harris sing a part of in court?
14. There were claims that attempts were being made to fix Scotland’s friendly match against which country?
15. Who was dumped out of the French Open just days after her engagement was broken?
16. Whose new British long jump record was finally ratified?
17. Name the two members of One Direction allegedly filmed smoking cannabis
18. Which finding of the British Social Attitudes Survey caused most headlines last week?
19. Name the owner of Man Utd. who passed away aged 85
20. Which celebrity announced that he is to appear on a celebrity version of the Jeremy Kyle show?
21. Maya Angelou passed away last week. What was the title of her first volume of autobiography?
22. Which company announced plans to build a self driving car?
23. Who had to apologise for sexist comments he made on Question Time?
24. In the Forbes List who retained her place as the world’s most powerful woman?
25. Panorama criticized which charity for investing in companies that manufacture arms, tobacco and alcohol?
26. The Mayor of New York repealed a ban on which creatures?
27. What was the score in the England v. Peru match?
28. Name all the goalscorers
29. Who announced he will be playing for Lancashire in the T20 blast?
30. Who resigned from The Oldie last week?
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Son of Hunger Games film director who shot 7 people
2. Chocolate tycoon who claimed victory in the Ukrainian Elections
3. Army chief who declared martial law in Poland in 1981 – passed away
4. Australian senator who took a fake pipe bomb into Parliament to demonstrate security failings
5. The only Lib Dem MEP to retain a seat
6. Player who knocked Stanislaus Wawrinka out of the French Open in the first round
7. Newly elected UKIP councilor in Redditch suspended for alleged racist and homophobic comments on social media
8. Youngest female to scale Mount Everest – 16 years old
9. Announced as new manager of Spurs
10. Peer behind alleged attempts to replace Nick Clegg with Vince Cable after European elections
11. She has been sentenced to death in Sudan for giving up her muslim faith to become a christian after marrying a christian
12. Former world Light Heavyweight boxing champion passed away aged 59
13. England bowler responsible for 2 ODI victories over Sri Lanka
14. Pembrokeshire village being used as Llareggub in new film of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood
15. BBC Crime Drama which received a slew of complaints about poor sound quality
16. Player who knocked Serena Williams out of the French Open
17. Japanese oil tanker which exploded
18. Lib Dem Peer apologized to 4 women who accused him of sexual harrassment
19. Won the Egyptian elections
20. New Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
In Other News
1. Nico Rosberg
2. 5th
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Rotherham 2 – Orient 0 5. Toulon 23 – Saracens 6
6. QPR
7. Real MAdrid
8. AstraZeneca
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
10. Fleetwood 1 – Burton 0
11. Clive James
12. Charles Saatchi
13. Jake the Peg
14. Nigeria
15. Caroline Wozniacki
16. Greg Rutherford
17. Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik
18. There has been a rise in the number of people admitting racism
19. Malcolm Glazer
20. Michael Barrymore
21. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
22. Google
23. Joey Barton
24. Angela Merkel
25. Comic Relief
26. Ferrets
27. 3 - 0
28. Sturridge – Cahill and Jagielka
29. Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff
30. Richard Ingrams
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Elliot Rodger
2. Petro Poroshenko
3. Wojciech Jaruzelski
4. Bill Heffernan
5. Catherine Bearder
6. Guillermo Garcia Lopez
7. Dave Smith
8. Malavath Purna
9. Mario Pocchetino
10. Lord Oakeshott
11. Meriam Ibrahim
12. Matthew Saad Muhammad
13. Chris Jordan
14. Solva
15. Quirke
16. Garbine Muguruza
17. Shoko Maru
18. Lord Rennard
19. Abdel Fattah al Sisi
20. George Hamilton
In Other News
1. Who won the Monaco GP?
2. In which position did the Lib Dems finish in the European elections
3. Who won the PGA?
4. What was the result of the Division 1 play off final?
5. – and the Heineken cup Final?
6. Which team won the Championship play off?
7. – and the Champions League?
8. Pfizer dropped their takeover bid for which company?
9. What was voted the nation’s favourite fairy tale?
10. What was the result of the League 2 play off final?
11. Who announced that he is saying his goodbye through his poetry?
12. Who announced that he is to sell Tracey Emin’s My Bed?
13. Which song did Rolf Harris sing a part of in court?
14. There were claims that attempts were being made to fix Scotland’s friendly match against which country?
15. Who was dumped out of the French Open just days after her engagement was broken?
16. Whose new British long jump record was finally ratified?
17. Name the two members of One Direction allegedly filmed smoking cannabis
18. Which finding of the British Social Attitudes Survey caused most headlines last week?
19. Name the owner of Man Utd. who passed away aged 85
20. Which celebrity announced that he is to appear on a celebrity version of the Jeremy Kyle show?
21. Maya Angelou passed away last week. What was the title of her first volume of autobiography?
22. Which company announced plans to build a self driving car?
23. Who had to apologise for sexist comments he made on Question Time?
24. In the Forbes List who retained her place as the world’s most powerful woman?
25. Panorama criticized which charity for investing in companies that manufacture arms, tobacco and alcohol?
26. The Mayor of New York repealed a ban on which creatures?
27. What was the score in the England v. Peru match?
28. Name all the goalscorers
29. Who announced he will be playing for Lancashire in the T20 blast?
30. Who resigned from The Oldie last week?
Who or what are the following and why have they been in the news?
1. Son of Hunger Games film director who shot 7 people
2. Chocolate tycoon who claimed victory in the Ukrainian Elections
3. Army chief who declared martial law in Poland in 1981 – passed away
4. Australian senator who took a fake pipe bomb into Parliament to demonstrate security failings
5. The only Lib Dem MEP to retain a seat
6. Player who knocked Stanislaus Wawrinka out of the French Open in the first round
7. Newly elected UKIP councilor in Redditch suspended for alleged racist and homophobic comments on social media
8. Youngest female to scale Mount Everest – 16 years old
9. Announced as new manager of Spurs
10. Peer behind alleged attempts to replace Nick Clegg with Vince Cable after European elections
11. She has been sentenced to death in Sudan for giving up her muslim faith to become a christian after marrying a christian
12. Former world Light Heavyweight boxing champion passed away aged 59
13. England bowler responsible for 2 ODI victories over Sri Lanka
14. Pembrokeshire village being used as Llareggub in new film of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood
15. BBC Crime Drama which received a slew of complaints about poor sound quality
16. Player who knocked Serena Williams out of the French Open
17. Japanese oil tanker which exploded
18. Lib Dem Peer apologized to 4 women who accused him of sexual harrassment
19. Won the Egyptian elections
20. New Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
In Other News
1. Nico Rosberg
2. 5th
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Rotherham 2 – Orient 0 5. Toulon 23 – Saracens 6
6. QPR
7. Real MAdrid
8. AstraZeneca
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
10. Fleetwood 1 – Burton 0
11. Clive James
12. Charles Saatchi
13. Jake the Peg
14. Nigeria
15. Caroline Wozniacki
16. Greg Rutherford
17. Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik
18. There has been a rise in the number of people admitting racism
19. Malcolm Glazer
20. Michael Barrymore
21. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
22. Google
23. Joey Barton
24. Angela Merkel
25. Comic Relief
26. Ferrets
27. 3 - 0
28. Sturridge – Cahill and Jagielka
29. Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff
30. Richard Ingrams
Only Connect - Qualification Match
Welsh Learners v. Record Collectors
Yes, you’re quite right. Back to work this week, hence no posting before the weekend, thanks for asking. My, but we have a lot to catch up on. Firstly, this match between two of our first round winners to gain automatic passage through to the semi finals. What a quandary. How could I not support Margaret from the Welsh Learners? Margaret is a regular player in Trevor’s Monday night quiz in the Pill Harriers – and very good it is too. On the other hand, how could I not support Rach Cherryade Neiman of the Record Collectors? Rach has been a friend and a pen, er, laptop/email pal since her appearences on University Challenge. Well, that was my problem, The Welsh Learners, are Margaret Gabica, Chris Hern, and captain Stuart Hern. They comfortably beat the Software engineers in the first round, before those same engineers knocked out the Erstwhile Athletes, containing our own Daniel Fullard. Phew – confusingly small world, isn’t it? As for the Record Collectors, well, Rachael Neiman, Adam Barr and Richard Gilbert beat . . . well they beat the Erstwhile Athletes in a close match in their first round. All in all it looked a very good match up on paper.
Round One – What’s the Connection?
The Learners kicked off with Two Reeds. New Objectivity did not mean a great deal to me. The Blue Rider, though, very much did, as Der Blaue Reiter, and I threw artistic movements on the table.When The Bridge came next I believe the Learners began barking up the wrong tree with Scandinavian TV programmes, a suggestion which actually was highly plausible. House of Construction – or Bauhaus – completed the set. The Learners stuck with the Scandinavian dramas, which gave the RCs the bonus. For their part they chose Horned Viper – conventionally voiced – and Adam seemed to have a pretty good idea from the first clue – The Grasshopper Lies Heavy. I didn’t, but the second clue – The Dancing Cavalier – I did know. That’s the (second) title of the film within a film in “Singin’ In The Rain”. Now, bearing in mind that Adam had already said that the first was a novel within a novel, then these were clearly fictional works within fictional works. Oh, the RCs were definitely barking up the right tree with fictional novels, but it was the wrong branch. Given a second bite they didn’t change their answer to encompass other media, and so a grateful Learners’ team happily accepted the bonus. The other clues were The Mousetrap and The Itchy and Scratchy Show. Right, now given the Music set, neither Learners nor RCs could make headway with The Resurrection Symphony by Mahler – (didn’t know it) – I Am the Resurrection by the Stone Roses – (didn’t know it) – Christ the Lord is Risen Again by Charles Wesley (did know it, but it didn’t help me) and – Thriller by Michael Jackson. Resurrections/rising from the dead being the connection. Hokay, moving swiftly on, Eye of Horus gave the RCs Wee – Unhyphenated - Penultimate – Pentasyllabic. Huh? Actually it was a very, in fact, conspicuously clever set. Each word is what it describes. Wee is a small word, unhyphenated really isn’t hyphenated – and so on. The only thing I would say, though, is to note that I don’t think that Pentasyllabic makes it any more obvious than any of the others, and that’s a little unsatisfying. The last clue should, in my opinion, give you half a chance of making out the connection. Yes, just my opinion, and as always . . . Now, with the next Learners set I felt sure that Margaret would have a five pointer. As soon as hyet came up I, along with a huge number of other viewers, I’m sure, shouted out –ISO! Margaret knew it as well, but they took Hel to be on the safe side. Well, I can’t argue against making sure of the points. The others were – therm and –bar. Now, I think I would also have had a five pointer on the picture set which finished the round off for the RCs. We saw a map, on which Panama was highlighted, and in particular Panama City’s location was indicated. I don’t say I would have gambled in the studio, but my guess – Capitals with the name of the country and the word City was right. The RCs took Mexico City for the second clue to be sure, then gave the correct answer. So both teams had 4 points at the end of the round. Told you it looked like it was going to be a good game.
Round Two – What Comes Fourth?
Now, the first set presented to the Learners was one of those which wasn’t as hard as it looked at first. 4th: Yekaterinburg gave some pause for thought – I’m sure that it was the city in which Tsar Nicholas II and his family were assassinated. 3rd Novosibirsk put paid to any connection with that. In fact, the best I could suggest was that these were Russia’s largest cities in order of population, which would give 1st – Moscow. The Learners took 2nd – St. Petersburg, which confirmed my hypothesis. The set behind two reeds, picked next by the RCs was a very interesting and clever set. Highway from Daytona Beach to Tampa didn’t help. However Triatomic Hydrogen suggested H3, and Weekly Guardian Supplement could only be G2. That’s exactly what the RCs thought as well, and both of us went for the same example of Grand Prix motor racing for F1. Nice, nice set. Eye of Horus gave the Learners – jik – not a Scooby – then Sung – huh? – then il. Ah, enlightenment happened. Obviously successive members of the ruling North Korean clan, and so – un would finish it. That’s what the Learners thought too, and rightly so. I wouldn’t have had the RCs next set from the first clue – Zoo. I would have had it from Legs and Co, though. Obviously we were going back through Top of the Pops dance groups to Pans People. Rach could have had it from Zoo, but needed Legs and Co to be certain. Remember Ruby Flipper, the second group? No? Well, blink and you’d have missed them. The horned viper set of pictures, selected next by the Learners was one of those sets where both teams had a pretty good idea what it was all about, without getting the vital part of it. Shown a set of Stripes – then a plate of tripe – then the Learners offered rip. Ah, they fell into the trap. They removed one letter a time, when the clues removed two. Shown a rip for the third clue, the RCs still didn’t quite get it. It would be I. Lion offered possibilities, kicking off with Elinor. This was followed by Elizabeth, and I couldn’t help thinking we were in the realm of Jane Austen here. I’ll be honest, I was glad that Rach opted to take the third clue – Fanny confirmed our suspicions, and also ruled out Mansfield Park. Persuasion was the last, so Emma from Emma, or Catherine from Northanger Abbey. Emma, I said, Anne from Persuasion, Rach said, and Emma from Emma the Learners said for the bonus. Which once again levelled the scores at 9 apiece.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
Were we heading for tie break city, or would the walls seperate these teams? The RCs went first, and they lived dangerously. They could see a set of Italian car companies, but couldn’t isolate them for quite a while. They also saw jewelers, but again, they weren’t separating. With less than 20 seconds to go the cars fell at last with Maserati – Ferrari – Lancia and Bertone. Suddenly the lines were falling into line – as Bulgari – Cartier – Tiffany and Graff were revealed. With no more than a couple of seconds left the last two lines were resolved. Burmese – Sanction – Winston and Peggy – well, the only thing I could think of was Burmese was the Queen’s horse. Working on Burmese days and Winston Smith they ingeniously tried Orwell, but Queen’s horses was the answer. This left Fiat – Leave – Nod – Okay. This was one of those lines which is obvious once it has been explained to you, They are all terms for permission. 6 points, and I bet if you’d offered them that 30 seconds before the time ran out they’d have been delighted.
Fairly early doors the Learners could see that Cheerybles and Squeers were one half of a set of Dickens characters. They could also see a set of Australian Prime Ministers, and of horse drawn vehicles. But none of them were being isolated. Finally Menzies – Abbot – Gillard and Howard obliged. That was it until the time was up, though. When it was resolved they saw that Hawk – Gride – Cheeryble and Squeers were the Dickens characters, from Nicholas Nickleby. Drambuie – M&Co – Stagecoach and Tunnock’s, well, none of us pegged them as Scottish companies. This left Gig – Chariot – Tumbrel and Tonga as the horse drawn vehicles. 4 points, and at last one of the teams had a lead, albeit narrow. The RCs were ahead with 15 to 13.
Round Three – Missing Vowels
Well, we know that 2 points is a narrow lead that can easily be reeled in, as indeed it was in the first set, they share their names with card games. I predicted Nelson Piquet and wasn’t disappointed. These fell 3 – 1 to the Learners, and once again the teams were level. Punchlines fell evenly on both sides, and the score was 18 all. There was just enough time for the Learners to pick up two definitions of last, and that was it. It wasn’t a huge gap, just two points, but it would suffice.
So well done, Welsh Learners, Straight through to the semis with a 100% record. As for the RCs, well, you don’t need me to say that it could have gone either way, and that it’s just the luck of the draw. Best of luck in your next match. Well played all – good game.
Yes, you’re quite right. Back to work this week, hence no posting before the weekend, thanks for asking. My, but we have a lot to catch up on. Firstly, this match between two of our first round winners to gain automatic passage through to the semi finals. What a quandary. How could I not support Margaret from the Welsh Learners? Margaret is a regular player in Trevor’s Monday night quiz in the Pill Harriers – and very good it is too. On the other hand, how could I not support Rach Cherryade Neiman of the Record Collectors? Rach has been a friend and a pen, er, laptop/email pal since her appearences on University Challenge. Well, that was my problem, The Welsh Learners, are Margaret Gabica, Chris Hern, and captain Stuart Hern. They comfortably beat the Software engineers in the first round, before those same engineers knocked out the Erstwhile Athletes, containing our own Daniel Fullard. Phew – confusingly small world, isn’t it? As for the Record Collectors, well, Rachael Neiman, Adam Barr and Richard Gilbert beat . . . well they beat the Erstwhile Athletes in a close match in their first round. All in all it looked a very good match up on paper.
Round One – What’s the Connection?
The Learners kicked off with Two Reeds. New Objectivity did not mean a great deal to me. The Blue Rider, though, very much did, as Der Blaue Reiter, and I threw artistic movements on the table.When The Bridge came next I believe the Learners began barking up the wrong tree with Scandinavian TV programmes, a suggestion which actually was highly plausible. House of Construction – or Bauhaus – completed the set. The Learners stuck with the Scandinavian dramas, which gave the RCs the bonus. For their part they chose Horned Viper – conventionally voiced – and Adam seemed to have a pretty good idea from the first clue – The Grasshopper Lies Heavy. I didn’t, but the second clue – The Dancing Cavalier – I did know. That’s the (second) title of the film within a film in “Singin’ In The Rain”. Now, bearing in mind that Adam had already said that the first was a novel within a novel, then these were clearly fictional works within fictional works. Oh, the RCs were definitely barking up the right tree with fictional novels, but it was the wrong branch. Given a second bite they didn’t change their answer to encompass other media, and so a grateful Learners’ team happily accepted the bonus. The other clues were The Mousetrap and The Itchy and Scratchy Show. Right, now given the Music set, neither Learners nor RCs could make headway with The Resurrection Symphony by Mahler – (didn’t know it) – I Am the Resurrection by the Stone Roses – (didn’t know it) – Christ the Lord is Risen Again by Charles Wesley (did know it, but it didn’t help me) and – Thriller by Michael Jackson. Resurrections/rising from the dead being the connection. Hokay, moving swiftly on, Eye of Horus gave the RCs Wee – Unhyphenated - Penultimate – Pentasyllabic. Huh? Actually it was a very, in fact, conspicuously clever set. Each word is what it describes. Wee is a small word, unhyphenated really isn’t hyphenated – and so on. The only thing I would say, though, is to note that I don’t think that Pentasyllabic makes it any more obvious than any of the others, and that’s a little unsatisfying. The last clue should, in my opinion, give you half a chance of making out the connection. Yes, just my opinion, and as always . . . Now, with the next Learners set I felt sure that Margaret would have a five pointer. As soon as hyet came up I, along with a huge number of other viewers, I’m sure, shouted out –ISO! Margaret knew it as well, but they took Hel to be on the safe side. Well, I can’t argue against making sure of the points. The others were – therm and –bar. Now, I think I would also have had a five pointer on the picture set which finished the round off for the RCs. We saw a map, on which Panama was highlighted, and in particular Panama City’s location was indicated. I don’t say I would have gambled in the studio, but my guess – Capitals with the name of the country and the word City was right. The RCs took Mexico City for the second clue to be sure, then gave the correct answer. So both teams had 4 points at the end of the round. Told you it looked like it was going to be a good game.
Round Two – What Comes Fourth?
Now, the first set presented to the Learners was one of those which wasn’t as hard as it looked at first. 4th: Yekaterinburg gave some pause for thought – I’m sure that it was the city in which Tsar Nicholas II and his family were assassinated. 3rd Novosibirsk put paid to any connection with that. In fact, the best I could suggest was that these were Russia’s largest cities in order of population, which would give 1st – Moscow. The Learners took 2nd – St. Petersburg, which confirmed my hypothesis. The set behind two reeds, picked next by the RCs was a very interesting and clever set. Highway from Daytona Beach to Tampa didn’t help. However Triatomic Hydrogen suggested H3, and Weekly Guardian Supplement could only be G2. That’s exactly what the RCs thought as well, and both of us went for the same example of Grand Prix motor racing for F1. Nice, nice set. Eye of Horus gave the Learners – jik – not a Scooby – then Sung – huh? – then il. Ah, enlightenment happened. Obviously successive members of the ruling North Korean clan, and so – un would finish it. That’s what the Learners thought too, and rightly so. I wouldn’t have had the RCs next set from the first clue – Zoo. I would have had it from Legs and Co, though. Obviously we were going back through Top of the Pops dance groups to Pans People. Rach could have had it from Zoo, but needed Legs and Co to be certain. Remember Ruby Flipper, the second group? No? Well, blink and you’d have missed them. The horned viper set of pictures, selected next by the Learners was one of those sets where both teams had a pretty good idea what it was all about, without getting the vital part of it. Shown a set of Stripes – then a plate of tripe – then the Learners offered rip. Ah, they fell into the trap. They removed one letter a time, when the clues removed two. Shown a rip for the third clue, the RCs still didn’t quite get it. It would be I. Lion offered possibilities, kicking off with Elinor. This was followed by Elizabeth, and I couldn’t help thinking we were in the realm of Jane Austen here. I’ll be honest, I was glad that Rach opted to take the third clue – Fanny confirmed our suspicions, and also ruled out Mansfield Park. Persuasion was the last, so Emma from Emma, or Catherine from Northanger Abbey. Emma, I said, Anne from Persuasion, Rach said, and Emma from Emma the Learners said for the bonus. Which once again levelled the scores at 9 apiece.
Round Three – The Connecting Walls
Were we heading for tie break city, or would the walls seperate these teams? The RCs went first, and they lived dangerously. They could see a set of Italian car companies, but couldn’t isolate them for quite a while. They also saw jewelers, but again, they weren’t separating. With less than 20 seconds to go the cars fell at last with Maserati – Ferrari – Lancia and Bertone. Suddenly the lines were falling into line – as Bulgari – Cartier – Tiffany and Graff were revealed. With no more than a couple of seconds left the last two lines were resolved. Burmese – Sanction – Winston and Peggy – well, the only thing I could think of was Burmese was the Queen’s horse. Working on Burmese days and Winston Smith they ingeniously tried Orwell, but Queen’s horses was the answer. This left Fiat – Leave – Nod – Okay. This was one of those lines which is obvious once it has been explained to you, They are all terms for permission. 6 points, and I bet if you’d offered them that 30 seconds before the time ran out they’d have been delighted.
Fairly early doors the Learners could see that Cheerybles and Squeers were one half of a set of Dickens characters. They could also see a set of Australian Prime Ministers, and of horse drawn vehicles. But none of them were being isolated. Finally Menzies – Abbot – Gillard and Howard obliged. That was it until the time was up, though. When it was resolved they saw that Hawk – Gride – Cheeryble and Squeers were the Dickens characters, from Nicholas Nickleby. Drambuie – M&Co – Stagecoach and Tunnock’s, well, none of us pegged them as Scottish companies. This left Gig – Chariot – Tumbrel and Tonga as the horse drawn vehicles. 4 points, and at last one of the teams had a lead, albeit narrow. The RCs were ahead with 15 to 13.
Round Three – Missing Vowels
Well, we know that 2 points is a narrow lead that can easily be reeled in, as indeed it was in the first set, they share their names with card games. I predicted Nelson Piquet and wasn’t disappointed. These fell 3 – 1 to the Learners, and once again the teams were level. Punchlines fell evenly on both sides, and the score was 18 all. There was just enough time for the Learners to pick up two definitions of last, and that was it. It wasn’t a huge gap, just two points, but it would suffice.
So well done, Welsh Learners, Straight through to the semis with a 100% record. As for the RCs, well, you don’t need me to say that it could have gone either way, and that it’s just the luck of the draw. Best of luck in your next match. Well played all – good game.
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