News and Views: 2013–14 Season

Fixtures and Results:

Question Balance

The following table shows the number of games won each week by the teams going first and second, respectively, in the Specialist rounds.

Week 1: 15 October 2013

The season kicked off with an excellent week of scoring, with no less than two 57s (Alice Walker and Peter McBride), a 54 (Keith Pointon) and two 51s (Alan Levitt and Graham Bailey).

Two teams also scored over 200 points in total, namely the Ox–fford 'C' and the Dolphin. This hasn't been done before to my knowledge. Let me know if you know otherwise ...

Congratulations to all the above. Records are there to be broken!

Week 14: 25 February 2014

With just 4 weeks of games left to the end of the season:

In the A League, any of the top five teams can still win the title in mathematical terms whilst more realistically there is very little separating the top four.

In the B League, the Waters Green Rams are almost there from a promotion perspective. One more win and results elsewhere going in their favour would do the trick for them, whilst the second promotion position is still very much up for grabs. At the other end of the table, the Lamb Inn will be back in the C League next year.

In the C League, congratulations to the Nags Head who are now guaranteed promotion. One more point will ensure the same for the Bate Taverners too.

Week 18: 1 April 2014

Sincere personal thanks to Rick Davis from the Church House Bollington, who stepped into the breach and provided such an excellent News & Views service in my absence for the last four weeks of the season. Rick – thank you, not just from me, but on behalf of all concerned.

I am making good progress recovery–wise and I will certainly see you all at the Finals Night (The Weaver, Thornton Square, Tuesday 29 April; 7:30 p.m. onwards for a prompt 8:00 p.m. start) if not before.

Cup Final and Presentations Night: 29 April 2014

The Cup Final resulted in a win for the Waters Green Rams over the Dolphin Dragons by 112–97. Congratulations to all concerned.

This was indeed a mighty effort by the Waters Green Rams who have enjoyed their most successful season ever. They are also the first team other than one from the Dolphin or Ox–fford to win the Cup since at least 1998. Well done indeed to them.

I've had a bit of time on my hands lately as you know – and if you didn't, you could probably guess from [the fact that I've researched] the above piece of information! I am trying to fill in just a few 'blanks' in Macc Quiz League history as to who won what when etc. I don't have a proper record of who won the Cup in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996 or 1997. If you can assist, please do!

Thanks must go to Rick Davis and Neil Drummond for asking the questions and scoring respectively. Thanks also to Brian Bogie of the Knot Arf and Graham Bailey from the Weaver for question preparation. An excellent effort by all concerned.

The final trophy of this year will be settled at the start of next season as usual. The Plate Final will be Robin Hood v Cock Inn. This game will be played at the AGM before the start of next season, date and place to be confirmed. The Knot Know–Alls and the Park Taverners will assemble questions for this game from those not used for the Cup Final.

2013–14 Season Review

An excellent season saw the Nags Head win the C League with the Bate Taverners also promoted in finishing second. These two teams were relegated last season and bounce back to the B League at the first time of asking. Best wishes also go to Andy Johnson from the Nags Head, currently recuperating at home after some surgery. Andy must surely have clocked up more miles than anyone in travelling to play in the League over the years and I wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return next year.

Phil Davies from the Bate Taverners won the C League Individual title for the first time.

In the B League the Waters Green Rams emerged triumphant at the top of the tree and after Tuesday they have done the Cup and League Double – a fantastic achievement. The Harrington Academicals finished second and both teams will play in the A League next time around.

Keith Pointon bagged the B League Individual title for the third year running (having won the C League equivalent the year before that).

The Weaver were crowned A League Champions and rightly so after losing the fewest games of any team in the A League and they are very hard to beat at any time, covering most subject areas between all the members of the team. This is their second win in four years and no one should rule out a few more yet.

As for the A League Individual winner, even Betfred have stopped taking bets that anyone will ever catch his record number of such titles – this is the 12th since his first in 1994/95. Step forward Alan Hodgson. Well done sir and no more than you deserve.

The Ox–fford won the Cars and Vans 4U Ltd Question Setters Trophy for their General Knowledge questions from way back in Week 1, giving them their third win in a row of this trophy. Thanks as ever to Allan Sherratt for his support.

It occurs to me there is just one more issue to be settled along with the Plate Final – how about a few more nominations for the Nine–Banded Armadillo Trophy for the season's daftest question? You know where to send them ...

Finally, my thanks once again to Rick Davis who stood in to provide News & Views updates in my absence at the end of the season. I continue to improve with every week that passes and my thanks to all of you for all your kind messages in recent months, it is much appreciated.

If I don't see you before, have a great summer and see you in the autumn when the ball will roll once more…

Mark Watson

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