Monday 3 October 2016

North East Quiz Nights - Willow Farm, Cramlington

 
Venue: Willow Farm, Cramlington
Time/Date: Tuesdays at 8.30pm
 
 
This is the first in a series of posts that focuses on Pub Quiz nights in the North East area. I have often found it frustrating trying to hunt down new quizzes, turning up only to find that they have been cancelled and getting any sort of information about the quiz itself. So over the next few months I am aiming to attend several quizzes in the region and post up reviews and information on the quizzes in region.
 
 
For the past three Tuesdays I have been attending the quiz night at the Willow Farm Pub in Cramlington. The first week we attended the quiz was a "Back to School" theme so I hesitated in posting up a review at that point as I wasn't sure it was representative of the quiz.
 
 
In all of the quiz nights I have attended recently in the North East, this is one of the best attended with regularly twenty teams or more. It is a rather large pub so there is always room for everybody and plenty of prizes are given away. It is a mixed crowd with students, families and what I would call "Typical Quiz Folk".
 
The format of the quiz involves a Picture Round, 10 Current Affairs, Music Round and an Alphabet Round of General Knowledge, There is also a round where pictures are stuck to the bar (logos etc) and you have to get up and identify them and a "Who am I?" round with increasingly easy clues with up to 10 point available if you hand it in early enough! My favourite round is the formation round of 10 questions where the quiz master tells you the weekly formation (e.g. 4,4,1,1) and then the questions are worth that many points. So the first questions if 4 points, second question 4 points etc etc. It all moves along at a rapid pace with marking done by bar staff so you are never left sitting!
 
 
Between each round there are also games including Darts, Spin the Wheel and a Pointless round. Not my cup of tea, other than the Pointless round, but they go down very well and there are plenty of prizes to be won.
 
When I come to devise a list of top ten North East Quiz Nights, unfortunately, this won't feature. In truth, the only reason I attend this quiz is due to a) its proximity to my partners house and b) the fact my partner enjoys this more than the straight up GK styles of quizzes.
 
The main problems are that the quiz is very easy meaning that there is very little to get your teeth into. Most questions are either chestnuts, £500 WWTBAM level or obscure. The news round often includes minute details of news stories (this weeks was the number of dogs put down in 2016! - to the nearest 5). I learn the odd thing or too, largely about new movies which he tends to cover a lot but generally, there is very little to really make you think.
 
 
But, who am I to judge, the quiz is always packed, people clearly enjoy it and there is a lot of prizes to be won. If you are looking for a fast paced, active quiz night mixed with games and the chance to win lots of prizes including Beer, Meal vouchers and TV's, then this is ideal for you. If you want a test of General Knowledge, good questions and a more straight up quiz, then this is perhaps best avoided.
 


Sunday 2 October 2016

Buzzer Set - Football Grounds Special

As promised, my set from Lightspeed quiz last Saturday. 40 buzzer questions that all contain the name of an English football ground in the answer...



This is the international vehicle registration code for Macedonia, it is also the initials of a 21st century Governor of the Bank of England, the initials of the co-founder of the band who had hit albums with “Making Movies” and “Love Over Gold” and the initials of a video game series featuring characters such as Sub Zero, Scorpion and Johnny Cage?

 

MK (Stadium MK – MK Dons)

 

This company was founded in Milan in 1872 and produces clothing, watches and eyewear alongside the products it is perhaps most famous for. It is also famous for an annual publication that regularly features the world’s top actresses and fashion models. It often the often uses the slogan “Power is nothing without control” and is the worlds fifth largest manufacturer of tyres. It sponsors a championship clubs football ground due to the fact that its factory is located in Burton Upon Trent. Name this company?

 

Pirelli (Pirelli Stadium – Burton)

Named after the river on which it is located, this city is the third most populous city in its  country with a population of around 2.3 million.  Cyclone Wanda caused an infamous flood here in 1974, it hosted games at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, was home to the Bee Gees during their formative years and is the capital of the Australian state of Queensland.

 

Brisbane (Brisbane Road – Leyton Orient)

 

Born in 1981, this Academy Award Winner, was still in high school when she played the mother of a pair of famous movie characters on screen for the first time. She has played leading roles in movie versions of works by Alan Moore and Stan Lee, and had her breakthrough aged just 13 playing a character called Mathilda. She won her Academy award for playing Nina Sayers, and also won a Golden Globe for her role in “Closer”. Name this Israeli Born actress, who played Padme Amidala in the Star Wars series and won her only Academy Award to date for her role in Black Swan?

 

Natalie Portman (Portman Road – Ipswich Town)

 

 

Which Pulitzer Prize winning composer has written operas dealing with subject matters including Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Projects as well as the visit of Richard Nixon to China in 1972?

 

John ADAMS (Adams Park – Wycombe)

 

This word literally means “lacking in courage” making it an odd title for a football ground. As well as being a local government district in North Yorkshire, this word is also the surname of the 2015 host of the TV show “Beat the Brain” and the film director who died in 2015, most known for his work in the horror genre?

Wes Craven (Craven Cottage – Fulham)

 

In several Universities in the United Kingdom this term is used for a the head of faculty. In the Church of England this term is used for the chief resident cleric of a Cathedral. What is the four letter term that gets its name for the Latin for “Leader of Ten”?

 

Dean (Dean Court – Bournemouth)

 

Name this 2015 animated film by Dreamworks in which Rihanna provides the voice of Tip and Jim Parsons provides the voice of Oh. It is a four letter title that is also the title of a Top 10 single by Westlife written by Michael Buble and it is where ET wanted to phone. What is this word?

 

Home (Home Park – Plymouth)

 

Which online gambling company, established by Denise Coates in 2001, is the largest private employer in Stoke, giving the stadium there its current name?

 

Bet365 (Bet365 Stadium – Stoke City)

 

This novel was published in 1976 with an acclaimed TV series following a year later which was then remade in 2016.  Subtitled “The Saga of An American Family” name this novel which tells the story of a young man captured in the Gambia named Kunta Kinte?

 

Roots (Roots Hall – Southend United)

 

This name is shared by a mythical creature and the main family in an animated TV Series.  The mythical creature has the body and tail of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle and the animated family in question can be found living at Spooner Street in Rhode Island.

Griffin  (Griffin Park  - Brentford)

 

 

In the childrens TV show “Arthur”  these initials are the name by which his younger sister is known, they are also the initials of the author of “Gangsta Granny” and  the star of the 2012 movie “Flight. What initials am I looking for ?

 

DW  (DW Stadium – Wigan)

 

This three letter word can refer to an ancient Pharaoh of Egypt, a unit of textile measurement, the nickname of the home stadium of the Detroit Lions, the name of a famous soap character who was killed only to return 14 years later, the place where Daniel is cast in the Bible and a place where you may find a fox of a badger living?

 

Den (The Den – Millwall)

 

Born in Scotland in 1938, this politician first entered Parliament in 1970 serving in the cabinet of James Callaghan.  He served as Shadow Chancellor between 1987 and 1992.  In 1994, he passed away aged 55, after he suffered a fatal heart attack following a speech at the Park Lane Hotel in London. Name this figure who at the time of his death was the Leader of the Labour Party?

 

John Smith (John Smiths Stadium – Huddersfield)

 

In Commerce, what name is given to a business or manufacturing  industry carried out in people’s homes? The word I am looking for is also the name of a pie made with minced beef with a crust of mashed potato.

 

Cottage (Craven Cottage – Fulham)

 

This 1981 film was written as a reaction to the Watergate Scandal. It is set in near future 1997, a time in which a crime ridden United States has turned Manhattan Island into a maximum security prison. Kurt Russell is given 24 hours to find the President of the United States, played by Doinald Pleasance. Name this 1981 John Carpenter movie which spawned a later sequel, Escape from LA?

Escape from New York (New York Stadium – Rotherham)

 

Announcing his retirement shortly after due to the death of his team mate Peter Collin, who was the first man from the United Kingdom to be crowned Formula 1 World Champion?

Mike Hawthorn (The Hawthorns – West Brom)

 

Founded in 1850, this is one of the 30 companies on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It began life in the mail industry before moving into the sector for which is its now better known.  Its logo, adopted in 1958, is a Centurion and its most famous advertising slogan is perhaps “Don’t Leave Home Without Them” for its range of Travelers Cheques. Name this multinational financial service corporation who are perhaps best known for their range of Credit Cards?

 

American Express (Amex – Brighton)

 

This Merseyside band first rose to fame in the early 2000s with their self titled debut album, followed up “Magic and Medicine” in 2003 with their seventh album “Distance Inbetween” released in March this year.. Fronted by James Skelly  the most notable songs by this band include “Dreaming of You”, “Don’t Think Youre The First” and “In the Morning”.  Name this band who also share their name with a high street UK bookmaker?

 

The Coral (The Coral Windows Stadium – Valley Parade – Bradford)

 

This TV show first aired in 1995 and marked its 500th episode in 2009. The Sun, Brylcream and Yorkie have all sponsored this programme which airs on Saturday Mornings. Things you would associate with this show including the Kung Fun Academy, Unbelievable Tekkers, Team Mates,  the Crossbar Challenge and the Car Park game. Name this show of which Helen Chamberlain is the longest serving presenter?

Soccer AM (Soccer AM Stadium – Basingstoke)

 

This is the name of a river in Northern Spain. It is also the name of a mythical people of Sri Lanka and a city in Romania.  In Hinduism, this word means heavenly or Divine and the Romans gave this name to the city we now know as a Chester. What four letter word am I referring to?

Deva (Deva Stadium – Chester)

 

Combining the  first name of the TV presenter, who, in 2001, was accused of being racist after putting the Welsh people in Room 101 with the surname of the actress who played Abraham Lincolns wife in the Stephen Spielberg movie “Lincoln” gives you the name of which English Football Ground?

 

Anfield (Liverpool)

 

This 1980s new wave band got their name from the surname of their lead singer. Formed in Coventry in 1984 they released their debut album “Steps in Time” that year. They had two top ten hits in their short tenure the second of which was “Alone without You” but the most famous was “Love and Pride” which reached number 2 in January 1985. Name this band?

 

King (King Power Stadium  - Leicester)

 

In 2010, this cities council failed in their application to have the entire city designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It is home to the largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe and city lies at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. Name this city which is also home to the National Railway museum?

 

York (York Street– Boston)

 

For a price of $4.4 billion dollars, what was the name of the company who recently purchased Formula 1 ?

Liberty Media (Liberty Stadium – Swansea)

 

 

 

This is the name of the 11th Studio Album by the Beatles released in 1969.  It contains the George Harrison songs “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun”. Name this album which feature the famous cover of the Beatles crossing  zebra crossing?

 

Abbey Road (Abbey Stadium – Cambridge United)

 

 

This singer was the first British female solo singer to sell 1 million copies of a Single in the UK. . Born in 1988, her mother was the lead singer of the band Soul II Soul . She has released further singles of her own with the likes of Pitbull, Flo Rida and Neyo. She appeared briefly as a judge on the X Factor, a show in which she won in 2008. Name this singer who had the 2008 Xmas number one with Hallelujah?

 

Alexandra Burke (Alexandra Stadium – Crewe)

 

 

This footballer is one of only 6 players to have played for Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough during his career. He is also a member of the FIFA Century Club having played over 100 times for his country. He was on the loosing side in both the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup Finals which two of his 354 appearances for Newcastle where he spent the majority of his career. Name this Goalkeeper who earned 134 caps for the Republic of Ireland?

 

Shay Given (The Shay – Halifax)

 

This word describes one of the seven deadly sins. It is also the title of a 2014 British film starring Billy Nighy and Imelda Staunton. In 1984 U2 released a song with this title which was the lead single from their “Unforgettable Fire Album”. What is this 5 letter word that is also the collective name for a group of Lions?

 

Pride (Pride Park – Derby County)

 

 

 

 

Nicknamed “The Garden State”,  this state is home to the countries second largest city and is the second most populous state overall…..in Australia. Name this Australian state of which Melbourne is the Capital?

 

Victoria (Victoria Park – Hartlepool)

 

Founded in the 1410, this is the third oldest University in the English speaking world. Containing St Marys College, United College and St Leonard College this University is located in Fife and was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge amongst others?

St Andrews (St Andrews – Birmingham)

 

 

These two words are part of the fifth most popular name for a pub in Great Britain. They are also contained in the name of a famous collection of stories by Arthur C Clarke. One of the words is the archaic name for a mature stag and the other is a colour. It was the personal badge for the Richard II. What two words am I looking for? It is the name of a stadium that is home to a Champions League team this year, but Champions League Football isn’t played there!

White Hart (White Hart Lane – Tottenham Hotspur)

 

This athlete successful defended his track and field title at the 2016 Rio Olympics after first winning Gold at London 2012. He is the current world record holder in his event and is married to the bronze medallist from the Rio 2016 Womens Heptathlon. Name this individual who took the world record from Roman Sebrle in the Decathlon?

 

Ashton Eaton (Ashton Gate – Bristol City)

 

 Located near the border of California and Nevada, what are is the lowest, driest and hottest area in North Amierca?

 

Death Valley (Valley – Charlton)

This was the largest ocean liner in the world for two periods during the 1910s, interrupted only by the slightly larger Titanic. In contracts with its sister ships, which also included the Brtiannic, this ship had a long career service earning the nickname old reliable when acting as a troopship during the first world war. Name this lead ship of the White Star Line’s famous trio of ocean liners? The stadium in question is hosting Premier League football for the first time in 2016, with West Ham United moving in!

 

RMS Olympic (Olympic Stadium)

 

This TV programmed first aired in the USA in 1973 and featured an organisation called the Office of Strategic Investigations. It was based on a novel by Martin Caldin and aired until 1978. The character of Oscar Wildman opened each show with the words “Gentleman, we have the technology, we have the capability, we can rebuild him. Name this show in which Lee Majors played colonel Steven Austin?

Six Million Dollar Man (Sixfields – Northampton)

 

What name is shared by a town in Lincolnshire, the first name of the founder of Singapore and the largest city in the US State of Conneticuit?

Stamford (Stamford Bridge – Chelsea)

 

This sports venue is the second oldest of its kind in England. It was the first venue to host an Ashes test match in England and is the  ground at which Shane Warne delivered his “Ball of the Century” and Jim Laker took the first ten wicket haul in a single innings by a English bowler in 1956. Name this cricket venue that is home to Lancashire Cricket Club?

 

Old Trafford (Old Trafford - Manchester United)

 

 

This Graham Green novel was published in 1940. It tells the story of a Roman Catholic Priest living in the Mexican state of tobacco in 1930s at a time when the Mexican Government was attempting to supress the Catholic Church. It was adapted by director John Ford into the 1940s film “The Fugitive” and its title refers to a phrase usually heard at the end of the Lord Prayer. Name this book?

The Power and the Glory (King Power Stadium – Leicester)

 

 

I am looking for the name of a Song. It was a UK number 1 hit 1980 and the second and final number for its singer. It tells the tale of a man called Tommy who finally overcomes his reputation to stand up for his woman when she is attacked by the Gatlin boys. Name this single by Kenny Rogers that was number 1  for 2 weeks in February 1980?

 

Coward of the County (County Ground – Swindon)