North East Sports Quiz League - Are there many specialist League's out there?

For a number of years I have been debating on joining the North East Sports Quiz League. For a variety of reasons, ranging from the fear of being out of my depth to the fact that the venue are located at least 30 minutes away from me, has put my off but I have finally decided to go ahead and join. Within a few days of enquiring I was set up with a team and look forward to the new season. I will still be out of my depth, but I figure these leagues are not going to around much longer so why not...

It got me thinking, are there many other specialist quiz leagues around the country? A post on facebook led to a few people telling me about Sports Leagues that "used" to exist but I cant seem to see any others?

The website with sample questions can be found HERE

Quiz in the North - Saturday 19th August

The Quiz in North concept, established a few years ago to provide a fun, competitive and enjoyable day for those who like to take quizzing more seriously, is going from strength to strength. I thought I would quickly post up to mention that the next event on Saturday 19th August will be taking place in Middlesbrough. All the details can be found HERE

Just a little info take from the site -

"Quiz in the North is returning to Teesside and gives you the chance to test your wits against some of Britain's top quizzing talent including members of the Eggheads team and Mastermind Champions. There will be two individual quizzes and a team quiz of the team. You won't need to have a team beforehand as they will be decided on the day. The event costs ten pounds and lunch will be included, please pay on the day."        


Always a fun day, always great questions and great company!

If you get stuck on how to take part drop me an email at daniel@thequizzaddict.com and Ill put you in touch with the person to talk to :)

Quiz Review: Tipsy Cow

Venue: Tipsy Cow

Location: Sunderland

Date: Tuesdays from 8.30

 

 

I stumbled into the Tipsy cow one night almost by accident. It is literally 2 minutes walk from my flat and moments before leaving a Facebook post popped up advertising a quiz for that night. Since then I have been three times and it is always a good night.

 

The quiz itself is ran by a professional entertainer, who makes sure everyone feels welcome. Although there are a core of regulars in the quiz, new teams are immediately made to feel welcome and its a very good environment. My biggest credit goes to the handle he has on cheating as he is constantly walking around and marking at tables etc. Plus its a small contained area. The beer is good, snacks are provided and its a very well presented and nice pub!

 

The quiz itself varies in format....it begins with a 10 question picture round followed by a good, mixed General Knowledge round. It's one of the few quizzes in Sunderland not afraid to ask about classical music, arts, poetry as well as the usual array of films, tv and such like.

 

The third round is music based....in the few times I have been there it has varied from an audio round, to opening lyrics, to normal trivia questions on music. This is followed by a specialist round which in my weeks there has varied from Scientific names for bones and Disney questions.

 

All in all its fun, well placed night and they even throw in some Card Bingo as well as a very god game of Last Man Standing.

 

 

If you are in the Sunderland are it is well worth a look (and I often can't get a team on Tuesdays so pop me a message if you need an extra team member :)

Quiz Like a Pro

I was alerted to this book via Facebook in the last few days. Written by Mark Labbett (aka The Beast from the Chase) and former Egghead Cj De Mooi it is a short guide on how to improve quizzing knowledge. Takes about an hour to get through and there is enough good information in there to justify the £0.99 asking price :)

Quiz Fest 2017

Sunderland Echo Quiz League Final Table

Congratulations to Newbottle on winning the Sunderland Echo Quiz League! In what was a very tight season the result came down to average scores. If you are in the local area and keen to take part in next season, either as a team or an individual, then get in touch with me on daniel@thequizaddict.com and I will put you in touch with the relevant person!

The table is below. Roll on next year....

Sunderland Echo Quiz League

This post is mainly intended for people in the Sunderland area, keen on taking part in some tougher quizzes!

The current season of the Sunderland Echo Quiz League is coming to an end in the next few weeks and after another fun and enjoyable season I just wanted to mention that the league is more than open to new players and teams from the area.

Ever since joining the league, around  years ago now at least, I have met some great people, taken part in some great quizzes and thoroughly enjoyed my participation. It's a team based league with up to 6 players per team and you get a chance to answer every questions (so no individual questions which can often put people off). Everyone is welcoming and the venues are dotted around the city and surrounding area.

Take a look at the site here which has examples of recent sets.

If you are in the area and are able to play games on Wednesday nights, please get in touch (daniel@thequizaddict.com) and I'll put you in touch with the relevant people to get on board. Whether you are an individual, or even better think you can muster up a team, to compete in the league, we are always on the lookout for new faces. 

QU12 2017 - Heat 3

Here is the latest Heat from QU12 2017. A good standard of questions, some cracking answers and a very high standard of play. I somehow fluked the final but the less said about that the better!

There are several more heats at Lightspeed Quiz Events across the country over the next few months and you can find details Here or pop me an email at daniel@thequizaddict.com and I'll point you in the right direction of who to speak to to join.

Suggested Book

I am assuming many people reading this will already know about, and many will have several versions of this title, but just a quick reminder based on a few emails I have received this week but in terms of reference works for aiding in setting and improving knowledge, Trevor Montague's long running series is second to none...





.....in saying that whenever I get the chance, I mention that this is also a good starting point to cover the basics. This has certainly contributed to many many of my correct answers since I started quizzing and although some parts are now out of date, the key elements are here to start building your quiz knowledge...

Redfest 2017!

The poster above says it all! Redfest 2016 was easily my favourite event of the year, and perhaps the most fun I have had quizzing since I started out. This year it's back and with a new venue and after the success of last year, hopefully an even bigger turnout I am looking forward to it already.

If you only go to one quiz event all year, I highly recommend this!

Football Grounds Special

Only just realised my set from last year, for Light Speed Quiz, has been uploaded. Enjoy....all the answers have a link (sometimes distant) to a English League Ground and the standard of answering, as always at these events, is frighteningly high.

Quiz in the North XI

 

 

 

Sat 22 April 2017

11:00 – 18:00 BST

 

The Holbeck Working Mens Club, Leeds

 

To my shame, I think I have only ever briefly mentioned Quiz in the North events on the blog. The event advertised above is the 11th such event which continues to go from strength to strength.

 

In a nutshell, Quiz in the North is a day of quizzing for people who enjoy their quizzes. With some of the countries top quizzers taking part, including Eggheads and Chasers, it is a perfect introduction for people who are keen to quizzes more seriously. I hate using the word "serious" regarding these event as I don't want to put people off playing as they are always a fun day! The events have attracted experience veterans of the quizzing world and newer players keen to test themselves. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and even if you plan to come along alone without knowing anybody, you will soon be made to feel right at home.

 

When I first starting quizzing seriously I made the mistake of delaying attending a GP for years as I was a ) worried about not knowing people and b)scared of showing myself up  and I wish these events had been around when I was starting out.

 

The day itself tends to vary from venue to venue, and with a different setter each time, you never quite know what it expect. Usually the morning begins with a  150 questions or so written quiz with team events in the afternoon (where you will find yourself sorted into teams to ensure a fair playing field).

 

Full details of the event can be found on the facebook and the Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quiz-in-the-north-xi-tickets-32328755177.

Sunderland Echo Quiz League Questions - Set B

As promised, here is set B for the Sunderland Echo Quiz League questions used this week...

Set B

Round 1 - B

1.       Two Booker Prize winning novels were the basis for movies that won Best Picture Oscars in the 1990s. Schindler’s List was one, what was the other?	The English Patient
2.       In which city would you find the Eden Gardens cricket ground?	Calcutta, India
3.       Sir James Clark Ross, whose name was given to the Ross Sea, commanded which ship on the 1839 expedition to the Antarctic?	HMS Erebus
4.       The name of which Alpine Goat is included in the name of the Spanish Stock Market Index ?	Ibex

 

Round 2- B

1.       Declared First Citizen of Athens, which statesman, orator and general was leader in its Golden Age, between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars in the 5th Century BC ?	Pericles
2.       The following is a definition of which scientific term “A compound whose molecule is formed from a large number of repeated units of one or more compounds of low molecular weight.”?	Polymer
3.       Which building in Moscow started life as an insurance office and later became the headquarters of the KGB ?	The Lubyanka
4.       What historical 'First' is attributed to the assassination of the Scottish Regent James Stewart, Earl of Moray, in Linlithgow in 1570?	First by Firearm/Gun

 

Round 3 - B

1.       Poundbury is an experimental New Town in England developed on land owned by The Prince of Wales, according to his architectural principles, started in 1987. In which county is Poundbury?	Dorset
2.       Donald McLeod is the presenter of which classical music programme, claimed to be the oldest of its type in British broadcasting and first aired in 1943?	Composer of the Week
3.       The plinth of the statue of which Labour politician, standing in Buchanan Street, Glasgow, is inscribed with the opening words of the Scotland Act: “There Shall Be a Scottish Parliament”?	Donald DEWAR
4.       Sir Joseph Swan, who is known as an independent developer of an incandescent light bulb, shares his middle name with the surname of a 20th century Labour Prime Minister. What name?	Wilson

 

 

 

Round 4 – B

1.       Who published "A Treatise on Make-up and Jam" one of the world's first cook books in 1555 and wrongly predicted it would be a big success?	Michel de NOSTRADAME (aka NOSTRADAMUS)
2.       Who was voted last month as the best player of the Six Nations for the second year running?	Stuart HOGG
3.       Cape St Vincent lies at the southwestern most point of which European Country?	Portugal
4.       On 3rd April 1967 (50 years ago) British publishers Calder and Boyars were sent for trial for publishing which novel by Hubert Selby jnr?	Last Exit to Brooklyn

 

Round 5 - B

1.       The 1st Earl of Beaconsfield and cricketer Jason Gillespie share which nickname with the band leader and trumpeter most famous for “A Night in Tunisia.”?	Dizzy (Disraeli, Dizzy Gillespie)
2.       The Scottish actor descended from Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the blacksmith who invented the bicycle,  uses which  stage name in tribute to the saxophonist who recorded “A Love Supreme”?	Robbie COLTRANE (born Anthony Robert Macmillan)
3.       Which current quiz show was originally going to be called "Obviously"?	Pointless
4.       Which North East brewery has beers called Extinction Ale, Galapagos Stout and Beagle Blonde?	Darwin

 

Round 6 - B

1.       Which Harry, normally thought of as a comic actor, was Len Deighton's choice to play his unnamed spy in the Ipcress File?	Harry H CORBETT
2.       Ridley Scott directed the 1973 advert voted Britain's favourite advertisement of all time. It was shot at Golden Hill at Shaftesbury in Dorset. Which foodstuff was being advertised?	Hovis (accept Bread )
3.       What was the title of the only UK No. 1 hit for Dusty Springfield ?	You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
4.       Two European capitals lie on the same latitude (48º__´N) as Paris. One is Bratislava, name the other?	Vienna

 

The Joy of Quiz

Just a further plug, for those of you who may have missed it, for the excellent book Alan Connor released at the back end of last year entitled "The Joy of Quiz". It covers quizzing in all aspects from trivial pursuit to TV shows. Well worth a look...