A year after the Tom Cobley quiz came back to life, the birthday quiz threw up a brand new name. Bow Barkers, in the top two for the very first time, went straight to the top. Not a bad way to introduce yourselves.
The team they pushed into second? Cobley Wanderers, winners of the very first quiz of the revival. Party poopers, but very polite ones.
By the numbers
Three quizzes into 2024, and three different winners: Friends of Maddie, Five + One and now Bow Barkers. After a year in which only two teams ever won, the field was opening up nicely.
A flavour of the questions
The picture round asked teams to name the city from its metro map, from Newcastle to Shanghai. And there was a special guest round on pets on screen, set by Mr R. Cudlip, described on the sheet as a pub landlord in Devon. Roger, in other words.
- General knowledgeThe name of which martial art translates as empty hand?
Answer: Karate - Alphabet roundWhich footwear brand shares its name with an antelope?
Answer: Reebok - General knowledgeWhich US city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980?
Answer: Lake Placid - General knowledgeInferno is the first part of which epic poem by Dante?
Answer: The Divine Comedy. Which was also the answer to the next question: who had a 1995 hit with Something for the Weekend? - Steven or Stephen?Spielberg, Hawking and Hendry: Steven or Stephen?
Answer: Steven, Stephen, Stephen - Guest round: pets on screenWhat was the name of the cat in Rising Damp?
Answer: Vienna - Guest round: pets on screenWhat was Bernie Winters’ St Bernard called?
Answer: Schnorbitz - General knowledgeSpell onomatopoeia.
Answer: O-N-O-M-A-T-O-P-O-E-I-A. It sounds like what it describes, but not like how it’s spelt.
The wipeout round was New or Old, from Newark and Oldham to the Newfoundland dog, and there was a very satisfying closing pair on Downing Street: the chief whip’s official residence is number 12, though the sheet notes they actually live at number 9.
The music round: classical
Ten of the best-known pieces in classical music. One point for the composer. Even if you didn’t know the name, you’ll have heard every one of these in an advert.
- The Four Seasons: WinterVivaldi
- Ode to JoyBeethoven
- Eine kleine NachtmusikMozart
- Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the KnightsProkofiev
- Dance of the Sugar Plum FairyTchaikovsky
- Ride of the ValkyriesWagner
- William Tell OvertureRossini
- Symphony No. 9, From the New WorldDvořák
- The Blue DanubeJohann Strauss II
- Toccata and Fugue in D MinorJ. S. Bach
And finally
Happy first birthday to the quiz. Next up was April, on St George’s Day itself.
Every question from the night is in the questions archive, every winner is on the monthly winners board, and there are more photos in the gallery.