Space Cadets had been circling the top of the table since July, when they finished second. In September they finally made it all the way: a first ever win, and a seventh different name on the trophy since the quiz came back in March 2023.
In second place were Yeofordians, finishing in the top two for the very first time. A night of firsts, then, and not a Wanderer in sight on the podium.
By the numbers
Here’s a sign of how open 2024 had become. All seven teams who have ever won the quiz had now won at least once in 2024. Cobley Wanderers still led the way, but the rest of the pub was clearly catching up.
A flavour of the questions
September had a Difficult Alphabet round, a vintage Mastermind round from around 1988, and a picture round of well-known phrases hidden in words and letters. Too Big to Ignore was spelled out in big, big letters, of course.
- General knowledgeAlphabetically, what are the first and last rooms on a Cluedo board?
Answer: Ballroom and Study - General knowledgeOn a QWERTY keyboard, what comes in between Delta and Golf?
Answer: Foxtrot. Or F, if you look at the keyboard. Same thing. - Difficult alphabet roundHow much wood would a woodchuck chuck? And what is a woodchuck more commonly known as?
Answer: A groundhog - General knowledgeWhich reggae band are named after the Arabic word for black?
Answer: Aswad - General knowledgeWhich chemical element has the symbol W, and a name from the Swedish for heavy stone?
Answer: Tungsten - General knowledgeWhat is 3,999 in Roman numerals?
Answer: MMMCMXCIX. Try writing that after a couple of pints. - General knowledgeWithnail and I was set in London and which county?
Answer: Cumbria - Wipeout: which is older?The modern Olympics or Nintendo?
Answer: Nintendo, founded in 1889, seven years before the first modern Olympics
The whole wipeout round was Which Is Older, from Taylor Swift against Sky Sports to Scooby Doo against The Godfather, which made the traditional final question feel right at home. The Pointless question asked for a Charles Dickens novel.
The music round: disco
Ten disco floor-fillers, one point for the song and one for the artist. Glitter ball not included.
- I Feel LoveDonna Summer
- I Will SurviveGloria Gaynor
- Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)Ottawan
- Night FeverBee Gees
- You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)Sylvester
- Ring My BellAnita Ward
- Disco InfernoThe Trammps
- FunkytownLipps Inc.
- Y.M.C.A.Village People
- It’s Raining MenThe Weather Girls
And finally
Congratulations, Space Cadets. Next up was October, and the Wanderers were not about to let the trophy drift off into space for long.
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.