New Season 2016 and AGM

26th September 2016

The New Season is upon us and the AGM will be held at the Albion at 8.30 p.m. on Monday 10th October. Full agenda will appear soon but I am not aware of anything unusual cropping up.

As usual I would appreciate it if teams could confirm that they will be playing this year ASAP - I’ll assume those who have already been badgering me for details are in!

As always, anyone can attend the meeting. New teams or players are always welcome, alternatively I can be contacted here.

Hope to see as many of you as possible on the 10th.

AGM 2016 - 10th October

5th October 2016

Details for Monday:

Assuming we have the same teams as last year (11), cost remains the same at £65 per team for a 3-cycle season as we have had the last couple of years. Dates proposed are 07/11/16 - 5/12/16 and 09/01/17 - 13/03/17. We would be able to accommodate one new team within that schedule should a new entrant miraculously appear. Being an odd number of teams, an extra promotion to Div 1 is in order this year so Albion B move up as well.

I have just had confirmation that we can have a longer 4-cycle (20 week) season (or just one division, which I know has not been a popular suggestion in the past), for just £2.50 per team extra. 4 cycles would take us up to 24/04/17, as Easter is in the way. I like the sound of this, what does everyone else think?

As always, if there are any scheduled match days which are a problem for your pub, please let me know ASAP and I will try to accommodate when preparing the fixtures.

I am also planning a last-minute campaign to find new players but as always, don’t hold your breath!

I don’t think there’s anything else unusual up for discussion but as always please feel free to come along and have your say about the league, or let me know your thoughts anyway if you can’t make it.

See you all on Monday!

New season starts 31st October

12th October 2016

For those who couldn’t make it to the AGM on Monday, the important results are that the new season starts 31st October (not 7th November as initially proposed), and will be the longer 20 week job at no additional cost (£65.00 per team). Subs in as quickly as you can please folks.

I’ll write up the full minutes tomorrow with any luck.

If any new team is still interested in playing please get in touch ASAP, I might just be able to squeeze you in!

Don’t Panic

26th October 2016

Sorry folks, had a bit of a situation and no computer for the last few days.

The new season is still starting on 31st, though. I am currently finalising the fixtures, they should be out tomorrow. The randomly-selected team for a rest week in round 1 was The Cricketers, which means that all other venues will be hosting a home game on Monday.

I would appreciate it if team captains could let me know that they are all ready for the off. Cheers!

Phew! Fixtures!

28th October 2016

Fixtures for Monday:

Sorry folks, cutting it even finer than last year! Here are the ties for the first week, full fixtures should be available by tomorrow a.m., I just need to format them up nicely. I’ll deliver a printed copy to each pub tomorrow, along with the questions.

Unfortunately part of the reason for the lateness this time was due to interest by a new team but they sadly could not commit given the short time scale.

For those who did not make the AGM there are a couple of changes for the Beer Round:

1. Either team may request that the round is played for a half pint or equivalent, or even just for fun, instead of the traditional pint. Please decide the stakes before the start of the round.
2. Please report the beer round scores along with the main result as we shall be running a “beer round league” based on wins / draws / losses over all divisions (adjusted for the different number of games) and hopefully awarding some kind of trophy.

There is a reminder about this in the question packs this week.

Anyhow, I’ve just sliced a chunk off my thumb preparing some fish for dinner, so I’ll finish off now and just say good luck and good quizzing folks.

Fixture List

29th October 2016

Full fixture list is available here.

And They’re Off!

1st November 2016

I get so freaked out on the first night, certain that nobody will turn up and it will all be a huge cock-up. Hasn’t ever quite done that, but I do panic.

So last night didn’t help with the total lack of phone coverage at the Jolly Farmer, which means I don’t even expect any results until we’ve been back on the main road for a couple of miles, when I usually get a big burst of texts. But I didn’t get them all yesterday, even allowing an hour or so back at home, and even though everyone had indeed sent them. So apologies for texting everyone I have on my contact sheet, just to make sure we didn’t lose a result.

Anyway, I’m back at the Jolly Farmer next week again, so we may have the same problem. Don’t bother trying to phone, it’s texts or e-mails all the way please! Could I also ask the captains to hang on to their scoresheets just in case. (I’ll still frantically text anyone I have a number but no result for, so please understand!).

And I haven’t quite worked out how I’m going to show the new Beer Round league yet - watch this space!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

6th December 2016

While it all seems a bit premature for that kind of thing, that’s the lot before Christmas!

A quick word about the Beer Round league: I’m basically counting rounds won: draws and actual scores won’t count unless there is a tie at the end of the season. To allow for the different number of games, Div 1 get 4 points a win, Div 2 get 5. Top 4 looks like this at the break:

Also a little reminder to anyone with subs still outstanding…

So, that’s all for 2016, see you all next year!

Extra Papers

28th February 2017

As you may have noticed yesterday there were two sets of questions sent out this week, as is usual when out question setter takes a few days away. They were all clearly marked with the appropriate dates, hope there was no confusion!

As is normal in these cases there will of course be no results or tables in the next week’s envelope!

Beer Round Latest

7th March 2017

Sorry folks, forgot to post an update at the halfway stage as I had intended, here’s how the Beer Round leaders are looking at the moment. At this stage we have all played the same ¾ of the matches, so the scores are directly comparable, unlike at the last update.

Beer Round

29th March 2017

I have decided to award the new Beer Round Trophy to the highest-scoring team (based on rounds WON) who would not otherwise win a trophy - so that is except for division winners.

Current results stand like this:

Albion A have won Div 1, and Div 2 will go to either Frensham RBL or Hale Nomads.

The total is out of 80, so with a maximum of 10 pts available from the last 2 matches the trophy will go to whichever of those Div 2 contenders comes second!

Final Results 2016-17

11th April 2017

After a slightly longer season than in recent years we have the final results. The Division 1 winners were confirmed a couple of weeks ago but the remaining results had to wait for the final match:

Full tables are here.

The Presentation Evening and BFQ is the turn of Div 2 this year - hopefully the RBL can oblige but I await a final decision on that. Anyway, with Easter and the Bank Holiday at the end of the month we’re looking at Mon 24th April or Mon 8th May as most likely dates.

The final Beer Round position looks like this:

Maximum in each case is 80. As previously explained, the inaugural winners will be Frensham RBL.

Trophy Presentation and BFQ

25th April 2017

With a bank holiday to contend with the Trophy Presentation and BFQ this year will be held at Frensham RBL on the 8th May. Proceedings start at 8.30 as usual but please try and get along in good time to get a drink & find a seat.

As always the BFQ is open to anyone concerned with the quiz - substitutes, question masters, landlords - all are welcome.

And as usual I would ask teams to let me know how many people are likely to be attending, even if you are not coming, so that we have some idea of how many to cater for. Thanks.

As usual I look forward to seeing all of you on the 8th.

Presentation Night

20th May 2017

Monday 8th saw our 26th annual Presentation Evening and Big Friendly Quiz, as most of you will already know since we had one of the biggest turnouts in a long while! Thanks go to Hale Nomads and the Royal British Legion for putting on a great evening, and of course everyone for turning up.

Pictured here are both division-winning teams:  

(L to R, Albion A members marked (A), otherwise Hale Nomads)

Alan Grimes, Ken Weaver (A), Harvey Kernick (A), Stitch Blackmore, Chris Truin, Zena Locke, Mick Hills, Gary Withers and Russ Eaton (A).

Frensham RBL, inaugural winners of the Beer Round Challenge, were also presented with an engraved glass tankard.

And the all-important BFQ honours went to, ahem, Albion A, with Hale Nomads and Jolly Farmer B tied for second place.

Also I see we made the Herald this week. Page 2 this time, not hidden away at the back like usual!

Well that marks the end of another season, see you all later in the year for the AGM to start it all off again. Keep Quizzing!