Schools' Quiz 2012

Date: Monday 30 January 2012

Undaunted by the loss of a team member shortly before departure, three doughty St Edmund's quizzers left for Sevenoaks on Wednesday 25th - forgoing an early haggis. Our opponents were Sevenoaks and Westminster who look down loftily from the top of various league tables but we were unfazed- or at least I had thought so until a certain team member spilt tea over a table in the refreshment area - and ready for battle. The lack of buzzers owing to an electrical fault threatened to scupper proceedings but the Physics department at Sevenoaks worked late and it was 'game on'. I have delayed releasing the results as long as I dare and, sadly, we did not do any giant-killing.

Sevenoaks edged in front with some good speed off the mark despite our expertise on anything non musical or sporting! Bonuses mean 50 points can be conceded on one missed buzz alone so to go down 510 - 260 was a respectable showing for our three musketeers. Westminster, I have to say, comfortably beat both Sevenoaks and ourselves, notwithstanding Ms Burren's being on the score machine and our being first to score on Narnia novels and the DVLC! They are not national champions and alma mater of Mr Guttenplan, single-handed destroyer of University Challenge all comers in a recent season of the BBC show, for nothing. They were, all four boys, of an exceptional standard and sent us away licking our wounds but proud to have taken 110 points off them and done as well as the hosts, a much larger school. It never harms to see the best in action and we will learn from the experience. Well done and thank you to James Hitchcock, Fiona Munro and Alastair Feeney.

J. P. Dagley