THERE was a full turnout on Thursday night as all combatants in the Summer Leagues congregated at the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown) for the distribution of silverware and to participate for the handicapped Janet Priest/Laurence Stevens Memorial Trophy.

The proceedings began with a minute’s applause in memory of Steve Walton, a 21-year veteran of Quizland, and stalwart and former skipper of the Plough (Wolvercote), who sadly passed away a few weeks earlier.

Following the subsequent handing out of various hard-earned gongs, responsibility for the remainder of the evening’s activities was passed to ‘Uncle’ Rupert. Not my uncle you understand but the sort of bloke you would want your uncle to be like!

He read marvellously and was quite his old schoolmasterly self, which is of course what he was in a previous life.

The contest itself was dominated from start to finish by the Royal Blenheim ‘B’ (aka ‘the Young ‘Uns’).

Not so youthful on this occasion however, as Doctor Tim, formerly of the Hatchet (Childrey), swelled their ranks not to mention their knowledge quite considerably.

They may have been awarded a slightly generous booster score and, cunningly, Dr Tim was visiting the facilities when they were announced, but the margin of victory, 31 points, would have landed them the spoils without the handicapper’s assistance.

The Green Road Club (Kidlington), buoyant from their success in winning Section One, took second. Their confidence was palpable and all this despite their skipper and taliswoman, Kate, absent this past six weeks in Australia.

The Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) rounded off a decent campaign to bag third with defending titleholders, the Black Swan (East Oxford), a close fourth.

As for the Premiership champions, the Plough, they finished 11th. They had the full squad out, including Angry Andrew (I missed his name off the list in last week’s column), but this is one competition where these multiple winners will never trouble the judges.

And so to the thank-you’s. To the landlords and stewards of the clubs and pubs who house us, feed and water us, and in many cases, cover the fees.

To the Oxford Mail for the provision of column inches as well as sponsorship of the awards. To those who give of their time each week to read the quiz and keep the scores, and finally to James Carr for providing the questions and handling their distribution.

ROLL OF HONOUR

  • Premier Section - The Plough (Wolvercote) 
  • Section One - Green Road Club (Kidlington)
  • Premier Section Blockbusters - Royal Blenheim ‘A’ (Oxford City)
  • Section One Blockbusters - Royal Sun (Begbroke)
  • Travel Tabletop - The Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote)
  • British Sport Tabletop - North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown)
  • 21st Century Tabletop - The Plough
  • 1980s Tabletop - Royal Blenheim ‘A’