Quiz Liverpool

Welcome to the 2021-2022 Liverpool Quiz Season.

We have now heard from all Liverpool Quiz League teams regarding their return to quizzing face to face and the availability of venues. I am sad to have to announce that four teams will not be taking part, Earles, Bootle YMCA, Outside Edge, Residents as they had hoped.

The League

• We have 27 teams taking part in the 2021 2022 season.
• MQL has fixed a season from October 2021 to March 2022, as a return to quizzing, so to fit in with this season we have decided to create three divisions of nine teams.

Pre-season friendlies

• We have arranged three pre-season friendlies commencing Monday 13^th September 2021, through to 27^th September 2021. This will give teams time to get used to returning to face to face competition, check out venues and iron out any problems or procedures, with each team having at least one home and one away game.
• Fixtures are attached to this email.
• LQL will not be sending out questions sets for the friendlies, you can use a set that you have, or you can obtain sets by downloading one from any of the following links for MQL, Orrell Quiz League and Quiz League of London
• http://www.sfquiz.org.uk/quizpage.html
• http://www.odquiz.org.uk/quizzes.aspx
• https://quizleagueoflondon.co.uk/quizzes/default.aspx

Playing Season

• The season will start on 4^th October 2021 and run to 13^th December 2021, re-commence on 10^th January 2022 and run to 21^st February 2022.
• Sets will be sent out by second class post as usual.

 

Handbooks and fixtures

• In view of the short lead-in to the season printed handbooks will not be available.

• Handbook information will be sent in an electronic pdf document, this will contain the usual team information and fixtures, Team Secretaries should circulate this to all of the team members. These will be sent out this weekend.
• The rules are available on Liverpool Quiz League Website, follow this link. http://www.quizliverpool.org.uk/rules-1.aspx
• The fixtures will also be available on Liverpool Quiz League Website, a link will be included in the handbook.

Postponement of games

• If a team cannot fulfil a fixture due to Covid restrictions, they should consult the other team and advise the General Secretary.
• They should agree a way forward, the most preferable way is to re-arrange the game as soon as possible.
• Or play the game on-line.
• Failing that if it’s in the first half of the season a double header may be arranged.
• Or agree to share the points.
• Whatever you decide to do you must use the questions you have for that fixture. Additional sets are not available.

Procedures

Some players would like to have reassurance regarding venues and we are asking teams to consider their venues and check with the management with the following in mind:

• Are the games played in a small room?
• Can players sit socially distanced if they wish from their own team members and from the opposition?
• Is the room well ventilated?
• What are the arrangements for buying drinks, bar service or waiter service?
• We suggest that we suspend refreshments for this season, unless this is part of a team’s deal with the management of the venue.
• If you play in a shared venue, we suggest that you discuss arrangements with the other team(s) if possible.
• Out of consideration for others it would helpful to wear a mask, but it is not mandatory. We trust that players with any Covid symptoms will not attend the quiz out of consideration for their fellow quizzers.
• And of course, we will suspend hand shaking.

Should you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Wishes

Paul

Paul Davitt

General Secretary Liverpool Quiz League

CASTING CALL!

Calling all Quizzers...Lightning is back! BBC2's fast-paced quiz hosted by Zoë Lyons is on the look-out NOW for outgoing, fast-thinking contestants packed with personality and general knowledge.

Click on the link below to apply:

https://shortaudition.com/LightningS2

Terms and conditions apply, must be 18+

QITV are working on a brand new BBC1 quiz show and are looking for great contestants. They'd love to hear from some quiz enthusiasts so if you, or any of your fellow quizzers would be interested in the chance to win a cash prize then you can apply via the link below:

Apply for The Tournament

Unfortunately there is currently no way of coming in and out of the application once you've started it so, if you do want to apply, please do answer as many questions as you can until you get to the end. If you have any issues with the application then drop them a line.

We are sad to announce the death of John Fennell of Christ the King. 

In the early 1970’s John with his brother Jim and two friends started playing in an internal quiz team competition at Christ the King Club. This prompted them to join the MQL as Christ the King.  We think that this may have been in 1972 or 1973, as our records on file show that by the 1974-75 season there were two teams, CTK A in Liverpool East and CTK B in Liverpool West.   The Liverpool League took its current form in 1977. 

By the 1980s, as interest in quizzing grew, there were four CTK teams in the Liverpool League and John’s team had become CTK Ikthos.   During this time, he also organised various internal quizzes at the Club, including a popular ‘Mastermind’ competition.  When the CTK Ikthos team folded after the 2001-02 season, John joined Wanderers for a number of years and he also played for the Liverpool President’s Shield teams.   John had to give up quizzing for a time, but happily returned and was playing for CTK Cavaliers when the League was suspended due to the pandemic. 

For several years John was also responsible for organising a Summer League for Liverpool teams and certainly in one of those years he wrote all the questions himself.  Not an easy feat!   His only regret was that it meant he could not play! 

John died of cancer on 6th April 2021.

May he Rest in Peace.

We are very sad to announce that former MQL player, Janet Barker died suddenly on 26th February.  Janet started playing in 1960’s with Kirkdale Royals of North Liverpool League and played in the Liverpool and Merseyside Leagues until 2002. 
She became a member of the Liverpool Quiz League Council from season 1982-3, Public Relations Officer from 1985-6 season until the role was abolished 1988-9 and she returned to being just a council member.  From 1993 to1998 she was Liverpool Quiz League Chairman.
A leading player in the Poste House / Excelsior team that dominated the Liverpool League in the 80s and 90s also winning the Merseyside Challenge Cup 8 times and the Feeny Cup 15 times.  In that period Janet was also part of the Liverpool team that won the President’s Trophy on 8 occasions.  She was a multiple Liverpool Mimir Champion, winning the Arthur Evans Shield 8 times, a feat so-far unrivalled and was Merseyside Mimir Champion in both 1990 and in 1993.
Before becoming a professional setter Janet enjoyed success on TV in Ask the Family, Winner Takes All and Jeopardy.  She was a Mastermind semi-finalist and also appeared on Brain of Britain and Counterpoint.  Her friend, colleague and long-time team-mate Neville Cohen has written a fine tribute which you can read here.
Older members of the Leagues will remember Janet as an exceptional player and a formidable opponent. We offer her family and friends our sincere condolences. Her funeral took place at Springwood on 15 March. 

At the MQL Council meeting held last Sunday night it was agreed to hold an individual competition, on line in early 2021, in a similar format to the Mimir.

I have sent this message to team secretaries asking them to please pass it message on to the members of their team.

I've asked secretaries to pass names back to me by 31^st January 2021, however, feel free to contact me direct if you are interested in taking part.

If you have any questions or require further information, please get in touch.

Dear Liverpool Quiz League players,

Happy New Year to you all. As we are now in our Third Lockdown I trust that you are all well and keeping safe.

The second season of MQL Online will be starting a week on Monday, 18^th January 2021, and there is still an opportunity for players to take part.

Given that we are in our third lockdown and unable to venture out, except for very specific purposes, this is an opportunity to carry on quizzing from the comfort of your own home and join in the MQL Online competition.

Games are played on a Monday night starting at 8pm, they are conducted on Zoom, which can be used on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or even on a smart phone. It costs nothing to use Zoom or to enter the competition.

If you would like to join in, please let me know as soon as possible and in any event by Thursday 14^th January 2021.

 

Paul Davitt

 

Details of the second season of MQL Online can be found on the MQL website at MQL Online - Merseyside Quiz Leagues

The first fixture will be played on 18th January.

It is my sad duty to inform you that John McCabe of J.C. and the Jets quiz team passed away a couple of days ago.

John will be sadly missed by the members of the team that he has been part of since the early 1970’s. They started as Alfred Hotel, moving to The Turk’s Head, followed by The Westfield Taverners and latterly became J C and the Jets.

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.

May he rest in peace,

Dear Liverpool Quiz League Players, As you are aware MQL has been monitoring Government guidelines in the hope that we would be able to start conventional face to face quizzing in January 2021, they agreed to make a decision at the November 2020 meeting. Council decided that all League quizzing for the ‪2020 2021‬ season should be cancelled and it was agreed that the following statement would be sent to all current Members of the Leagues; It is with regret that MQL announce the cancellation of the ‪2020-21‬ Leagues season. This was a unanimous decision made at Sunday’s meeting of the MQL Council. It means that there will be no face to face quizzing in the Liverpool, Ormskirk, Southport & Formby, Warrington or Wirral Leagues. Any question sets and membership fees that may have been submitted will be carried over to the ‪2021-22‬ season, which we hope will begin as normal in September. As you are aware, three online league competitions are currently being operated by Southport & Formby, Ormskirk and by MQL. If any teams or individuals would like to get involved with these, please contact your league Secretary. The President’s Trophy competition is being played online and it is hoped that the Merseyside Challenge Cup and possibly the Mimir Individual competitions may run in some form of online version in the Spring. The President’s Shield, Feeny Cup and Rendon Cup competitions will not take place. The decision to cancel was made very reluctantly after months of uncertainty. However we had reached the stage that even when circumstances may have allowed venues to open and host, there would be insufficient time to complete a league programme. We hope that all players and their families stay safe and look forward to meeting up again in September.