Article Published in the March 2019 Maldon Life Magazine

Well our first quiz of the year on January 26th turned out to be a good night for fish and aquatic creatures rather than quizzers but as expected, the more intrepid amongst us made our way to the centre for another interesting evening with Kevin Briggs, Quizmaster Extraordinaire.  I was fortunate enough to arrive prior to the worst onslaught but those arriving from 7.40 pm onwards it definitely looked as if they had swum there or at very best had gone through a car wash. ( and not in their cars). I was impressed with their resilience and determination not to be thwarted in getting their regular quizfix. 

Unfortunately a couple of teams were absent due to illness but we were fortunate enough to have one new team arrive and numbers whilst down, were certainly respectable. 

Kevin as usual asked the questions in his pacey manner and before we knew it we were at the end of the first four sets of ten questions and papers were handed in for marking.  Because we had collected money for entrance at the door everyone was able to enjoy an uninterrupted break to enjoy their wine, drinks and food. Early indicators showed Pieces of Eight in 1st Place, ( having played their joker) Rubinsteins, a new team in second ( again having played their joker) with joint third going to Bill and Ricky, Fuzzy Logic and Good Neighbours, non of whom had played theirs. 
After the second set of questions positions altered in that Bill and Ricky now led the competition, 4+3 and Rubinsteins in joint second place and yours truly with The Unachievers in Fourth just two points behind. (How did that happen? )

However all too soon and as usual, the last three sets rearranged the final order. Here it is. Overall winners were Burns Night Hangover, Clearly they weren’t suffering too much though or if they were, it didn’t impact performance. They scored 18 points with their joker and 96 out of a possible 110 total, to win the evenings wine. As there were only five in their team they kindly donated one of their bottles of wine as a prize for the February Raffle. Thankyou and a Very Well Done to them. In joint second place, came Fuzzy Logic and One Generation both earning 16 points with their joker and 91 points overall. 4th Place went to Bill and Ricky with another 16 points earned on their joker. 
In Fifth place (89 points) came Pieces of Eight, and earning 18 points on their joker in round 1 definitely helped.  In 6th place came Rubinsteins just behind on 88 points and 16 points with their joker. 7th place was awarded to Good Neighbours again just 1 point behind on 87 points and just 12 of those with their joker round they could have been far higher! Eighth place went to 4 + 3 even earning the maximum with their joker giving them a total of 85 points. Excellent use of the joker! Finally in joint 9th place came Penultimately Number 9 and The Underachievers both on 83 points. It all went wrong for us in rounds 8-10. So who would earn the right to eat the commiseration Mars bars? Two tie break questions later and it was Penultimately Number 9 who won ( or should I say lost) the day and the Mars Bars. I was feeling pretty smug as to date we’ve avoided them twice and yes; it was more luck than judgement. 

Notwithstanding this all the teams did really well and seemed to really enjoy the evening in spite of the weather no doubt the eight prizes in the raffle helped this good feeling with most tables winning a prize. 

Results for the February quiz will appear in April’s edition as articles are written before they are held. 

Our next quiz is due on April 6th at 8 pm as usual. Put that date in your diaries and on that note just a gentle reminder to everybody, please help put your chairs and tables away at the close of the evening and take your rubbish with you. 

Now just to let you know about an offering from one of our longest standing clients. 

“An evening of dance with the Patricia Kirkland School of Dance”.
To be held in Maldon’s Town Hall at the top of Market Hill on the evenings of 29th  March,  7pm. start and 30th March,  6.30pm.start.
With tickets priced  at just £8.50 you should enjoy a wonderful evening filled with different dances performed beautifully by Patricia’s dance students all of whom are aged from 3 years to adult.
Contact Tricia for tickets  01621857648.