Merseyside Quiz Leagues

It is with great sadness we have to report the death of Bob Wilkie, who passed away on Thursday 16th December.  Bob was one of the longest serving members of the MQL having been a player in the Liverpool league from the early seventies.  However, it was in the vital role of Question Distributor that Bob made an invaluable contribution to the running of the MQL.  Handbooks show that he was carrying out this job in 1977 and he continued for 44 years having only relinquished it earlier this year.
As a Distributor, Bob was an ex-officio member of the MQL Council and was a very regular attender of meetings. He served as President of the MQL from 2005 to 2008 and so had been a Vice-President from 2008 to date. The Leagues recognised his years of service with a presentation in 2009, and we are happy to say that he continued attending meetings until this year.  Bob would have been 84 on Christmas Day.  All at MQL offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.  They have requested no cards or flowers.

Many congratulations to Karl Whelan who became the 68th Brain of Britain by winning the Final of the 2021 BBC Radio 4 competition when it was broadcast recently.  In lifting the trophy and winning the coveted title he succeeded fellow MQL player, Graham Barker who was the 2020 Champion.  Karl, who plays in the Wirral League, has won the MQL Mimir title on 5 occasions and he is the 4th MQL player to be Brain of Britain.

On Thursday 28 October, the MQL Council met to review how the season was progressing.  

Areas each reported on any problems that had occurred in the first four weeks of the season. In general, there had been very few postponements due to COVID. There had been some difficulties with venues not opening due to staff shortages or closing early due to lack of custom, but on the whole things appear to be progressing well. Of the few complaints about social distancing, one had been resolved while another was ongoing.

Areas had each explained to their teams about any arrangements for postponing matches for this season due to Covid or health reasons. Area secretaries decided that they would remind teams about the arrangements for postponements and that postponed games must be played on the rescheduled date or usual rules will be applied (Rule 39).  

Area secretaries also decided that they would, if necessary, remind teams about the provision of refreshments. The MQL Council advice still stood, that no refreshments need be provided this season unless supplied by the venue as part of the hosting arrangements.  If a team were intent on providing refreshments, then they would need to check on regulations with their venue and then out of courtesy, inform their opponents of the situation.

Congratulations to Teesside (Michael McPartland, Clive Dunning, Adam Barr, Tony Walmsley) who beat A Team of Two Halves (Paul Sinha, Oliver Levy, Andy Bolton) in a close Final to win the Third Diamond Jubilee Buzzer Tournament held at St Peter's Church and Centre, Woolton, Liverpool on Saturday 9 October.  The Plate Competition was won by Wirral A (Jim Eccleson, Ian Jack, Dave Ryan, Jon Stitcher and Mike McDonough) who beat Lincolnshire (Lawrence Cook, Ian Welham, Andrew Hunter, Isabelle Heward, Pete Daniel) in their Final.  The Individual Best Performance was won by Pat Gibson (Ormskirk).

Many thanks to all who took part and especially to the team of QPs and scorers who asked over ten matches throughout the day.  We are most grateful to the St Peter's Church & Centre and the Bradbury Centre for Blind People for providing the facilities and the refreshments.

Results may be viewed here.

Following a meeting of the MQL Council on Sunday 19 September, it was decided to start the 2021-22 Season in the week commencing 4 October.  See your local area website and messages from your secretary for fixture details.  We are sure that all participants will continue to show consideration for others with regards to COVID measures.  An extra Council Meeting has been scheduled for 28 October to review progress.

We hope that you enjoy your return to quizzing in person!