Merseyside Quiz Leagues

The MQL Council hopes that all players and their families are keeping safe and well as this extraordinary period continues.  Many of you have embraced ingenious alternative techniques to keep on quizzing during the lockdown.  These include using the telephone, emails and shared documents to video conference platforms such as Meet and Zoom, with the quizzes themselves ranging from nationally organised Leagues to informal gatherings.  Whatever you are doing we hope that you are satisfying your ‘quiz needs’!! 

We are all obviously looking forward to meeting up and getting back to face to face quizzing as soon as we can.  However, regardless of the schedule for the easing of the regulations on assemblies and the opening of pubs and clubs, there are issues that the MQL must consider before a return to any form of normal quiz league activity.  Most importantly it is vital that teams and officials are safe in getting to and from venues and also that once there, they have the space to enable social distancing.  But also the venues themselves may be struggling to re-open and if they do, can they afford to be as accommodating to quiz matches on Mondays and Tuesdays as they were?

The MQL Council will continue meeting once a month to consider how the latest developments will impact on the Quiz Leagues, however, at the time of writing it is likely that the traditional September start to the new season will be delayed.  So with that in mind, Area Secretaries have been asked to contact their teams to find out how much interest there might be in some sort of temporary MQL run on-line quiz league.  It is anticipated that this would fill the gap until normal Quiz League activity can recommence.  It is appreciated that this will unfortunately exclude those without access to the necessary technology, but it is stressed that this is just a short term solution to a problem that will hopefully be resolved as soon as possible.

We look forward to hearing any thoughts and ideas you might have through your Area Secretaries.
 

In response to the increasing effects of the Coronavirus outbreak the MQL make the following statement;

From 16 March 2020

1.  Any remaining individual matches in the Leagues may be completed by the mutual agreement of the teams involved taking into consideration the teams, the venue, the proximity of seating, etc.  

2.  No team is under any obligation to play a match.  Should a team wish to withdraw they may do so without reproach.  They should inform their League Secretary, their opposition and if necessary, their venue.  If a trophy, title, promotion or relegation depends upon the outcome of the match then it may be postponed until after the current situation is resolved, otherwise the match may be declared a draw.  Teams will all be asked to keep the question sets secure.

3.  Feeny / Rendon Cups to be postponed. 

4.  A decision about the Liverpool/Wirral Riley Cup (due to start on Monday 30 March) to be made by Sunday 22 March (Advisory).

5.  The Merseyside Mimir heats (Wednesday 18 March) to be postponed.

6.  The MQL Finals and Presentation Evening (Wednesday 13 May) to be postponed as should any League Presentations and end of season events.  

7.  The holding of the MQL AGM (Sunday 5 April) to be suspended until a time when a conventional face to face meeting may be held.  In the meantime the President, Chairman, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and Treasurer will consult in order to make such plans that are necessary for setting up the 2020-21 Season.

These decisions have been made bearing in mind that at all times the health of players (and their families) is paramount.

Congratulations again to Ormskirk who last Wednesday won the President's Challenge.  In an enjoyable and close competition they defeated Liverpool 2B in the semi-final before overcoming their close rivals Wirral in the final.  Ormskirk have therefore "done the double" by adding this to their recent President's Shield win.

Many congratulations to Ormskirk who have clinched the 2019-20 President's Shield.  In another close competition they won the last game to just edge ahead of Wirral by one point.  It is the first time the two teams have been able to be separated for two seasons, having shared the Shield last year!  Well done also to Ormskirk Captain, Bill Gerrard who scored a full-house in one of the final two matches.

Details can be found here