Orrell & District Quiz League

With Covid hopefully in retreat and the ending of restrictions, we are hoping to restart the Orrell Quiz league. There will be a meeting combining the annual AGM and registration meeting on Sunday 6th March at the Delph Tavern in Tontine, Orrell with an 8pm start. If you wish your team to participate, could you please check you have enough players to fulfil the fixtures and a venue that is willing to host and then attend the meeting on behalf of your team.  The season will run from early April until August depending on how many teams we have. 

I look forward to seeing you all - if you are a player short we may be able to help. 

Mike Unsworth ( Fixtures Secretary)

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.

Dear Delegates.

It is with regret that due to the ongoing situation, the committee has decided to call an end to the 2021 season.

In coming to this decision we have taken into consideration the responses received from those delegates who have replied and also the uncertainty of what action the government will take, if the increase in infection continues.

Once again we are sorry to have had to take this course of action, however I will keep in touch until the AGM and hopefully season 2022 will be able to go ahead next year

Take care of yourselves.

Gladys.

Due to the situation we find ourselves in, the committee have decided, after due consideration, that we will have to abandon all the fixtures, competitions and presentation evening this year. It is unfortunate, but the safety of our members is uppermost in our minds and some venues may not be able to accommodate teams as they will not have the room for the correct social distancing.

In view of this I would ask you to inform your team members and the landlords at your venues of our decision, so that no one will be expecting us for the rest of the season.

Any money paid into the league will carry over to next year, when we hope all the teams will be able to play again.

I will be in touch again if there are any changes and to advise you about the AGM and next season, in the meantime stay safe.

Gladys Lemin

Secretary

Babs Hennessy of Bryn Labour Club appeared on North West news today, talking about a forgotten war hero, Mary O'Shaughnessy of Ashton-in-Makerfield, who worked with the French resistance helping Allied airmen escape during WW2, and survived a German concentration camp.

Some details of Mary's life can be found here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/52/a2082052.shtml, and you can watch the piece here (from about 6 minutes in): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000hlx2/north-west-today-lunchtime-news-20042020

In the light of the Prime Minister's statement late this afternoon, that people should avoid social gatherings in pubs etc, it is with regret that we must postpone all matches for the foreseeable future. Should the situation improve we would consider playing the second half fixtures and that then would constitute the league season. When and if that happens it would be impossible to speculate. Please stay safe - your health is more important to us than a quiz!

In view of the ever increasing numbers of people affected by Coronavirus and Covid 19 in the UK the Committee has been exchanging e-mails on the subject.

We have prepared the following statement.

• While not recommending no handshaking, the Management Committee respect the right of individuals to choose not to shake hands during the outbreak and ask everyone else to do the same.
• To reduce the pressure on teams to play we will suspend General Rule 6 governing the number of postponements until such time as the epidemic is seen to have passed.
• There is no rush to rearrange fixtures and if necessary the cup competitions will be postponed/abandoned, and the time allocated for them used for rearranged fixtures with the league purchasing spare quizzes if necessary. 

We realise that this is a slightly pessimistic view but we thought that it was best to act sooner rather than later. 

Some games in the Merseyside Quiz League have ended without handshakes, following prior agreement between the teams, and this has not caused any animosity.

Best wishes 

Paul

Once again it is almost time for the start of a new season and I know Mike has sent you the Proposed fixture list (also published in the calendar), dependant on the number of teams joining the league this year.

Below is a list of dates proposed for the coming season:-

Management Committee Meetings

26^th January,  1^st March,   3^rd May,   7^th June,   2^nd August,   6^th September,  1^st November &   6^th December

Registration Meeting

 9^th February. You can download a copy of the registration form here: Please bring it with you to the registration meeting on the 9th of February. The fee for registration will be £30 as usual.

 Payment Meetings for Delegates followed by Management Committee Meetings.

 2^nd Payment   -   5^th April

3^rd  Payment   -   5^th July

4^th  Payment   -   4^th October

The season will start on the 17^th of March with the free week on the 18^th of August.

The Knockout starts on the 25^th of August with the finals on the 22^nd of September.

The date of the Presentation and Pairs  evening is to be decided.

Bryn Aces (formerly Bryn PLC) are looking for players for the coming season. Anyone wanting to join a very friendly team please contact Keith Eyre whose e-mail is :-

keitheyre936@gmail.com

Following last night's AGM, a new team was elected to join the league. They are called 'Tontine' and will play their home games at the Delph Tavern.

Bryn PLC have chosen to change their name to Bryn Aces.