DESPITE Doc Whiteley’s sense of foreboding that his side’s previous week’s win in the ‘Famous Women’ Tabletop may, as panned out 12 months earlier, be their sole piece of silverware for the season, his Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote) outfit made it a brace of victories in taking the Dave Jordan Memorial last Thursday.

Named in honour of a now sadly departed former stalwart of the Rising Sun (Haddenham), now reformed as the Eight Bells (Long Crendon), the quiz contained an eclectic mix of questions ranging from rock and heavy metal, to science and nature with a fair sprinkling of geography thrown in, reflecting perfectly Dave’s own hobbies and interests.

To accommodate all the league teams augmented by a guest appearance from the Young Un’s (formerly the Royal Blenheim ‘B’), three venues across the county were utilised.

Fittingly, the Eight Bells triumphed on home turf, their score of 108 sufficient to leave them eighth (out of twenty) in the general classification.

Up in the north of the shire, the Sun Inn (Hook Norton) played host, serving up lashings of delightful homemade shepherd’s pie, but only after the Blue Boar Bees (Chipping Norton) had taken the honours with 109.

As was the case seven days earlier, it was the Green Road Club (Kidlington) which was to provide the outright winners, the Ploughman’s Bunch! cruising across the line with 119, eight clear of the home team who were tied on 111 with the Plough (also Wolvercote) and surprise package of the night, the Seacourt Bridge (Botley).

With a fixture list finally completed, the league campaign can now begin this week.

There are four divisions; a Premier Section comprising the Plough, The Bunch! and the Royal Blenheim, and three others formulated in way to reflect geographical considerations.

Following on from title successes last winter and this summer, the Plough are the bookies favourites to retain their crown. The Bunch! will doubtless press them hardest but if the Blenheim can get their best side out consistently, they will go close. Big if though.

In the North, the Blue Boar Bees will be looking to make it a hat trick of championships but after a terrific summer, the Bletchingdon Nomads are warmly fancied by some to provide their toughest challenge yet.

The Royal Sun (Begbroke) will be harbouring similar ambitions to the Bees in the West but they face severe opposition from a rejuvenated Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), the mercurial White Hart (Eynsham) and possibly the perennial under achievers, the Windrush Club (Witney).

In the East, recently crowned Summer League Section One winners, the Green Road Club, are odds on to prevail.

Captain Conway has been heard talking up the chances of his Black Swan (East Oxford) charges. They have the talent certainly but inconsistency has also been their undoing.

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS

1. What word describes a young bird which has just learned to fly?
2. Which element, No 71, has its name derived from the city of Paris?
3. Which is the southernmost capital city in Europe?
4. Name Status Quo’s only UK No 1 hit.

Answers: 1 Fledgling, 2 Lutettium, 3 Valetta, 4 Down Down.