With less than half the season remaining, the Green Road Club (Kidlington) have opened up a commanding three-point gap on their nearest pursuers in the race for the Section One crown in the Summer Quiz League.

Diddly Dee, his brother the President, the Chinster, Kate and the rest of this talented posse endured a gruelling start to their campaign having to play all three Premiership outfits in the space of five weeks.

Garnering a priceless victory over one of them, the Royal Blenheim (Oxford City), provided perhaps unexpected reward for their endeavours and certainly created a platform and momentum for their subsequent exploits.

Five wins on the bounce has propelled them to the head of the table, their latest success a narrow 68-64 edging out of the gallant Bell (Lower Heyford).

The bookmakers are now offering long odds on any of their challengers overhauling them After a brace of defeats contributed to them slipping to fifth overall, the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade) leapfrogged back into second spot behind the Green Road after overwhelming the luckless and pea-loving Seacourt Bridge (Botley) 73-64. They could prove to be the leaders’ main danger but major obstacles lie in wait.

The Bletchingdon Nomads may consider this as one that got away! Having never beaten a side from the top division, they came mighty close against the Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote) before ultimately perishing 70-67. Requiring the correct identification of the Centennial State to the last question of an enthralling contest in order to force a tie, they failed to deliver and their quest to unseat any one of quizland’s leviathans continues.

Skipper Vince is not happy! Not happy with the claim that his Plough (also Wolvercote) team were back to full strength a fortnight ago in their drawn clash with the Royal Blenheim.

Seemingly, he didn’t play! Mind you the information was supplied by his team-mate, the Cat! Regardless, he returned last week to spearhead his (dis)united troops 77-68 downing of the Royal Sun (Begbroke) and so consolidate their lead in the Premiership. Barring any disruptive internal squabbling, they look set fair to regain their title.

Elsewhere, the Royal Blenheim were rewarded for their trek to Chipping Norton with a 68-52 triumph over their ever-genial hosts Busby’s Babes, aka the Blue Boar.

Trevor the Speller, the Poison Dwarf and the rest of the mercurial White Hart (Eynsham) crew are very pleased with themselves. Despite being in an Irish pub on an evening when the picture round was Dubliners and there were several other Irish-based questions to boot, they managed to despatch the Black Swan (East Oxford), 68-73. Still, what do Frank the Kerry man and Captain Conway the Clare fellow know about city folk!

James Carr’s questions

1. Which golfer holds the record for most Ryder Cup appearances for America with ten appearances?

2. The fictional city of Hamunaptra also known as ‘ The City of the Dead ‘ made its first appearance in which 1999 film? 

3. Which Stevie Wonder hit record includes the lines ‘You’re the only one my heart beats for; how I wish that you were mine ‘? 

4. Who ruled England between 1603 and 1625?

Answers: 1. Phil Mickelson, 2. The Mummy, 3. My Cherie Amour, 4. James