Many congratulations to the Plough (Wolvercote), who can be rightly lauded as the best quiz team in the county following their successful defence of the Oxfordshire Summer Premiership title.

Boasting a line-up which includes a BBC Mastermind champion as well as winning contestants on other erudite television shows such as Only Connect, they secured the silverware after overwhelming their opponents, the Bell (Lower Heyford), last Thursday night, in what was their final outing of the campaign.

After an understandably nervous start, which left them trailing by seven points early doors, the Plough, led by skipper Vince (who was absent the previous week for their only defeat of the season), took command in round two and never looked back thereafter, storming to a 75-54 victory.

Earlier in the year, they clinched the equivalent honours in the Winter Leagues on top of landing numerous ‘Tabletop’ challenges. For them, it has been a memorable 18 months.

For their housemate and closest rival, the Ploughman’s Bunch!, they will have to be content with yet another runner’s up prize. In contrast to their arch nemesis’s glorious evening, their remaining fixture brought them defeat at the hands of lower-division opposition.

The Gardener’s Arms (South Parade) will finish in the top four in Section One, but it was still a major upset as they overturned their illustrious adversaries. They got out of the traps well, held their collective nerve and maintained their advantage to the end, to prevail, 70-62.

Elsewhere, the Green Road Club (Kidlington) concluded their schedule in fine style. They made it ten wins on the bounce after seeing off a proficient Bletchingdon Nomads team 73-64. Close virtually throughout, with never more than three points in it, the newly-crowned champs of Section One eased away at the death and so capped a marvellous run of results.

Better late than never, I guess. After a losing streak of twelve matches, the Seacourt Bridge (Botley) finally opened their account following a dismantlement of the White Hart (Eynsham). Their score of 76 was the evening’s highest and, despite a spirited 60 from their hosts, they cruised to an unexpected triumph.

Over in East Oxford, Burkey was reunited with Captain Conway (albeit at opposite ends of the table), the Jackeen was in good humour following Dublin’s success in the All-Ireland, Frank the Kerryman was not (Kerry lost) but he was sporting a very sharp new hairdo, but there was no sign of the one known only as the Driver.

No matter, the Black Swan was rocking, the staff were as genial as ever, and yours truly was well supplied after standing in as Question Master. Such generosity does not always reap rewards however, and the home side were overturned by their visitors, the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown), 68-54.

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS

1. Christopher Columbus, Euclid and Marconi are underground railway stations in which European capital city?

2. Name the two British actors to win the Academy Award for Best Actor during the 1950s?

3. The Egyptian God, Sobek, has the head of which creature?

4. In a Modern Pentathlon, which event comes first?

Answers: 1. Rome; 2. David Niven and Alec Guinness; 3. Crocodile; 4. Fencing.