IT WAS quite a week for shocks in Round Three of the Oxfordshire Winter Quiz Leagues.

Unbeaten since mid-May, the Green Road Club (Kidlington) would have really fancied their chances of extending this run as they lined up for their home encounter with the Black Swan (East Oxford).

Nip and tuck all evening, and with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions, the contest went down to the last pair of questions. It was the visitors, however, who emerged triumphant, edging it 62-60, prompting the bookmakers to reopen the previously suspended betting on the race for honours in the East.

Defending Premiership champions, as well as proud owners of the equivalent Summer Leagues title, the Plough (Wolvercote) came unstuck in their clash with the Royal Blenheim (Oxford City). This “Battle of the Big Guns” did not really materialise as such, the Blenheim sweeping aside their opponents, somewhat contemptuously, 76-58. That’s a perfect start to the campaign for them but any thoughts of silverware would be best left to simmer for now.

Playing in the manner of teams from the elite division, the Bletchingdon Nomads were hotly tipped to continue their winning streak against a Woodman (North Leigh) outfit not even averaging 50 points for their first two outings.

Yet the formbook, once again, was turned on its head. ‘No excuses. Always behind, never got going’, was how skipper Vince summed up his side’s performance as they were despatched 66-59.

Perhaps not of the same seismic proportions, there were, nevertheless, one or two other surprising scorelines on this night of upsets.

All-conquering in the North for the last couple of years, the Blue Boar Bees (Chipping Norton) succumbed for the second time in three matches, albeit narrowly, 57-58, to the unflappable and very capable Bell (Lower Heyford).

Meanwhile, over in Summertown, the North Oxford Conservative Club entertained the Eight Bells (Long Crendon) as slight underdogs underlined further by their then taking to the field (table!) a player light.

Confounding predictions, they eventually prevailed 69-66.

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS
* On April 15, 1974, who was photographed wielding an M1 carbine while robbing the Sunset District branch of the Hibernia Bank at 1450 Noriega Street in San Francisco?
* Which decade of the 20th Century saw the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge and New York’s Empire State Building?
* Which breed of dog derives its name from the German word meaning ‘moustache’?
* Three James Bond films have been nominated for Best Effects/Best Visual Effects Oscars. Goldfinger and Thunderball are two, name the third?

Answers: Patty Hearst; 1930s; Schnauzer; Moonraker