IF THERE was an award on offer for ‘Team of the Year’, my nomination would almost certainly go to the Ploughman’s Bunch!: 2013 proved very much a breakthrough year for them.

After a considerable period of time spent playing second fiddle to the Plough – indeed, it must have been quite galling to be surrounded by their stablemate’s collection of silverware as they shared venues at, first, the Butcher’s Arms (Headington), and more latterly, the Plough in Wolvercote – their achievements in the past 12 months have outstripped those of their illustrious rival.

After losing out narrowly to Far From The Madding Crowd (Oxford City) in the 2011/12 Winter Premier Section title race, the Bunch! secured the summer version, beating the Plough by a solitary point. In addition, they scooped up five ‘Tabletop’ trophies, finishing 2012 off in style by landing the final event, the Literature Quiz, last Thursday evening.

Their impressive total of 168 was just too good for the Plough, on 165, with FFTMC ‘A’ back in third on 158. Such was their depth of knowledge of the written word, these three leviathans of ‘Quizland’ were fully seven points clear of the next placed side.

There is now a two-week cessation in hostilities, the cudgels next being taken up on January 3 when many teams from across the county compete in the Sports Tabletop.

League fixtures will resume the following week.

We are just over a third of the way through the campaign and in some of the divisions the battle for honours is bubbling along nicely. Perhaps the best illustration of this is in the West, where the top four are separated by just two points with possibly the surprise package, the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon), currently leading the way.

If I was a betting man, which of course I am not, my hard-earned dough would be on the Royal Sun. However, given the recent history of my predictions (I forecast Usain Bolt would leave London 2012 medalless), that’s probably done for the outfit from Begbroke.

In the Oxford division, the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown) and the Seacourt Bridge (Botley) seem to be producing a two horse race, but it would be pure folly to rule out defending champions, the Green Road Club (Kidlington).

Meanwhile, the other ‘Green’ – the Green Dragon (Haddenham) – does appear to be in complete control of the East and remains a strong favourite to repeat its success of 12 months previous.

In the North, the Blue Boar have recently put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack but after a sluggish start and a less favourable fixture list than the section pacesetters, the Crown (Church Enstone) may yet run them close.

In the Premiership, the Plough and FFTMC ‘A’ share top spot with five wins apiece, the Bunch! a single point behind, with the Bell (Grove) handily placed in fourth. The latter may yet have a strong say in the destination of the title.

Finally, a Merry Xmas to all Oxford Mail readers.

Question supplied by James Carr