Withington Pub Quiz League - Quizbiz 07/05/25

The Prods pick up the WIST trophy for the second year running with a hard fought win over the Alex deep in Edgeley

WIST Champions League Final

Alexandra lost to Prodigals

WIST Champions League Final

Alexandra lost to Prodigals

A close match between two great teams ends with a WithQuiz triumph

Jimmy celebrates how a great year for the Prods was capped

The Prodigals travelled to Stockport for the second time this season and managed to retain the WIST Champions Cup after a tough night's quizzing in the cavernous Alexandra pub. Our hosts were intent on completing the second part of a league and cups treble, whilst we were looking to achieve our own double - so something had to give.

The foundations for victory were laid in the Stockport-style conferred first round. A really strong team effort with everyone chipping in crucial points saw us establish a nine point lead. The Alexandra were a little unlucky as they 'hit the post' on a couple of occasions and could quite easily have closed that gap.

Survived - but to play no more

(R1/Q28)

Our inability to detect the hidden theme in the written round, saw our lead cut to just three points at the break and set up a nervy end to the evening. However, we rallied in the WithQuiz-style rounds and ground out the win with some cautious conferring in the latter stages.

The Alexandra were superb hosts, breaking out the butties at the end of proceedings. We wish them good luck in their Stockport cup final tonight (8/5/25).

As for the Prods, well, it’s been a long, tough, but ultimately successful campaign. We have never managed to retain the league title before so that's something we are hoping to rectify next season. Looking forward to it already.

"You may not want to hear this but ..."

(R1/Q2)

Anne-Marie thinks the Alex would make a great WithQuiz team

What a tense but enjoyable evening at The Alexandra in Edgeley!

The Prodigals won the game in the first half with the Stockport-style Round 1. We knew the answers to our own questions and so did our opponents - but they struggled with theirs which we found hard too. On the Stockport-style written Round 2 they whooped our behinds and it was all fairly even on the WithQuiz format.

Is there any chance of persuading The Alex to join our league? They would be a delightful addition and what a fantastic venue the Alexandra is. It is so unassuming from the outside but inside it is a beautiful pub, great staff and good butties.

Can we also have a massive shout out to Greg for setting the whole quiz and being the most convivial QM? The paper was beautifully crafted, thoughtful and with the right level of difficulty. We loved the music round and there was not one bum note in the whole quiz. You can tell he spent a lot of time putting it together - so chapeau Greg!

We are looking forward to the end of season bash at the club next week, but we will be sans Prodigal John as he is back in Edgeley watching the mighty County in the League One play off. Come on The Hatters!

"It's ten inches high, it's made of solid tin and it means The Prodigals are the best in South Manchester (and Stockport)!"

Mike watched from the sidelines as the heavyweights fought it out

This was a match worthy of a final in every sense. Two teams well-matched, struggling to the last round to get the better of the other; and a paper well worthy of the match with loads of interesting facts testing both the knowledge banks and the powers of deduction on display.

In the end the WithQuiz team edged ahead early doors and just kept their noses in front throughout though the result was still in the balance until well into the last round.

The Prodigals just keep on going!

(R6/Q3)

A small cosy crowd in the back room of Edgeley's Alexandra pub witnessed this grand final with Greg Spiller both question setter and question-master. The big telly was ceremoniously switched off as our big game was about to start never mind the fact that Arsenal seemed about to score in Paris (they didn't as it happens - until later). We were present at a final after all - the event in Paris was merely a semi.

The Prods played their cards well and showed some good game-play in their choices of when to confer and when to go for a two. Playing together for some time now this Prodigals squad is getting very good at knowing when to play the odds for two and when to take a conference as the best bet. On such thin margins are league trophies and cup triumphs engineered.

Once the game was done we settled into the sandwiches and chat - which included memories of Albert Stubbins, the wonderful Birmingham City and how West Didsbury's Albert Club have now hoovered up 3 of the trophies for which WithQuiz teams have competed this season.

... and the West Indies' have their Duracell Destroyer

(R5/Q1)

Quiz paper set by...

... Stockport League (Greg Spiller)

Average Aggregate score 90.0

Greg is one of our best and most innovative setters - and he didn't let us down for this final. The quality of the questions was pitched just right for a match between two such accomplished teams. There was no complaint about the balance of hardness and there were plenty of 'tip-of-the-tongue' moments.

For the first time in one of our premier competitions Greg used some music clips as part of the questioning process during one of the WithQuiz-style hidden theme rounds, playing short clips on his laptop. We've used music in Pre-Season Friendlies before but never in full competition matches. Of course multiple matches playing the same paper make it (at least, at present) almost impossible to organise - but when there's just one match in the round it can be successfully done and adds a new, interesting dimension. The format Greg chose was to give competitors a choice of either a verbal question or a music clip question - both of which led to the same answer. All bar one of the 8 competitors chose the clip rather than the verbal version.

Later in the evening there was another choice for the teams when Greg asked them whether they wanted a paired round or a hidden themed round, both of which he had ready 'in the locker'. Interestingly they collectively went straight for the hidden theme round. No doubt the paired round will crop up some time next season.

Thanks Greg! Great stuff.

... and this was Jimmy's summary ...

Greg's quiz was tough, but also very good; excellently balanced and a real challenge to both teams. We especially liked the initial Stockport-style verbal round which contained some inspired questions - the two Sgt. Pepper posers (both unanswered) being particular highlights.

The only LFC legend on the sleeve

(R1/Q9)

Question of the Week

This week the Prodigals just didn't want to choose between their two favourite questions from Round 1 so this week we've gone jointly for Round 1 Question 5 ...

Which ship started out in Germany as the MV Monte Rosa but was renamed after being taken as a prize of war by Britain in 1945? In 1954 it caught fire and sank in the Mediterranean.

and Round 1 Question 9 ...

Which Liverpool player is the only footballer to be featured on the cover of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band?

For the answer to this and all the week's other questions click here.

A humble little boat but an heroic generation

(R1/Q5)

... and also

Next Wednesday is our End of Season evening at the Albert Club.

Start 8.30pm as usual

The evening's quiz and the presentations will be in the capable hands of KFD's star man, Barry. It'll be great to have a chance to wish him well in his retirement in East Anglia - as well as saying goodbye to another highly enjoyable WithQuiz season.

Do please remember to bring along the cups and shields won at the end of last season so as not to deny this season's victors their moment in the sunshine.

See you there.