CHINA FINAL

This was the biggest and best China Final to date. Teams flew in from Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou and of course the local schools from Shanghai. Concordia International School of Shanghai kindly billeted all of the children. Eight new teams participated this year. The competition was closer and tougher than ever but the International School of Beijing won both first and third place. What was impressive was that the winning team were all year sixes. Concordia International School of Shanghai was second.
Book prizes were sponsored by Scholastic China and Bayard Presse donated subscriptions to their magazine Discovery Box and Shanghai Book Traders kindly supplied the branded T-shirts. Food for all our hungry readers today was supplied by Subway Shanghai Co.
The whole event was very slickly organised.
A great day
Wayne

UK GRAND FINAL

Today's final of the Serco KLQ was really dramatic. One team arrived 25 minutes late and the quiz had already started and not only that one of their team members had a blood nose for much of the quiz so what a surprise when it was this team that won the UK final! Congratulations on keeping your poise under such pressure. This team was Bancrofts School from the Essex heat. They now will represent The UK at the World Final of the KLQ in Johannesburg. Second place went to Blue Coat School from the Midlands heat and Lancaster Royal Grammar came third after a sudden death play-off with Arnold House. Our guest author, the hugely popular Eva Ibbotson, awarded the KLQ trophies and books to the first two teams and Harry Enfield awarded the third and fourth placed teams with their prizes.

The UK organiser, Eileen Armstrong, was presented with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of all the energy and time she'd put into organising this year's heats and final.

Today's sponsors were Scholastic UK, Puffin Books and Usborne. Their books were well received by today's avid readers.

The School Library Association , who support the KLQ, kindly awarded vouchers to the

teams librarian coaches for the value of  50% of a training session and a 100% voucher to

the coach with Bancrofts School. 

This year's final was the most rigorous ever and all of the teams deserved to win.

Thank you to all my colleagues and friends for their assistance on the day.

Wayne

NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Hi Folks
Well what a fun-filled wonderful night to end the UK regional heats held at Gosforth Central Middle School. A massive 36 teams entered (this was the same as Cornwall) and the hall was busting at the edges with tables and chairs as well as as good number of knowledgeable spectators. We appreciated the Borders' booksellers pitching in to help us mark.
The winning team for the first time ever was Durham Johnston followed by Ripon. Again a sudden death was required to separate third position. Durham High School ended up pipping Highfield Middle School in a nail-biter.
Many thanks to Puffin, Scholastic UK and Usborne for supplying prizes.
Great finish.
Wayne

EAST SCOTLAND

Today's five authors were heralded into the Stewart's Melville College Hall by two pipers and they then played a reel before the heat got under way. This was a grand start and the scores reflected it too. Many teams scored nines or tens.Sara Grady the Children and Education Programme Director for the Edinburgh Book Festival awarded the top three prizes. First was George Watson's College, second was Mary Erskine School and The George Watson 2 team was third. A grand result for George Watson. Each team received book prizes care of Macmillan Books.The authors were: Theresa Breslin, James Jauncey, Gill Arbuthnott, Jonathan Meres and Mike Nicholson.Thanks everyone for a very enjoyable afternoon.
Wayne

WEST SCOTLAND

Hi Everyone,

Great turn-out today at the Kilsyth Academy.  Banners were proudly flying, gold and black balloons hovered,  and an atmosphere of anticipation pervaded the hall.  Two guest teams participated - one of librarians -  and the other local authors.   (Theresa Breslin, Katie Grant and Linda Strachan).  The librarians' team won the event but the top school was Dunblane High School followed by the High School of Glasgow.  Third place was decided by a sudden death question.  Douglas Adademy won it and this placed  Bannerman  High forth.  The prizes donated by Scotia Books were awarded to the teams by guest authors

Happy reading

Wayne

NORTH WEST ENGLAND

Hi Bloggers
The Kids' Lit Quiz had the honour tonight of being the first official event held in the new Social Learning Centre at Bolton University as it had only been opened three weeks ago by Prince Edward.
Lots of teams selected their jokers wisely and tonight's scores reflected their decisions. The winning team had never entered the quiz before but ended up winning quite convincingly. Lancaster Royal Grammar was an all-boys team and their win was well-deserved. Queen Katherine was second followed by Christelton High School.
Book prizes donated by Hachette were given to the winning teams by local author Philip Caveney.
Great results across the board-well done everyone.
Wayne

NORTHERN IRELAND

Teams came from every corner of Northern Ireland last night to participate in the Kids' Lit Quiz. Seven new schools entered for the first time. The BBC came for an interview but ended up being absobed by the atmosphere and stayed for the whole quiz. The teams were buzzing and the category winners enjoyed a selection of titles supplied by Scholastic UK.
Sullivan Upper School defended their title and will now travel to the UK Final in Newcastle. Second place went to Strathearn Grammar and Wellington College Belfast was third. The prizes were awarded by guest author Dan Freedman.
Many thank to Wellington College for hosting the event.
Happy reading.
Wayne