Friday 27 November 2009

UK NATIONAL FINAL

What a brilliant National Final today in the Oxford Town Hall. The sport of reading was amply demonstrated by the best fifteen teams in Britain. Harry Enfield addressed all the teams and shared a secret page from Charlie Higson's next novel. The Town Hall was beautifully decorated in purple and green and the stage was set for a great literary showdown. At the end of the afternoon the top six teams were separated by only two points (that's only one question). A flurry of sudden death questions was needed to separate the top four teams, however local school Wheatley Park was the clear National winner, but the tenseness came in separating 2nd, 3rd and 4th spots.
Second place went to the City of London School for Girls', third was the Lancaster Royal Grammar School and fourth was Mary Erskine School from Edinburgh.

Our sponsors did us proud and in particular I would like to thank Serco, Scholastic UK, the DCSF, OUP r and the Oxfordshire County Council for their generous support. I would also like to thank Bayard (Discovery Box Magazines) who kindly donated subscriptions to all the winners and packs to all the youngsters who entered the competition. And not to forget the Librarian Coaches with the winning teams, Softlink for presenting them with plaques and the SLA for awarding Training Day vouchers. Over and above all this 30 authors gave their time to be present and generously signed their books throughout the day for all our avid readers.

A huge thank you to all the coaches, librarians, teachers, local dignitaries and family supporters
who attended today, thus ensuring such a memorable final.
And a special thanks should go to the KLQ Oxford Team for Organising the whole event.

The stage is now set for the World Final in Edinburgh on 14th August 2010. Five teams qualified today for this event during the Edinburgh Book Festival. Good luck everybody and thanks for a superb afternoon.
Wayne
Quizmaster


Monday 23 November 2009

OXFORD HEAT

Today's heat finished on a high in Oxford, the last of the regional heats. All teams displayed a tremendous literary knowledge but the top three teams in particular were impressive. We had a new venue in the centre of Oxford and it was well attended by teams and spectators. Six authors supported the event - they were: Lucy Coats, Dennis Hamley, MG Harris, Elizabeth Kay, Mark Robson and Susie Day. They were pushed the whole way by the kids' teams. The prizes were awarded by Cllr Tony Crabbe, the chairman of Oxfordshire County Council. First prize went
to Wheatley Park 1 followed by the Cherwell School 1 and in third place was last year's winner Oxford High School 1. Our sponsors Serco gave us a helping hand tonight with the marking along with the SLA. Happy Reading
Wayne
Quizmaster.

Friday 20 November 2009

CENTRAL ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
Lovely quiz today in Northamptonshire hosted at the Roade School Sports College in their spacious library. The authors' team was devastatingly good and gained a brilliant score. They were: Steve Feasey, Pippa Goodheart, Mary Hoffman and Graham Marks. The authors awarded the prizes to first-time winners Wellingborough Preparatory School. Second was Kimbolton School and third was Skegness Grammar School. A small but literate audience watched the event which was hosted kindly by the Northamptonshire Schools' Library Service.
Only one regional event to go now
Keep reading
Wayne
Quizmaster

Thursday 19 November 2009

MIDLANDS HEAT

Dramatic start tonight at Warwick University because the fire alarms went off two minutes before the quiz was due to start. It was a false alarm. After 30 minutes we filed back in and got underway. Because the quiz was held in the evening there was a sizeable audience of over 150 supporters encouraging their teams. The authors' team won the quiz and the sponsors' team from Scholastic were second. However tonight's first-time winner was Oundle School 2 and the trophy was presented by author Ann Evans. Leila Rasheed awarded second place to Kenilworth School and author David Calcutt awarded the third place prize to Bluecoat School 1.
The Coventry School Library Service again organised a successful event at Warwick University and this was our first time there and it worked well.
Happy reading Wayne.

Wednesday 18 November 2009

LONDON

Hi Everyone
There was another sudden change over after lunch finished at The Broxbourne School and the quiz was up and running. Sudden deaths all over the floor tonight though as eight categories were tied and required questions to separate the winners.
The authors were very generous and donated spot prizes for tonight's contestants. The following authors attended and either marked, scored or participated in the quiz: Pauline Francis, Echo Freer, M G Harris, Amanda Lees, Gareth Mottram, Mark Robson, Matt Whyman and Lee Wilkinson.
Dominique Creasey from Bayard Magazines assisted with the marking as did our friendly book seller Alan Jeffreys.
Our prizes tonight were donated by Walker Books and Books@Hoddesdon
Tonight's first-time winner was City of London School for Girls 2 followed by Herts and Essex High 1 and in third spot was Blackheath High School 1.
Thanks Broxbourne School for hosting us again.
Bye for now
Wayne
Quizmaster

Tuesday 17 November 2009

ESSEX

Hi Everyone
There was an interesting battle tonight between World Kids' Lit Quiz champions Bancroft's School and first-timers King Edward VI School. After round nine both teams were locked level on the same total but it was Bancroft's School 1 that went on to win tonight by one point from King Edward VI. Bancroft's School 2 was third.
It was apparent that teams had improved significantly from last year and final scores reflected this.
Thurrock Council Libraries kindly hosted the event and their staff awarded the prizes.
The new venue at Corringham Village hall worked well.
Happy reading
Wayne
Quizmaster

Monday 16 November 2009

EAST ENGLAND

Hi Folks
Slick organisation tonight by the staff at Wymondham High School as they quickly cleared out the hall and re-set the tables after lunch in readiness for the east England regional heat.
Tonight's first-time winner was Thetford Grammar 1 followed by Wymondham High School 1 and the third placed team was the number 2 team from Thetford Grammar.
The literary knowledge of both the kids and their supporters was terrific and lots of photos was testimony of the satisfaction that teams felt with this afternoon's quiz.
Well done
Wayne
Quizmaster

Thursday 12 November 2009

SOUTHERN ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
It may have been a wet afternoon at Warblington School in Hampshire but the heat was bright and cheery.
Three authors attended, Andrew Norriss and he awarded the first prize to Portsmouth High School A, Craig Simpson awarded the second place prize to Robert May's and Ali Sparkes awarded the third prize to Bay House. Today's prizes were kindly donated by Usborne Books.
Thank you to all those who supported the teams and in particular the Hayling Island Book Shop.
Keep reading
Wayne Quizmaster

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

Hi Everybody
Another very exciting night in Wadebridge with the largest number of contestants participating to date and as you'd expect the combined literary knowledge of the students was impressive.
Author, Liz Kessler, who moved to Cornwall just last month, handed out the prizes to the winners and awarded a special spot prize of her own books to another team.
The winner was Truro 2 but they were followed closely by South Molton 1 and Penryn. In fact these two teams tied for second. The sudden death decider went to South Molton and so that made Penryn the third-placed team.
The talented Wadebridge seniors provided supper which was eagerly consumed.
A good-sized audience attended last night's quiz and ably answered their adult literary questions.
Many thanks to staff and headmistress who all assisted at last night's heat
Happy reading
Wayne

Wednesday 11 November 2009

WALES AND SOUTH

Hi Readers

Tonight's quiz was quite often tense as regularly teams tied at the end of each round which meant that sudden death questions were required to separate the winners. Round winners received books generously donated by Scholastic UK.
The overall winner by an impressive sixteen points was Howell's School. Second in another tie-break was last year's winning school- Whitchurch and third was Bristol Grammar.
Tonight's venue was Bishop Llandaff School in Cardiff.
Bye for now
Wayne
Quizmaster.

Monday 9 November 2009

NORTHERN IRELAND

Hi Everyone
Well what a day. Liverpool Airport was fogbound and it didn't look as though I'd make it. I changed airlines and that was the only flight that left for Northern Ireland. I had hassles with weights and times. Finally I was in the air and arrived in Belfast a minute before the quiz was due to start. Author Josh Lacey held the fort by reading from this books. What a grand turnout-many of the audience dressed in character and the prize went to the Chinese Cinderella. Then the finish was complicated as two teams tied for first and two tied for second thus setting up a sudden death final. After a tense decider the winner was Wellington College from Rathmore (they'd never competed before) and third was Friends School over Methodist College who was squeezed into fourth. Scholastic provided all the books for prizes and had a selection of titles for sale. Phew, what a day I don't want too many like that.
Keep turning the pages
Wayne

Friday 6 November 2009

NORTH WEST ENGLAND

Hi Folks
Tonight's winner, Lancaster Royal Grammar ,were able to defend their last year's title by the narrowest of margins-one point. This has been the first time it has happened on this tour. Second was Merchant Taylors and third had to be decided by sudden death between: Canon Slade, Casterton and St Gregory's and the decider was won by Casterton. The prizes, kindly donated by Hachette Children's Books, were awarded by author Philip Caveney who was also in attendance last year.
Tonight's venue was given to us by the University of Bolton.
Wherever I've been to date everyone has been amazed by the literary knowledge shown by the contestants. Reading is taking place everywhere.
Good on you all
Wayne
Quizmaster

Thursday 5 November 2009

YORKSHIRE HEAT

Hi Everyone
It may have been a wet old Guy Fawkes night but it was all very enthusiastic at the new Yorkshire venue in the Dewsbury Town Hall. The Kirklees Cultural Services organised this excellent venue and it was run superbly by the Kirklees School Library Service. The staff from both services ensured that the quiz ran smoothly.
Tonight's event was kindly sponsored by Schoolhouse Books and Micro Librarian Systems. The prizes were awarded by popular children's author Helena Pielichaty who remarked that of the three winning teams ten out of the twelve students were boys. Thirty-four teams participated making this event the largest to date
Roundhay Technology and Language College won for the first time ever followed by Lady Manners School A and then Ecclesbourne School A was third.
Thanks to all
Wayne
Quizmaster

Wednesday 4 November 2009

WEST SCOTLAND

Hi Folks
Gold and black balloons hovered above the tables and a huge banner proclaimed that the venue was set for this year's heat of the Kid's Lit Quiz at the Kilsyth Academy.
It was won in fine fashion by first-time winners The High School of Glasgow 1 and the next two postions were taken by Dunblane High School.
Authors Catherine Macphail and Katie Grant awarded the prizes.
Scotia Books generously donated the prizes and have consistently given their support to the KLQ over the past years.
Happy Reading
Wayne

EAST SCOTLAND

Hi Everyone
Today's heat at Stewart's Melville College was well-supported and a number of classes slipped in and out to watch the proceedings thus inspiring them to take part in the future.
The winner was Mary Erskine A team (they were second last year) followed narrowly by Stewart's Melville A and then Edinburgh Academy was third. A great result for the Academy as this was their best performance to date.
The prizes were awarded by author Linda Strachan who had her new book Spider avaiable for purchase.
The quiz was followed by a planning meeting for next year's World Final and I can report that the accommodation looks grand and an exciting programme has been proposed for 2010 during the Edinburgh Book Festival in August.
Many thank to Stewart's Melville for hosting the quiz again.
Wayne
Quizmaster

Monday 2 November 2009

NE ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
Well, that's the first regional heat completed in my busy schedule and what a slick night it was. Everything ran like clockwork and I cannot thank those that marked, entered the scores and collected the papers enough. My thanks to the Borders staff who came along and asssisted with the marking your dedication was appeciated.
Special thanks to tonight's sponsor Macmillan who provided the prizes and Gosforth Central Middle School in Newcastle for providing the excellent venue
The quiz was won convincingly by Cockermouth School followed by last year's winning school Durham Johnston then half a point behing them was Durham High School.
Lovely too having an audience of parents, grandparents and librarian/coaches to lend their support.
Look out for a heat near you.
Wayne
Quizmaster.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

QUIZMASTER COMING

Hi Everyone
I'm still in Auckland, New Zealand but I'm gathering everything together that I'll need for this year's Kids'Lit Quiz from questions to warm clothes (as remember it is quite warm here at the moment) to books to read on the plane.
I will be flying Emirates again -they are such a good airline and will pick me up from home and deliver me to the front door of the international airport. I always ask for an aisle seat as then I can slip out easily when I wish to stretch.
This year I will be flying directly to Newcastle and moving in an anti-clockwise direction around your country. I've a great bunch of questions lined up so I hope you've been reading widely.
Check out the regional areas I'm covering by going to the UK Quiz on the home page.
All the best I will begin seeing from as from next week
Wayne
Quizmaster