Friday 30 November 2012

OXFORDSHIRE 30 NOV

Dear Everyone
There was a huge author presence at this afternoon's heat. In fact three teams of authors competed against the kids. One authors' team managed to score a point more than tonight's winners from Cherwell School. Congratulations to Jack, Joseph, Alfie and Hamish. In second place was Oxford High School and in third place was Abingdon School.
The eleven authors tonight were: Marie-Louise Jensen, MG Harris, Susie Day, Sally Nicholls, Joss Stirling, Rachael Wing, Michelle Harrison, Lucy Coates, Julia Golding, Dennis Hamley and Richard Knight from Barefoot Books. Thanks you all very much for your show of support.
This afternoon's books were sponsored by OUP
SERCO our chief sponsor was present too as well as a large crowd of supporters.
I was very impressed with the rapidity in which the spot questions were answered
Well done all
Cheers
Wayne

Thursday 29 November 2012

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND 29 NOV

Hi Everybody
There were some very high scores tonight with lots of teams scoring better than eight per round. The audience acknowledged Torquay Boys' Grammar as the winners of tonight's heat. There was a tie for second. The sudden death was won by Exeter School who answered ahead of Wadebridge School. The prizes were awarded by local author Chris Higgins.
Our thanks to Truro High School for providing the spacious venue. This was a new venue and location for the SW heat.
The prizes were provided by Harbourside Books.
I'm sure tonight's contestants will be keen to learn how Ewan, Sam, Harry and Robbie perform in the national final next week.
Keep reading
Wayne

Wednesday 28 November 2012

SOUTH WALES 28 NOV

Hi Everyone
We had a very tight scoring situation tonight in Cardiff as at the final tally only three points separated the top four teams. The winning team of Jamie, Tom, Emma and Emily was from Bristol Grammar. Mind you tonight's authors - Sue Barrow, Elen Caldecott, Marie-Louise Jensen, Paul Manship and Colin Parsons did obtain the highest the highest overall score but then they were a team of five. Thank you though for turning out to support the kids.
In second place was Whitchurch School followed by King Henry VIII.
The closeness of tonight's scoring made this a tight heat; well done everybody.
Happy reading
Wayne

Tuesday 27 November 2012

SOUTH ENGLAND

Hi Everybody
Our heat today was held in a small inimate school hall at Dorset House School in West Sussex. As this was a new venue we hosted some first-time schools and they performed well given that this was their first experience of the Kids' Lit Quiz. Nicky Singer was our guest author and she presented the prizes to Sam, Callum, Alex and Nicholas from our first-placed school Salesian. In second place was Seaford College and in third was Portsmouth Grammar.
The  book prizes were donated by the School Library Association.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this heat a success.
Happy reading
Wayne

Monday 26 November 2012

WEST MIDLANDS

What a festive night!  The large audience enjoyed the questions.  Our winning team Kenilworth 1 School overtook the authors (Bali Rai, Ann Evans, David Calcutt and Dave Lowe) and won the heat by a commanding margin.  In  second place was the Ecclesbourne School  And Kenilworth 2 team came third.
The large crowd tonight turned out to celebrate reading - there is something to be said about evening heats.  
The winning team of Emily,Finley, charlie and Andrea were very strong.  The prizes tonight were donated by the School Library Service  and they again showed that they know how to host a great event.
 The UK Final will be in Coventry on the 6th of December so please come along to watch and support the teams.

Happy readingWayne

Thursday 22 November 2012

CENTRAL ENGLAND

Hi Everybody
The prizes tonight were presented by author Mark Robson. Mark regularly supports the Kids' Lit Quiz and has been a stalwart supporter for a number of years now. He awarded first prize to Aylesbury Grammar School (well done Will, Will, Jack and Gabriel) and second prize to Northampton School for Girls who narrowly lost by just a point. Third prize went to Kings School.
Tonight's book prizes were sponsored by Frances Lincoln Children's Books.
My special thanks to Kimbolton School for once again hosting the quiz. It was a pleasure to see the Chair of the Board of Governors and the Headmaster pop in to see how things were progressing.
Today was another successful event (held in the school's library) with a record attendance of schools.
The UK heats are now halfway through.
See you soon at a heat in the meantime. Remember the UK final is in Coventry on 6 Dec feel free to come.
Happy reading
Wayne

Wednesday 21 November 2012

NORFOLK

Hi Everyone
It was another very successful afternoon at The City of Norwich School. It was a shame that we had so many teams enrolled that some schools had to be turned away. We will investigate a bigger venue for 2013.
Tonight's quiz was won by Thetford Grammar. Well done Emily, Ruby, Jack and Maximilian. In second place was Thorpe St Andrew followed by Sheringham High School in third. Our authors awarded the prizes and they also top-scored in this afternoon's heat. Our authors were: Mark Robson, Gail Gallacher, David Bedford and Alexander Gordon Smith.
Many thanks to the Orion Publishing Group for supplying this afternoon's book prizes.
Happy reading
Wayne

Tuesday 20 November 2012

EAST ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
We had a record number of entries in the Corringham Village Hall today. With only half a point between first and second the title was again defended by Junior Kings School with Bancrofts School second. In third positionn was King Edward VI School. Jack, Felix, Roxanne and Bella will now travel to the |UK final in Coventry.
The prizes sponsored by Macmillan Books were awarded by the Thurrock Council Librarian and heat organiser Rosalyn Jones. Her colleagues assisted with the marking and scoring. Thanks team.
Happy reading
Wayne

Monday 19 November 2012

NORTHWEST ENGLAND 19 NOV

Hi Everybody
Cockermouth has once again won tonight's heat in NW England. This school has consistently performed well these past few years. Congratulations to Adam, Alex, Eve and Madeleine as well as coach Helen Farrar.In second place was Lancaster Royal Grammar School followed by Queen Katherine School 2.
Thank you to St Gregory's Catholic School for kindly hosting today's heat and to Bloomsbury Publishers for donating  the book prizes.
Another successful day
Happy Reading
Wayne

Friday 16 November 2012

YORKSHIRE 16 NOV

Hi Everyone
Well what an outstanding heat today. The literary prowess of the teams was evident with many high scores achieved. The winning school St Thomas More School had never entered the quiz yet managed to win convincingly. Their team of Olivia, Alice, Rebecca and Katherine was very potent. I don't think they could believe their achievement. In second place was St Aidan's Church of England High School followed by last year's winning school North Halifax Grammar School.
The quiz was, as always, well organised by the Kirklees Customer and Exchequer Service and Schoolhouse Books supported us too as they have done now for a number of years. Walker Books supplied the book prizes..
Conrad Burdekin, storyteller and poet, awarded the prizes to the heats and the winners.
Brilliant afternoon, well done everyone.
Happy reading
Wayne

Thursday 15 November 2012

BELFAST 15 NOV

Hi Everyone
Another tight heat this afternoon as the lead changed hands seven times. The eventual winner was  Methodist College Belfast (Jack, Safina, Olivia and Aaron). The second placed team was Rathmore with Sullivan Upper coming third.
Scholastic sponsored the prizes and their bookshop was kept very busy with keen readers purchasing the latest books.
Thank you once again to Wellington College for a well-organised heat and especially to the prefects who marked the answer sheets for us.
The posters and fancy dressed characters were a lot of fun. The Katniss model was excellent.
Many thanks everyone and especially to our authors: Garrett Carr, Sheena Wilkinson and Kev F Sutherland who is a comic book artist.
Happy reading
Wayne

Wednesday 14 November 2012

CENTRAL SCOTLAND 14 NOV

Hi Everyone
There was another tight play-off for third this afternoon between three teams. It was won by George Heriot's A. However, the winner of this heat at St Mungo's RC High School was Stewart's Melville College by just half a point- well done Connor, Max, Alex and Paul. Second place went to The Edinburgh Academy.
Our authors, Linda Strachan and Victoria Campbell presented the prizes. Thanks again to Scotia Books for supporting the quiz and to Hachette for supplying today's book prizes..
The afternoon finished with prizes for the best KLQ tenth anniversary display.
The heats in Scotland are now finished and it's on to Northern Ireland tomorrow.
See  you at a heat
Wayne

Tuesday 13 November 2012

WEST SCOTLAND 13 NOV

Hi Everybody
We had a record turnout today for the West Scotland heat. Four authors challenged the quiz teams they were: Keith Gray, Keith Charteris, Victoria Campbell and Linda Strachan. As powerful as this line-up was they tied with the second placed team from Perth High School. The winning school was Dunblane High School. Ten years ago this school won the inaugural West Scotland heat and went on the win the World Final. Congratulations to Caitlin, Alex, Ellen and Mareth. There was a three-way tie for third between Cumbernauld, Auchterader and the High School of Glasgow. It was won by Cumbernauld.
At the interval a large tenth birthday cake with candles was carried into the hall and participants indulged in a piece of KLQ cake. Thank you all for this surprise.
Our sponsors today were Scotia Books and Strident Publishers.
Many thanks to the organisers and to the Kilsyth Academy for hosting today's heat.
Happy reading
Wayne

Monday 12 November 2012

NORTH EAST ENGLAND - 12 NOV

What a fabulous start to this year's competition of the Kids' Lit Quiz! It was as tight as a coal seam!! The winner was Durham Johnston 2 followed by Durham Johnston 1 followed by Yarm 2. Only half a point separated each team. Our authors tonight were Linda Strachan and Lucy Coats, and with Steve from the Seven Stories bookshop they won the contest with the librarians. Book prizes were courtesy of Scholastic and the venue was Gosforth Central Middle School, our venue now for the past few years. Reading was the winner and adults went away amazed at the literary knowledge the kids displayed.
Congratulations Josie, Joshua, Sophie and Benedict.
Happy reading.
Wayne

Sunday 11 November 2012

Are You Ready to Quiz?

The tension is building. Less than 24 hours to go before the first quiz in the North East of England. A million books to read and so little time. Once again the quest to find the 2012 UK champion begins at Gosforth Central Middle School and is likely to be hotly contested amongst a group of avid readers all keen to lift the trophy. And for the school that eventually succeeds as UK champion there is the exciting prospect of an International Final in Durban. What a prize!

The Quizmaster's here and ready to go. Are you?

See you at a heat somewhere in the UK!

Wayne