Wirral Quiz League

Matches to be played on Monday 20th April

Results of the matches played on Monday 13th April - Winning teams shown in bold

The 2025-26 WQL season concluded last evening with the Finals of the Absent Friends Trophy at the Lever Club, with many members either playing, supporting and spectating.

The results of the semi-finals were:

Aardvarks (11) 50-44 Hoylake LTC (17)  

Plasterers Arms (7)  44-47 Holy Joes (7) 

The Final saw a very fine team performance by the Holy Joes who were worthy winners for a 2nd time, having won the inaugural competition in 2022. Commiserations to the Aardvarks,  Scores were:

Aardvarks (11) 38-58 Holy Joes (7)

Many thanks to all teams, players and QPs over the last 5 weeks who have made this yet another very enjoyable event.

Special thanks of course goes to Kris Jones who has written all 6 quizzes once again and was up from Grantham last night to read the Finals quizzes.

Finals night will be next Monday, 30th March at Lever Club, 8pm start. Semi-finals will be drawn on the night.

All teams are welcome to attend - this year there will be no refreshments provided.

Good luck to the 4 teams left and looking forward to seeing you next week,

The first round of the annual Riley Cup competition - a handicapped knockout between teams from the LIverpool and Wirral Leagues, will take place on 13th April 2026.  Full details of the fixtures and details of all teams involved can be found by clicking here:

The first round draw is as follows:

Wandering Star and CTK Wanderers have byes in this round

The 2025 Wirral Quiz League Presentation Night was held at Oxton Conservative Club on 28th September 2025.  Many teams were in attendance and we welcomed several visitors from Liverpool including Danny Grimes and Brian Thompson, the Chairman and Secretary of the Merseyside Quiz League.

The Pairs competition held after the presentations was won by Mike McDonough of Wirral and James MacGregor of Liverpool.

WINNERS

Martin Prendergast Cup awarded to the player answering most of their own questions over the season in Division One – Jim Eccleson	Andrea Jones Shield awarded to the player answering most of their own questions over the season in Division Two – Mike McDonough
Wirral Mimir Trophy – Neil Wright
Absent Friends runners up – Taxes	Absent Friends Trophy winners – Zelma the Giant Hoe
Division Two runners-up - Legionnaires	Oxton Trophy for Division Two winners – Wallaseyans
Gordon Ledger Shield for Division One runners-up – Zelma the Giant Hoe	Ted Walton Cup for Division One winners – Oxton

Welcome to the new 2025/2026 season of the Wirral Quiz League-please find below notes concerning the forthcoming season.

AGM-WIRRAL QL- was held in June 2025

The main topic of discussion was League Composition for the coming season.

After many seasons the Extras team had withdrawn from the League, leaving the First Division with 8 teams. It was decided that each First Division would play each other 3 times to extend the League season.

The 2^nd Division would therefore still consist of 9 teams and consideration would be given to arranging additional games to even up the season for both divisions.

The MQL had requested opinions of the Wirral QL as to the formation of an MQL Disciplinary Panel, after much discussion it was decided unanimously that any disputes should be settled internally.

EARLY SEASON FIXTURES have been published - full fixtures will be shown in the handbook which will be distributed at our Presentation Evening (see below)

Zelma the Giant Hoe had changed their name to The Agazi

Heswall Aces had changed their name to Raqueteers

Our Lady’s had changed their name to A&K Community Hub

There were no changes to teams’  venues or playing nights

ABSENT FRIENDS TROPHY-a vote of thanks was passed at the AGM  to Kris Jones for single handedly organising this tournament and providing all the questions. Kris has agreed once again to run the competition again at the end of the season.

MQL CHALLENGE CUP-Wirral participation in this competition continues to be poor. It is now played on line on Wednesdays during the season and teams are now permitted to field 1 player from another Wirral team. Please reconsider entering this prestigious tournament.

RILEY CUP This Competition is a handicap tournament between teams from the Wirral and Liverpool teams. It’s played on Mondays after the Absent Friend’s Trophy. Wirral participation has also been declining over previous seasons. In 2026 Wirral Quiz League will organise the Competition instead of the Liverpool QL. This will mean that the semi finals and final will now take place at a Wirral venue. Hopefully this will encourage more Wirral teams to take part. If  you wish to change your decision on whether or not to play please contact the Secretary.

MIMIR COMPETITON Moving this Individual Competition to Monday produced a far greater attendance than in previous years. Therefore it will take place on Monday 19^th February 2026  and there will be no league matches that week. As New Brighton Cricket Club is no longer available another venue will be required. If your venue could stage this event, please contact the Secretary.

MQL PAIRS/BUZZER QUIZ -these competitions will take place as follows:

PAIRS - Prescot Cables FC, Prescot, L34 6HB - 8pm Wednesday 24^th September 2025 8pm

Pairs are drawn on the night-All Wirral players welcome.

BUZZER QUIZ-Hoylake Parade Community Centre Saturday 21st February 2026.

Any player wishing to represent Wirral should contact Pam for details.

PRESENTATION NIGHT- will take place again this year at Oxton Conservative Club on Sunday 28th September 2025 at 8pm - in addition to the Prize Giving the evening will involve a meeting of the Wirral Quiz League and the Wirral Pairs Competition. As in previous seasons we will extend an invitation to our friends from the Liverpool Quiz League.

All trophy winners should attend and all teams are encouraged to support this event.

Can holders of existing trophies return their awards for re-engraving if you haven’t already done so.

If you require any further information on any of the points raised-let me know.

JIM ECCLESON-SECRETARY WIRRAL QUIZ LEAGUE-0151 653 8649 or 07380 602824

BBC Two’s Mastermind is currently scouring the UK to find contenders for the next series, which will be filmed in Belfast!   

We would encourage you to apply as soon as possible as casting is currently underway, with applications for the latest series closing soon.  

To apply, please click: CAST IT REACH or click on the image below:

Or email mastermind.hth@hattrick.com (the application takes just 10 minutes to complete).  

Entry is open to UK residents (including Channel Islands & the Isle of Man) who are aged 18 or over.  

Hat Trick/Hindsight are committed to making programmes as inclusive as possible.   

The Mastermind Casting team

Hi all,

Many thanks to all those who came to support Finals Night last night.

As the semi-final was drawn, it guaranteed a first division versus second division final.

Two close semis produced the following results:

Zelma The Giant Hoe (3)    57 - 48   Plasterers Arms (9)

Taxes (15)                           57 - 53   Shipwrecked (16)

The Final was a very exciting affair with scores tied on 49 all after 8 rounds. After Round 9, Zelma ran out winners over Taxes by the narrowest of margins 55 - 54

Congratulations to all semi-finalists for doing so well in this year's competition, and well done to the winners for the first time - Zelma, the second lowest handicapped team.    

Particular commiserations to Taxes who put up such a gallant fight in the final. Good luck to you and all Wirral teams competing in the forthcoming Riley Cup!

Thanks to all teams and players who I know have enjoyed this year's comp. If Clive from Gladly Stoned will forgive me, I'd like to quote from a message he sent me which sums up the whole essence of the competition:

"Everyone I have spoken to is thoroughly enjoying it, especially the chance to play against old friends who we have not seen for a while. A truly fitting tribute to all those no longer playing, for whatever reason, and a testament to the great friendships we have all built up over the years."

Special thanks to Kris for organising the competition and writing all 6 quizzes and we look forward to next year's competition.

Just a quick reminder that tonight sees the Semi-finals and Final of the Absent Friends Trophy at the Lever Club, all teams are welcome to attend.

Teams in the semis are Zelma The Giant Hoe (3), Plasterers Arms (9), Taxes (15) and Shipwrecked (16) - good luck to all 4 teams!

Please aim to arrive between 8pm and 8.15 when the semis will be drawn at random and we hope to start them soon afterwards.