European Quizzing Championships
Encyclopedia
The European Quizzing Championships (EQC) are an annual multi-disciplinary quiz
event, in which representatives from various countries compete as individuals, teams (clubs and national teams) and pairs. The last championships took place in Bruges
, Belgium
4-6 November 2011. As most of the top players of the world are Europeans, the EQC are almost on par with the WQC
.
The playing environment differs drastically, though, as the EQC is played in one place only, in English only (WQC is played in the language of each country) and has several competitions with more than one player (pairs, national teams - for four players, and clubs - also four players).
The 2010 event attracted media attention from BBC Radio Derby and is to be the subject also of a BBC Radio 4
documentary (due out in 2011) presented by the comedian, and quiz enthusiast, Paul Sinha
. The 2006 event in Paris was also the subject of a well received Channel 4
documentary 'Quizzers' by the director Paul Whittaker, shown in the UK as part of the series 'New Shoots'.
, Belgian Nico Pattyn
upset all the locals in 2007 in Blackpool, to become the first Belgian to win the trophy. Ashman rebounded to win in 2008 and 2009 to make it five out of six.
, Mark Bytheway
, Pat Gibson
and Olav Bjortomt
failed to retain the title in 2008 in Oslo, the winning Belgian team composed of Ronny Swiggers
, Nico Pattyn
, Erik Derycke, and Tom Trogh, but rebounded in 2009.
, Mark Bytheway, Tim Westcott, Sean O'Neill) who won in Paris in 2006. Broken Hearts (Olav Bjortomt
, Ian Bayley
, Mark Grant, David Stainer
) made it three straight 2007-2009, then it was Milhous again with Pat Gibson replacing the late Mark Bytheway.
Quiz
A quiz is a form of game or mind sport in which the players attempt to answer questions correctly. In some countries, a quiz is also a brief assessment used in education and similar fields to measure growth in knowledge, abilities, and/or skills.Quizzes are usually scored in points and many...
event, in which representatives from various countries compete as individuals, teams (clubs and national teams) and pairs. The last championships took place in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
4-6 November 2011. As most of the top players of the world are Europeans, the EQC are almost on par with the WQC
World Quizzing Championship
The World Quizzing Championship is an individual quiz contest organised by the International Quizzing Association...
.
The playing environment differs drastically, though, as the EQC is played in one place only, in English only (WQC is played in the language of each country) and has several competitions with more than one player (pairs, national teams - for four players, and clubs - also four players).
The 2010 event attracted media attention from BBC Radio Derby and is to be the subject also of a BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
documentary (due out in 2011) presented by the comedian, and quiz enthusiast, Paul Sinha
Paul Sinha
Paul Sinha is a British stand-up comedian and broadcaster. Sinha is openly gay, a subject he has discussed on stage.-Education:Sinha was educated at Dulwich College and St George's Hospital Medical School...
. The 2006 event in Paris was also the subject of a well received Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary 'Quizzers' by the director Paul Whittaker, shown in the UK as part of the series 'New Shoots'.
Individual champions
Won in its first three years by Brit Kevin AshmanKevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman from Winchester, Hampshire in England is one of the world's most successful quiz players and since 2002 a professional quizzer, an Egghead since 2003...
, Belgian Nico Pattyn
Nico Pattyn
Nico Pattyn is one of Belgium's most successful quiz players. He became European Quizzing Champion in November 2007, claiming the title in Blackpool. He was the first to beat English quiz legend, Kevin Ashman at the European championships individuals...
upset all the locals in 2007 in Blackpool, to become the first Belgian to win the trophy. Ashman rebounded to win in 2008 and 2009 to make it five out of six.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner Up | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Ghent, Belgium | Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Nico Pattyn (Bel) | Pat Gibson Pat Gibson Pat Gibson is an Irish multiple quiz show winner and a panellist on Eggheads.He was born and educated in Ireland but has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, and has represented England in the European Quizzing Championships since 2005.- Early life and education :Pat was born in Galway in... (Ire) |
| 2005 | Tallinn, Estonia | Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Indrek Salis (Est) | Pat Gibson (Ire) |
| 2006 | Paris, France | Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Mark Bytheway Mark Bytheway Mark Bytheway was an England International Quiz player best known for becoming Quizzing World Champion in 2008 and winning the Top Brain competition of Brain of Britain.-Brain of Britain:... (Eng) |
Lieven Van den Brande (Bel) |
| 2007 | Blackpool, England | Nico Pattyn (Bel) | Lieven Van den Brande (Bel) | Pat Gibson (Ire) |
| 2008 | Oslo, Norway | Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Pat Gibson (Ire) | Olav Bjortomt Olav Bjortomt Stein Olav Bjortomt is an England international quiz player. He was the winner of the inaugural 2003 individual World Quizzing Championships, in the absence of Kevin Ashman when it was a fledgling event with then only 45 participants... (Eng) |
| 2009 | Dordrecht, Netherlands | Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Olav Bjortomt (Eng) | Pat Gibson (Ire) |
| 2010 | Derby, England | Olav Bjortomt (Eng) | Tero Kalliolevo Tero Kalliolevo Tero Kalliolevo from Finland is the Nordic countries' most successful quiz player in international competitions.... (Fin) |
Pat Gibson (Ire) |
| 2011 | Bruges, Belgium | Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Pat Gibson (Ire) | Olav Bjortomt (Eng) |
Pairs champions
Introduced in 2005, Belgian and English pairs have dominated this event.| Year | Venue | Winners | Runners Up | Third Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Tallinn, Estonia | Dr Ian Bayley Ian Bayley Ian Bayley is a UK quiz player who, despite his youth when compared with other leading players , won several medals in quizzing, both in singles and as a member of a team. He is largely known as a strong team player winning the European Championships three times straight from 2007 to 2009 with... & Pat Gibson (Eng) |
Marnix Baes & Bart Permentier (Bel) | Nico Pattyn & Paul Arts (Bel) | |
| 2006 | Paris, France | Paul Arts & Marc Van Springel (Bel) | Mark Bytheway & Kevin Ashman (Eng) | Keith Andrew & Sean O'Neill (Eng/Wal) | |
| 2007 | Blackpool, England | Erik Derycke & Tom Trogh Tom Trogh Tom Trogh is a Belgian quiz player who has won several international titles with the national team of quizzing powerhouse Belgium. He has established himself as the third best player of his country behind Ronny Swiggers and Nico Pattyn... (Bel) |
Albert November & Ronny Swiggers Ronny Swiggers Ronny Swiggers from Mechelen is one of Belgium's most successful quiz players.Swiggers came in 2nd place on two occasions in the World Quizzing Championships, being edged by Mark Bytheway in 2008 and by superstar Kevin Ashman in 2009.In 2008, he has won the European title with the Belgian national... (Bel) AND Jussi Suvanto & Tero Kalliolevo Tero Kalliolevo Tero Kalliolevo from Finland is the Nordic countries' most successful quiz player in international competitions.... (Fin) |
||
| 2008 | Oslo, Norway | Albert November & Ronny Swiggers Ronny Swiggers Ronny Swiggers from Mechelen is one of Belgium's most successful quiz players.Swiggers came in 2nd place on two occasions in the World Quizzing Championships, being edged by Mark Bytheway in 2008 and by superstar Kevin Ashman in 2009.In 2008, he has won the European title with the Belgian national... (Bel) |
David Stainer & Olav Bjortomt (Eng) | Mark Bytheway & Kevin Ashman (Eng) | |
| 2009 | Dordrecht, Netherlands | David Stainer David Stainer David Stainer is an English quizzer best known for outstanding team playing skills.After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oriel College, Oxford he works as a solicitor in the City of London.... & Olav Bjortomt (Eng) |
Ian Bayley & Pat Gibson (Eng/Ire) | Mark Bytheway & Kevin Ashman (Eng) | |
| 2010 | Derby, England | Kevin Ashman & Pat Gibson (Eng/Ire) | Tero Kalliolevo + Jussi Suvanto (Fin) | David Stainer & Olav Bjortomt (Eng) | |
| 2011 | Bruges, Belgium | Kevin Ashman & Pat Gibson (Eng/Ire) | Erik Derycke & Tom Trogh (Bel) | David Stainer & Olav Bjortomt (Eng) |
National Team champions (four players each)
The English and Belgian teams have contested every final, with the result standing at three all as of 2009. The foursome of Kevin AshmanKevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman from Winchester, Hampshire in England is one of the world's most successful quiz players and since 2002 a professional quizzer, an Egghead since 2003...
, Mark Bytheway
Mark Bytheway
Mark Bytheway was an England International Quiz player best known for becoming Quizzing World Champion in 2008 and winning the Top Brain competition of Brain of Britain.-Brain of Britain:...
, Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson is an Irish multiple quiz show winner and a panellist on Eggheads.He was born and educated in Ireland but has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, and has represented England in the European Quizzing Championships since 2005.- Early life and education :Pat was born in Galway in...
and Olav Bjortomt
Olav Bjortomt
Stein Olav Bjortomt is an England international quiz player. He was the winner of the inaugural 2003 individual World Quizzing Championships, in the absence of Kevin Ashman when it was a fledgling event with then only 45 participants...
failed to retain the title in 2008 in Oslo, the winning Belgian team composed of Ronny Swiggers
Ronny Swiggers
Ronny Swiggers from Mechelen is one of Belgium's most successful quiz players.Swiggers came in 2nd place on two occasions in the World Quizzing Championships, being edged by Mark Bytheway in 2008 and by superstar Kevin Ashman in 2009.In 2008, he has won the European title with the Belgian national...
, Nico Pattyn
Nico Pattyn
Nico Pattyn is one of Belgium's most successful quiz players. He became European Quizzing Champion in November 2007, claiming the title in Blackpool. He was the first to beat English quiz legend, Kevin Ashman at the European championships individuals...
, Erik Derycke, and Tom Trogh, but rebounded in 2009.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Ghent, Belgium | England | Belgium |
| 2005 | Tallinn, Estonia | Belgium | England |
| 2006 | Paris, France | Belgium | England |
| 2007 | Blackpool, England | England | Belgium |
| 2008 | Oslo, Norway | Belgium | England |
| 2009 | Dordrecht, Netherlands | England | Belgium |
| 2010 | Derby, England | England | Belgium |
| 2011 | Bruges, Belgium | Finland | Norway |
Club champions (four players each)
After the first two years the event has been dominated by two British teams. Milhous Warriors (2006 line-up Kevin AshmanKevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman from Winchester, Hampshire in England is one of the world's most successful quiz players and since 2002 a professional quizzer, an Egghead since 2003...
, Mark Bytheway, Tim Westcott, Sean O'Neill) who won in Paris in 2006. Broken Hearts (Olav Bjortomt
Olav Bjortomt
Stein Olav Bjortomt is an England international quiz player. He was the winner of the inaugural 2003 individual World Quizzing Championships, in the absence of Kevin Ashman when it was a fledgling event with then only 45 participants...
, Ian Bayley
Ian Bayley
Ian Bayley is a UK quiz player who, despite his youth when compared with other leading players , won several medals in quizzing, both in singles and as a member of a team. He is largely known as a strong team player winning the European Championships three times straight from 2007 to 2009 with...
, Mark Grant, David Stainer
David Stainer
David Stainer is an English quizzer best known for outstanding team playing skills.After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oriel College, Oxford he works as a solicitor in the City of London....
) made it three straight 2007-2009, then it was Milhous again with Pat Gibson replacing the late Mark Bytheway.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Ghent, Belgium | Martine Van Camp | Belgium |
| 2005 | Tallinn, Estonia | Duubel | Estonia |
| 2006 | Paris, France | Milhous Warriors | England |
| 2007 | Blackpool, England | Broken Hearts | England |
| 2008 | Oslo, Norway | Broken Hearts | England |
| 2009 | Dordrecht, Netherlands | Broken Hearts | England |
| 2010 | Derby, England | Milhous Warriors | England |
| 2011 | Bruges, Belgium | Broken Hearts | England |
External links
- Official site of the 2011 event, with detailed history and roll of honour
- Official site of the 2010 event in Derby
- Profiles
- IQA Belgium with full results previous World and European Championships
- IQA Norway with full results previous World Championships
- IQA Great Britain
- IQA United States
- SQON/IQA Netherlands
- Ken Jennings about the 2007 games