Team - Gray Monks

formerly Uncosy

Venue

• Calthorpe Arms

Secretary

• Will Jones

History

Ediss and Jones, decided to enter a team in the 2001-2002 season, alongside newcomers who became regulars Dagley and Sparkes. They ended the first season at the foot of the table, but with the Supporters' Plate and wins against Rosslyn Park and Maximum Break. Dispatched in the first round of the cup by Clangers (a team including most of UCL's 2002-2003 University Challenge team), the team returned again to the Calthorpe Arms in 2002 and stayed in the second division until promotion as division champions in 2005-2006. The venue, managed by Adrian is one of the best in the league and the team thank him kindly for providing it. For the 2007-2008 season, the team became known as The Gray Monks.

Regulars

Mark Cooper

A newcomer to the side for the 2005-2006 season, he played in every game apart from the first week and was consequently only on a losing side only three times in the 17 matches that season. Best subjects include politics, pop music and murderers, regularly made sure that Will didn't get the all-important double figures in the first season, he now specialises in knowing the answer to the opposite player's question. Scored a full-house in a friendly.

Subjects: Pop music, Murderers, London, Pier fires.

Supports: Liverpool FC, Scarborough Athletic FC

Peter Ediss

The team's lover of lists and very invariably its top scoring player, Ediss isn't really into classical music, but has an amazing ability to correctly answer quiz questions on the subject. Famous for his facial expressions when trying to dig out an answer, and for his occasional weakness on cricket questions - one of his favourite subjects. Frustratingly, the first game he missed was the team's first win. Disappointed if his score doesn't begin with a 2 or better for all the right reasons in a friendly, he once made 37 individual points in a game, and in another made 8 individual points out of the possible 9 in a single round in a 4 v 4 match. He was the first ever contestant in the chair on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Live and won the London heat of QU12 in 2007. Remember to ask him what word best describes his house on 6 October 2009.

Subjects: Classical Music, Constellations, Athletics

Shows: Eggheads, Fifteen to One, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Live, Are You An Egghead?, Brain of Britain, Beat The Nation, The People Versus, Mastermind

Supports: Southampton FC, Lewes FC, Hampshire CCC

Will Jones

Answered the team's first competitive question badly, but hopes to have made up for it since. Not prone to having areas of extreme specialism, but enjoys questions on flags, Fawlty Towers, Dad's Army and Geography. Has answered crucial last questions to turn defeat into victory on a couple of occasions, the most memorable example being the Airedale terrier.

Subjects: Flags, Current Affairs, Acronyms and Abbreviations, 1967

Shows: Eggheads, Fifteen to One, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Brain of Britain, The Great British Pop Test, Going For Gold, Battle of the Brains

Sunil Rao

One of three Uncosy players to have appeared on University Challenge (the others being James Webb and Richard Hutchinson), Sunil expressed an interest in QLLing when the team was short of players and has been a regular ever since. Being useful on Bollywood, Asian stuff, science, cricket, anything that isn't peculiarly British and a few things that are make Sunil a good team player.

Subjects: India, Cricket, Science

Shows: University Challenge

Paul Sinha

A new acquisition from Allsorts no less, stand-up comedian and GP Paul is often gigging in the evenings, but rarely on a Tuesday when the quiz season is in progress. Once accused of coming out with "extreme anti-white vitriol" in a radio debate, he can regularly be found on the airwaves. Likes to learn random facts, amazing on the As and Bs and tries to learn what Peter already knows plus a little bit more.

Subjects: Medical, Ferdinand Magellan, F.A. Cup

Shows: University Challenge the Professionals, Mastermind, Brain of Britain

Supports: Liverpool FC

Web: www.paulsinha.com, www.chortle.co.uk/comics/p/524/paul_sinha

Question masters / Scorers / Time-keepers

Hollie Cooper

Mark's wife and, according to the Gray Monks' Facebook page, "arouser of Ray Ward's animal instincts". Appearing on Snog Marry Avoid in 2010, Mark and Hollie's wedding reception took place in the Calthorpe. Once turned up drunk to a match at the Pineapple and deputised for a member of the opposition in the friendly to amusingly defy some fists. Gray Monks record holder for most piercings and changes of hair colour within a season.

Sarah Daniels

Deputy headteacher from Worcestershire, Sarah can regularly be found processing questions for her database. Likes to rate each one for quality and difficulty while discarding the things she already knows. Obsessed with the genres, her scores are normally about even - were they not, she would tailor her preparation to make them so. Has never been to Seville Cathedral - no need. Basically she's just a scavenger and likes to see AMAP.

Subjects: Volcanoes

Ian Kirkpatrick

The best time-keeper in the league. Resident backchatter and occasional question master and scorer at home matches. Status as guru of sport knowledge confirmed when a debate between Peter Ediss and Lisa Nosworthy on "who knows more about football, Ian or Matt (Lisa's Boyfriend)" was swiftly ended by Peter with the line: "Ian knows attendances".

Luke Smith

Unmatched on current sport knowledge (and that's saying something), the team's regular reader for home matches and as a result, a frequent participant in friendlies. Thankfully for his sanity he hasn't got too involved in learning the quiz syllabus, but he's not afraid to put the big fist out when not knowing the answer if it means the team can psyche out the opposition.

Occasional / Former players

Mike Abbott

Experienced quizzer from Shoreham-by-Sea, Mike has regularly played for Gray Monks and may be coming out of retirement to fill in for missing players at any time. Stacked up some big scores and averaged half of his 2s per game in the 2008-2009 season. Good on comedy, film and music.

Subjects: Dinnerladies

Supports: Southampton FC

Neil Dagley

Golf and Horse racing expert who is often able to pluck some very good answers. An integral member of the team, unlike the other members Dagley has not appeared (and disgraced himself) on Fifteen to One. A tenacious competitor, who never knows when he's beaten, neil's confidence has sometimes got the better of him when going for some risky answers.

Gareth Dufton

Accountant who has played a few times, Gareth is particularly good on wrestling questions and has a good natural feel for the game. Present for a win over TROGs that was played nearby to the team's venue when it was being used by Telstars who also play at the Calthorpe Arms.

Grant Hibberd

Former War Studies student at KCL, Grant's favourite war is that of Jenkins' Ear. His knowledge is frequently described as ridiculously specialist, and his favourite subjects include Doctor Who and Polish Trade Union Leaders.

Phil Hickson

An occasional player since the team began, Phil likes to quiz and often plays in the friendlies where once, with Grant they acted as one player being referred to as 'The Mitchell Brothers' - don't mess with them.

Richard Hutchinson

TBC

Dave Kemp

Geology specialist and trivial pursuit player, Dave has attended the finals night and likes to quiz.

Steve Kidd

TBC

Ken Owen

TBC

Ross Reynolds

Occasional player and regular question-master in the team's first season. A physics graduate from University College London, with a first, Ross an unhealthy knowledge of Formula One, Planes and Popular culture. The owner of 44 UCAS points and a large array of nicknames, some of which are: Reynaldo, Ronnie, Gibb, Otis, Regis and Reading. The best left-hander at indoor cricket, Ross has on many occasions, like Michael Atherton been: "good enough to get an edge."

Steve Sparkes

Film and Science are two of his better subjects, and Steve's production of a monster of a score when seated at number one for the team's first win led to the nickname Billy Batson (Captain Marvel). Famous for the big-fist, don't mention those Irish Greyhounds.

Eden Tang

Not to be confused with the samurai sword attacker of a similar name, 'BIG' and 'Cutty Sark' were two of the key answers in the games where Eden has played. Helping out in emergencies, Eden has been essential in enabling the team to consistently field four players.

Jamin Tree

Friend of Steve's who has a 100% record in QLL games, his only appearance coming in the team's first win over Rosslyn Park.

James Webb

Yet another sport expert who got 12 points in his first game for the side. Knows his capitals and Kings and Queens. A big fan of Belgian pop music, he once captained Leeds on University Challenge.

Join

To enter a team or join an existing team in The Quiz League of London, please go to QLL:Join for an application form.