THE Sands Centre was packed as hundreds of brainboxes flocked to take part in this year’s big quiz.

The event, which took place on Sunday night, saw 104 teams of all ages from in and around Carlisle test their minds on a variety of topics, including a look back at the biggest national and international stories from the past year.

Similar to previous years, the format remained largely the same, with rounds on film clips, pop songs, anagrams, and one based on the hit TV show Blockbuster.

A new round called Who Wants To Be a Sands Centre Zillionaire launched this year.

The winners were the Sportsman's Bandits, followed by the Fantastic Four, and in third place, Simple Minds.

The questions faced by each of the contestants included: 

  • 2019 saw the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon, which foot did he set foot on the moon with first? Answer: Left
  • In the hit TV series Peaky Blinders Thomas Shelby enters a horse in the derby, what was the name of the horse? Answer: Grace’s Secret
  • 62 West Wallaby Street, Wigan, Lancashire, is the address of which animated couple? Answer: Wallace and Gromit

Quiz master Geoff Haugh has presented the quiz every year since it started in 1993.

The 59-year-old told the News & Star: “I was talking to four people who don’t normally see each other, but they see each other here as a good get together.

“My wife’s friends come here once a year. It is tradition for some people, they’ve been doing it for a long time.

“It was sold out on a Wednesday this year. It is the first time it has sold out that quick.

“It shows it is keeping its popularity.”

Mr Haugh added that preparing the questions is a 12-month effort.

“I am on it all year. I am not on it every day, but I’ll have a couple of weeks where I’m setting stuff out or picking films.

“If I’m watching a film I think, ‘oh, I could use that’. Then I go away and go back to it through the summer.

“A lot of work goes into it,” he continued.

Nicola King, 49, of Stanwix, took part. She said: “I’ve been for the last 10 years. My friends text us every year, it is the only time we see each other.

“It’s an annual event and a good catch up.”