At the beginning of last week, Reigate Grammar School held their first ever house quiz under the new system. The quiz, which took place in the Sports Hall/Concert hall, was played under the same conditions as famous quiz TV show “University Challenge”; the only difference being the contests took twenty minutes not thirty and there were only two bonus questions, not three. With great anticipation and eagerness, the whole school gathered to watch on as the finalists were decided. The two semi-finals in the end proved to be no contests, with Bird House and Williamson House both comprehensively beating Cranston and Hodgson respectively, both clocking more than 200 points. With “Jeremy Paxman” himself Mr Rushby proving an inquisitive quiz master, and Mr Saunders making it all click, the quiz encapsulated the entire audience, as answers were met with applause and roars from the winning houses. The final would take place at lunchtime between Bird and Williamson, and it was sure to prove a tightly contested and riveting affair. Lunch soon arrived and people flocked in their thousands – well hundreds – for the eagerly awaited final. Both teams made a rapid start, keeping pace with each other up until the 50 point mark. Suddenly, Williamson went on a point’s spree, surging to upwards of 100. Nevertheless, Bird fought back to a similar total, and they were level-pegging as the quiz approached the last five minutes. Williamson went ahead, then Bird pegged them back, and with 30 seconds to go, Bird had a slim 10 point lead. Suddenly, silence fell over the auditorium as mathematician Kasia Warburton buzzed in to clinch the win. Yet miraculously, she slipped up, and Bird took home the win, amidst scenes of jubilation in one half of the hall, and despair in another half. A truly spectacular final; Bird winning by 210 points to 190. Congratulations to their team: Rhys Thomson (captain), Emily Dixon, Benedict Springbett and Alex Dean (Benedict in particular impressing). It capped a hugely successful few weeks for Bird, adding to their senior rugby, boy’s hockey, girl’s hockey and senior netball titles. It was a fantastic event, and one that should continue to propel the house system at RGS to the next level!