After a hard-fought and increasingly testing campaign, Habs were crowned winners in the 2015 Schools Challenge Competition on Sunday 26th April at the National Finals at Westminster School.
In his 4th successive year of progressing to this stage of the quiz competition, captain David Verghese (U6) made the most of his last chance to lead the team – Jacob Whitehead (L6), Thomas Sherlock (Year 9) and James Verghese (Year 9) – to victory in this well-respected and highly competitive test of general knowledge, mental agility and ability to remain calm under pressure.
Preliminary rounds this season involved defeating Mill Hill School and Eton College at South Hampstead High School, and Dr Challoner’s and Southend each on home turf. With solid performances under their belt this year, then, the team came to the Finals with a mixture of well-earned quiet confidence and trepidation: the 8 teams who met at Westminster had all surmounted comparable challenges in their regional rounds up to this point.
Pitted against traditional rivals Lancaster Royal Grammar School in the first round, the team managed to quell early nerves in order to emerge victorious by 1010 points to 670. The semi-final against Bournemouth Girls’ School showcased the talents of all the team, and the 600-point margin of victory was testament to the team’s impressive range of knowledge. This brought Habs to the Final. They were up against the formidable King Edward’s School, Birmingham, helmed by an exceptionally strong captain. Though King Edward’s took an early lead, over the course of the match Habs rallied, established a strong lead, and eventually, with 940 points to 580, took the match and the trophy.
The team have all performed consistently strongly throughout the year against some highly talented opponents from the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Thanks must, of course, go to Mr O’Sullivan, who, in his role as organiser and guru has been invaluable in running the team for the last four seasons.
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