Victory in the Junior School Challenge!

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 6th of December 2022

Congratulations to our KS3 team of Vinayak, Adi, Raafey and Daniel who claimed victory in the Junior School Challenge!

After retaining the Regional Championship Shield back in May, the team then went on to win in the interregional round against Nottingham High School 820-490. This meant that they progressed to the National finals!

The finals were delayed twice, firstly due to rail strikes, and then due to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. So, it was decided that the finals should be played online via Zoom (as they were in 2020).

The KES team played in the first quarter final early on Sunday morning against George Heriot’s School Edinburgh and played confidently till the last rapid answer 5 minutes where they almost lost their lead when George Heriot’s went on a very strong final streak. However, they managed to come through though 500 v 410.

The semi-final at 2pm was against Lancaster RGS and despite a few problems on some difficult Scottish questions and an interesting pronunciation of Michael Bublé we came through to win 660 v 350.

The final against The Perse Cambridge was always going to be tough; they have won the competition at Junior level more than any other team and won their quarter final 1040 v 50. However, the team gave it their all and with 10 minutes to play we were ahead 470 v 370. With 5 minutes to go it was 510 v 480 then with 90 seconds the scores were level 610 all. It all came down to the final starter and bonuses and fortunately we won enough of them to finally win 650 v 630.

It has been a very long season, full of changes and complications but through it all the boys have shown exceptional levels of general knowledge and been highly committed both in games and to weekly practices.

To celebrate the victory the boys were invited into the Chief Master’s study, where they enjoyed cake and shared stories from their journey to final.