STEWART TRAVEL'S 'BEST IN THE WEST' WIN SPAA TRAVEL QUIZ 2013 IN HOT FINAL!

Drawing ahead in the final round by a tight 5 points, Stewart Travel's Team - 'Best In The West' - were victorious in last night's Grand Final of the 2013 SPAA Travel Quiz, beating off hot competition from Thomas Cook's 'George Street Gals'.

At the end of the closely fought competition, Stewart Travel had 208 points; Thomas Cook were Runners-up with 203 points, and Alba Travel's 'Airheads' shared 3rd Place with Travel 2's 'Travel 3' on 195 points.

28 Teams - yet another record - contested this year's Quiz, with 9 reaching the Grand Final (although only 8 were able to compete due to staff problems at the other Finalist - ATPI's 'Choir Boys').

Immediate Past President Brian Potter (Clyde Travel) welcomed the assembled company on behalf of President Kevin Thom (QA Business Travel), beginning with a vote of thanks to Travel 2 for another year of excellent hospitality in hosting the Final in Glasgow HQ - Skypark. He also thanked Sponsors - Superbreak, Glasgow/Edinburgh/Aberdeen Airports and Virgin Atlantic for once again offering splendid prizes; respectively - short break vouchers, Kindles and air tickets (worldwide).

Commenting on the fact that Questionmaster Aman Kohli was officiating - in his own unique way - for an 8th and final year, ably assisted by colleague Lisa Menzies, Brian went on to present Aman with a 'one-of ' 'Aman Kohli On Tour' teeshirt (take a look at the Gallery, above) and a bottle of single malt; he also made a presentation to Lisa, who will be retiring at the same time as Aman. Taking up the mantle from 2014 (and the cudgels, where necessary?) will be Council Member Irene Darracott (Connoisseur Travel).

As always, Aman's unconscious humour spiked the evening with good-natured controversy and much laughter. Perhaps his best question of the evening (and possibly, ever!) - an impromptu tie-breaker between the Alba Airheads and Travel 3 - was, "Which Magazine is published by what organisation?". It could be construed as the world's first unanswerable question, but SPAA Today understands the intended answer is the Consumer Association! Ultimately, the two 3rd place contenders were inseparable and a generous Wendy Cameron offered vouchers to both Teams.

During the evening, SPAA Secretary Janice Hogarth made a collection for the Association's designated charity - CHAS (Children's Hospice Association Scotland).

MTB 14/06/2013

Reports by Kevin Thom, SPAA President ... and check out the Gallery for all the pictures from the Heats

ABERDEEN HEAT - 28 MAY 2013

Tuesday night saw the final heat of the SPAA Travel Quiz in Aberdeen, with a record amount of teams entering. After a very closely fought battle, the Alba Airheads were the worthy winners, closely followed by Beaver Travel and ATP International. These teams will now join the winners from both Glasgow and Edinburgh in the final to be held in Glasgow in June. Let the battle commence!!

KT 30/05/13

THE ABERDEEN TEAMS :

Alba Travel : The Airheads : Heat Winners

Beaver Travel : The Quizzy Rascals : Runners-up

ATPI : The Choir Boys : Third Place

ATPI : The 3 Amigos

FCM Solutions : The Tortured Souls

Munro's Travel Group : Munrosia's Rice Puddings

Munro's Travel Group : Quiz Akabusi

Portman Travel : The Portables

QA Business Travel : 3 Men On A Fact Hunt

RCI : Here For The Beer

Trailfinders : Trains, Planes & Hot Air Balloons

EDINBURGH HEAT - 21 MAY 2013

Last night, the runaway winning team at the Edinburgh heat of the SPAA Quiz was the Dickson Dippits (John, Mark and Siobhan) In 2nd place was Traveleads and, after a closely fought battle, the 3rd place went to Thomas Cook's George Street Gals from Perth. The winning teams, along with Glasgow's top 3 and the 3 finalists from next week's Aberdeen Heat will all compete in the Grand Final in Glasgow on Thursday 13 June.

KT 22/05/13

THE EDINBURGH TEAMS :

Ian Dickson Travel : The Short Straws : Heat Winners

Traveleads : The Triple Nines : Runners-up

Thomas Cook : The George Street Gals : Third Place

Connoisseur Travel : The Three Sages

Connoisseur Travel : The Three Stooges

Osprey Holidays : Osprey Ski

Trailfinders : The Three Goolies

GLASGOW HEAT - 14 MAY 2013

It was a closely fought night at the Glasgow heat of the SPAA Travel Quiz. Our Quizmaster Kohli was his usual entertaining self but was kept in tow by Quiz Mistress Irene. The leader board chopped and changed throughout the night but the worthy winners - the team from Costwatchers - were closely followed by Travel 2 in 2nd place and Kenneth Macleod Travel in 3rd place. All the teams did extremely well with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed competing in the final in Glasgow on 13 June. Next week the battle will continue with the Edinburgh Heat on Tuesday 21 May. So make sure you watch this space to see who will make it to the grand final!

KT 17/05/13

THE GLASGOW TEAMS :

Costwatchers : The Costies : Heat Winners

Travel 2 : Travel 2 : runners-up

Kenneth McLeod Travel : Third Place

Clyde Travel

Hays Travel

Stewart Travel : The Best In The West

Travel Counsellors : No Clue ATOL

Travel 2 : The T Amigos

Travel 2 : Make Mine A Stella

MTB 31/05/13