Peter Colvin, Glasgow Tigers speedway fan
I’m not a serious quiz contestant. I enjoy watching things like Eggheads and Mastermind on the television, but I’m not a quiz person per se. However, in October of last year, I received at 7am phone call from a speedway friend of mine, Gwen Stokes.
Gwen was in a taxi on her way to the BBC studios in Glasgow to take part in the TV quiz show Eggheads. One of the challengers had had to drop out in the middle of the night and she asked if I could fill in. The team I was joining, made up of Glasgow Tiger speedway supporters, had accumulated over 250 years of supporting the team. Gwen, Jim Coyle, Jim Fleming and Ross Keane, were participating in Eggheads to try and gain some publicity for Glasgow Tigers speedway.
I got into speedway as a teenager. My brother took me to a Scotland v England speedway match in June 1965. I was immediately captivated and have followed the fortunes of the Glasgow Tigers ever since. A lot of people think speedway fans are Hells Angels, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s a family sport.
Anyway, I arrived at the studios and was whisked away for my interview and audition. The application process usually takes weeks if not months but mine was fast-tracked. The wardrobe department took the three shirts I had been told to bring and chose which one I was to wear.
We were informed that the previous team hadn’t won and that the prize fund had rolled over to £7000. We all agreed wholeheartedly that if we won we would give £2000 to the Speedway Riders' benevolent fund and the rest would be split equally.
Once our make-up was retouched and we were seated on set, the Eggheads entered the studio. It was like the beginning of a football match when all the players cross one another and shake hands. Egghead and 5-time Brain of Britain winner Kevin Ashman stopped and chatted with us about speedway. He was very knowledgeable about the sport and was particularly keen to learn more about the Glasgow Tigers.
Throughout the taping, I was extremely nervous. You’ve got to remember that four hours earlier I was still in bed completely unaware of what was about to unfold. That definitely made it quite surreal. I found my anxiety increasing as my fellow challengers were being eliminated and as the final round got closer. It was looking as though I was going to end up and subsequently did end up being on my own.
Our team captain Jim Coyle knew the answer to the Eggheads' last question. He knew the answer they had chosen was incorrect even before Jeremy Vine had announced it. Apparently, Jim went absolutely berserk. The team was whooping that I had got three questions right and the Eggheads didn’t.
What I found quite touching was Judith [Keppel] of the Eggheads reaction to us winning. You could see her lips moving as if to say, “You’ve won”. Her reaction was absolutely delightful. Egghead Kevin Ashman congratulated us by saying “Well-done Peter, not very many people beat the Eggheads on their own”.
All the way home we were all saying, “I can’t believe it”. Since the broadcast friends and relatives have been absolutely delighted and passed on many congratulations on our victory.
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