A SERIES of records were broken at Friday's KM Big Quiz in Maidstone.

The event, staged at Maidstone Leisure Centre was the largest charity wine and wisdom evening ever staged in Maidstone and west Kent with 67 teams of eight taking part. That is 20 more teams than last year.

The causes to benefit this year are: League of Friends at Maidstone Hospital, Mayor of Maidstone's Charity Appeal, Kent Walking Bus Project and the Heart of Kent Hospice, which is the KM's charity of the year.

A total of £5,577 was raised, which is £1,000 more than the 2006 event and means each of the four causes should receive £1,390.

Another record broken was the figure for the amount raised during the Heads or Tails game. At £457 this was the largest amount raised at any KM Big Quiz in Kent in the last seven years.

Maidstone are the brainiest bunch in Kent comparing results with other Big Quiz events staged in last 12 months. Only five teams at Friday's event failed to get at least 50 per cent of questions correct. Two of those five missed by just over one per cent. Top team had 87.5 per cent correct.

Sponsors supporting the KM Big Quiz included Shepherd Neame who organised the Spitfire Charity Bar which raised £810 towards the night.

Four KM Big Quiz events are held each year around the county: Canterbury in March, Maidstone in June, Medway in October and Ashford in November. To book tickets online go to www.kentwalkingbus.org

Helpers praised

QUIZ master Simon Dolby, who is also Chairman of the children's road safety charity Kent and Medway Walking Bus Group, praised the small army of helpers and sponsors for helping to ensure the event was a success.

Top of his list to thank were Threshers at London Road, Maidstone and Coxheath for proving 14 dozen bottles of wine to ensure every guest had a complimentary glass plus plenty of spares as prizes.

Mr Dolby said: "I also must thank HSBC staff, and in particular Julia Smith from the Maidstone branch, for helping at every stage of the preparations for the big night. It was fitting that her enormous contribution was recognised through the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Ash presenting her with a bouquet."

Others praised included students and staff at Invicta Girls Grammar School who helped promote the event over several weeks and played a key role on the night.

Shepherd Neame manager Louise Hopkins who ran the charity bar and organised a special delivery of Spitfire ale to the event after a planned delivery failed to arrive at the venue.

Main sponsors of the event were Threshers of Maidstone and Coxheath, legal experts Vertex Law, accountants Horwath Clark Whitehill, CaterLeisure, Maidstone Leisure Centre, P& O Ferries and Shepherd Neame.

Community partners providing practical assistance to stage event: HSBC, Invicta Girls Grammar School, League of Friends at Maidstone Hospital, Heart of Kent Hospice, CaterLeisure, and Kent Walking Bus Project.

Round sponsors: 02, Fremlin Walk, Turkey Mill Business park, Blue Sun World, Edwards Harvey PR.

Main raffle prizes supplied by: Gamleys, Early Learning Centre, House of Fraser, Cornell's, Hop Farm, HSBC staff, Maidstone Leisure Centre.

Score table

1 (70 points) Definitely Maybe; 2 (69) Eight Against Thebes, Bonny Cravat; 4 (68) Bonfire of the Profanities; 5 (66) Pickett's Pals; 6 (64) Allington Allstars, Albion; 8 (63) HSBC-Maidstone Commercial, Fuzzy Ducks; 10 (62) Hospice Hopefuls, French Connection, The Hostages to Fortune; 13 (61) Thick as a Brick, HCW Taxi Drivers, Quiz Akabusi; 16 (60) Batemans, KentItalia; 18 (59) Hoi Polloi, Invicta Invaders, Bean Counters, Edwards Harvey PR Pop Pickers, Mensa Rejects, School Levers, Beaus and Belles; 25 (58) The Scorpions, Count on us, Maidstone Tornados, Mayoral Gang; 29 (57) The See Ho Pirates, Herbs; 31 (56) Sophie's Choice, The No Eyed Deers, Mental Spik.com; 34 (55) Hurley's Dynamon, Acorn Antiques, The Carling Cup Counts; 37 (54) Ask Jeeves, Cheeky Scampsters, Lunch Club Loonies; 40 (53) Horses for courses, Pieces of Eight, Keeping Up With the Jones; 43 (52) Best of Friends; Vacant Spaces, The Unprepared, We Thought It Was A Disco, Kilvs Killers; 48 (51) Seriously Lacking; 49 (50) Primary Scaredy Cats, The Roptec Roofers, Omega 3, Sub-Standard, D-Flawless, And In First Place, Johnsons Baby Wipes; 56 (49) Loose Connections, Misfits; 58 (48) Ladies of All Ages Plus One; 59 (46) Turkey Mill, Lush; 61 (44) Bearsted Active Retirement Association; 62 ( 42) Smartacus and the Banjo Playing Pilgrims; 63 (39) Jeans Marauders, Colleys Dollies; 65 (37) Beara Veterans, Headcorn Bowls Club; 67 (33) Densa.

Rules

The event's rules state that no KM team can win the KM Big Quiz and that a KM team should be awarded a separate prize should they top poll. This meant Eight Against Thebes and last year's event winner Bonny Cravat went into a tiebreak to see who would win the main trophy and prize. Eight Against Thebes won. All three teams are awarded a place in the county final to compete against heat winners from Canterbury, Medway and Ashford.

Mini competitions

Prizes also awarded to the following teams for topping peer group: KM title, Definitely Maybe; HSBC Shield, Maidstone Commercial; Caring Services title, Hospice Hopefuls; Edwards Harvey Shield, PR Pop Pickers; Local government title, Mayoral Gang.