THE date for one of the most popular events on the Cumbrian quiz calendar has been set.

Brain busters will gather at the Sands Centre on Sunday, January 20 for the chance to put their grey matter to the test.

The event at the Carlisle entertainment venue is a night of fun, entertainment, memory recall and general knowledge for everyone taking part.

One of the favourite rounds is the traditional Blockbuster style round called I’ll Have A ‘P’. Organiser Geoff Haugh says this round is a good place to pick up points for some teams who are struggling.

Earlier this year the quiz celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Teams went head-to-head through eight gruelling rounds, ranging from film and lyrics to logos and sport.

About 94 teams went head-to-head with one another to battle it out and be named as Sands Centre quiz champions.

The quiz is organised and set by Mr Haugh, 58.

He has presented the quiz every year since it started in 1993.

He spends the year compiling questions and keeps them in a secret file hidden from everyone.

He cuts things out of newspapers and jots items down if he hears something interesting.

After so many years compiling and compering it, Mr Haugh admits that it is fairly straightforward now, although every year there are still tweaks to the formula.

“The hardest rounds are still the trivia and sport – I always say if you can do fairly well in those then you’re in with a great chance,” he said.

In recent years a giant screen has been added.

There are no individual embarrassing questions.

There is music and picture questions and the bar is open throughout.

Mr Haugh says some people try and revise beforehand and sometimes he adds a new round to freshen things up.

But ultimately the quiz follows the same format.

Mr Haugh said: “If it is not broken, why fix it?”

Sands Centre events organiser Jonathan Higgins said this year’s event had been really well-attended and a great night.

He said: “There were 94 teams with four people in each team.

“The hall was packed, it is always popular.

“Although we don’t like to call it a pub quiz, it is the most popular quiz of that type in the area.”

Any four people can make up a team - although a good team name is required, as there is a prize for the best name.

The cost for a team of four to enter this year is £28.

Entry is by application form.

Call the box office for a form on 01228 633766 or online at thesandscentre.co.uk.

The quiz starts at 7pm.