Pub quiz cheats banned via this tactic
The Unfair Edge in a Pub Quiz
How far would you go to win a local pub quiz? For one team, the answer seems to be using some questionable methods to secure the £30 prize. Their actions have left many regulars upset and questioning the integrity of the event.
The Barking Dog in Urmston, Greater Manchester, has been experiencing a drop in customers, especially during their weekly free quiz night on Wednesday evenings. This led the pub owners to investigate further after a former customer contacted them with concerns about the quiz's fairness.
Cheating Through Smartwatches
It was discovered that a dominant quiz team was suspected of cheating by using smartwatches to receive answers. They managed to bypass the phone ban by speaking into their wrist devices, which allowed them to get the correct responses without being caught.
This method of cheating became evident when the pub owners noticed that the team consistently answered questions correctly, which is highly unusual for a pub quiz. A few customers had previously raised concerns, but it wasn’t until recently that concrete evidence was found.
Confrontation and Ban
After uncovering the cheaters, the pub posted on Facebook: “We are disappointed to say that there has been a team cheating in our quiz. There have been suspicions for a while but no concrete evidence. This unfortunately may have cost us some genuine custom. Last night we caught the team red handed and they have been banned. We hope that any of our genuine quizzers we may have lost, come back.”
The post received several comments from users expressing their frustration. One person asked, “How desperate do you have to be to cheat in a fun pub quiz?” Another added, “It’s always the minority who spoil it for the rest.”
The Owner’s Perspective
Rob Hardie, a co-director of the pub, shared his experience with the Daily Mail. He mentioned that the team had been getting almost all the questions right, which raised suspicions. “A couple of customers had noticed and we took a phone call a couple of weeks ago from one saying they wouldn’t be returning to the quiz because of someone cheating.”
Hardie decided to monitor the situation closely. “I wanted this to be an evening that people enjoy so I decided to monitor things and I realized it was quite blatant that this time were cheating, using their watches.”
He continued, “After the reports we’d had, I thought I’d assess things with my own eyes – and it was clear what was going on. I let them continue for a while, to make sure it was correct – and then I approached them with the allegation.”
Aftermath and Reflection
When confronted, the team behaved “sheepishly,” apologized, and left the pub. Hardie expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s a real shame that people should try to taint things like this. It’s a real kick in the teeth.”
The incident has sparked a conversation about fairness and integrity in community events. While it’s unfortunate that a few individuals can affect the experience for others, the pub owners are hoping that genuine participants will return and continue enjoying the quiz nights.
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