A Sporting Common Bond Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

Doric is the dialect of Aberdeen and the surrounding area. One can purchase 'Teach Yourself Doric' books in Aberdeenshire (I have one, though have yet to put it to use) and also poetry and stories written in the dialect, by such authors as Alexander Mackenzie Davidson (1897-1979).

Answer: Rock

Rock Hudson co-starred with Doris in the 1959 romantic comedy. The Ontario Raiders of the National Lacrosse League moved from Hamilton to Toronto in 1999, and were given the new name Toronto Rock. The Rock of Gibraltar is recognized around the world, possibly due to its appearance in advertising for the Prudential Insurance Company.

Answer: Hack

Hack can also mean to cut or chop, usually not very neatly. It is a term used in horseback riding for going at an ordinary pace, and by computer buffs to mean gaining access by nefarious means to files or documents.

Answer: Hog

HOG is an acronym for Harley Owners Group, established in 1983 by Harley-Davidson, which by 2005 had close to a million members around the world, organised into local chapters.

Answer: Sliders

'Sliders' ran from 1995 until 2000. Each week the heroes would find themselves in a different parallel universe, some more pleasant than others, and have a series of adventures as they tried to find their way 'home'.

Answer: Broom

The many species of broom are native to Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia. Some types were introduced to North America as ornamental plants, but have since come to be considered a weed. Gorse is a close relative of broom.

Answer: Jenson Button

The 2005 season saw Button embroiled in a contract dispute with owner Frank Williams, who wanted him back in the Williams stable, whilst Button desired to remain with BAR-Honda, with whom he had good results in 2004 and 2005.

Coulthard, who is Scottish, debuted with Williams in 1994, replacing Ayrton Senna after the latter's death at Imola. Hill's debut, also with Williams, was in 1993, and he went on to win the World Championship with the team in 1996. Australian Webber made his debut with Minardi in 2002, and first drove for Williams in 2005.

Answer: Ends

MacLennan (1907-1990) was born in Nova Scotia, and as well as being a celebrated writer was a professor of English at McGill University in Montreal. His other works include 'Two Solitudes' and 'Barometer Rising', set in Halifax at the time of the 1917 explosion in that city.

Answer: Hammer of the Scots

At Falkirk, Edward's employment of Welsh archers using longbows was instrumental in defeating the Scottish forces led by William Wallace, as depicted in the movie 'Braveheart'. Scottish resistance was not at an end, however, and in 1314, seven years after Long Shanks' death, Robert the Bruce led the Scots to independence with victory at Bannockburn.

Answer: Curling

Curling originated in Scotland (Q1) in the 16th century or thereabouts, and was first played using natural rocks (Q2). These were later replaced by purpose-made 'stones' with handles. Curlers push off from the foothold known as the hack (Q3) and must release the stone before reaching the hog (Q4) line. Aided by sliders (Q5) on their boots (either built-in or slip-on), teammates scoot along the ice, sweeping ahead of the rock with a broom (Q6) or brush, to increase speed or reduce curl.

The object is to place your stones nearer the centre of the rings (house) at the opposite end of the ice than your opponent does.

This central target is also known as the button (Q7). Matches are divided into ends (Q8) during which each member of each team delivers two stones. Teams are made up of four people, and the skip (like a captain) normally goes last in each end.

It can be an advantage to have last rock, also known as the hammer (Q9), in an end. Only one team can score in an end, and it is possible to have a blank end when nobody scores.

The outcome is decided by the total scored by each team after an agreed number of ends. International matches are usually ten ends in length, but club matches may be shorter.