Cheney shines at the Senior National Reading Champions National Final

A team of four avid readers made the trip to London on Wednesday 20th May to represent the school in the Senior National Reading Champions National Final. 

The team qualified for the final by winning the regional heat in March and they received a trophy to celebrate this achievement at the event on Wednesday. There were 23 teams from schools across the country and to qualify for the final was an achievement in its own right. It was our first time to enter a team into the event so it was all very exciting for us all. 

The event consisted of 80 detailed and very hard questions on anything related to books for young people - there were music rounds, picture rounds and straight knowledge-based questions and each question required the team to have read the books. There were prizes for the best supported team, best newcomer, plus librarian lotto and reserve roulette! The whole event was great fun and was hosted by the amazing Mr Dilly. There was also an author talk from three bestselling authors whilst the results were being totted up. 

When the results came to be read out after four hours of quizzing, we didn’t have any expectations of achieving anything - so when Cheney was announced as coming second, we were surprised and extremely excited. A massive whoop went up from the whole team, and I am not ashamed to say that I shed a few tears. We were only two points away from first place and there were five points between second and third so the team really smashed it. 

I am immensely proud of the whole team - Thomas, Nadia, Helen and Eoin worked so well as a group and truly deserved their success. Recognition should also be given to the wonderful Marina who travelled with the team as a reserve - she was an integral part of proceedings throughout the day. Everyone won a £20 book voucher and there were free books galore (a couple of which were read and finished on the bus home!). 

Thank you to Ms Whitehall and Miss Cullen for supporting the trip to London but the most thanks should go to the five amazing Cheney readers for being their wonderful selves. 

Mrs Fenton, Cheney Librarian.