Brian Viner: Fiendish questions of sport... folk songs, novels and who was Mrs Bart Conner?

Here, a week later than promised, is this column's annual end-of-year quiz. For many of the questions I must thank Nick Stewart of the Lord's Taverners, who set them for the dinner and balloon debate in aid of the Taverners which took place in the Long Room at Lord's earlier this month. I have also added a few of my own. And I am delighted to announce a fine first prize: a year's supply of Spitfire beer - 365 bottles - donated by the brewers Shepherd Neame. For five runners-up there will be a selection of CDs, offered by Nick Stewart, who does something important at Warner Music.

To enter, either email me your answers to the questions below, or post them to me c/o The Independent Sports Desk, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS. Some of them are truly fiendish, so if you're reasonably confident that you've correctly answered more than 25 out of the available 30 questions, you could be in with a shout. In the event of a tie, first prize will go to the reader who supplies the best new Spitfire advertising copyline in 10 words or fewer. So include that with your answers. For examples from the current campaign see the Spitfire website, www.spitfireale.co.uk. The closing date is 12 January. Good luck, thanks for reading in 2006, and a happy new year.

1 In which novel does the young hero Leo take a crucial catch in the deep during the annual village cricket match?

2 In which sport was Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, so proficient that he was invited to join the British Olympic squad in 1992?

3 In the film Follow The Sun, which great American golfer was played by Glenn Ford?

4 Who connects Z-Cars with Chariots of Fire?

5 What did Hanif Mohammad rather eccentrically do in the last over before lunch, when bowling for Pakistan against Somerset at Taunton in July 1954?

6 Which political adviser to Margaret Thatcher wrote a novel about the Grand National called The Man Who Rode Ampersand?

7 Which English folk singer wrote the lament "When an old cricketer leaves the crease"?

8 "It matters not whether you won or lost, but how you played the game." This line is generally accredited to which celebrated American sportswriter?

9 Twenty-five years ago this month, Geoff Boycott became the most prolific scorer of runs in Test cricketing history. Throughout his long Test career he had 16 different opening partners. For a point each, who was the first of them, and who was the last?

10 Who was Tondu Rugby Club's third XV player of the year in 1996?

11 Which current Premiership manager played football for Mansfield Town, Peterborough United, Bristol Rovers, Heart of Midlothian and Huddersfield Town? For a further point, why will he never forget 11 May 1985?

12 Which former Australian Test cricketer wrote the classic account of the 1948 Australian tour of England, Brightly Fades the Don?

13 Which legendary sporting career began, on paper, on 11 September 1954?

14 In Douglas Adams' novel Life, the Universe and Everything, a shocking act of cricketing vandalism took place at Lord's. In a nutshell, what happened?

15 A distinguished 19-year professional career began in the Danish town of Hvidovre and ended in Manchester. Whose?

16 Who, on Sportsnight in 1995, said of the crowd's response to his own recent sporting achievement at Wembley: "It was like a Michael Jackson concert, Pavarotti, Vera Lynn and VE Day, all rolled into one?"

17 On Boxing Day Andrew Strauss had the dubious distinction of becoming Shane Warne's 700th Test wicket. Which Englishmen were Warne's 400th and 600th Test victims? A point for each.

18 When Gottfried Dienst famously consulted with Tofik Bakhramov, what did they decide?

19 Which sportsman was imprisoned by the Gestapo for alleged homosexual offences (one point) and (for another point) which Englishman had got the better of him in 1934, 1935 and 1936?

20 Bolton Wanderers lost the 1953 FA Cup final by the same margin with which they had won their semi-final. Who were their semi-final opponents?

21 "Socially, a 24-handicapper." Who was summed up thus by his embittered second wife?

22 Bart Conner won two gymnastics gold medals for the United States at the 1984 Olympic Games. Who became Mrs Bart Conner?

23 What sensational sporting upset occurred on 10 July 1951?

24 Everyone remembers the so-called "Duel in the Sun" between the Americans Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry. Who came third?

25 A man, born to Czech immigrants in 1895, founded, played for, managed and owned a famous sporting outfit over the course of 60 years from the 1920s to the 1980s? A point for his name, and a point for the team's.

b.viner@independent.co.uk