The all new, revised and easier quiz! (mod note posts 1 and 2042)

Rubecula wrote: »

clue: a feline friend

Lenny the Lion?

The cruiser USS Phoenix sustained no casualties at all in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Some considered it the luckiest ship in the US fleet. Under what name did it end its career just over 40 years later?

That's it.

Rubecula wrote: »

just realised I am away for a few daysso the answer is the TSR2 somebody else can carry on in my stead

I gots yer back.

Next years Winter Olympics (YAY!) will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea. How many previous winter Olympics have been held?

Correct. Love the winter games. There is something about watching people falling down a mountain gracefully that appeals to me.

garancafan wrote: »

This old Leonine recollects a colourful character who went by a name something like Lord Wroterlsey who was a participant in the luge in the 90s and finished in quite a high position although this was a disappointment as he was ranked amongst the favourites for the gold.

That's him, Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley, 14th baronet, 6th baron Wrottesley, descended from dacent people including the royal Bruces of Scotland. Let's keep it simple and call him The O'Wrottesley. Born in Dublin in 1968, he lived in Abbeyknockmoy Co. Galway until age two when his father died in a car accident. That probably means he could have hurled for Galway.
He finished fourth in the Men's Skeleton at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. This remains the best result of any Irish athlete at the Olympic Winter Games. No, he probably wasn't the favourite but ranked in the top ten whence anything could happen. The Americans feared him and lodged a vexatious objection about his helmet. Rather than get upset, he decided for the pig of it to give them a real run for their money and missed a medal by a whisker.
Wrottesley and his father both competed in bob sleigh for Great Britain before competing for Ireland.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he served as chef de mission for the Irish team.
Later he was chef de mission for the British Winter Olympics team. He now lives in St. Moritz with his family and is a wealthy financier and wine dealer.
He owes us nothing.
I thought Old Goat would be in like a flash with this one.
You're up.

garancafan wrote: »

While at the match in the Aviva last Saturday I recounted to my daughter the first few times I had attended events there in the 50s - not rugby, not soccer but athletics. The rivalry between Ron Delany and Britain's Brian Hewson in 1956 was the main attraction. I wasn't there, however, for the race the following year between now Olympic champion Delany and the new world record holder for the mile. Who was he?

Herb Elliott?

Autumn Harsh Cloud wrote: »

Derek Ibbotson was 1957. Elliot broke it in Dublin in 58.

Spot on Autumn Harsh Cloud. I remember, from a previous question, that you, like myself, were in Santry for the Elliot achievement in '58, but in '57, our illustrious visitor was indeed, Derek Ibbotson.

Autumn Harsh Cloud wrote: »

Apologies, I've been busy lately. I owe a question so.....

Dean Martin, Ertha Kitt, George Michael and W.C. Fields have something in common.

Any ideas what it is?

I know this old chestnut. There are many others too.

Autumn Harsh Cloud wrote: »

Great!

What is it?

Died on Christmas Day.