On Saturday 1 February, Eton continued its tradition of participating in the International History Bee and Bowl. This year, 26 boys from Eton participated in the regional round of the competition, which was held at Trinity School, Croydon. Throughout the day, questions tested participants’ knowledge across all periods of history. For example, in one question, teams were asked to name the main ethnic group which had been targeted in the Anfal Campaign in Iraq (the Kurds), while in another, teams had to name the famous Jacobin leader executed in France in 1794 (Maximilien Robespierre).
The competition was divided into two main sections: the Bee, where participants compete individually, and the Bowl, where participants compete in groups of 4-6. Unlike the Bee, which is relatively straightforward (the participant with the most correct answers wins), the format for the Bowl is slightly more complex. Each match consists of four rounds between the two opposing teams, with each round following slightly different rules. For example, in some rounds, participants gain more points for buzzing in earlier on in a question prompt, while in others, they are asked a bonus question if the answer they provide is correct.
After four group-stage rounds for the Bowl, an Eton team progress to the semi-finals in all three age categories! In the Middle School (Year 9) and Varsity (Year 12&13) divisions, the teams unfortunately lost in the semi-finals. However, a Junior Varsity (Year 11) team – consisting of Aaron S, Felix d M, Conrad L, and Damian L – performed exceptionally well, placing second in their division after narrowly losing in the final.
In terms of the Bee, special congratulations must go to Adrian L and Alexey A. Adrian L managed to place third in the Junior Varsity division, while Alexey A won the Varsity competition. Additionally, a big thank you must be extended to Dr Yuravlivker, who not only organised the competition for the boys but also held regular practice sessions in the lead-up to the big day.
All participants are now eagerly looking forward to the European competition in Vienna later this year, where the Eton team will hopefully continue its success and win one of the divisions.
