Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

European International Series

Entrants 1978: Belgium (B) • Switzerland (CH) • West Germany (D)
France (F) • Great Britain (GB) • Italy (I) • Yugoslavia (YU)

Presenters / Commentators of International Competitions:
Paule Herreman and Mike Verdrengh (B)
Mascia Cantoni, Ezio Guidi, Jan Hiermeyer and Georges Kleinmann (CH)
Hartmut Bruehl, Manfred Erdenberger, Heribert Fassbender,
Brigitte Maerz and Karl-Heinz Wocke (D)
Simone Garnier, Guy Lux and Claude Savarit (F)
Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring (GB)
Ettore Andenna and Milly Carlucci (I)
 Sandi Čolnik and Dragan Nikitovic (YU)

International Referees:
Gennaro Olivieri
Guido Pancaldi

National Referees:
Arthur Ellis (Heats 1-2, 4, 7 and Final) and and Mike Swann (Heats 3, 5-7 and Final only) (GB)

Production Credits:

National Games Designers: Stuart Furber (GB); National Producers: Cecil Korer (GB); National Directors: Geoff Wilson (GB)

Produced by the European Broadcasting Union and
RTBF-BRT (B), SSR-SRG-TSI (CH), ARD-WDR (D), 
A2F (F), BBC Manchester (GB), RAI (I), JRT (YU)

Key: International Heats ● = Qualified for International Final / ● = Heat Winner (Silver Trophy) International Final ● = Gold Trophy / ● = Silver Trophy / ● = Bronze Trophy Trophy   ▲ = Promoted to Position / ▼ = Demoted to Position DST = Daylight Saving Time (ONLY Belgium, France, Great Britain and Italy observed DST)

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 1

Event Staged: Wednesday 31st May 1978
Venue: Lakeside, Intra, Verbania, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 8.05-9.20pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 31st May 1978, 9.25-10.45pm
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 3rd June 1978, 3.45-5.15pm
RTP (P): Saturday 3rd June 1978, 9.35-10.50pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 23rd July 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 20th September 1978, 6.45-8.00pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 24th September 1978, 1.55-3.10pm

Theme: Grand Sport Hotel

Teams: Dilbeek (B) v. Bad Ragaz (CH) v. Friedrichsthal (D) v.
Meudon (F) v. Bath (GB) v. Verbania (I) v. Split (YU)

Team Members included:
Bath (GB) - Peter Foister (Team Manager/Captain), David Lease (Team Coach), Robert Anning, Neil Barnes, Catie Ball, Sue Bartlett, Terry Beckett, Paul Booton, Andras Bornemisza, Lynne Bornemisza, Gerald Brownell, Roger Chubb, Peter Coombs, Carolyne Gilbert, Ian Grammer, Diane GreenSteve Gregory, Martin Grixoni, Penny Heeley, Mark Holmes, Ming Lau, Paul Leaney, Robert Legg-Bagg, Lucinda Lord, Lyn Matson, Debbie Mills, Salvatore Sorisi, Margaret Thatcher, Vince Ware, Margaret Williams and John Young;
Verbania (I) - Schranz and Covre (Team Coaches), Sergio Bello (Team Captain), Paola Bacchetta, Fabrizio Bonfantini, Raffaela Bonfatini, Roberto Botta, Dante Camocardi, Nicola Galli, Giuseppe Gambini, Anita Guglielmi, Patricia Motta, Massimo Ronchi, Enrico Terzi and Umberto Verna

Games: Losing Weight, Sprinting Waiters, Animals in Kitchen, Honeymoon Couple, Dachshunds, Stealing the Flowers, Cats and Soapy End;
Fil Rouge: Puppets in Balloon.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
5th
6th
7th

 CH • Bad Ragaz ●
 I • Verbania
 GB • Bath
 D • Friedrichsthal
 YU • Split
 B • Dilbeek
 F • Meudon

41
39
37
37
36
33
22

The Games in Detail

Game 5 - Dachshunds

The Italian team of Verbania was deducted one point from its score in Game 5. The teams were told that they had to do the game barefoot, but the Italian player wore trainers. Similar incidents have occurred where teams have been awarded no points. In the 1967 International Final, Swiss team Martigny were penalised for taking too many rings in a game and in 1992, the Portuguese team Olhão were disqualified and were also awarded 0 pts.

Looks Familiar?

Game 3 in this heat - ‘Animals in the Kitchen’ - was revived in 1998 for the International series from Trento. On that occasion, it was used - as 'The Cooks' - as one of the three ‘standard’ games which were played in every heat that year.

Additional Information

The cost incurred by Italian broadcaster RAI to stage this event was 400 million lire (£245,000), with the committee of international broadcasters responsible for paying 105 million lire (£64,500) of that amount. A further 30 million lire (£18,500) was recouped from sponsors and subscriptions, with the deficit being made up from ticket receipts, refreshments and souvenir sales. Tickets were priced at 7000 lire (£4.30) to attend the rehearsals and 9000 lire (£5.50) to spectate at the recording. Additionally, the Piemonte region spent 45 million lire (£27,600) on publicity tied into the Jeux Sans Frontières event, in the hope of drawing tourists to the area for the event and in the approaching summer season.

The timings of Yugoslavian transmissions by JRT between 1978 and 1982 are local time. Unlike the rest of Europe, Yugoslavia did not introduce Daylight Savings time adjustments until 1983. This meant that when a live transmission started, it was 8.05pm Central European Time but 7.05pm in Yugoslavia.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives
Exists in European archives

B

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 2

Event Staged: Tuesday 13th June 1978
Venue: Parc des Roches, Rochefort, Belgium

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Tuesday 13th June 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Tuesday 13th June 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
SRG (CH): Tuesday 13th June 1978, 8.05-8.20pm (Live - incomplete)
JRT (YU): Tuesday 13th June 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 13th June 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 13th June 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Tuesday 13th June 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 17th June 1978, 4.00-5.30pm
RTP (P): Saturday 17th June 1978, 9.35-11.15pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 30th July 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 27th September 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 1st October 1978, 1.55-3.10pm

Theme: The Adventures of Tintin and Snowy

Teams: Rochefort (B) v. Yverdon-les-Bains (CH) v. Bad Sobernheim (D) v. La Rochelle (F) v.
Crewe and Nantwich (GB) v. Abano Terme (I) v. Novo Mesto (YU)

Team Members included:

Abano Terme (I) - Giampietro Bano, Lucia Casotto, Paolo Crestale, Lorenzo Gardin, Flavio Gomiero, Luisa Lazzaro, Emanuela Longo, Daniela Marini, Manuele Meneghini, Roberto Mioni, Roberto Milese, Paolo Rampado, Sergio Scudellaro, Massimo Teolato, Lidio Tolin.

Games: Snowy to the Rescue, Anaconda, Sausage Machine, Black Widow Spider, Sticky Boots, Atomic Reactor, Seaplane and Mountain Climb;
Fil Rouge (Official Title): Le Sauvetage de la Castafiore (The Rescue of Castafiore).

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
2nd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 D • Bad Sobernheim ● ●
 B • Rochefort
 I • Abano Terme ●
 CH • Yverdon-les-Bains
 GB • Crewe and Nantwich
 YU • Novo Mesto
 F • La Rochelle

44
39
39
34
32
27
25

André Lange's Cartoons for this Programme

Additional Information

Viewers in the SRG Swiss-German area were asked to switch to the TSI channel to continue watching Jeux Sans Frontières after just fifteen minutes of the transmission, at which point SRG broke off to show a different programme.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

D

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 3

Event Staged: Wednesday 28th June 1978
Venue: Beach and Promenade, Grömitz, West Germany

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 8.05-9.20pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 9.05-10.30pm (Live - DST)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 28th June 1978, 9.10-10.35pm
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 1st July 1978, 4.00-5.30pm
RTP (P): Saturday 1st July 1978, 9.35-11.05pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 6th August 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 4th October 1978, 6.55-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 8th October 1978, 2.00-3.15pm

Theme: At the Beach

Teams: Willebroek (B) v. Cavergno Valle Maggia (CH) v. Grömitz (D) v.
Cambrai (F) v. Londonderry (NI) v. Battipaglia (I) v. Mostar (YU)

Team Members included:
Cambrai (F) - Brigitte Andrias, Jean-François Buisset, Ghislaine Cornolle, Carl Kriscolo, Serge Darras, Michele Declercq (Women's Team Captain), Alain Degage (Team Captain), Dominigue Desbuquoit, Jacques Diers, Isabelle Dumont, Florence Lecoustre, Christine Llobel, Frédric Maerten, Jean-Noël Mantaux, Jean-Lionel Montigny, Jean-Michel Rey;
Battipaglia (I) - Aldo Bini, Patrizia Carrara, Lucia Corradino, Pietro Dorsi, Alfredo Paolo Farabella, Emilio Maiorano (Team Captain), Francesco Muotri, Nestore Miceli, Rita Nola, Antonio Pace, Rosalba Sartari, Luciana Tortora, Giuseppe Visacadio, Fernando Zara

Games: Lighthouse, Octopus, Motorbike Football, Catching Fish, Beach Chair, Jellyfish, Windbreak and Departure;
Fil Rouge: Launching the Boat.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 B • Willebroek ● ●
 F • Cambrai
 NI • Londonderry
 D • Grömitz
 I • Battipaglia
 YU • Mostar
 CH • Cavergno Valle Maggia

43
37
35
32
31
28
27

Additional Information

When Londonderry competed in this heat, the scoreboard ident letters and the ‘GB’ on the shirts were replaced by 'NI', retaining the usual red Great Britain colour. Stuart Hall explained this by saying that "throughout Europe we are known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

YU

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 4

Event Staged: Wednesday 12th July 1978
Venue: Shore of the River Danube, Zemun, Beograd, Yugoslavia

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 8.00-9.20pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 8.55-10.15pm
BRT (B): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Wednesday 12th July 1978, 9.05-10.30pm (Live - DST)
WDR 1 (D): Friday 14th July 1978, 10.00-11.30pm
RTP (P): Saturday 15th July 1978, 9.35-10.55pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 13th August 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 11th October 1978, 6.55-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 15th October 1978, 2.00-3.15pm

Theme: Chess Games

Teams: Silly (B) v. Altdorf (CH) v. Lahnstein (D) v. Fontainebleau (F) v.
Sandwell (GB) v. Tolfa (I) v. Zemun (YU)

Team Members included:
Sandwell (GB) - Geoff Bennett (Team Captain), Rosie Bishop (Women's Team Captain), Paul Butler, John Collins, Janet Dale, Sandy Dallas, Colin Dewis, Trevor Drew, Karen Dumpleton, Tony Gale, David Gillard, Judith Gowan, Mervyn Green, Ian Hamblett, Roger Hill, Hazell Humm, Patricia Jones, Ann Keighley, Paul Kelsey, Jim Lavin, Brian Lewis, Paul Lippiatt, Mick Lockwood, Steve Millard, Raymond Morris, Stan Osborne, Yvonne Painting, Lesley Pallett, Gary Payne, Peter Reynolds, Gill Shinton, Ann Smith, Amanda Thornton, Geoff Tibbetts.

Games: Chariot Race, Leap Frog, Lassoing Bishops, Pawns to Queens, Chess Basketball, Knights Spearing Rings, Collecting Water and Building a Pawn;
Fil Rouge: Catching Balls on Boats.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
4th
6th
7th

 GB • Sandwell ● ●
 F • Fontainebleau ●
 CH • Altdorf
 B • Silly
 YU  • Zemun
 D • Lahnstein
 I • Tolfa

48
44
36
33
33
25
20

Team Selection and Training

After the Sandwell team's triumphant showing in the Domestic competition, Women's Team captain Rosie Bishop was promoted to Women's Team manager and coach, with Sandy Dallas taking her previous position.

The Rehearsals

British team Sandwell's preparations suffered a setback when the team's first reserve Mick Lockwood was involved in an accident during rehearsals. Unfortunately, the 26 year old had been taking photographs from a high scaffolding rig, when, as Mick related to the Birmingham Express & Star, "the wooden plank I was sitting on just went. I don't really know what happened. What a way to end a knock out trip." He had fallen 25 feet and suffered a broken leg, necessitating his hospitalisation and withdrawal from the event. Despite this incident, the Sandwell team was reported to be in good spirits, and team captain Geoff Bennett said, "One of the eight games is pur chance and we are not happy about some of the others - but we will still win". Perhaps folically challenged Geoff was driven to his defiant claim when the Yugoslave team of Zemun gave him a gift - a bottle of hair tonic!

Additional Information

Preparations for this International Heat did not go to plan, with construction work on the stadium and props beset with difficulties. On the day before the event was staged, Slobodan Jocic, the Yugoslav television producer informed the press that work on building the 3,200 seat stadium in the Belgrade suburb was two days behind schedule. As a result, more than one hundred Yugoslav builders were employed to work around the clock to complete the work.

The teams entered the arena to the strains of Johann Strauss’ classic composition, The Blue Danube.

This heat was a two-team battle-royale from start to finish. The lead changed between French team, Fontainebleau and British team, Sandwell throughout the night. It was not until Game 7, when both teams were level on thirty-four points each, that Sandwell took charge. The Fil Rouge earned Sandwell seven points, whilst Fontainebleau could only muster four. Sandwell went into the final game with a three points lead, but the French could do nothing to close the gap. The Sandwell team was so determined to win the heat that they took seven points from the last game, their rivals finished as runners-up in the game and on the night as a whole. A classic Jeux Sans Frontières finish.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

F

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 5

Event Staged: Wednesday 26th July 1978
Venue: Stade de Football de Chantereine, Bourgoin-Jallieu, France

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 8.05-9.20pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live - DST)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 26th July 1978, 9.20-10.40pm
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 29th July 1978, 4.00-5.30pm
RTP (P): Saturday 29th July 1978, 9.35-11.05pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 20th August 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 18th October 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 22nd October 1978, 2.00-3.15pm

Theme: Asterix and the Gauls

Teams: Hamme (B) v. Novazzano (CH) v. Wesseling (D) v. Bourgoin-Jallieu (F) v.
East Kilbride (GB) v. Montecatini Terme (I) v. Ohrid (YU)

Team members included:

Novazzano (CH) - Giuliana Bossi, Tommaso Caccavalli, Anna Cerutti, Marina Larghi, Brunello Luppi, Emiliano Maggi, Franco Mercolli.Adriano Piffaretti, Giovanni Ragonesi, Giuseppe Rezzonico, Tiziana Rezzonico, Olivio Sala;
East Kilbride (GB) - Steven Archibald, George Bell, Aileen Calder, Bob Cunningham, Irene Flaherty, Helen Graham, Iain Jackson, Elaine Kay, Duncan Laird, Ben McKenna, Dougie Patterson, Ann Sheed, Eileen South, Brian Thomson and Jim Thomson;
Novazzano (CH) - Roberto Beromi, Giuliana Bossi, Carla Bottani, Tommasco Caccavari, Lucio Cirebelli, Anna Cerruti, Brunello Luppi, Emiliano Maggi, Franco Mercolli, Luciano Meltoni, Giovanni Ragonesi, Giuseppe Rezzinico, Tiziana Rezzenico.

Games: Collecting the Ladle, Legionnaires on Ramps, Collecting the Wine, Bursting Rain Clouds, Lighting the Greek Fire, Collecting Sacks, Ferocious Animals and Vases, and Obelisks;
Fil Rouge: The Roman Garrison;
Jokers: Roman Standards with Banners.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
4th
6th
7th

 GB • East Kilbride ●
 CH • Novazzano
 B • Hamme
 D • Wesseling
 F • Bourgoin-Jallieu
 YU • Ohrid
 I • Montecatini Terme

46
38
37
36
36
22
21

The Venue

Bourgoin-Jallieu, France

The venue in Bourgoin-Jallieu used for this heat - Chantereine Football Stadium - is the home ground of FCBJ (Football Club Bourgoin-Jallieu).

Presenters, Officials and Production Team

British commentator Stuart Hall made something of a gaffe in this programme when he revealed the theme for the night and said that it was based on a comic book character known throughout Europe and widely read by children. This was all very well, but the character in question was Asterix, not "Asterisk" as stated by the presenter!

Additional Information

One of the features of René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's Asterix the Gaul comic series is that all Gaulish/Celtic characters have names ending in '-ix'. For instance, the two main characters are Asterix and Obelix, while other characters include (in English translations at least) Getafix the Druid, Fulliautomatix the Blacksmith and Postaldistrix the Postman. In this Asterix-themed Jeux Sans Frontières, Guy Lux got into the spirit of things by introducing international referees Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi as Olivierix and Pancaldix. Lux of course had an Asterix pedigree of his own, having appearance in carcicature in the 1971 Asterix adventure The Mansions of the Gods as Showbusinus, a charismatic, if oily Roman game-show host!

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

CH

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 6

Event Staged: Wednesday 9th August 1978
Venue: Hinterwald Park, Arosa, Switzerland

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 8.05-9.20pm (Live)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Wednesday 9th August 1978, 9.05-10.30pm (Live - DST)
RTP (P): Saturday 12th August 1978, 9.35-11.05pm
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 19th August 1978, 4.00-5.30pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 27th August 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 25th October 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 29th October 1978, 2.00-3.15pm

Theme: The Table of the Heroes

Teams: Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve (B) v. Arosa (CH) v. Drolshagen (D) v.
Arette-la-Pierre-Saint-Martin (F) v. Stevenage (GB) v. Pescasseroli (I) v. Kotor (YU)

Team Members included:
Drolshagen (D) - Reinhard Schaphoff (Co-Team Coach) and Herbert Schulte (Co-Team Coach);
Stevenage (GB) - George Jones (Team Manager), Tom Atkinson (Team Coach), Steve Mizsei (Team Captain), John Whitworth (Non-Playing Team Captain), Julie Retalic (Women's Team Captain), Fergus Alexander, Sue Boardman, Roger Costello, Placid Gonzales, Lynn Lawson, Ian Norfield, Judi Nardi, Ian Norfield, John O'Kane, Peter Omroyd, Tony Smith and Megan Taylor; Other Squad Members: Sue Curtis, June Peterson and William McKenna.

Games: Pinocchio and Tyres, Duellists, Weighted Chairs, Flying Birds, Hiding in the Trees, Flying Cannonballs, William Tell and Crossbows and Snowmen;
Fil Rouge: The Banquet.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

 CH • Arosa ● ●
 GB • Stevenage
 D • Drolshagen
 F • Arette-la-Pierre-Saint-Martin
 I • Pescasseroli
 B • Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve
 YU • Kotor

44
42
36
35
34
22
21

Returning Teams and Competitors

Stevenage team member Tony Smith had previously run and captained the St. Albans side in 1977 (and would do so again in 1979). He also ran the BBC Demo Team for the 1977 Jeux Sans Frontières event at Windsor, and assisted the Hertsmere and Welwyn Garden City It's A Knockout teams in the 1980 and 1981 seasons, respectively. Tony's long association with the series hit new heights in 1999, when he was employed by Ronin Entertainment as Course Referee for the Channel 5 It's A Knockout in 1999 and 2000.

Additional Information

One of the games in this heat centred on the French folk hero, Cyrano de Bergerac. The game was played over three heats and involved two members of opposing teams dressed as the hero, hanging like giant marionettes. Each of them was counterbalanced by means of a huge plastic bag around their midriff filled with gallons of water. On the whistle, the team members had to fight a duel - whilst still hanging - and try to burst the water-filled bellies. Obviously, as each one scored a direct hit, the water began cascading from the opponent’s belly, and the heavier of the marionettes would begin descending. The game ended when one of the marionettes reached the ground and the time was taken. Heats were (winning teams underlined) Switzerland (6 pts) v. Yugoslavia (1 pt), Great Britain (5 pts) v. West Germany (2 pts) and Belgium (3 pts) v. Italy (who played the Joker - 8pts).

Stevenage squandered the chance to make it three consecutive British wins this year. Leading by three points after the Fil Rouge result, the team was unable to build a snowman on the final game, and came last with just one point. Swiss team, Arosa took full advantage of Stevenage’s mishap, came in 2nd to the French team on the game, and scored the vital six points that they needed to secure victory.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

GB

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

Heat 7

Event Staged: Wednesday 23rd August 1978
Venue: The Old Showground, Scampton, Lincoln, Great Britain

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 8.05-9.20pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 8.05-9.35pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RAI Due (I): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 9.05-10.30pm (Live - DST)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 23rd August 1978, 9.10-10.30pm
RTP (P): Saturday 26th August 1978, 10.00-11.15pm
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 2nd September 1978, 9.15-10.45pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 3rd September 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 1st November 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 5th November 1978, 2.00-3.15pm

Theme: The Adventures of Robin Hood

Teams: Hasselt (B) v. Tramelan (CH) v. Telgte (D) v. Mandelieu-La-Napoule (F) v.
Cleethorpes (GB) v. Pianoro (I) v. Kragujevac (YU)

Team Members included:
Cleethorpes (GB) - Mike Davie (Team Manager), Dot Allen, Sue Brockelsby, Tom Dawson, Paul Dent, Denise Halam, Dave Holmes, Julie King, Steve Moses, Anne Petherbridge, Mike Stringer, Brian Swaine, Terry Tuplin and Ken Wright.

Games: Friar Tuck, Hitting the Targets, Monkeys and Coins, Hiding the Gold, The Giant Rocks, Sheriff of Nottingham, Haystack and Horse Race;
Jokers: The Lincoln Imp (symbol of the City of Lincoln);
Fil Rouge: Little John over Pool.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
1st
3rd
3rd
5th
6th
7th

 B • Hasselt ●
 YU • Kragujevac ●
 D • Telgte
 F • Mandelieu-La-Napoule
 CH • Tramelan
 GB • Cleethorpes
 I • Pianoro

37
37
36
36
35
29
24

Additional Information

Yugoslavian team, Kragujevac was leading by six points after the Fil Rouge result, and only needed to finish in 6th place on the final game to guarantee an outright win. However, the game - a horse race - proved too much for them, and the team could only manage 7th place. Belgian team, Hasselt took full advantage of this, winning the game and picking up the seven points to give themselves a joint win with the Yugoslavians - one of the greatest comebacks by any team in the history of the programme.

This is the closest finish ever in the history of Jeux Sans Frontières, with just two points separating the top five teams. In fact, any one of the top five could have won this heat along with the Yugoslavian team (who were already guaranteed a win - see Additional Information note above).

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

I

Jeux Sans Frontières 1978

International Final

Event Staged: Wednesday 6th September 1978
Venue: Parco Terme, Montecatini Terme, Italy

European Transmissions (Local Timings):
SSR (CH): Wednesday 6th September 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
TSI (CH): Wednesday 6th September 1978, 8.05-9.25pm (Live)
JRT (YU): Wednesday 6th September 1978, 8.05-9.30pm (Live)
BRT (B): Wednesday 6th September 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
RTBF (B): Wednesday 6th September 1978, 9.05-10.25pm (Live - DST)
SRG (CH): Wednesday 6th September 1978, 9.10-10.30pm
RAI Due (I): Thursday 7th September 1978
WDR 1 (D): Saturday 9th September 1978, 4.00-5.30pm
RTP (P): Saturday 9th September 1978, 9.35-11.15pm
Antenne 2 (F): Sunday 10th September 1978
BBC1 (GB exc. Wales): Wednesday 8th November 1978, 6.50-8.05pm
BBC1 Wales (CYM): Sunday 12th November 1978, 2.00-3.15pm

Theme: Old Baghdad

Teams: Willebroek (B) v. Arosa (CH) v. Bad Sobernheim (D) v. Fontainebleau (F) v.
Sandwell (GB) v. Abano Terme (I) v. Kragujevac (YU)

Team Members included:
Sandwell (GB) - Geoff Bennett (Team Captain), Rosie Bishop (Women's Team Captain), Paul Butler, John Collins, Janet Dale, Sandy Dallas, Colin Dewis, Trevor Drew, Karen Dumpleton, Tony Gale, David Gillard, Judith Gowan, Mervyn Green, Ian Hamblett, Roger Hill, Hazell Humm, Patricia Jones, Ann Keighley, Paul Kelsey, Jim Lavin, Brian Lewis, Paul Lippiatt, Mick Lockwood, Steve Millard, Raymond Morris, Stan Osborne, Yvonne Painting, Lesley Pallett, Gary Payne, Peter Reynolds, Gill Shinton, Ann Smith, Amanda Thornton, Geoff Tibbetts;
Abano Terme (I) - Giampietro Bano, Lucia Casotto, Paolo Crestale, Lorenzo Gardin, Flavio Gomiero, Luisa Lazzaro, Emanuela Longo, Daniela Marini, Manuele Meneghini, Roberto Mioni, Roberto Milese, Paolo Rampado, Sergio Scudellaro, Massimo Teolato, Lidio Tolin.

Games: Aladdin’s Lamp, Crocodiles and Plates, Roses, Collecting Jewels, Ostriches, Camels, Lion, Rhinoceros and Orang-utan and Ostriches, Genies and Camels;
Fil Rouge: Building the Palace;
Jokers: Giant Turbans.

Game Results and Standings

Result

 Team

Points

Final Scoreboard

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
4th
6th
7th

 I • Abano Terme ●
 GB • Sandwell ●
 F • Fontainebleau ●
 CH • Arosa
 YU • Kragujevac
 B • Willebroek
 D • Bad Sobernheim

43
41
36
31
31
28
25

Additional Information

This International Final featured the giant ostriches that were subsequently seen in many compilation programmes. The idea was for the ostriches to run up an incline, slide down the other side and then pick up a giant ring in their mouths, which were operated by the male team members inside the costumes. BBC commentator Stuart Hall was in stitches with laughter once again, especially when the ‘ostriches’ walked away to restart the game after every elimination heat.

In the run-in to this event, British team Sandwell faced something of a problem. There was a smallpox scare in the Midlands area of Britain that they hailed from, and initially, the Italian authorities demanded that the British contingent coming to the event would have to submit to smallpox immunisation jabs before setting off for Montecatini Terme. After much diplomatic to-ing and fro-ing, it was finally decided that it would not be safe for the competitors to have jabs and then engage in demanding physical activity, so the team were able to travel without immunisation. The Sandwell team had the last laugh, even though they did not win the International Final, when their recovering team member Mick Lockwood, who had broken his leg falling from scaffolding at the Zemun International Heat, limped on with the British Joker while pursued by two "doctors"!

With three games won and a victory in the Fil Rouge in this International Final, British team Sandwell brought Great Britain’s total games won for the year to 23 (21 games and 2 Fils Rouge). The next highest this year was just 12, amassed by both Switzerland and France. Up to the end of 1982 (excluding the two-team contest years of 1965 and 1966), this was the third highest tally for any country in one year. The highest ever totals were set by West Germany with 25 games won in 1967, followed by 24 games won in 1968. However, the British achievement of 1978 was, in like for like terms, just as impressive. In percentage terms (games won to games played), the British came out marginally ahead of one of the West German totals - their 1978 tally being 23 wins from 64 games (35.93%) beating the West German score of 24 wins from 67 games in 1968 (35.82%). The West German performance of 1967 still tops the British achievement, however, with 25 wins from 67 games (37.31%). There were seven teams in Jeux Sans Frontières in 1978 compared to six in 1967 and 1968, which resulted in tougher competition. The 1978 games total has been adjusted to take account of the fact that each team missed one game in each programme.

This was the last year where playing a Joker would mean an automatic doubling of points scored in the game. From 1979, if a team finished their Joker game lower than third, they received no bonus points.

In the aftermath of the International Final, the Sandwell campaign came in for criticism at local council level, when Labour Councillor John Edwards complained about the decision to send a seven-member civic party with the team to Montecatini Terme. Edwards said at the committee meeting of Tuesday 26th September 1978: "The team would have done just as well without the presence of the civic party. They played no part in the near-victory, and I see no reason why they should have gone as guests of the ratepayers." The finance director, William Astbury, responded that the cost of sending the party would be in the region of £1,000. The meeting agreed that the expense had been worthwhile as the civic presence had helped foster a considerable amount of goodwill with European neighbours, and that congratulations would be sent to the team.

Made in Colour • This programme exists in the BBC Archives

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Neil Storer and Alan Hayes
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