Evening folks, and welcome to the second week of my new slightly streamlined and not so detailed as before University Challenge reviews. Another idea I floated briefly on Twitter last night was setting up a page on here with links to all the various episodes of pre Gail Trimble UC that I've found on YT; I may well get this set up later this week.
Leicester University won the very first series of UC back in 1963; its best Paxo era performance was a run to the QFs in 1998-99, and its last apppearance was a first round exit in 2017-18. This year's team were:
Rob Eyles, from Gloucestershire, studying Astrophysics
Tilly Clark, from Arlesley in Bedfordshire, studying Biochemistry
Captain: Tom Purnell, from Tadcaster in North Yorkshire, studying for a PGCE with Science
Sean Harper, from Woodford Green, studying Victorian Studies
Durham University have won the show twice, in 1977 and more recently in 1999-2000; it has appeared in every series bar two since that win, and reached the semis of the last two series. This year's quartet were:
Harry Regan, from Sevenoaks, studying Liberal Arts
Tom Banbury, from Stratford-upon-Avon, studying History
Captain: Holly Parkinson, from Brighton, studying Physics
Tom Wilkening, from Ramsgate, studying Biology
So off we set again, and it was Leicester who had the faster start, with Mr Eyles identifying the notes of Pewterschmidt family ancestor Leonardo da Vinci; the side took two bonuses. The second and third starters also went to the Midlands side, as did one bonus from each set. Durham kicked off with the first picture round, on depictions of the Sun on national flags; two bonuses reduced their early arrears to 50-20.
Now awakened, the Wearsiders began to find their buzzer fingers and, two starters and pair of bonuses later, had taken the lead. Leicester pulled back in front with a starter and full bonus set on DC Comics, but Durham were now firmly in the groove, and another starter, with a nice mention for Clyde FC, and bonus pair gave them the lead again. After the music round, on cadenzas in classical music, Durham had opened a lead of 120-75.
Leicester pulled a starter and single bonus back, but a penalty gave Durham more room to breath, as they maintained their consistent form of answering two bonuses correct from every set. The Wearsiders then dropped five of their own though, Mr Regan unlucky to offer just 1939 instead of the full date, 1st of September that year, that was required. Leicester took the drop and one bonus. The Midlands side also had the second picture round, on scientists with streets named after them at the CERN complex; another sole bonus meant they trailed 135-115.
Still either team's game, but another Leicester penalty and Durham pickup gave them the advantage, despite their bonus consistancy ending with just one on China. Another starter and sole bonus put them within sight of victory, but Leicester kept themselves in it with a starter and two bonuses. But when Leicester dropped another five, and Durham picked up again, that was game over. At the gong, Durham won 180-125.
Another decent contest, either team's game until the final minutes. Well done to Durham, a solid team perfectly capable of another SF run if things go their way, best of luck next time. Hard lines to Leicester, whose score I feel won't be enough for the play-offs, but well done them on a respectable effort.
The stats: Mr Eyles was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Messrs Regan and Banbury were joint best for Durham with three each. On the bonuses, Leicester converted 12 out of 24 (with three penalties) and Durham 17 out of 30 (with one penalty).
Next week's match: Linacre College Oxford vs the Open University
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