University Challenge 2023-24: Round 1: Match 7: UEA vs Strathclyde

Good evening again friends, and welcome back to the now complete Quizzy Mondays! Yep, Mastermind is back, so, at last, the four big Monday quizzes are all running at the same time! Enjoy it while it lasts! Anyway, on with UC firstly, and the first first round of the Amol Rajan era is halfway through, and so far things have been going pretty good all things considered. Tonight, two 60s university teams fought for the seventh place in the second round...

The University of East Anglia surprisingly only appeared three times in the Paxman era: a second round exit to eventual runners-up U.C.L. in 2004-05, a (somewhat controversial) second round loss to eventual winners Warwick in 2006-07, and a first round defeat in 2018-19. This year's foursome were:

Melissa Shiress, from London, studying Pacific Collections in National Museums Scotland

Bryony Yates, from Wolverhampton, studying Plant Biology

Captain: Owen Tobin, from Nottingham, studying Medicine

Matthew Jennings, from King's Lynn, studying Philosophy

Strathclyde University appeared seven times on the BBC series, five of which came in this blog's lifetime, and three of which saw them lose to Durham; the most successful of the seven was the team of 2020-21 who reached the quarter-finals. This year's quartet were:

Nina Reid, from Worcestershire, studying Forensic and Analytical Chemistry

Gregor MacDowall, from the Black Isle, studying Aeromechanical Engineering

Captain: Stephen Gault, from Glasgow, studying Educational Leadership

Prys Hughes, from Deiniolen in Gwynedd, studying Mechanical Engineering

So, off we set once again then, and an immediate penalty from UEA (not 'East Anglia' as Mr Tilling called them on their previous appearances) allowing Strathclyde to open the scoring, but they only took one bonus from their first set. UEA immediately bounced back and took two bonuses to draw level, only for the Scots side to immediately go back in front again with a starter and two bonuses of their own. The first picture round, on diagrams of sub units of a kidney nephron, went to UEA; one bonus meant they just trailed 35-30. The Norwich team then took the lead with the next starter, and went on to take another two in a row, which saw them pull away into a lead. The run stopped when Mr Tobin unluckily offered 'Cult' instead of 'Blue' when asked for the adjective in the name of the band who sang 'Don't Fear the Reaper'; Mr Gault swooped, but his side only took one bonus. The music starter saw Mr Tobin identify that old UC fave the Buggles; the bonuses, on bands produced by their frontman Trevor Horn, gave UEA a full set, after which they led 95-50.

The lead only got better with two starters in a row to Ms Yates and three of the resulting six bonuses. But Strathclyde bounced back well now, as Mr MacDowall took three starters in a row, which saw his team deservedly reached three figures and cut the gap to just 30 points. But UEA took the second picture round, on stills from rediscovered films (no Hal Roach stuff sadly), and a full bonus set increased their lead to 155-100. Strathclyde were still in the game though, as responded with a starter and a full bonus set of their own, on German football captains. But that would be as close as they would get, as UEA ran away with it on the buzzer from here on in, and, despite their bonus rate alternating wildly between three and none, it mattered not as they ran out into an impressive late lead. At the gong, UEA won 235-125.

Another good contest that was actually a bit closer than that scoreline suggests IMO. Well done to UEA, a most impressive performance against decent opponents, suggests they'll be a team to watch if they keep this form up; best of luck in the next round! Hard lines to Strathclyde, a decent team who'd have probably beaten another opponent; thanks for playing!

The stats: Ms Yates was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Mr MacDowall was Strathclyde's best with four. On the bonuses, UEA managed 21 out of 39 (with two penalties) and Strathclyde 11 out of 21.

Next week's match: Open vs Hertford Oxford

Only Connect’s penultimate first round match pitted the Mercians, Ian Fennell (formerly of Brain of Britain and Mastermind), Pam Douglas (also formerly of Mastermind) and captain Jamie McNeill, against the Volunteers, Sunth Siva, Rebecca Brown and captain Sarah Holey. The former led 5-1 after the first round (I claim three points on the failed mergers question) and 14-3 after the second. A better wall increased that big lead to 24-8 going into Missing Vowels, and it only increased further there to leave the Mercians winners 36-10.

 

Mastermind returned for its new series tonight of course. Ruth Hart was the first winner of the new series, winning a high scoring contest with 26 points, ahead of Chas Bedford with 23 and Christine McBurney with 19. (Sadly, despite, what looks like, a new format, it seems there’s still no room for high scoring non-winners in the SFs; what a shame). Sanjay Nath completed the line-up with 10.

 

Last week’s Brain of Britain was won by UC and Fifteen-to-One 2.0 alumnus George Scratcherd, whose 18 points saw him win ahead of Sue Brearley with 12 and Peter Almond with 11, both of whom are in early contention for a possible high scoring non-winners place. Leigh Hagger completed the line-up with 8.

 

This afternoon’s show was another close high scoring one, with John Esling winning with 15 points ahead of Dave Cowen (another revived Fifteen-to-One alumnus), whose 13 points will surely be enough for a HSNW place. Emma Goodridge-Hobson and Atalanta Beaumont also competed, finishing with 9 and 8 respectively.