University Challenge 2014-15: Round 1: Match 3: Bristol vs Courtauld

Evening all. Hope not many of you were caught out by the early start today; the show began at 7:30 rather than the usual 8, due to EastEnders being on BBC2 due to the Commonwealth Games on BBC1. Anyway, after two close games to begin the series, what would Week 3 have in store?

Bristol University began life in 1876 as a college, becoming a university 95 years later due to donations from the Fry and Wills families. Alumni include Messrs Lucas and Walliums of Little Britain, Marcus Brigstocke, and author David Nicholls, who fictionalised the uni in his brilliant novel 'Starter for Ten' (thoroughly recommend both book and film). A team from the uni last appeared two series ago, where they reached the second round before losing to Imperial. This year's quartet were:
Lewis Rendell, from Saffron Walden, studying Maths
Benjamin Moon, from Marksbury and Bath, studying Geology
Captain: Anastasia Reynolds, from East London, studying Czech and Russian
Miles Coleman, from North London, studying Spanish and Portuguese

I won't repeat precisely what Mr Moon said about his degree research!

The Courtauld Institute of Art, appearing on UC for the first time, was founded by the eponymous Samuel Courtauld in 1932, and since 1989 has been based in Somerset House on the Strand, as part of the University of London. Alumni include Brian Sewell, Andrew Graham-Dixon and Vincent Price. The first Courtauld UC team were:
Annie Gregoire, from the New Forest in Hampshire, studying History of Art
Matthew McLean, from Lewisham, studying History of Art
Captain: Anna Preston, from Sandwich in Kent, studying History of Art
Thomas Bodinetz, from Reading, studying History of Art

OK, so off we set again. Courtauld got off the mark first, and took two bonuses on food names; Bristol followed, but only managed one bonus on fictional servants. But the Avonsiders soon had their feet on the pedal, and showed more buzzer prowess with the next two starters, including the first picture starter. The first picture round was on the Academy Awards, with the teams needing to identify the Best Film winner from the actors who won that year. Bristol led by 55-20 after this.

Bristol's better buzzer showing continued with Lewis Rendell taking the next starter, resulting in a long set of bonuses requiring misleading place names to be spelled. Courtauld finally got a second starter, but got nothing from a set of science bonuses. Bristol pulled away further with the next starter, but just one bonus followed this time. A slip-up did not help Courtauld's cause, and allowed Bristol to move further ahead.

Neither side got the music starter, but Thomas Bodinetz took the next one, earning Courtauld the music bonuses, on arias from the most regularly performed operas in the world. Two bonuses reduced their deficit to 100-45. Another starter to Bristol saw them sweep the board on a tricky set of maths bonuses, earning them a 'Congratulations' from Paxo! A slip-up from Miles Coleman followed, but Courtauld failed to take the chance. Anastasia Reynolds took the next starter, and a bonus set on biblical quotations saw them take two.

Neither side identified the second picture starter, and the next starter saw Paxo mishear an answer of 'thallium' as 'valium', causing much hilarity! The second picture bonuses, on self-portraits, went to Courtauld, who took two bonuses, which bought the score to 140-65. The Londoners were unable to capitalise on another Bristol slip-up, and when the Avonsiders took the next starter, victory looked pretty certain.

Courtauld did manage to take another starter, but had no luck with the bonuses. Bristol took most of the remaining starters, which only served to cement their victory. At the gong, Bristol won by 190-75.

Paxo described both teams as 'very nice', and then thought he may be going soft! Bad luck to Courtauld, who simply couldn't get much traction on the buzzers, and you're not going to get far if you can't do that, but a very pleasant showing nonetheless. Well done to Bristol on a respectable first outing, and best of luck next time around!

Best buzzers of the night were Lewis Rendell and Miles Coleman, who got four starters each for Bristol; Thomas Bodinetz was Courtauld's best, getting three. On the bonuses, Bristol converted a fair 16 out of 31 (with two penalties), and Courtauld managed 6 out of 15 (with one penalty). Hopefully, I haven't made any mistakes this time; sorry again about last week's slip-up.

No show next week due to the WW1 centenary commemorations. The show will hopefully resume either the week after, or the week after that; we shall have to wait and see.