Sunday 31 December 2017

Christmas University Challenge 2017: Matches 1-5 (Sunday 24th - Friday 29th)

All right all? Hope you all have a good Christmas, and have something decent planned to see the New Year in tonight. I myself am worn out after what's been a busy and disjointed week, so Christmas University Challenge has at least provided something to keep me going, even if, as at least one Twitterer has pointed out, it has been on at different times all week. Be thankful you're not viewing it in Scotland, where it has been on as early as 5:45 in the afternoon at least once this week!

Anyway, I meant to do this last night, but became distracted, so let's do this now. (Apologies as I haven't watched these since they first went out, so my memories may be a bit vague.)

Sunday 24th: Durham vs Keble Oxford
Durham: Alexander Talbot-Rice, Caroline Foster (nee Atkins), Nick Mohammed, Rod Clements
Keble: Paul Johnson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Katy Brand, Anne Marie Imafidon

First match of the series very much a taster of what we should come to expect later in the week. Keble led from the off, with Mr Cottrell-Boyce in particular running the buzzer race, ending the night with six to his name. Durham had their moments, but were clearly outclassed on the buzzer here. Sadly for Mrs Foster, her second go at Christmas UC ended even worse than her first! The final score 220-35 in Keble's favour guarantees them a return next week.

Tuesday 26th: Selwyn Cambridge vs St Andrews
Selwyn: Sophie Wilson, Robin French, David Wilson, Viv Groskop
St Andrews: Michael Hulse, Alistair Moffat, Brian Taylor, Andrew Crumey

Probably the best match of the week; the final score, 145-90 to Selwyn, probably a bit harsh on St Andrews, who were very much in the match til right near the end. Kudos to Ms Wilson too for possibly the longest UC intro of all time! Her namesake was the best buzzer of the match, also with six starters. Sadly Selwyn's score definitely won't bring them back next week.

Wednesday 27th: York vs Southampton
York: Catherine West, Tom Service, Kevin Maguire, Simon Webb
Southampton: Simon Evans, Daniel Sandford, John Wilson, Claire Foges

A flying start from Southampton made another comfortable win look on the cards, but York did well to recover nicely afterwards and pull close after the music round. Southampton then ran away again afterwards though, and won 150-70. Mr Evans finished best on the buzzer with five starters, and, as our old friend Cromarty(IV) pointed out, is not the first 'Southampton Evans' to have appeared on the show! Their score is borderline for next week.

Thursday 28th: Leicester vs U.C.L.
Leicester: Sir Geoff Palmer, Danielle Brown, Pete Lawrence, Adele Parks
U.C.L.: Jeremy Bowen, Julian Baggini, Jane Dacre, Jessica Curry

U.C.L. clearly the better team here, with Mr Bowen, four starters, and Ms Curry, best buzzer of the night with six, running the buzzer race, with poor Leicester unable to get much of a foothold on the match, though they managed a decent run mid-match. U.C.L. though ran out very comfortable winners, 175-45, and they'll definitely be back next week.

Friday 29th: St John's Cambridge vs St Edmund Hall Oxford
St John's: Frederick Raphael, Laura Bates, Giles Foden, Jeremy Bamber
St Edmund Hall: Richard Gozney, Dan Abnett, Emma Kennedy, Anna Botting

The last match of the first week started close, with the teams splitting the first four starters between them. After that though, St John's ran away with the buzzer race, and St Edmund Hall being limited to just one more starter. Despite incurring the disgust of the Twittersphere (and Paxo!) for failing to remember Geoff Hurst as the only man to score a World Cup final hat-trick, St John's won 155-40, with Mr Bamber ending the night the best buzzer with six. Their score will be borderline for next week.

So, at the end of the first week's play, Keble and U.C.L. are definitely coming back next week, while St John's and Southampton are borderline. We shall have to wait and see as ever; hopefully we can get some good close matches next week.

Be back on Tuesday with my review of tomorrow night's Only Connect (finally back on Monday!); until then, good night, and have a safe and Happy New Year!

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