The Lounge played host to live University Challenge finals on Thursday evening as York’s team for the 2013 BBC series was formed. Jeremy Harris, Greg Carrick, Brian Morley and Laura Kemp make up the side with Robert Fisher securing the reserve spot.
The candidates, along with other hopefuls, had originally taken part in Tuesday night’s qualifier, with the most successful returning tonight. They were split into three categories – the faculties across the university – of Humanities, Sciences and Arts & Literature.
The candidate with the most points at the end of each round was crowned champion and secured a place on York’s University Challenge team for 2013. The two runners up in each round went forward into a play-off consisting of general knowledge questions, with the winner also making the team.
Chaired by Graeme Osborn, YUSU’s Academic Officer, the quiz ran for two hours in an attempt to find students capable of recreating last year’s success, when York reached the final. Osborn wasted no time in making the most of his Paxman-esque position; barking out “Answer as soon as you buzz,” and “Come on, hurry up…” every so often.
The Humanities round was dominated from start to finish by Masters student Jeremy Harris, even though the large majority of candidates are currently in their first and second years. While Luke Myers took a while to get going – not buzzing in for the first 40 questions – each individual gave a good account of themselves and conjured up a close battle for the playoff spots.
The Science round was not so close, with Miles Balderston failing to register on the scoreboard and Greg Carrick flying through, while Arts & Literature saw a much tighter affair.
Osborn, who humourously apologised in advance of the science round for his “forthcoming mispronunciations” remarked after the final: “It was a great evening and I wish the team the best of luck come March [when filming takes place]. We had a great turnout from the audience which made it a really enjoyable night.”
Results in Full:
Each round consisted of Starter Questions (worth 10 points) read by Osborne. A candidate loses 5 points if (s)he incorrectly answers after buzzing in before the question is finished.
Humanities round (Harris wins and advances to the team. Players in bold secure playoff spot):
Adam Martin (30); Jeremy Harris (180); Luke Myers (30); Joseph Price (30); Robert Fisher (100); Josef Crowther (70); Alec Burt (75); James Carr (70).
Sciences round (Carrick wins and advances to the team. Players in bold secure playoff spot):
Laura Kemp (80); Miles Balderston (0); Greg Carrick (140); Robin Brabham (70); Tom Scott (65); Joseph McLoughlin (100).
Arts & Literature round (Morley wins and advances to the team. Players in bold secure playoff spot):
Roger Baxter (45); Thomas Gayford (35); Michael Tansini (40); Brendan Whitmarsh (55); Oliver Mickinley (50); Thomas Tyrrell (95); Brian Morley (120); Mark Wiltshire (5).
Play-off round (Kemp wins and secures place on the team, while Fisher is reserve):
Robert Fisher (70); Alec Burt (50); Laura Kemp (95); Joseph McLoughlin (60); Brendan Whitmarsh (35); Thomas Tyrrell (65).
Please don’t deny Morley his win in the third round by not mentioning him in the first paragraph, in the list of people comprising the York team.
Further, publicity of the qualifiers and second stage in all of the colleges might have been handy to get York the best team possible.
If the 4th round was any indicator, ducking of a number of simple questions will cost York dearly in the main event. Therefore the need for more publicity.
Shame it was so poorly publicised, would have liked to go along to that. Oh well, we can’t expect to do well when only on-campus first years see the posters.
I’m not really sure where the “no publicity” thing comes from..I saw it in the “weekly info” email that everyone gets, and several times on the YUSU Facebook page and twitter feed, and on the YUSU website, and Graeme Osborn’s blog, and on all the plasma screens around campus. If you don’t read emails or look at your own Student Union website/facebook from time to time, you’re bound to miss out on stuff.
I’m pretty sure Jeremy used to play football for Newcastle United in the 90s.