Bangor University Students have secured a place in the next round of University Challenge after beating rivals, Aberystwyth University. The team of four sailed through to the next round with an impressive score of 230.
After last year’s success in the popular BBC 2 Quiz, hosted by Jeremy Paxman, Bangor were favourites to win this round. They also had the help of old time favourite, Rhodri the dragon, the lucky mascot brought by last year’s hopefuls.
The contestants showed substantial knowledge in all subject areas, reflected in the drastic difference in score. Aberystwyth only managing 110.
This year’s team members – Catriona Coutts (captain), Anna Johnson, Owain Wyn Jones and Daisy Le Helloco, took on the quiz with ease.
Antony Butcher, Bangor University Students’ Union President said, “It’s great to see Bangor back on University Challenge, and I wish our team the best of luck”.
Team captain Catriona Coutts was a reserve member for the previous team and described her excitement of leading the group through.
“The experience as a whole was exhilarating and terrifying. I was fine until we got into the studio and then I couldn’t stop shaking”.
She added “It was all quite surreal seeing the studio and Jeremy Paxman and actually doing the things you’ve seen teams on television do so many times. At times I couldn’t believe we were actually doing this and at the end it took a minute to register that we had actually won”.
The four students are all studying different degrees and are shinning representatives for Bangor University. Daisy Le Helloco, 25, is studying a PhD in English Literature. Whilst fellow PhD student Owain Wyn Jones is reading for Medieval Welsh History.
Fourth team member Ana Johnson, 22, is studying Marine Biology and this year’s reserve team member, Tom White, 21, is studying a Masters Research degree in Ecology.
After completing the tryouts at the Students Unions, the five hopefuls were put into a final group. It was then down to them to decide which four would go through to the show and who would be the reserve and the captain.
The team are following last year’s success, which saw Bangor reach the semi-final round of the show.
Coutts is now preparing her team for the next round of the show, although this time she feels more relaxed.
“I’m really excited to be through to the next round. I’ll still be nervous but I don’t think anything will be as terrifying as that first time”.
Bangor will be appearing on the quiz show
