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The University of Southampton
Medicine

Medicine students compete in University Challenge

Published: 8 January 2018
University of Southampton students

Two Medicine students were part of a University of Southampton team who took part in the second round of University Challenge.

Andy Knighton, BM4 third year, and Paulo Ledesma, BM5 third year, joined team-mates Lorna Frankel from Natural Sciences, and Niall Jones from English, to compete against a team from Newcastle University. But on the night the Newcastle team had the edge, winning the round and booking their place in the quarter finals.

The Southampton team had made a good show in the first round, beating their competitors from Cardiff University with a resounding 280 to 40 win.

Paulo said: “We were really chuffed to have done well in the first round and went in to the second round determined to match our performance against a really strong Newcastle team. However, some bonus questions did not go our way, but it's comforting to know that teams featuring some of the best quizzers I've met have also exited the competition at this stage.

“It was great to be able to represent my University and to tick taking part in University Challenge off of my bucket list.”

Andy added: “Newcastle were the better team and deserved the win, but obviously we're gutted to have been knocked out. Competing in University Challenge was a fantastic experience, although terrifying at times. I’d encourage anyone who is keen to go for it.”

More than 130 universities applied to take part in this season’s main competition and the Southampton team succeeded in a tough audition process to make the final 28.

A team of Southampton alumni narrowly missed out on a semi-final place in the recent Christmas version of University Challenge. The team, captained by John Wilson, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row (1988, BA English and Media), defeated York 150-70 but St John’s College, Cambridge and the Reading both scored 155 points each to qualify for the semi-finals.

Alongside John were Southampton graduates Daniel Sandford, the BBC’s Home Affairs Correspondent (1998, BSc Physics/Electronics); Clare Foges, former Special Advisor to Number 10 Downing Street and Times columnist (2002, BA English); and Simon Evans, comedian, writer and presenter (1986, BA Law).

 

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