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29 February 2008
Sheffield storms into University Challenge final
The University of Sheffield has cruised into the finals of the renowned TV programme, University Challenge, after beating Oxford's Magdalen College by over 100 points in their semi-final, aired on Monday.
The Sheffield team - Paul McKay, Aditya Balachander, Phil Smith, and Kathryn Swindells, have one of the highest point totals for a series for all their rounds, having beaten Central Lancashire, Edinburgh and Exeter in the first rounds, and now Oxford Magdalen.
In the final, which will be aired on Monday 3 March 2008 at 8.00pm, Sheffield will face another Oxford team, Christ Church College. With subject expertise in architecture, chemistry, linguistics, and law the team is hoping to be the first Sheffield team ever to win the coveted Challenge Cup.
The Sheffield team was chosen in February last year after auditions in the University's Union of Students. Students were put through a rigorous general knowledge quiz and the best 16 were selected for a 'quick fire' round, where they were tested on their knowledge and confidence. From this group eight students, making up two teams, were chosen. At the auditions in Manchester, one team was chosen to compete, which was a combination of the two Sheffield teams.
Over 200 teams from around the country entered this year's University Challenge heats, but only 28 were selected to compete in the televised stages.
Paul McKay, Captain of the University of Sheffield team and an architecture student at the University, said: "All of us on the team have been watching University Challenge for years and I for one didn't really expect ever to be on the programme. Now, to be so close to winning the whole series, feels really quite extraordinary.
"The finals are usually dominated by Oxford and Cambridge and it would be great if Sheffield could develop into a real force on the programme - we've shown this year that we can compete with anyone and it would be good to see our success this year pave the way for another blazing run to the final in 2009."
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