Students from Warwick have returned to campus triumphant after winning this year's series of University Challenge.
Navigating the entire series without a single defeat, the University of Warwick team that was made up of Richard Pollard, George Braid, Owain Burrell and Andrew Rout, defeated Cambridge's Magdalene College with 195 points to 140 in the BBC TV show. Team captain, Rout, said: “It was great to win, even if somewhat unexpected.
"It was surprising to get to the final let alone win the tournament." The maths PhD student, from Kent, went on: “Hopefully we will inspire other people try out for the Warwick University Challenge team in future years or to get involved."
The University (of Warwick) last lifted the series trophy in 2007 and vice-chancellor Professor Stuart Croft said: “I was absolutely delighted to congratulate the team on their superb victory. To have won the series without losing a single match is an incredible achievement, especially against such excellent competition."
The series was recorded during Covid-19 restrictions and George Braid, a Physics PhD student from Brighton, said: “It was a shame that the pandemic stopped us seeing much of the other teams, or indeed each other, outside of the games, but the studios ran everything very smoothly under the circumstances.”
History and politics student Richard Pollard added: "Even in the circumstances, limiting as they have been, the whole process has been very rewarding." The team were presented with their trophy by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage.
