History

Each year, Cambridge and Oxford battle it out in the Varsity Quiz Match, taking it in turns to host. Oxford have won all five contests to date, but there's always next year...

Varsity Match 2003

Although the scores for this year appear to have gone missing, there was very little doubt which team won. Oxford's A team proved too strong for their Cambridge counterparts, although Cambridge did manage to win the B game in a tight match that went right down to the last starter. This happened in London, at the BSQC, where Cambridge A came a creditable 3rd, behind the semi-professional Manchester United team and Oxford A.

Varsity Match 2002

The fourth Varsity took place on Sunday March 3rd in Christ's College. After munching their way through the free refreshments, Cambridge B managed an impressive 380-225 victory over their Oxford rivals. However, the A team couldn't repeat the feat, losing 540-165. Oxford therefore won the newly commissioned Varsity trophy, presented by Richard Crane from sponsors Deloitte and Touche. Full report, photos and statistics.

Varsity Match 2001

Saturday 3rd March, and Oxford's turn to act as quizmasters. A little disorganised, Cambridge failed to send a reserves team and only three on the A team, but they did well, squandering a huge lead to lose 320-385 against the Oxford reserves, and again the Bayley machine ensured a victory for the Oxford A team 285-615. There was even time for Bayley to notch up a 355-310 victory with the remaining question against the seven-strong Cambridge combined with the Oxford B team!

Varsity Match 2000

The 2000 Varsity Match took place on Sunday 7th March in the Rushmore Room, St Catharine's, Cambridge just after the brief AGM. Again, there were two matches, beginning with the reserves during which an extremely impressive Cambridge team won comfortably. Alas, the A team couldn't repeat the performance and yet again Oxford's quiz machine, Ian Bayley, meant that we never really stood a chance.

Varsity Match 1999

The first ever Varsity Match took place on 23rd May 1999, in St John's College, Oxford, and ended controversially, to say the least. The questions were all set by a member of the Mastermind Club, and two of their members came up to officiate: one to read, one to score. Half an hour of questions followed, and the match was tighter than all had expected. Oxford's unbeatable team was being held by our four representatives, knocked together at the last minute. The lead kept changing sides all the way through until with 30 seconds left Oxford were 10 points ahead. The final starter. Oxford leapt in but gave the wrong answer - 5 points deducted. We were given the rest of the question, and Robin got it right. So 5 points ahead with only seconds to go. The question master was halfway through the first bonus when the gong went. So we'd done it!...

Alas not. No, the scorer then said she had made a mistake. Much scribbling and whispering with the Oxford President before he declared that the scores were actually 275-275: a tie. It was to be decided by a single question, and needless to say Oxford interrupted with the correct answer. So officially Oxford won, but even our opponents were less than happy to claim victory. We pointed out that if we'd known that the scores were tied then we'd have interrupted the first bonus, as we'd actually known the answer. But, we weren't too bothered, as they seemed to be taking it a tad too seriously anyway. And we'll just have to cream them in the return match.