Award Winning?

This morning I entered a writing prize. Or rather, I'm not sure if I entered it, because when I originally tried to submit - with about 15 minutes to spare before a deadline I've known about for more than a month - the submission form deleted all of my answers and demanded that I log in again. So I logged in again and saw some lovely blank boxes.

Now, the webpage had fairly explicitly warned me that this might happen, instructing me to save my work as I went along, but did I do that? No. Had I even noticed the warning until after I'd made the mistake? Also no. Was I nonetheless very annoyed with myself at having fallen for one of the oldest tricks in the computer era? Yes.

Having left university a sickening seven years ago, I haven't had cause to be writing something with such a meaningful deadline in such a rushed manner for quite a while. My final year thesis, I submitted with mere seconds remaining. I think I then took my shoe off and threw it to the floor like I'd just scored a touchdown to release the stress.

I didn't quite do that today, but there was a similar feeling of being chased by a primordial ghoul. A feeling which was exacerbated by the fact that my first attempt at clicking submit didn't work - I hadn't filled in my demographic information. Well, I had, but that had been on my previous go, when I hadn't saved any of the details.

All of which is to say, I hope I win, even though I might have missed the deadline by three seconds or something like that.

Two teams who definitely didn't miss the deadline for applying to University Challenge are Merton College, Oxford and Durham, who faced off on Monday night.

Durham won the whole lot in 2023, and have made a record 25 appearances in the BBC era. They also won in 2000, and 1977, so they didn't stand a chance this year, if the pattern is to continue. They may as well sack it off until around 2040, to get some practice in ahead of the scheduled 2046 victory.

Merton won the 1980 series and reached the final in 2018, losing out narrowly to St John's, Cam. Aside from that, they haven't made it past the second round in the BBC era, losing five times at that stage.

Here's your first starter for ten

Gowers grabs the opening starter for Durham with Sherman, and they take two bonuses on films set during WW2.

Ong hits back for Merton with an impressive buzz of Kalevala, and they took a clean sweep on famous tennis courts (none of them being Margaret). Another for Ong extends Merton's lead and a couple of bonuses left then 20-points clear.

Captain Cosnett gets in on the act with the picture starter, before Haines-Matos stops Merton's streak with Becky Sharp. Fleetwood-Law picks up a mistake by Chatham, and an early buzz of Disco Elysium gives Cosnett a second ten-pointer.

Chatham makes up for it with , on the next starter, and looks delighted, gently pumping his fists and grinning his face off. Durham can't get going, though, and it is Duncan who comes in with a rapid buzz on the following starter. Merton seem to really enjoy buzzing as quickly as possible.

No one recognises The Happy Mondays on the music starter, and Duncan takes the replacement with blithe. Merton are nearly a hundred points clear, and anaphora, from Duncan again, takes them beyond that mark.

If Durham are going to have a chance, they need to get a move on, and Gower tries his best with Rugby League on the next starter, but they can't maintain any momentum. It is Ong who tackles them on this occasion, recovering the egg for Merton.

Haines-Matos guesses Marie Antoinette correctly on the picture starter, but it isn't enough to close the gap, and Merton don't let up, galloping relentlessly to a final score of 235.

Durham 120 - 235 Merton, Ox

A dominant performance from Merton, who look well placed to make the quarters for only the second time since 1995. Durham, meanwhile, have another 21 years before they need to be at their best, so they needn't worry.

Next week sees a third debut team of the series, as Harper Adams take on Strathclyde. Subscribe so you don't miss the post.