The Leeds University Challenge Team 2002 - By Steve Kidd
The Second Round Game - vs. Nottingham. 5th July 2002
I blew a starter on the warm up, but I 'wasn't bothered' it was 20 - 20 and didn't matter anyway (did it?). An early start by Nottingham was soon overhauled and at something like 120 - 60 to us we had that famous 'comfortable' lead. The first music round will stay with me forever.
"What modern vocalist is this?"
I have pondered why, after twenty years of asking people precisely the same question why I didn't get Otis Redding singing 'Try a little Tenderness'. These may be contributory factors
a) I was cautious about making a mistake in my area of expertise
b) Otis Redding died 34 years ago, perhaps 'modern' unbalanced me.
c) I forgot you can't lose points on a picture or music
d) The horn intro was omitted, and the sample started on the "Oh, she may be weary..
e) Complacency
f) I underestimated the opposition
g) Nottingham were awesome.
Despite them not getting Wilson Pickett, Arthur Conley or Percy Sledge on the bonuses, it had turned the game on its head, from us being 85 points in front to them being only two starters away from us. I don't know how the rest of the team felt but I was gutted. My closest sister Wanda and her husband, who I had made a tape for with that track on were there. Three of my Children. My Godson Robert. A Previous oxford Captain who had told me the night before that he had heard about my 'Awesome' musical knowledge. Worst of all, Lee Warburton caught my eye (It's a personal thing). I felt a physiological change in my body, from relaxed confidence to tension and doubt.
Paxman: "What footballer was knighted at a time.." (Ring)
Roger: "Leeds, Kidd"
Me: "Bobby Charlton"
Paxman: "Sorry, deduct 5 points"
Before we knew it we were down 155 - 140 and had hit the canvas again, this time even more severely on a Ruud Hullit picture (credit to Nottingham again) and three easy footballers - A fifty point question if there ever was.
About this time there was a most peculiar episode, in that I remember mouthing to James "Did they get an extra bonus question?" As it transpires they had not. They had however been given an extra five points which, after considerable delay was deducted. If you watch the show, you will see Paxman mention it, but my goodness, in the studio it was awkward and time consuming. Marina we love you. In the confusion there was no two minute warning, we had a lifeline and lost it, and with less than (what we now knew in retrospect to be) twenty one seconds to go we were 175 -160 in arrears. The final starter was a bird question, which, just like the music, should have been my question.
Paxman: "Which large South American flightless bird often.."
I wasn't sure. After all that guff in the last page I wrote about not missing opportunities I missed this one. One of my children, Julia was poorly and hadn't made it to the show, so she would never have the opportunity again. I had made up my mind that it was a win win situation, however, and that whatever the outcome, we had done well, performed OK, all contributed (I had got a transport question right) and behaved ourselves with a Klingon degree of honour.
They pressed
Roger: "Nottingham..
Nottingham: "Emu"
and that was, as far as I was concerned, the end of the great adventure.
Thanks for reading
I love my Kids