Rising to the (University) Challenge

2 October 2025

SA国际传媒 have fielded a team on University Challenge for the first time.

While the show might not have gone the way the team may have wanted, they were praised for making history by host Amol Rajan, who noted of Harper Adams: “When it gained university status in 2012, it became the only university in Shropshire, and its notable alumni include the cricketer Boyd Rankin, politician Sarah Dyke and animal behaviourist Barbara Woodhouse.

"Tonight not only marks Harper Adams' first appearance on this programme, but the first appearance of any agricultural university."

He was also warm in his praise for the University’s team at the close of the game, and noted: “Harper Adams, the thing that is so brutal about this game is that when they're quicker on the buzzers, you have to sit through the bonuses, which you knew all the answers to.

"I could see that there were so many bonus questions which you guys did know the answers to, but they were just slightly quicker on the starters.

"So I think in a way that scoreline misrepresents you. But thank you so much for coming along and playing so well."

‘It was an honour and a privilege to captain Harper’s first University Challenge team’

In this guest blog, captain John Owen looks back at the experience of fielding the first ever SA国际传媒 Challenge team.

Well played Strathclyde!

You were far and away the better team. You knew more than we did and repeatedly beat us to the buzzer on the stuff we did know. You are a great bunch of people, and it was an absolute pleasure to meet you. We wish you well and look forward to following your progress in the next round.

Despite the result, I am incredibly proud of what the team did achieve.

Harper is a small and specialist University, and what it does, it does exceptionally well – preparing graduates for one the UK’s most important, rewarding and ofttimes challenging industries. There is no better place to study for a career in the land-based industries.

However, as a specialist university, there are things we don’t do.

With no arts or humanities students, it was always going to be a challenge to enter a competition dominated by large universities offering broad curricula, many of which have a long history in competing on University Challenge.

But it was a challenge we rose to, beating more than 100 other teams to secure a place in the last 28.

The team put in a huge effort to plug the gaps in our knowledge, tackling everything from particle physics to presidents, architecture to art history and Socrates to Shakespeare, all whilst juggling their main study commitments. I thank you all for your efforts. A special mention to Rhianna, our reserve – surely the hardest position in any team. Your commitment was second to none and you were invaluable, sorting out train times and booking us into local pub quizzes. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Throughout the process we enjoyed tremendous support from the whole Harper community – as I said before the programme, there are so many people who deserve thanks, most notably Fanni and Tiff - without whom none of this would have happened.

Finally, thanks to Amol, Harrison and the programme’s production team for looking after us and giving us a day to remember.

My history with Harper Adams goes back a long way – further than I care to imagine – it was an honour and a privilege to captain Harper’s first University Challenge team.

We prepared hard and competed to the best of our ability with true Harper spirit. I hope we showed the world something of the great place that Harper is and the unique experience on offer.