Chester student helps team to University Challenge triumph

Feb 27 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

A BRAINY student from Chester is basking in the glory of being crowned University Challenge series winner.

Millions tuned in to watch James Marsden, 21, of Farndon collect the glass trophy from poet Wendy Cope on Monday.

His team from Corpus Christi College, Oxford trounced Manchester University 275-190. In an exhilarating match, they had to come from behind with a barnstorming performance from captain, Gail Trimble.

James chipped in with his own share of “starter for 10s”, knowing that ‘love’ was what Iris Murdoch described as “the difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real”.

James, who will sit his finals this summer, cracked open Champagne as he watched the show in an Oxford pub.

He said: “We’re a bit in shock, it’s absolutely surreal.”

The day after his success was aired, James was up at 6am for rowing practice ahead of a regatta on Wednesday. Later on Tuesday night he was taking part in Oxford’s Intercollegiate Quiz with Gail.

James grew up in Farndon but his parents and three younger sisters now live in nearby Churton. He says the secret of his success was attending Farndon Primary and the King’s School.

“I was lucky to have good teachers who encouraged me to read a lot and learn about stuff not on the syllabus,” he added.

The team have been inundated with media requests including one for Miss Trimble to do a photoshoot with Nuts magazine. James revealed she politely told them where to go!

“She’s as bemused as anyone – she wasn’t expecting anything like this. She has been described as the most successful contestant ever.”