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Questions from the Brain of Mensa are now available in book form

Buy on Amazon (this goes to the British site, but obviously it is available on all Amazon sites)

This is the American version

Buy online




Article from earlier when the questions were available in another form

Books of Questions from Brian of Mensa





Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu.


Questions from 2007

Article from Mensa Magazine on Gail Trimble, University Challenge 2009

New Statesman review of University Challenge






General information

The last couple of years the contest has held using Zoom, which might continue, ai least for the initial rounds. Previously there have been problems with people faced with very long journeys

Each round consists of between 3 and 6 people answering a total of 120 questions. The procedure is very low-tech: if a question is unanswered, or answered incorrectly, it is carried along to the next contestant, and so down the line. Points are straightforward - one point for all correct answers.

Any queries, please do get in touch.



Past Contests


2021 Contest

Winner : Les Hurst

Finalists : Ian Dalziel, Jane Kendrick, Chris Thomas

Brain of Mensa contest 2021, via Zoom


2020 Contest

Winner : Les Hurst

2019 Contest

Brain of Mensa contest 2018

Winner : Les Hurst

Finalists : Chris Thomas (Totton), Ray Ward (London)

The final was staged at the Mensa Games weekend in Birmingham


2018 Contest

Brain of Mensa contest 2018

2017 Contest

Winner : Les Hurst (Derby)

Finalists : David Clark (Port Talbot), Ian Dalziel (Bingley), Chris Thomas (Southampton)

Brain of Mensa 2017

2016 Contest

Winner : David Clark (Port Talbot), (see David Clatk)

David Clark, Brain of Mensa 2016

Finalists : Les Hurst (Derby), Andrew Ward (Stevenage), Ray Ward (London)

Report on the 2016 final

2015 Contest

Winner : Les Hurst (Derby),

Les Hurst, Brain of Mensa 2015

Finalists : Bill Bryant (Croydon), John Coventry (Liverpool), Ray Ward (London)

The final took place on Sunday November 8th, at the Games Weekend in Birmingham.

2014 Contest

Winner : Stephen Cooke (Chesterfield)

Stephen Cooke, Brain of Mensa 2014

Finalists : David Clark (Port Talbot), Ian Dalziel (Bingley), Les Hurst (Derby)

The final took place on Sunday 2nd November at the Games Weekend in Birmingham

At the risk of offending Steve, here is a clip from Harry Hill


2013

Winner : Mark Grant (Bromley)

Finalists: Glenys Hopkins (Warrington), Les Hurst (Bromley), Ray Ward (London)

The final was staged at the Games Finals Weekend in Birmingham

2012

Winner : Mark Grant (Bromley)

Mark Grant, Brain of Mensa 2012

Finalists: Una Adams (Corby), Dave Edwards (Uttoxeter), Les Hurst (Bromley)

The final was staged at the Games Finals Weekend in Birmingham

Brain of Mensa 2012


2011

Winner : Les Hurst (Bromley)

Finalists: Mark Grant (Bromley), Glenys Hopkins (Warrington), Ray Ward (London)

The final was staged at the AGM in Coventry

Finalists in Brian of Mensa 2011

2010

Winner : Mark Grant (Bromley)

Finalists: Glenys Hopkins (Warrington), Dave Edwards (Uttoxeter), Andrew Ward (Stevenage)

The final was staged at the AGM in Chester

Finalists in Brian of Mensa 2010

2009


Winner : Mark Grant (Bromley)

Finalists : Chris Gonet (Bristol), David Edwards (Uttoxeter), John Coventry (Liverpool)

The final was held on on Sunday 5th October at the Annual Gathering in Bristol

2008



Winner : Les Hurst (Derby)

Les Hurst (left), Brain of MENSA 2008. Brian Daugherty on right

Finalists : Chris Gonet (Bristol), Mark Grant (Bromley), Glenys Hopkins (Warrington)

The final was held on on Sunday 21st. September 2008 at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool.

Mensa Mag article on Les

2007

Winner :- Dave Edwards (Stafford)

Finalists :- Les Hurst (Derby), Gavin Fuller (London), Glenys Hopkins (Warrington)

The final was held in October 2007 at the the Britannia Hotel, Nottingham.

Questions from 2007

2006

The winner was Mark Grant (Bromley), shown in the picture below on the left with myself on the right (photo courtesy of Margaret Howe)

Finalists : David Edwards (Uttoxeter), Chris Gonet (Bristol), Glenys Hopkins (Warrington)

The final was held on Sunday 1st October 2006 at the Britannia Hotel, Nottingham.

2005

Winner :- Dave Edwards (Stafford)

Finalists :- Gavin Fuller (London), Les Hurst (Derby), Helen Grayson (Leeds)

The final was held in November 2005 at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham.

2004

Winner :- Dave Edwards (Stafford)

Finalists :- Gavin Fuller (London), Les Hurst (Derby), Chris Gonet (Bristol)

The final was held in January 2005 at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham.

More information....

2003

Winner :- Roger Boden (Birmingham)

Finalists :- Chris Gonet (Bristol), Howard Pizzey (Kent), Nick Smith (Wolverhampton)

The final was held in November at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham. The questionmaster was Magnus Magnusson.

More information....

2002

Winner :- Roger Boden (Birmingham)

Finalists :- Margaret Howe, Howard Pizzey, Laurence Puddefoot

The final was held in November at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham.


Contestants from the 2002 heat in Durham, plus questionmaster

2001

Winner :- Chris Gonet (Bristol)

Finalists :- Roger Boden, Marjorie Evans, Robin Healey, Ray Ward

The final was held in November at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham.

2000

Winner :- Helen Grayson (Leeds)

Finalists :- Gavin Fuller (London), Paul Overall (Shirley), Penny Rossiter

The final was in Birmingham

More information....

1999

Winner :- Ray Ward (London)

Finalists :- Glenys Hopkins (Warrington),Laurence Puddefoot (Surrey), Pat Erridge (London), John Coventry (Liverpool)

The final was held on Sunday 25. April (1400) at Tower College, Mill Lane, Rainhill, Merseyside.

1998

The final took place on Sunday 12. April in the Moat House Hotel, Paradise Street, Liverpool as part of the Liverpool Easter Meeting. Unfortunately, the photographs I took of this final were destroyed in the Kodak laboratories.

The winner was Gavin Fuller (London and Fareham)

Other finalists (in alphabetical order) : John Coventry (Liverpool), Helen Grayson (Leeds), Margaret Howe (Birkenhead), Paul Overall (West Midlands).

1997

This year's final took place on Saturday 7. June in the George Hotel, George Street, Nottingham (in conjunction with the MENSA Nottingham Weekend).

The winner was John Wilson, of Liverpool who at the "three quarter" stage was tied with Alan Hunt, from London. Alan eventually came in second.

Other finalists were, in alphabetical order, Chris Lang (Cambridge), Trevor Montague (Sussex), Paul Overall (West Midlands), Sheila Willcocks (Rostrevor, Co. Down)

More information....

Previous Winners

1993 – 1996 Intermission

1992 Ray Ward

1991 Mike Chivers

1990/91 Lance Haward

1989 Frank Clark

1988 Helen Grayson

1987 Rodney Smith

1985 Rosemary Birkill

1984 Lance Haward

1983 Joyce Camsfield

1981 Lance Haward

1978 Margery Elliott

1977 David Shenkin

1976 Walter Dobson

1975 Donald (Arthur? Ernest?) Barker




















Questions from the Brain of Mensa are now available in book form

Buy on Amazon (this goes to the British site, but obviously it is available on all Amazon sites)

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