TONIGHT, this year's Challenging Times competition reaches its conclusion as DCU face UL in the final of the third level quiz challenge.

While Campus Times was off engaging in meditation with some obliging Trappists, four editions of Challenging Times shot by.

Tralee RTC defeated Cork RTC in their quarter final, only to come a cropper against UL in the semis. TCD failed to live up to the promise of their quarter final tussle with UCC and were defeated by DCU in their semi. Still, at least TCD exited in the knowledge that they had erased the ignominy of last year's first round defeat from most memories.

And so tonight the two new arrivals to the university playground will contest the final. Neither has won the competition before, both looked strong throughout the competition and both Dr Ed Walsh of UL, and Dr Danny O'Hare of DCU would love to stick mud in their rival's eye by winning Challenging Times.

Challenging Times will be shown at 8 p.m. tonight on RTE 1 and will be repeated at 11 a.m. on Friday, once again on RTE 1. The quizmaster is, for the last time this year, the really rather splendid Kevin Myers.