University lottery syndicate wins £5m jackpot after devising formula
By PAUL SIMSLast updated at 23:18 24 October 2006
The winning syndicate from Bradford University and College in West Yorkshire
But a syndicate of university professors and tutors relied less on chance to conquer mathematical probability to scoop the jackpot.
Using two boxes, 49 pieces of paper and a bunch of clever mathematicians they won £5.3 million on Saturday night after matching all six numbers.
Having failed to win for the first eight years they decided it was time for a change and devised a plan to beat the odds.
Instead of each member randomly choosing numbers or relying on birthdays and significant dates as they had done this time they came up with an unbeatable formulae.
All 49 numbers were written on pieces of paper and placed in one box. Each syndicate member in turn then picked out six numbers, until eight lines were filled, using 48 of the 49 numbers.
The remaining number was then used to start a new line by the next syndicate member, who picked from a second box where the pieces of paper already drawn had been placed.
As a result each number appeared at least twice in the syndicate's 17 lines, with four numbers appearing three times.
The syndicate, from Bradford University and College in West Yorkshire, then set up a computer programme to check the numbers each and every Saturday night.
It would check their numbers against the winning line in a bid to find a match. But, like all methods, it has taken some time to perfect.
In fact, it took four years - but after matching the winning numbers 15, 18, 23, 31, 37, 49 and the bonus ball 38 they finally hit the jackpot and won £5,299,849.
They have since worked out that it will net them £311,755.82p each.
Syndicate leader Barry Waterhouse, 41, who works at the design and printing section of the university, said they had been playing the lottery ever since it began in 1994 with each member picking their own line.
"But we just weren't winning with the numbers being picked that way, so we thought of a different method which would mean all 49 numbers would be used," said Mr Waterhouse.
"We just thought that if all the numbers are in use we must have a good chance of winning and it has proved so, though you never really think it will happen to you.
"We just had to stick with the numbers and we knew we would win eventually."
Fellow syndicate member, David Firth, 63, said: "We have won tenners and the odd £70 in the past, but now this is the big one."
Mr Firth, who now plans to retire from his job as a printer, said he learnt of the win by text from a fellow syndicate member on Saturday evening.
"He had inputted all 17 lines into a computer programme and so all he had to do was type in the winning six numbers, plus bonus ball, to see if we'd won," he added.
"We're so pleased we decided to rehash the way we drew the numbers and were confident that it would get us a win."
Youngest syndicate winner Ben Watson, a 30-year-old graphic designer, intends to spend his winnings on a season ticket for Bradford City.
A fourth syndicate member was named as Jackie Nichol, 59, who was due to retire from the printing offices at the university to set up a business selling soap.
The other university employees who won a share of the jackpot have opted for anonymity.
A spokesperson for Bradford University and College said: "We are delighted for all our lucky winners. They work hard and deserve this success.
"Let's hope lightning strikes twice and some of the other college syndicates scoop another jackpot."
A spokeswoman for Camelot said they were aware of the system employed by the university syndicate.
She said: "We are not overly concerned by it as everybody has a method of trying to win. However, we would say that being in a syndicate does increase your chance of a win as one in four jackpots goes to a syndicate."
