Following on from the success of the last decade of Countdowning in Lincoln it is with a good heaping chunk of delight that I announce the launch of the eleventh Countdown in Lincoln (COLIN) tournament, to be held over the weekend of the 24th and 25th of January 2015.
If you've never attended COLIN- or any other co-event- before, the format is quite simple. All the players are divided into groups of 3 where one player acts as 'host' whilst the other two play an old-fashioned 9 round game of Countdown. Everyone has a turn hosting (enabling everyone on the table to play the other two players once each), and after 3 of these rounds, when everyone has played 6 games and hosted 3, the top two players (sorted by number of wins, then by number of points scored) play in the grand final to determine the overall winner, and who gets to take home the COLIN perpetual trophy for the next year. There will also be plenty of additional spot prizes available on the day, details of which I'll reveal over the coming few weeks.
…And that's just the Saturday. Following the success of last year's hangover event (seriously- more people played in that than most early COLINs) there will be another Sunday event for those who see 6 (potentially 7) games as just not enough. As with last year it'll be a shorter event- just 2 rounds, followed by a final for those who are staying over on the Saturday night/are unable to attend the Saturday event but still want to join in with the COLIN fun.
This year, though, the hangover will be more than just 'a bit more countdown'. Prior to the event all players will be divided into one of two teams. Each time someone from one team plays someone on the opposing team, that score will also be counted on a separate 'team vs team' leaderboard, and at the end of the day, everyone on the winning team will each win a small, separate prize! I haven't figured out yet exactly what this prize is, but rest assured, it'll be cheap.
Entry fee and location is unchanged from last year- for the fifth year running, we're at the Memorial Hall on Newark Road in North Hykeham for the Saturday event, and at the Village Hall on Boundary Road in South Hykeham for the Sunday. Entry to COLIN is a mere £10 whilst the hangover is just £7, or you can enter both for just £15! I accept payment by paypal to hulla.mahulla@btopenworld.com................................ or by cheque to my home address (available upon request).
For that bargain price, in addition to entry to the tournament, you will get the annual COLIN goodie bag, which this year will include pens, notepads and, of course, the latest edition of the puzzle mag, which for 2015 is going to include more than just puzzles- the rumours (if there were any) are true- for the 'special gift' this year I have produced a COLIN-themed sticker album for all attendees! Throughout the day all players will be distributed stickers to stick into the album or swap to complete their collection. There'll be 29 stickers in total featuring famous faces from COLIN past and present.
Of course, what everyone comes for is the atmosphere and the chance to meet all the names and faces you've seen on the show or on apterous. Last year, 49 people attended COLIN and/or the hangover- with your help, this year we might just top the half-century mark!
In case of tl;dr- COLIN XI, 24/1/15, £10, The Hangover, 25/1/15, £7, or £15 for both. Be there.

Entry lists-
COLIN XI (47)-
Zarte Siempre
Callum Todd
Gevin Chapwell
Graeme Cole
Jen Steadman
Jim Bentley
Mark Deeks
Jon Corby
Alan Young
Jon O'Neill
Heather Styles
Adam Dexter
Lucy Westwood
Jeff Clayton
Andy McGurn
Kirk Bevins
Ryan Taylor
Michelle Nevitt
James Laverty
Lee Fisher
Giles Hutchings
Innis Carson
Paul Worsley
Jack Worsley
Mark Davies
May Battlefield
Laura Heyman
Matt Morrison
Tom Rowell
Thomas Carey
James Robinson
Tracey Mills
Conor Travers
Rob Foster
Dylan Taylor
Mike Brown
Philip Jarvis
Stewart Gordon
Jamie McNeill
Dinos Sfyris
Jonathan Rawlinson
Jonathan Wynn
Rhys Benjamin
John Vivian
Chris Marshall
Andy Platt
George Ford
COLIN XI: The Hangover (31)-
Zeke Siempre
Callum Bundy
Vote Chapwell
Dirty Graeme Cole
Chardonnay Steadman
Jim Bentley
Adam Gillard
Mark Deeks
Jon Corby's grin
Alan Young
HobO'Neill
Heather's Tiles
Adam Dexter
Lucy Westwood
Kork Bevan
Ryan Taylor
Michelle Nevitt
James Laverty
Lee Fisher
Innis Carson
Paul Worsley
Jack Worsley
Mark Davies
Matt Baywatch
Lauren Baywatch
Tom Rowell
Thomas Carey
James Robinson
Conor Travers
Stewart Gordon
Jamie McNeill