COLIN XIV- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2018

[Ben Wilson]

COLIN XIV

Good evening everyone

It’s that time of year again! Well, actually, no, it isn’t. That time of year is still five months away at the time of writing, but that doesn’t mean I can’t start getting hype for it.

COLIN is back! For the fourteenth year in a row, the co-event calendar (and for the third year in a row, FOCAL) will kick off with what was, briefly, the biggest co-event of all time, but remains the oldest and (hopefully) the one everyone wants to win.

Very little is changed from last year. It’ll be the traditional COLIN format of 3 rounds of Edinburgh-style 9 rounders followed by a final, kicking off at 11:50 and ending just before 6pm. The venue will be the Ark on Moor Lane in North Hykeham, as it was last year. And the following day, as with last year, we’ll be at the Memorial Hall on Newark Road in North Hykeham for the fifth Hangover event. This, as always, will be 2 rounds of Edinburgh-style 9 rounders followed by a final, kicking off at 11am (or, if history is any judge, some time afterward when everybody (especially Jen) eventually shows up) and ending at around 2:30pm (or earlier if everyone passes out. Again). The price for this weekend full of Countdowny goodness is a mere £13 for the Saturday, £8 for the Sunday or £18 for both days, payable by Paypal to hulla.mahulla@btopenworld.com or by cheque to my home address (available upon request).

However! Further discounts are available through the new 'refer a newbie' scheme! Anyone who gets someone to sign up who has never played at a co-event before will get a full £3 off their entry fee (so £10 for Saturday, £5 for Sunday or £15 for both (I'm not THAT generous)) if the newbie mentions their name when sending me their money. And yes, the newbie gets £3 off their entry fee as well! The bad news: you can only refer one newbie per person. The good news: the discount still applies if you've already entered the event.

I’m already trawling various hardware stores/Amazon for this- well, next- year’s trophies and prizes, which will hopefully be the most unique yet! There will also be spot prizes on offer throughout the day and maybe even a few prizes for the more creatively-minded among you!

More details will inevitably come over the coming few months, so watch this space! Especially watch this space if you’re interested in people arguing about Travelodge prices.

No badgers.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

See you in January!

Entrants so far (26/01/2018)-

COLIN XIV (44)-

Zarte Siempre
Thomas Carey
Callum Todd
Jennifer Steadman
Thomas Cappleman
May Battlefield
Lauren Hamer
Jack Worsley
Paul Worsley
Gevin Chapwell
Dylan Taylor
Graeme Cole
Tracey Mills
Mark Mills
Lee Fisher
Jonathan Wynn
Giles Hutchings
Matty Artell
Zubair Patel
Tim Down
Rose Boyle
Bradley Horrocks
David Hilton
Gerry Tynan
Eddy Byrne
Neil Collins
Dinos Sfyris
Chris Marshall
Mike Brown
James Robinson
Peter Clarke
Callum Pickering
Philip Jarvis
Ryan Taylor
Michelle Nevitt
Mike Springett
Richard Priest
Anthony Endsor
Mark Davies
Tom Chafer-Cook
Mike Shipler
Val Chowden
James Laverty
Steve Ying-Po

The Hangover (31)-

Zarte Siempre
Thomas Carey
Callum Todd
Jennifer Steadman
Thomas Cappleman
Jack Worsley
Paul Worsley
Gevin Chapwell
Graeme Cole
Tracey Mills
Mark Mills
Lee Fisher
Giles Hutchings
Matty Artell
Zubair Patel
Tim Down
Rose Boyle
Bradley Horrocks
David Hilton
Gerry Tynan
Eddy Byrne
Jonathan Wynn
Chris Marshall
James Robinson
Callum Pickering
Ryan Taylor
Michelle Nevitt
Mike Springett
Jeff Clayton
Mark Davies
James Laverty

[Zarte Siempre]

Decent first table. Just close entries now

[Matt Morrison]

Lloyds customers - I don't know how dynamic this is related to your own spending, but check your Everyday Offers. I've got 5% off Travelodge and it lasts until 14 Dec 2017.

So I'm now hoping for a triple layer of savings - Travelodge sale, Topcashback cashback, and then Lloyds cashback on top. Fingers crossed...

[Graeme Cole]

Disillusioned with the price of the weekend at the Thorpe-on-the-Hill Travelbodge stubbornly refusing to drop below £100 for several months? Wish there was a way of spending only a small fortune on the hotel this year rather than a large one?

Well, this weekend they're doing a discount, and it expires tomorrow. The discount code AUTUMNSTAYS gives "up to 30%" off stays before the end of January. As you might have guessed, "up to" means "for lots of hotels that aren't the one you want". The discount for the hotel that matters is 20%.

Still, if you were waiting for a brief window where the price for the weekend drops significantly, there it is.

[Matt Morrison]

Still crackers. I paid <£50 last year. Hold out people, hold out.

[Matt Bayfield]

It's noticeable that a room for COLIN weekend is more expensive than a room for either the weekends before, or the weekends after. I think Travelodge may have realised that their Thorpe-on-the-Hill establishment is in demand for the last weekend every January.

Current prices (before application of the AUTUMNSTAYS discount) for two nights as follows:

• £90 - two weekends before COLIN
  £94 - one weekend before COLIN
  £108 - COLIN weekend
  £97 - one weekend after COLIN
  £94 - two weekends after COLIN

[Mark Deeks]

Graeme, when you buy at prices like that, the terrorists win. It's simple supply and demand. We have to hold out. We have to be strong, united. You've ruined it now.

[Gavin Chipper]

I went in early and paid £108. But a few years ago I held out and got screwed.

[Zubair Patel]

Few more numbers for comparison.
COLIN weekend,full price available in Nov. 2016: £74, Oct. 2015: £63. The £108 this year is a big jump.

[Mark Deeks]

If we all agree and threaten en masse to go somwhere else, they will have to cave to our demands.

[DJ Marky Mark]

We booked in here, stayed last year me and Tracey, good hotel and pub etc £113 for 2 nights total. With buffet breakfast.
Premier Inn Newark
Lincoln Road
Newark
Nottinghamshire
England
NG24 2DB

[Ben Wilson]

Rooms at the Ibis are currently available at £42 each through this link. Though to quote Matt Morrison, 'you'll probably have a fucking terrible time there', so book at your own peril.

[Gavin Chipper]

It's not really COLIN is it?

[Matt Morrison]

Might as well get in the Ibis anyway, it won't be Colin without me anyway.

[Ben Wilson]

Entry figures currently stand at 17 for Saturday and 16 for Sunday, which may seem a little low, but last year, the main event only got its 24th entry on December 22nd. So now's as good a time as any for an appeal/challenge. If the main event hits 30 entries by the 22nd of December this year, everyone coming (to either the main event of the hangover) gets a special freebie. May or may not be another mug.

[Ben Wilson]

Up to 22 entries now and a COLIN debutant (the first one so far for 2018) in the form of Bradley Horrocks! Just 8 entries until I'm forced to think of a special freebie to buy/make everyone, and 8 days in which to get them...

[Ben Wilson]

Another day, another entry and another COLIN debutant in the form of David Hilton! Up to 23 now for Saturday, just 7 to go in 6 days to make me stick my hand in my pockets, this time for reasons that aren't likely to get me arrested.

On a related note, neither COLIN XII nor COLIN XIII saw any player make their overall co-event debut at COLIN, and the previous year saw only one overall debutant in the shape of George Ford. I am therefore going to strain my finances even more by announcing the 'refer a newbie' scheme. Anyone who gets someone to sign up who has never played at a co-event before will get a full £3 off their entry fee (so £10 for Saturday, £5 for Sunday or £15 for both (I'm not THAT generous)) if the newbie mentions their name when sending me their money. And yes, the newbie gets £3 off their entry fee as well! The bad news: you can only refer one newbie per person. The good news: the discount still applies if you've already entered the event.

[Ben Wilson]

Well, entries stayed at 23, so no special freebie for everyone- but I might put my hand in my pocket and see if I can't rustle something up anyway. Meantime, hope everyone has a good Christmas, and come Boxing Day, you have plenty of spare cash to send my way to secure your place at next month's event!

[Ben Wilson]

26 paid up entries and just 26 days to go! It's time for me to make my usual appeals (and, apparently, pentapost at the same time)

-If you can bring copies of the board game, please let me know. Physical copies of the dictionary aren't needed and haven't been for some time, we'll be using aptodic/ODO so if you can bring a mobile or any other handheld device that can access either of these places, brilliant.

-If you want to make a contribution to the puzzle mag, whether it's a puzzle, a fun creative activity, a drawing, a review of the Fox & Hounds's food or an anecdote, now is the time to tell me. I'll be getting the magazine hopefully finalised within a week, a week and a half tops.

See you all at the end of the month!

BJW

[Richard Priest]

Not paid up yet but will definitely be doing so. Would anyone be wanting a lift - if they can meet me at Stoke on Trent train station or somewhere along the way? Always nice to have a travel companion.

[James Robinson]

FA Cup 4th Round Draw:

Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City.

LINCOLN, HERE I COME!!!

[Gavin Chipper]

I'm probably going to do the Linkin parkrun before COLIN. Rumours suggest Giles and Zubair may also be doing it. Anyone else?

[Callum Todd]

I'm probably going to do the Linkin parkrun before COLIN. Rumours suggest Giles and Zubair may also be doing it. Anyone else?

If I'm not ill I may be tempted.

[Gavin Chipper]

I'm probably going to do the Linkin parkrun before COLIN. Rumours suggest Giles and Zubair may also be doing it. Anyone else?

If I'm not ill I may be tempted.

Awesome. Have you registered and got a barcode?

[Tim Down]

I'm probably going to do the Linkin parkrun before COLIN. Rumours suggest Giles and Zubair may also be doing it. Anyone else?

Ego and the usual stinkage problems prevent it for me.

[Callum Todd]

I'm probably going to do the Linkin parkrun before COLIN. Rumours suggest Giles and Zubair may also be doing it. Anyone else?

If I'm not ill I may be tempted.

Awesome. Have you registered and got a barcode?

Yes. My printer was fucked prior to my first ever parkrun t'other week so officially this would be my first parkrun (if I do it, still too ill at the moment). I should probably laminate the barcodes now though.

[Matt Morrison]

My printer was fucked prior to my first ever parkrun

https://greatist.com/move/whats-ideal-warm-up

[James S Roper]

Would anyone be driving up past, or nearish to Scawby (North Lincolnshire) after the event? I can get there but would need a lift back (Driving distance to Scawby is 30 minutes maximum)

[Gavin Chipper]

(if I do it, still too ill at the moment).

What's wrong with you? Must be quite bad, if you're doubtful four days before the event.

[Gavin Chipper]

And get well soon!

[Matt Morrison]

And get well soon!

Haha. 4 hours of reflective questioning.

[Zarte Siempre]

And get well soon!

Haha. 4 hours of reflective questioning.

16.

[Matt Morrison]

Oh yeah! You're 12 hours more of a shit than I thought.

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Can't wait feeling excited now !!!!!!!!!!!

[Ben Wilson]

Two days to go and I've just realised I've been negligent in one regard- I haven't posted the seedings yet! Rather than do my usual thing of ridiculous numbers of calculations based on on-screen performance, etc. I've decided instead to do it a very simple way. And rather than explain this simple way, I'm just going to throw the seedings up and let everyone argue about it. See you on Saturday!

1 Dylan Taylor
2 Jack Worsley
3 Giles Hutchings
4 Matt Bayfield
5 Thomas Cappleman
6 Zarte Siempre
7 Jennifer Steadman
8 Callum Todd
9 James Robinson
10 Jonathan Wynn
11 Graeme Cole
12 Dinos Sfyris
13 Ryan Taylor
14 Callum Pickering
15 Michelle Nevitt
16 Eddy Byrne
17 Thomas Carey
18 Zubair Patel
19 Bradley Horrocks
20 Neil Collins
21 David Hilton
22 Peter Clarke
23 Paul Worsley
24 Anthony Endsor
25 Gerry Tynan
26 Mike Brown
27 Tracey Mills
28 Richard Priest
29 Lauren Hamer
30 Philip Jarvis
31 Rose Boyle
32 Tim Down
33 Mark Davies
34 Chris Marshall
35 Tom Chafer-Cook
36 Matty Artell
37 Gevin Chapwell
38 Lee Fisher
39 Mike Springett
40 Mark Mills

[Jon O'Neill]

Two days to go and I've just realised I've been negligent in one regard- I haven't posted the seedings yet! Rather than do my usual thing of ridiculous numbers of calculations based on on-screen performance, etc. I've decided instead to do it a very simple way. And rather than explain this simple way, I'm just going to throw the seedings up and let everyone argue about it. See you on Saturday!

1 Dylan Taylor
2 Jack Worsley
3 Giles Hutchings
4 Matt Bayfield
5 Thomas Cappleman
6 Zarte Siempre
7 Jennifer Steadman
8 Callum Todd
9 James Robinson
10 Jonathan Wynn
11 Graeme Cole
12 Dinos Sfyris
13 Ryan Taylor
14 Callum Pickering
15 Michelle Nevitt
16 Eddy Byrne
17 Thomas Carey
18 Zubair Patel
19 Bradley Horrocks
20 Neil Collins
21 David Hilton
22 Peter Clarke
23 Paul Worsley
24 Anthony Endsor
25 Gerry Tynan
26 Mike Brown
27 Tracey Mills
28 Richard Priest
29 Lauren Hamer
30 Philip Jarvis
31 Rose Boyle
32 Tim Down
33 Mark Davies
34 Chris Marshall
35 Matty Artell
36 Gevin Chapwell
37 Lee Fisher
38 Mike Springett
39 Mark Mills

I object to this new methodology.

[Ben Wilson]

Less than 48 hours to go and up to 40 entrants with the entry of the most recent series champ!

[Ryan Taylor]

Lloyds customers - I don't know how dynamic this is related to your own spending, but check your Everyday Offers. I've got 5% off Travelodge and it lasts until 14 Dec 2017.

So I'm now hoping for a triple layer of savings - Travelodge sale, Topcashback cashback, and then Lloyds cashback on top. Fingers crossed...

How'd this work out for you?

[Matt Morrison]

Genuinely awesomely, apart from the towel fluff.