CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Discussion and announcements relating to unofficial Countdown competitions, held online or in real life. Observation, discussion, reflection, and other stuff ending in -ion.
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James Robinson
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CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by James Robinson »

WYE AYE MAN, WE'RE GOING OOT ON THE TOON!!! ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-)

Yes, it's me again, and I'm back with yet another CO-event, but this time heading further north. ;) :) :D

With the loss of Glasgow last month, we need to regain a northern influence, on the CO-event circuit, and so I've decided to set up an event in the vibrant city of Newcastle upon Tyne, so this will be the very first CoNuT!!! ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :lol: :P

UPDATE (3 JANUARY): The event is now a recognised FOCAL event, and as such, all usual FOCAL rules apply. ;) :) :D

Venue
Our venue is The Lonsdale Hotel, just a couple of miles north of Newcastle city centre in the area of West Jesmond. The address is Lonsdale Terrace, West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE2 3HQ. (For a look yourselves, go here: https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/ ... ale-hotel/) Easy access from Newcastle station is available by the Metro services, both the green and yellow lines are 4 stops away from the Central Metro station, and the venue is literally right next to West Jesmond Metro station. :mrgreen:

NEW Co-Host!
As my usual suspects, Jeff Clayton and Callum Todd are both unavailable, I have scoured around for a new co-host, and have gone northern, actually so northern, he's Scottish!! :P :P So, I'm glad to announce that my co-host for the inaugural CoNuT is INNIS CARSON :!: :!: :!: :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek:

General Overview
Presented by James Robinson and Innis Carson, using the "Bristol" classroom format and playing along with big screen virtual studio graphics:

Based on the successful introduction in COHUD 2017, we're using a group stage format, players will be drawn at random into groups of equal numbers playing heat a set number of heat matches. This means players will know at the start who they will be up against in the heats.

These will be 10-round matches, as per the current television format, bar the fact that the last part is just a conundrum (6L 3N 1C).

At the end of the heats, everyone goes into groups of eight for the quarter-finals, in order of number of wins, total points scored and +/- points difference. The winner from each heats group goes into Division A, the runner-up into Division B, third place into C and fourth place into D.

From here, everybody is seeded within their divisions to play a 9-round quarter-final (6L 2N 1C), 9-round semi-final and 14-round final (8L 4N 2C). This will be done in Swiss format, so everybody will get to play right until the end of the day.

The two finalists in Group A will sit out the mainstream final, to play the tournament’s showpiece Grand Final at around 5pm. So if you don’t make the top two, why not recharge your glass, sit back and enjoy!

Prices/Rates
CoNuT will take place on Saturday 24 March -- doors open at 9:30am for a prompt 10:30am start, finishing at around 6-6:30pm. The admission price is set at £15 and includes a hot buffet lunch. There will be a cash bar available too. :D

Regular attendees of Mark Murray's Bristol tournaments have probably gone to the Za Za Bazaar down in the quays of Bristol. The only other Za Za Bazaar happens to be in Newcastle, and I have reserved a table for us to use for a nice dinner after the event. If you would like to join me and Innis for a brilliant "world banquet" (Have a look here: http://newcastle.zazabazaar.com/), then an additional payment of £15 will be required. :idea:

UPDATE (26 FEBRUARY): If people want to come to Za Za Bazaar, but want to pay at a later date, please say, so we can book you in and not risk me potentially cancelling the reservation.

So, basically, if you want to come to the event and dinner, it's £30, but if you just want to attend the event, it's just £15. 8-)

As per usual, payments are available:
- By PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/JRTerrier7/30 (event and dinner) or https://www.paypal.me/JRTerrier7/15 (event only) (DON'T FORGET - Choose the "Family/Friends" option on payment.);
- By phone (0781 775 0544);
- By cheque (address available on request).

Hotels/Transport
Amongst the nearby hotels in the Newcastle area are the new Travelodge Newcastle Quayside (https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/633 ... side-hotel) (£93 for 2 nights), Travelodge Newcastle Central (https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/214 ... tral-hotel) (£122 for 2 nights), Premier Inn Millennium Bridge (https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels ... ridge.html) (£101.50 for 2 nights), The New Northumbria Hotel (http://www.thenewnorthumbriahotel.co.uk/) (£108 for 2 nights). Lots of other hotels/hostels are available in the area too.

Amongst transportation, there are some cheap deals available on National Express for people from London, which include a return from Friday-Sunday at just over £10 (http://www.nationalexpress.com/destinat ... astle.aspx).

We look forward to having you join us up in the Geordie heartland!!! ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek:

Confirmed Attendees (18):
(People Who Have Paid For Meal Have " 8-) " After Their Name)
Eddie McCullagh
Nathan Pace
Newkie Prune
Tim Hardy
Phil Hannan 8-)
Tom Carey
Zarte Siempre 8-)
Mark Mills 8-)
Tracey Mills 8-)
Andrew McNamara
Aidan Batey
Andy Patterson
David Main
Chloe Jones
Chris Marshall
Stewart Gordon 8-)
Zubair Patel
Iain Sime 8-)
Last edited by James Robinson on Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:53 pm, edited 31 times in total.
Gavin Chipper
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by Gavin Chipper »

James Robinson wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:00 pm These will be 10-round matches, as per the current television format, bar the fact that the last part is just a conundrum (6L 3N 1C).
This format is unblanced and mental. Why not just have nine-rounders, as it's only one round difference anyway? I'd understand if it was a "real" (TV) format, but you wouldn't invent one like this - would you?
Gavin Chipper
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by Gavin Chipper »

This might be a bit close to the London Marathon for me, but we'll see.
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James Robinson
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by James Robinson »

UPDATE!!! This is now a fully official FOCAL event. ;) :) :D 8-)

And Eddie McCullagh is our first entrant. 8-) 8-) 8-)
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Matt Morrison
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by Matt Morrison »

Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:12 pm This might be a bit close to the London Marathon for me, but we'll see.
Come but just don't drink as much lime and lemonade as usual.
Joyce Phillips
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by Joyce Phillips »

If anyone interested would like to save money, you’d be welcome to our spare room. It’s a double bed, so would be fine for a couple. I can also put a folding bed in the study if anyone fancies that. I’m told it’s quite comfortable but I haven’t slept on it myself.
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James Robinson
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by James Robinson »

We jump from 7 to THIRTEEN tonight!!! Thanks to the entries of Mark Mills, Tracey Mills, Andrew McNamara, Aidan Batey, Andy Patterson and David Main. ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-)
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James Robinson
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by James Robinson »

UPDATE (26 FEBRUARY): If people want to come to Za Za Bazaar, but want to pay at a later date, please say, so we can book you in and not risk me potentially cancelling the reservation.
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James Robinson
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Re: CoNuT - Countdown In Newcastle 2018 - Saturday 24th March 2018

Post by James Robinson »

RESULTS:

Group A Final:
Eddie McCullagh 75-68 Zubair Patel

Group A 3rd Place Play-Off Match:
Zarte Siempre 98-70 Stewart Gordon

Group B Final:
Iain Sime 71-69 Nathan Pace
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