Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

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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Mike Brown
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Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Mike Brown »

Hi all,

With Spring in the air (according to the calendar anyway), it's finally time for me to announce the first-ever Countdown event to take place in the fine city of Cambridge.

Forming part of the FOCAL calendar of events, CoCam will take place on Saturday the 16th of June and, like the King's Lynn events of previous years, will be a Lincoln/Edinburgh-style tournament (where everyone plays in groups of three with perhaps a Prune or two in residence), with everyone playing six 9-round games followed by a 15-round grand final for the top two players at the end of the day. The official arbiter for any word disputes on the day will be the English word list on Apterous.

The event will take place in the fabulous setting of the auditorium of the St. Philip's Church Centre (http://www.stphilipschurch.org.uk/) (postcode CB1 3AN), which is a wonderfully bright and airy space with plenty of room for anyone wanting to stretch their legs without going outside! It also has two large TV screens which will be used to show the latest scores and free Wi-Fi. We will have access to a kitchen, so free tea, coffee and soft drinks will be provided, as well as a few home-made cakes. Lunch is not provided, but there are plenty of places on Mill Road to grab something to eat, including a branch of the Co-Op and several coffee outlets.

Unfortunately, there isn't much car parking at the venue (I think it's something like three spaces and I'll be bagsying one of them!) and the local streets tend to be full of the locals' vehicles, but the weekend parking charges at nearby Cambridge Station are a very reasonable £5 (that's reasonable for Cambridge). There's also the option of Park & Ride, but be warned that it tends to stop running in the early evening. For those coming by train (which is very easy to do from London, taking around 60 minutes from King's Cross), or parking their car at the station, the church is then a short walk away, taking around 13 minutes if you're the little man on Google. The venue is fully accessible, so there should be no problems on that score. If anyone has particularly questions around travel, please let me know and I'll answer them if I can, although I'm sure most people reading this will be pretty handy with a web browser at solving them without assistance!

I'm not an expert on possible places to stay, but both Travelodge and Premier Inn have infiltrated Cambridge and there's a recently built Ibis at the railway station which is probably worth a look (I'll certainly be doing so). You might also want to consider the Holiday Inn Express at the Airport as it's not far away from the venue - and they might even let you leave your car there!

Of course, another reason (if you needed one) to visit Cambridge is to do the tourist thing and go and look at all the fabulous college buildings, go punting, find the mathematical bridge and England's answer to the Bridge of Sighs, visit the Botanical Gardens, climb the tower of the church that chimes like Big Ben (and get one of the best views of the city), spot the pub where the discovery of DNA was announced, and, well, I could go on, but if you're interested you'll be googling everything already, and this is about Countdown ...

There isn't anything formally planned for post-event food and drink, but I'm always open to suggestions. There are several options close to the venue, but people might prefer to head into the centre and take over a section of Wetherspoon's (The Regal on St. Andrew's Street). Walking to the city centre from the venue takes around 25 minutes (if you define Wetherspoon's as the centre), but buses do operate along Mill Road and there are always taxis available if required!

I'm pleased to be able to say that the entrance fee for the day is only £10, which you can pay me by PayPal in the usual way at mike@mjbrown.demon.co.uk. Those of you who would prefer to pay by cheque can do so by sending me a PM and I'll then let you know my snail-mail address.

The timetable for the day is likely to be the same as last year's King's Lynn event, which for those who sadly didn't make it (or have forgotten) is as follows:

10.30 Doors open
11.15 Welcome / Round 1 Draw announced.
11.30 Round 1
12.50 Lunch
13.50 Round 2
15.10 Break
15.25 Round 3
16.45 Break
17.05 Grand Final (15 rounds)
17.30 Prizegiving
18.00 End / down the pub!

I look forward to seeing some of you there!

Mike.

CONFIRMED ENTRANTS:

1 Thomas Carey
2 Samuel Prouse
3 Jeff Clayton
4 James Robinson
5 Robin McKay
6 Ben Wilson
7 George Armstrong
8 Jonathan De Souza
9 Graeme Cole
10 Jen Steadman
11 Phyl Styles
12 Alan Styles
13 Gevin Chapwell
14 Jonathan Wynn
15 Dan Byrom
16 Matthew Brockwell (unable to attend)
17 Stewart Gordon
18 Phil Wilson
19 Tim Hebbes
20 Tim Down
21 Cathy Summerside
22 Neil Collins
23 Callum Todd
24 Zarte Siempre
25 James Wilson
26 Jon Collins

and me...
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Mike Brown
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Mike Brown »

Meant to add as well that for anyone flying into the UK, Stansted is pretty convenient for Cambridge with regular trains (and coaches, I think). Forget about the airport at Cambridge, it doesn't do commercial flights, unless you're a rock star, possibly.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Almost certainly coming to this.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Mike Brown »

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 3:22 pm Almost certainly coming to this.
Nice to see a traditional post, rather than this 'modern' facebook nonsense. Have 'likes' been fixed on here yet? :)
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Matt Morrison »

The Blue Moon on Norfolk Street would be a great option for post-event drinks: https://goo.gl/maps/8f5afnijx4K2

It looks scary from the outside but once you get in its friendly, does decent food and pizza (not tested but Google says so), serves great beer, and has a pool table, quiz machine, table football, and an arcade machine. Can't remember about darts.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Matt Morrison wrote: Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:31 pm The Blue Moon on Norfolk Street would be a great option for post-event drinks: https://goo.gl/maps/8f5afnijx4K2

It looks scary from the outside but once you get in its friendly, does decent food and pizza (not tested but Google says so), serves great beer, and has a pool table, quiz machine, table football, and an arcade machine. Can't remember about darts.
I never had you down as the generic type...
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Matt Morrison »

Haha, yes. Sadly it's looking less and less likely we'll do Cambridge, so you guys can have a nice time in Wetherspoon without me trying to force you to follow the hipster crowd!
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Matt Morrison wrote: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:57 pm Haha, yes. Sadly it's looking less and less likely we'll do Cambridge, so you guys can have a nice time in Wetherspoon without me trying to force you to follow the hipster crowd!
I don't like Wetherspoon either :P I just enjoy things having their own mental plan. I was looking forward to post-Cambridge cow tipping.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Jonathan Wynn »

I'll be there I think, but probably just through for the day due to finances
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Payment sent.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Jonathan Wynn »

Payment sent too
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Neil A Collins »

Hi Mike - I'll be attending + have just sent over payment. My brother is keen as well, but not sure he can make it. Will you accept an entrant on the day?
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Mike Brown »

Neil A Collins wrote: Sun Jun 10, 2018 6:19 pm Hi Mike - I'll be attending + have just sent over payment. My brother is keen as well, but not sure he can make it. Will you accept an entrant on the day?
Glad to have you on board, Neil. I've put your brother down as a provisional entry, so I'll make sure there are enough conundrums (and goody bags!) in case he takes part.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Anyone up for Cambridge parkrun?
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Graeme Cole »

STANDINGS

Players are ranked by wins, then points.

Code: Select all

                         P   W  Pts
  1 Callum Todd          6   5  428 
  2 James Robinson       6   5  383 
  3 Jen Steadman         6   5  365 
  4 Jonathan Wynn        6   5  362 
  5 Zarte Siempre        6   4  371 
  6 Graeme Cole          6   4  344 
  7 Tim Down             6   4  341 
  8 Jeff Clayton         6   4  310 
  9 Mike Brown           6   4  296 
 10 Robin McKay          6   3  377 
 11 Tom Carey            6   3  330 
 12 Phyl Styles          6   3  323 
 13 Neil Collins         6   3  297 
 14 Dan Byrom            6   3  294 
 15 Stewart Gordon       6   3  277 
 16 George Armstrong     6   3  269 
 17 Phil Wilson          6   3  262 
 18 Sam Prouse           6   3  261 
 19 Gevin Chapwell       6   2  293 
 20 Ben Wilson           6   2  276 
 21 Tim Hebbes           6   2  266 
 22 Jonathan de Souza    6   2  265 
 23 Cathy Summerside     6   2  234 
 24 Alan Styles          6   2  209 
 25 James Wilson         6   1  229 
 26 Jon Collins          6   1  220 
 27 Apterous Prune       6   0    0 
RESULTS

Round 1

Table 1
James Wilson 37 - 70 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 47 - 71 Tim Down
Tim Down 60 - 23 James Wilson

Table 2
Callum Todd 55 - 57 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 15 - 63 Jen Steadman
Jen Steadman 58 - 75 Callum Todd

Table 3
Cathy Summerside 23 - 59 Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson 48 - 66 James Robinson
James Robinson 72 - 31 Cathy Summerside

Table 4
Tom Carey 65 - 41 Phyl Styles
Phyl Styles 41 - 63 Jonathan Wynn
Jonathan Wynn 33 - 63 Tom Carey

Table 5
Mike Brown 62 - 46 Dan Byrom
Dan Byrom 39 - 73 Robin McKay
Robin McKay 61 - 35 Mike Brown

Table 6
George Armstrong 27 - 53 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 37 - 55 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 59 - 51 George Armstrong

Table 7
Alan Styles 24 - 51 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 54 - 57 Zarte Siempre
Zarte Siempre 69 - 38 Alan Styles

Table 8
Gevin Chapwell 50 - 67 Jonathan de Souza
Jonathan de Souza 53 - 27 Jon Collins
Jon Collins 43 - 49 Gevin Chapwell

Table 9
Neil Collins 51 - 0 Apterous Prune
Apterous Prune 0 - 61 Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson 42 - 51 Neil Collins

Round 2

Table 1
Robin McKay 52 - 61 Tim Down
Tim Down 51 - 53 James Robinson
James Robinson 59 - 49 Robin McKay

Table 2
Zarte Siempre 55 - 40 Jonathan de Souza
Jonathan de Souza 21 - 55 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 51 - 70 Zarte Siempre

Table 3
Neil Collins 43 - 64 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 70 - 39 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 37 - 54 Neil Collins

Table 4
Graeme Cole 54 - 37 Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson 38 - 64 Jen Steadman
Jen Steadman 54 - 47 Graeme Cole

Table 5
Phil Wilson 33 - 63 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 40 - 57 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 33 - 40 Phil Wilson

Table 6
Jonathan Wynn 61 - 21 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 35 - 52 Mike Brown
Mike Brown 32 - 69 Jonathan Wynn

Table 7
Dan Byrom 50 - 46 Phyl Styles
Phyl Styles 65 - 64 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 41 - 67 Dan Byrom

Table 8
Jon Collins 41 - 38 Alan Styles
Alan Styles 39 - 30 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 51 - 50 Jon Collins

Table 9
Cathy Summerside 53 - 0 Apterous Prune
Apterous Prune 0 - 60 James Wilson
James Wilson 37 - 52 Cathy Summerside

Round 3

Table 1
James Robinson 67 - 95 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 69 - 54 Zarte Siempre
Zarte Siempre 66 -*76 James Robinson

Table 2
Jen Steadman 62 - 59 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 37 - 50 Tim Down
Tim Down 48 - 64 Jen Steadman

Table 3
Neil Collins 52 - 79 Robin McKay
Robin McKay 63 - 79 Jonathan Wynn
Jonathan Wynn 57 - 46 Neil Collins

Table 4
Dan Byrom 55 - 41 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 50 - 69 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 57 - 37 Dan Byrom

Table 5
Sam Prouse 42 - 36 Jonathan de Souza
Jonathan de Souza 48 - 64 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 51 - 29 Sam Prouse

Table 6
Phil Wilson 57 - 34 Cathy Summerside
Cathy Summerside 41 - 63 Mike Brown
Mike Brown 52 - 29 Phil Wilson

Table 7
Ben Wilson 46 - 34 Jon Collins
Jon Collins 25 - 60 Phyl Styles
Phyl Styles 70 - 48 Ben Wilson

Table 8
George Armstrong 58 - 36 James Wilson
James Wilson 36 - 53 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 36 - 52 George Armstrong

Table 9
Alan Styles 56 - 0 Apterous Prune
Apterous Prune 0 - 76 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 55 - 14 Alan Styles


FINAL (15 rounder)

James Robinson 94 - 102 Callum Todd
Last edited by Graeme Cole on Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Mark Deeks »

Yes but what about the park run?
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Graeme Cole wrote: Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:31 amCallum Todd 69 - 34 Zarte Siempre
This is incorrect. Must have been 69-54, as it was a crucial.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Graeme Cole »

Zarte Siempre wrote: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:28 pm
Graeme Cole wrote: Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:31 amCallum Todd 69 - 34 Zarte Siempre
This is incorrect. Must have been 69-54, as it was a crucial.
Fixed.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Mark Deeks wrote: Sun Jun 17, 2018 11:45 am Yes but what about the park run?
I will post about that shortly.
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Re: Countdown in Cambridge (CoCam) - Saturday 16th June

Post by Mike Brown »

Zarte Siempre wrote: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:28 pm
Graeme Cole wrote: Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:31 amCallum Todd 69 - 34 Zarte Siempre
This is incorrect. Must have been 69-54, as it was a crucial.
Apologies; my bad. Just had a look and can't even blame the handwriting. :)
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