So, it's the final preliminary of the series and of 2013 to boot
And just to add that little bit of sparkle, I decided to pop on down to MediaCityUK to see it being recorded. 
Here we go, enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 11 December 2013.
C1: Champion Rod Chatfield (4 wins, 327 points.) A guest house owner from Ilfracombe, Devon. He's got all 5 conundrums that he has faced so far, yet he claims he only gets 1 in 10 when he watches at home
C2: Challenger Kevin Westlake. A pensions administrator from Birmingham. He's a member of the Harborne Cricket Club. His most memorable moment is attending the 1978 FA Cup Final, when he saw his Ipswich Town beat Arsenal 1-0 at the old Wembley.
DC: Susie Dent and Dan Walker.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R T D O E G S O A
R02: W T S E I R P I U
R03: 50, 8, 9, 2, 10, 7. Target: 809.
TTT: HERUBLIP - "He rubs his lips after eating a mouthful of this"
R04: Q I O D S R N A R
R05: S F N E I R D E N
R06: 100, 7, 9, 2, 6, 4. Target: 281.
R07: X T L O E G D O E
R08: D P T E O E N R D
R09: 100, 9, 7, 3, 10, 2. Target: 742.
TTT: DIGSIMON - "Have a dig at Simon for his illegal act"
R10: S S N I U L H O A
R11: B M H B E O A S G
R12: P V R N E U O Y L
R13: T F G M U A O R T
R14: 100, 50, 8, 6, 9, 7. Target: 410.
R15: U S I N G H E A D (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: R T D O E G S O A
C1: dogstar
C2: goaders
DC: STORAGE (7) ROASTED (7)
OT: DASTOOR (7) DOTAGES (7) ORGEATS (7) ROOSTED (7) STOOGED (7) TADGERS (7) TODGERS (7) TOERAGS (7) TORSADE (7)
Score: 0–0 (max 7)
That's interesting. The 2nd Wednesday on the spin when the score at both the beginning and end of round 1 was 0-0
NEXT!!! 
An ORGEAT is a syrup or drink made originally from barley but later from almonds, prepared with sugar and an extract of orange flowers.
A TORSADE is an ornamental twist or twisted cord, as on hats.
Round 2: W T S E I R P I U
C1: STRIPE (6)
C2: PUREST (6)
DC: WISPIER (7)
OT: PERITUS (7) PISTEUR (7) TIPSIER (7) WIRIEST (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 14)
Both contestants are now on the board with their 6's, but there are 7's around in the undergrowth.
Round 3: 50, 8, 9, 2, 10, 7. Target: 809.
C1: 809. (8 x 2 x 50) + 9 (10)
C2: 809. (8 x 2 x 50) + 9 (10)
Score: 16–16 (max 24)
Nice and simple start to the numbers today.
Teatime teaser: HERUBLIP -> BHELPURI
Round 4: Q I O D S R N A R
C1: INROADS (7)
C2: ORDAINS (7)
Score: 23–23 (max 31)
Both 7's picked up expertly here. This contest is brewing nicely.
Round 5: S F N E I R D E N
C1: FRIENDS (7)
C2: FRIENDS (7)
DC: FINDERS (7) REFINED (7) DEFINERS (8)
Score: 30–30 (max 39)
Awwww, always nice to be FRIENDS on this show, but DC do what they do best and spot the DEFINERS.
Round 6: 100, 7, 9, 2, 6, 4. Target: 281.
C1: 279.
C2: 281. (100 x 2) + ((7 + 6 - 4) x 9) (10)
Score: 30–40 (max 49)
The first gap emerges, and Kevin makes a brilliant solve in this numbers game to go 10 points up.
Dan talks about some of the "tricks of the trade", including what newsreaders do when they shuffle their papers at the end of a bulletin.
Round 7: X T L O E G D O E
C1: extoled
C2: LOOTED (6)
DC: TOOLED (6) DETOX (5)
Score: 30–46 (max 55)
Rod tries a little gamble, but he kind of realises he's onto a loser, as needs another L in EXTOLLED...........
Round 8: D P T E O E N R D
C1: PORTENDED (18)
C2: DEPORTED (8)
Score: 48–46 (max 73)
OH MY GOD!!! Now that is probably the best ever 9 I've seen from a non-Apterite since I've watched the show, especially as it's not that easy to spot it, just ask DC who missed it too
Round 9: 100, 9, 7, 3, 10, 2. Target: 742.
C1: 742. ((3 x 2) + 100) x 7 (10)
C2: -
Score: 58–46 (max 83)
Kevin goes into complete meltdown and Rod takes full advantage, and so after being 16 points down 2 rounds ago, all of a sudden, Rod is now 12 points up
Teatime teaser: DIGSIMON -> MISDOING
Round 10: S S N I U L H O A
C1: LOANS (5)
C2: SNAILS (6)
DC: SHOALS (6)
OT: INHAULS (7) SUASION (7)
Score: 58–52 (max 90)
It's not a sprint, and Kevin proves it by going at a SNAILS' pace to halve the deficit, but both the 7's are missed by DC here..........
An INHAUL is any of various lines for hauling a sail, spar, etc., inward or inboard in order to stow it after use.
Round 11: B M H B E O A S G
C1: HOMAGES (7)
C2: HOMAGES (7)
Score: 65–59 (max 97)
Debatable in the past, but luckily the "count noun rule" saves the day, and it's a double darren to enjoy.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "bog standard".
Round 12: P V R N E U O Y L
C1: PROVEN (6)
C2: PROVEN (6)
DC: PLEURON (7)
Score: 71–65 (max 104)
Both our contestants have certainly PROVEN themselves to be decent contestants today, while DC impress again with their own darrenic 7.
Round 13: T F G M U A O R T
C1: RAGOUT (6)
C2: GROAT (5)
DC: TARTUFO (7)
OT: FOUMART (7) MUTATOR (7)
Score: 77–65 (max 111)
A nice Countdown favourite from years gone by has come to Rod's aid, and his lead doubles to 12 points at this crucial stage of the game. What will Kevin do to try and rectify this, I wonder
FOUMART is another name for the European polecat, Mustela putorius.
Round 14: 100, 50, 8, 6, 9, 7. Target: 410.
C1: 410. (8 x 50) + 7 - 6 + 9 (10)
C2: 412.
Score: 87–65 (max 121)
It's the 2 large route, but unfortunately it backfires badly for Kevin, as he can only get 2 away, while Rod is on target to his 5th win and a return early next year.
Round 15: U S I N G H E A D
C1 buzzes on 17.75 seconds to say ANGUISHED which is correct.
Final Score: 97–65 (max 131)
And he maintains his superb conundrum record too
6 out of 6 (if you include the tiebreaker from last Thursday), and his best performance to date as well. So, Rod has recorded his 5th win, but we will now propel him (as Nick would say) to January for the start of Series 70 on January 6, where he'll just be 3 wins away from becoming an octochamp.
So, tomorrow, it's the most eagerly finals since............., the last one.
But, with 3 of the top 5 scoring octochamps of all time involved in this, these finals are going to be the most memorable of all time, I can tell you, and having seen them first hand, I can tell you all that you won't be disappointed one bit.
I'll return tomorrow with our first quarter-final, between the #1 Seed, Dylan "The Hampton Hurricane" Taylor and the #8 Seed, Gemma "The Huntingdon Hammer" Church.
And if it's anything like the last #1 v #8 match, we could be in for something quite interesting
So, join me tomorrow for all the excitement to begin.
So, till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Rod:
Total score - 97
Raw score - 109
Total % of max - 74
Raw % of max - 83
Total average score per round - 6.5
Raw average score per round - 7.3
Number of maxes - 7
Kevin:
Total score - 65
Raw score - 85
Total % of max - 50
Raw % of max - 65
Total average score per round - 4.3
Raw average score per round - 5.7
Number of maxes - 5
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=69
