Thursday 3rd July 2014 (Series 71, Prelim 4)

[Sean Fletcher]

Good afternoon, sorry for the delay in getting this done. I hope the recap is more entertaining than the game was.

Countdown recap for Saturday 5 July 2014.

C1: Champion Rob Jennings (1 win, 69 points.) After doubling his points total in the last four rounds yesterday the 'Soulman' is back trying to retain the champions chair.
C2: Challenger Denise O'Neill. A Student and football fan from Balbriggan. Supports Manchester United and has played for Balbriggan, Leinster and the Ireland under 15's.
DC: Susie Dent and Griff Rhys Jiones.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: N D R I O F Q A O
R02: L D M W I E A S N
R03: 8, 9, 2, 7, 9, 25. Target: 561.
TTT: SCALEBAN - "Uses the scales to find out how much is owed."
R04: P R T I E A M V G
R05: Z L P T I A I A G
R06: 6, 5, 7, 2, 9, 25. Target: 592.
R07: M H S O E I X R B
R08: N S D E O N S E O
R09: 5, 8, 9, 4, 100, 75. Target: 701.
TTT: LASTFIVE - "Got the last five tickets to the musical event"
R10: Y R B I U E C T L
R11: R D G A E U D P T
R12: A O I N R S L U S
R13: F R M J E O A P S
R14: 9, 5, 3, 6, 10, 100. Target: 357.
R15: I G E T G R A N T (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: N D R I O F Q A O

Rob: FROND (5)
Denise: dorian
DC: RADIO (5) INDOOR (6)
OT: INROAD (6) NARDOO (6) ORDAIN (6)
Score: 5–0 (max 6)

A good selection of sixes here so it's surprising neither contestant spots one. Saying that DC only notice one of them.
A NARDOO is an Australian Clover Fern.
A FROND is a large leaf divided into many thin sections. It's found on many flowerless plants, especially ferns and palms.
Round 2: L D M W I E A S N

Rob: WIELDS (6)
Denise: MEDIANS (7)
DC: MILDEWS (7) SWINDLE (7) MAIDENS (7)
OT: DENIALS (7) INWALES (7) MEDINAS (7) MENIALS (7) MISDEAL (7) MISLEAD (7) SEMINAL (7) SIDEMAN (7)
Score: 5–7 (max 13)

A seven fest but Rob only spots a six putting the challenger into an early lead.
INWALES - In an open boat a horizontal timber binding together the frames along the top strake
MEDINAS - The oldest part of a North African City

Round 3: 8, 9, 2, 7, 9, 25. Target: 561.

Rob: -
Denise: -
RR: 561. ((9*9-2)*7)+8 (10)
Score: 5–7 (max 23)

Both Contestants draw a blank leaving Rachel to do what she does best.

Teatime teaser: SCALEBAN -> BALANCES

Round 4: P R T I E A M V G

Rob: IMPART (6)
Denise: PRIVATE (7)
DC: MIGRATE (7) VAMPIRE (7)
OT: EPIGRAM (7) PRIMATE (7) RAGTIME (7) VAMPIER (7) VIRGATE (7)
Score: 5–14 (max 30)

The challenger furthers her lead as Roy can't spot one of the numerous sevens on offer.
VIRGATE - Describes plant parts that are long and thin.

Round 5: Z L P T I A I A G

Rob: PLAIT (5)
Denise: PLAZA (5)
DC: PIGTAIL (7)
OT: TILAPIA (7)
Score: 10–19 (max 37)

Quite a tough round produces two fives from the contestants. DC spot one of the two sevens available.
TILAPIA - A freshwater fish of the Cichlid family

Round 6: 6, 5, 7, 2, 9, 25. Target: 592.

Rob: 593. ((9*2+6)*25)-7 (7)
Denise: 593. Mistake in working.
RR: 592. (5*(2+6)+25)*9+7 (10)
Score: 17–19 (max 47)

Roy gets one away and reduces his deficit as Denise makes a mistake. Rachel has to show us how to do it again.


Griff talks about when he was up for a WAFTA (Welsh Bafta).


Round 7: M H S O E I X R B

Rob: moshier
Denise: mosher
DC: HOMBRE (6) HEROISM (7)
OT: HOMBRES (7) MOREISH (7)
Score: 17–19 (max 54)

No change in the score as both contestants give invalid words. DC only spot one seven by not pluralising HOMBRE.
Round 8: N S D E O N S E O

Rob: NEONS (5)
Denise: NEEDS (5)
DC: ONENESS (7)
OT: DONENESS (8)
Score: 22–24 (max 62)

Low scoring rounds seem to be the order of the day and no surprises the contestants only get fives here. DC produce a seven but miss the solitary eight.

Round 9: 5, 8, 9, 4, 100, 75. Target: 701.

Rob: 700. 8-(5-4)*100 (7)
Denise: 703.
RR: 701. 75*8+100+5-4 (10)
Score: 29–24 (max 72)

Roy gets closer than Denise to take the lead for the first time since round one. Rachel is called into action once more to show us perfection.
Teatime teaser: LASTFIVE -> FESTIVAL

Round 10: Y R B I U E C T L

Rob: RUBLE (5)
Denise: -
DC: LIBERTY (7) UTRICLE (7)
OT: BRUCITE (7) CRUELTY (7) CUTLERY (7) REBUILT (7) TILBURY (7)
Score: 34–24 (max 79)

Denise doesn't even offer a word as Rob increases his lead to ten points. DC free us of low scoring words with LIBERTY which is one of numerous sevens available.

Round 11: R D G A E U D P T

Rob: PURGED (6)
Denise: UPGRADE (7)
DC: TRUDGED (7) UPGRADED (8)
Score: 34–31 (max 87)

A good spot by Denise sees her close the gap. If only she had TRUDGED through the selection a bit more she could have UPGRADED her word.


OOW - Susie talks about Toast and idioms surrounding it.


Round 12: A O I N R S L U S

Rob: SLAIN (5)
Denise: SOLARS (6)
DC: SAILORS (7) INSULAR (7)
OT: SOLUNAR (7) SUASION (7) URINALS (7)
Score: 34–37 (max 94)

Denise gets the better of Roy again to retake the lead. Another round where there were a variety of longer words than the contestants offered. DC spot two of them.
SOLUNAR - Pertaining to or listing the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon
SUASION - The act of persuading someone to do something


Round 13: F R M J E O A P S

Rob: foamers
Denise: foamers
DC: FRAMES (6) MOPERS (6) JASPER (6)
OT: FEMORA (6) FORMAE (6) FORMAS (6) FORMES (6) MAJORS (6) OPERAS (6) PAREOS (6) PROEMS (6) RAMOSE (6) REMAPS (6)
Score: 34–37 (max 100)

Lots and lots of sixes but both contestants attempt, incorrectly, the same seven.
PAREOS - Tahitian word for a wraparound skirt.
RAMOSE - Having many branches.

Round 14: 9, 5, 3, 6, 10, 100. Target: 357.

Rob: 356. 3*100+5*10+6 (7)
Denise: 354.
RR: 357. (100+10+9)*3 (10)
Score: 41–37 (max 110)

Roy again shows his superiority on the numbers game to take the lead and leave us with a crucial conundrum. For the fourth time today Rachel is called into action.
Round 15: I G E T G R A N T

Denise buzzes on 2 seconds to say NATTERING which is incorrect.
Rob does not buzz.
The answer was TARGETING.
Final Score: 41–37 (max 120)

And the contest is over after 2 seconds into the conundrum as Denise guesses incorrectly. A poor game by both contenders is reflected in the low scoring finish.
Roy will be happy to have retained the champions chair but will need a marked improvement if he wants to progress much further and secure a place in the finals.


Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=71

[David Williams]

VIRGATE - Describes plant parts that are long and thin.

In some dictionaries, but not in Oxford, apparently.

[Sean Fletcher]

VIRGATE - Describes plant parts that are long and thin.

In some dictionaries, but not in Oxford, apparently.

Interesting. What does it say in the Oxford one?

[Robert Lozyniak]

Thursday 4th July 2014 ← ЕГГОГ

The 4th was a Friday. (I know because it's a holiday in my country, so no Friday night social dance for me...)

[Sean Fletcher]

Thursday 4th July 2014 ← ЕГГОГ

The 4th was a Friday. (I know because it's a holiday in my country, so no Friday night social dance for me...)

Cheers for pointing that out. It's been rectified.

[Peter Mabey]

VIRGATE - Describes plant parts that are long and thin.

In some dictionaries, but not in Oxford, apparently.

Interesting. What does it say in the Oxford one?

A varying measure of land, typically 30 acres

[James Robinson]

Round 10: Y R B I U E C T L

Rob: RUBLE (5)
Denise: -
DC: LIBERTY (7) UTRICLE (7)
OT: BRUCITE (7) CRUELTY (7) CUTLERY (7) REBUILT (7) TILBURY (7)
Score: 34–24 (max 79)

I'm told that BUTLERY is now in the ODO, so would be available in this round too.