Thursday 7th February 2019 (Series 80, Prelim 12)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Thursday 7 February 2019.

C1: Champion Kerry Copland (4 wins, 338 points.) A full-time mum from Camberley, Surrey.
C2: Challenger Nick Seymour. A supermarket worker from Newton Poppleford, Devon. He's a heavy metal fan, as well as liking doing crosswords.
DC: Susie Dent and Shaun Wallace.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: R M H A E S X I R
R02: L D O W U S E D S
R03: 25, 6, 2, 4, 4, 5. Target: 580.
TTT: DRAKEMARE - "She designated certain funds to pay for piercings."
R04: F G I A B L O I G
R05: T S T E A Q L U P
R06: 100, 4, 4, 7, 2, 3. Target: 236.
R07: S D V E H O A M Y
R08: R P E A D E U C R
R09: 75, 25, 3, 5, 2, 9. Target: 753.
TTT: LIMBHEELS - "To make his story make exciting, he'd often throw in a few extra details."
R10: T R I N E C O W S
R11: M L R A I U N T E
R12: F N O E P T I A R
R13: K G N O A E S V I
R14: 25, 2, 4, 4, 1, 9. Target: 424.
R15: A L A R M I D O L (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: R M H A E S X I R

Kerry: MIXERS (6)
Nick: SHAMER (6)
DC: HARRIES (7) MARRIES (7) MISHEAR (7)
OT: MARSHIER (8)
Score: 6–6 (max 8)

Round 2: L D O W U S E D S

Kerry: SLOWED (6)
Nick: SLOWED (6)
DC: DOUSES (6) DOWELS (6) WUSSED (6)
OT: DOSSED (6) DOUSED (6) DOWSED (6) DOWSES (6) DUDESS (6) LOUSED (6) LOUSES (6) OUSELS (6) SOLEUS (6) SOULED (6) SOUSED (6) SUDSED (6)
Score: 12–12 (max 14)

Round 3: 25, 6, 2, 4, 4, 5. Target: 580.

Kerry: 577. (((6 x 4) - (5 - 4)) x 25) + 2 (7)
Nick: 580. Mistake in working.
RR: 580. ((25 x 6) - 5) x 4 (10)
Score: 19–12 (max 24)

Teatime teaser: DRAKEMARE -> EARMARKED

Round 4: F G I A B L O I G

Kerry: FLAG (4)
Nick: GOLF (4)
DC: LOGGIA (6)
OT: GILGAI (6)
Score: 23–16 (max 30)

Round 5: T S T E A Q L U P

Kerry: PLEATS (6)
Nick: PLAQUES (7)
DC: PULSATE (7) UPSTATE (7)
OT: PATTLES (7) PELTAST (7) PUTEALS (7)
Score: 23–23 (max 37)

Round 6: 100, 4, 4, 7, 2, 3. Target: 236.

Kerry: 236. (2 x 100) + ((3 + 7) x 4) - 4 (10)
Nick: -
Score: 33–23 (max 47)

Shaun talks about interesting things that happened on February 7.

Round 7: S D V E H O A M Y

Kerry: MASHED (6)
Nick: SHOVED (6)
DC: SHAVED (6) SOMEDAY (7)
Score: 39–29 (max 54)

Round 8: R P E A D E U C R

Kerry: DRAPER (6)
Nick: creeper
DC: CAPERED (7) PRECURED (8)
OT: UPREARED (8)
Score: 45–29 (max 62)

Round 9: 75, 25, 3, 5, 2, 9. Target: 753.

Kerry: 752.
Nick: 753. (5 x 2 x 75) + 3 (10)
Score: 45–39 (max 72)

Teatime teaser: LIMBHEELS -> EMBELLISH

Round 10: T R I N E C O W S

Kerry: CORNIEST (8)
Nick: WINTERS (7)
DC: strine NOTICERS (8)
OT: CROWNETS (8)
Score: 53–39 (max 80)

Round 11: M L R A I U N T E

Kerry: NUMERAL (7)
Nick: MARINE (6)
DC: TRAMLINE (8) TERMINAL (8) RUMINATE (8)
OT: RETINULA (8) RUMANITE (8) TENURIAL (8)
Score: 60–39 (max 88)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "unpopularity".

Round 12: F N O E P T I A R

Kerry: POINTER (7)
Nick: RATION (6)
DC: PINAFORE (8) ATROPINE (8) PANFORTE (8)
Score: 67–39 (max 96)

Round 13: K G N O A E S V I

Kerry: EVOKING (7)
Nick: SOAKING (7)
DC: EVASION (7) AGONISE (7)
OT: AGONIES (7) GAVONES (7) INVOKES (7) SINKAGE (7)
Score: 74–46 (max 103)

Round 14: 25, 2, 4, 4, 1, 9. Target: 424.

Kerry: 424. ((9 + 4 + 4) x 25) - 1 (10)
Nick: 424. Mistake in working.
Score: 84–46 (max 113)

Round 15: A L A R M I D O L

No one buzzes. The answer was ARMADILLO.
Final Score: 84–46 (max 123)

Statistics Corner

Kerry:
Total score - 84
Raw score - 97
Total % of max - 68
Raw % of max - 79
Total average score per round - 5.6
Raw average score per round - 6.5
Number of maxes - 5

Nick:
Total score - 46
Raw score - 65
Total % of max - 37
Raw % of max - 53
Total average score per round - 3.1
Raw average score per round - 4.3
Number of maxes - 4

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=80