COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024

[Ben Wilson]

Everyone's getting a little bit older- god knows I am- but one thing that hasn't changed is that when January rolls around, COLIN won't be far behind.

Yep, for the nineteenth time, yours truly will be hosting Countdown in Lincoln- the oldest event on the co-event calendar. If you're one of the 202 (no, really) people who've been to COLIN (or the hangover) before, you'll know what to expect. If you're a newbie, though, the COLIN setup is simple: there'll be 3 rounds of Edinburgh-style play (3 players to a table, everyone plays each other once and hosts once) followed by a final between the top two players. Play starts at 11:45am on Saturday and we're all finished by 6pm. The winner on the day takes home a wooden spoon (as this point, everyone just sort of rolls with that), the top 5 take home bits of cardboard sandwiched between bits of Perspex (ditto) and there are spot prizes aplenty for everyone and a good chance that a large chunk of the attendees will be going home having won a badge of some kind.

The following day, the same thing happens again, with the exception that play starts at 11am, is all finished by around 2:30pm, and there are only 2 rounds followed by a final. Also, the trophies are made out of wood (and say COLIN XVIII hangover due to a cock-up with my regular trophy supplier for the last event), there are fewer badges available, but 50% of the attendees go away with a box of chocolates or a chocolate orange or something like that. And yes, both events will be part of FOCAL 2024.

The venues for the events will be The Ark on Moor Lane in North Hykeham for COLIN XIX on the Saturday, and The Memorial Hall on Newark Road in North Hykeham for the Hangover on the Sunday (neither of which are technically in Lincoln, but everyone sort of rolls with that as well). The Friday and Saturday nights are usually spent in the Fox and Hounds pub on Newark Road (just a short walk from the Memorial Hall), which is under new management... again... and there's usually a large contingent of people staying in the Travelodge in Thorpe on the Hill (not hugely far from the venues) on the Friday and/or Saturday nights. Room prices will no doubt be added to the thread in short order.

Entry fee is £13 for the Saturday event, £9 for the Sunday event or £17 for both days, payable by PayPal to hulla.mahulla@btopenworld.com . If you want to pay by an alternative method, drop me a pm and I'll see if I can work something out.

Oh, and it hasn't escaped my notice that this year's Hangover will the tenth such event. This will definitely be commemorated... somehow.

Directions from the station(s) to the venue(s):

Hykeham Station to the Ark
Hykeham Station to the Memorial Hall

If you're travelling into Lincoln rail station, the bus station is directly across the road, and the 15 from bay H bus goes past the Ark (well, on the opposite side of the road but same thing) and the 16 (also bay H) goes past the Memorial Hall (again, opposite side of the road but whatever) and, more importantly, both the Fox and Hounds and the Travelodge. Yes, the Fox and Hounds have been told to expect a rush over the weekend.

Facebook events pages-

COLIN XIX
The Hangover

See you all in January!

Confirmed entries (as of 26/01/24):

COLIN XIX (45)

MSR
Phil Stanton
Fiona Titcombe
Adam Dexter
Thomas Carey
Eddy Byrne
Richard Priest
Jack Hurst
Thomas Cappleman
James Robinson
Graeme Cole
George Armstrong
Jason Turner
Taz Turner
Rob Foster
Jeff Clayton
Tim Down
Stewart Gordon
Ian Wray
Adam Beach
Bradley Horrocks
Chris Marshall
Mike Springett
Adrian Fletcher
Jack Worsley
Dan Byrom
Anthony Endsor
David Roe
Tim Hebbes
Adam Latchford
Coral Heath
Steve Hyde
Conor Travers
Vicci Smith
Jonathan de Souza
Andy Platt
David Hilton
Gevin Chapwell
Amar Chotai
James Laverty
Sam Prouse
Tracey Mills
Callum Todd
Jack D
Dinos Sfyris

The Hangover (33)

MSR
Phil Stanton
Fiona Titcombe
Adam Dexter
Thomas Carey
Eddy Byrne
Richard Priest
Jack Hurst
Thomas Cappleman
James Robinson
Graeme Cole
George Armstrong
Jason Turner
Taz Turner
Rob Foster
Jeff Clayton
Tim Down
Stewart Gordon
Adam Beach
Bradley Horrocks
Chris Marshall
Adrian Fletcher
Jack Worsley
Dan Byrom
Tim Hebbes
Adam Latchford
David Hilton
Gevin Chapwell
Amar Chotai
Tracey Mills
Mark Mills
Callum Todd
Jack D

[Fiona T]

Well this is exciting!!

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/yarboroughleisurecentre/

Y was looking like the trickiest alphabet letter for me - York being crazy expensive! Too good an opportunity to miss for me.

Anyone wanna join me for this one?

[Bradley Horrocks]

Well this is exciting!!

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/yarboroughleisurecentre/

Y was looking like the trickiest alphabet letter for me - York being crazy expensive! Too good an opportunity to miss for me.

Anyone wanna join me for this one?

Sure, Y not!

[Gavin Chipper]

If someone's willing to drive me there! (I mean, I haven't signed up or anything yet, but I probably will.)

[Thomas Carey]

Well this is exciting!!

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/yarboroughleisurecentre/

Y was looking like the trickiest alphabet letter for me - York being crazy expensive! Too good an opportunity to miss for me.

Anyone wanna join me for this one?

Yes

[Adam S Latchford]

[Ben Wilson]

A big day for entrants today- 4, including COLIN debutant Adrian Fletcher, brings numbers for the Saturday up to 26! Still plenty of room for more...

[Ben Wilson]

Series 44 semi-finalist David Roe brings numbers to 28 and sets a new record for most time between consecutive COLIN appearances at 14 years since he played at COLIN 2010. Only two other people have gaps of 10 years or more between appearances- can you name either of them?

[Thomas Carey]

Series 44 semi-finalist David Roe brings numbers to 28 and sets a new record for most time between consecutive COLIN appearances at 14 years since he played at COLIN 2010. Only two other people have gaps of 10 years or more between appearances- can you name either of them?

One of them has to be Kai surely? Can't immediately think of anyone else who fits the bill right now and don't want to cheat by looking at attendee lists




Tiny text for spoilers

[Ben Wilson]

Series 44 semi-finalist David Roe brings numbers to 28 and sets a new record for most time between consecutive COLIN appearances at 14 years since he played at COLIN 2010. Only two other people have gaps of 10 years or more between appearances- can you name either of them?

One of them has to be Kai surely? Can't immediately think of anyone else who fits the bill right now and don't want to cheat by looking at attendee lists




Tiny text for spoilers

That's one, yep

[Ronan M Higginson]

Jerry Humphreys the other?

[Ben Wilson]

Jerry Humphreys the other?

Spot on

[David Roe]

Series 44 semi-finalist David Roe brings numbers to 28 and sets a new record for most time between consecutive COLIN appearances at 14 years since he played at COLIN 2010. Only two other people have gaps of 10 years or more between appearances- can you name either of them?

Quarter-finalist. I was well tubbed by eventual winner Stuart Wood in the quarters.

[Ben Wilson]

The annual outrage that is the COLIN seedings will be published once we hit 36 entries. and as we're currently on 35, that in theory shouldn't be far away...

[Ben Wilson]

Welp, COLIN veteran Andy Platt makes it 36, so here are the seeds. A reminder that seeds are based on an average of finishes at the previous five COLINs (not a player's last five COLINs- in this case, specifically COLINs XIV-XVIII), with the worst finish disregarded, and from this year, any obviously anomalously low/high results also disregarded. However, there are still a few players who only have one finish, which can't be disregarded, so there are more than a few 'banana skins' in pots B and C. And as always, players with no COLIN finish in the last 5 years are placed in the middle of the pack.

1 Conor Travers (reigning COLIN champion)
2 Tim Down (reigning Hangover champion)
3 Jack Hurst (reigning FOCAL champion)
4 Jack Worsley
5 Rob Foster
6 Callum Todd
7 Thomas Cappleman
8 Bradley Horrocks
9 Thomas Carey
10 George Armstrong
11 Eddy Byrne
12 Graeme Cole
13 James Robinson
14 Jonathan de Souza
15 Steve Hyde
16 Jeff Clayton
17 Tracey Mills
18 Amar Chotai
19 Richard Priest
20 Tim Hebbes
21 David Roe
22 Ian Wray
23 Adrian Fletcher
24 Jack D
25 Fiona Titcombe
26 Dan Byrom
27 Gevin Chapwell
28 Anthony Endsor
29 Sam Prouse
30 Andy Platt
31 MSR
32 Stewart Gordon
33 Jason Turner
34 Adam Latchford
35 Phil Stanton
36 Adam Dexter
37 Chris Marshall
38 Adam Beach
39 Coral Heath
40 James Laverty
41 David Hilton
42 Taz Turner
43 Mike Springett
44 Vicci Smith

[Thomas Cappleman]

Tim finally found a way to break the Tim Down curse and get an actual good seeding then

[Gavin Chipper]

How do you decide what order to put the the people in the middle group in?

[Ben Wilson]

How do you decide what order to put the the people in the middle group in?

Anyone who's been before but more than 5 years ago is ordered by their best finish, otherwise by order of entry.

[Callum Todd]

Tim finally found a way to break the Tim Down curse and get an actual good seeding then

Yep, good luck to him when he gets drawn against Dan and Latchford in Round 1

[Tim Down]

Tim finally found a way to break the Tim Down curse and get an actual good seeding then

The goodness of my seeding for this year seems more outrageous than any previous bad seeding, but I'll happily take it. Now watch me singularly fail to live up to it.

[Ben Wilson]

COLIN veteran James Laverty brings numbers up to 40! There are still plenty* of spaces left though, so why not get your entry fee to me asap and book your place at the premiere co-event of the FOCAL calendar?

Also, seeds have been updated.

*By 'plenty' I mean 'twenty', which rhymes so it kinda works, I guess

[Ben Wilson]

Up to 44 entries now! Seedings updated above. The itinerary for the day, btw-

11:00 doors open
11:30 introductions
11:50 round 1
13:10 lunch
14:00 round 2
15:20 break
15:35 round 3
16:50 break
17:15 grand final
17:30 prizegiving

If everyone could endeavour to be there for 11:30 I'd be grateful- games start at 11:50 whether you're there or not. Hopefully.

[Tim Down]

This is your reminder that COVID is still a thing and is still capable of ruining your life, so I'd suggest as many attendees as possible try do a lateral flow test shortly before we all share the same small spaces for a weekend.

This goes for any CO event, really, until there's one that's fully outdoors.

[Ben Wilson]

Congratulations to Jack Hurst winning his second COLIN title ten years after the first by defeating Callum Todd on a crucial conundrum in a double max game final! Full standings are below.



COLIN XIX
The Ark
27 January 2024

STANDINGS

Players are ranked by number of wins then total points scored.


P W Pts
1 Callum Todd 6 6 380
2 Jack Hurst 6 5 448
3 Jack Worsley 6 5 418
4 Rob Foster 6 5 417
5 Andy Platt 6 5 366
6 Eddy Byrne 6 5 360
7 Jonathan de Souza 6 5 359
8 Conor Travers 6 4 402
9 George Armstrong 6 4 393
10 Dinos Sfyris 6 4 364
11 Dan Byrom 6 4 362
12 Adam Latchford 6 4 351
12 Thomas Carey 6 4 351
14 Adrian Fletcher 6 4 335
15 MSR 6 4 319
16 Steve Hyde 6 4 310
17 Stewart Gordon 6 4 264
18 Fiona Titcombe 6 3 350
19 Tim Hebbes 6 3 347
20 Thomas Cappleman 6 3 343
21 Anthony Endsor 6 3 317
22 Bradley Horrocks 6 3 304
22 Graeme Cole 6 3 304
24 Jason Turner 6 3 278
25 Sam Prouse 6 3 266
26 Mike Springett 6 3 261
27 Amar Chotai 6 3 204
28 Tim Down 6 2 351
29 James Robinson 6 2 340
30 Adam Dexter 6 2 318
31 Jeff Clayton 6 2 312
32 Gevin Chapwell 6 2 309
33 Tracey Mills 6 2 308
34 Coral Heath 6 2 307
35 David Roe 6 2 295
36 Phil Stanton 6 2 293
37 Richard Priest 6 2 287
38 David Hilton 6 2 263
39 Adam Beach 6 2 262
40 Taz Turner 6 2 233
41 James Laverty 6 1 310
42 Ian Wray 6 1 281
43 Jack D 6 1 187
44 Chris Marshall 6 0 261
45 Vicci Smith 6 0 170


RESULTS

Round 1

Table 1
Richard Priest 43 - 41 David Hilton
David Hilton 38 - 70 Tim Down
Tim Down 83 - 57 Richard Priest

Table 2
Tracey Mills 45 - 49 Andy Platt
Andy Platt 58 - 51 Jonathan de Souza
Jonathan de Souza 52 - 46 Tracey Mills

Table 3
Amar Chotai 0 - 67 Coral Heath
Coral Heath 40 - 69 James Robinson
James Robinson 63 - 0 Amar Chotai

Table 4
Jeff Clayton 51 - 50 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 38 - 63 Conor Travers
Conor Travers 81 - 46 Jeff Clayton

Table 5
David Roe 71 - 37 Vicci Smith
Vicci Smith 17 - 72 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 84 - 28 David Roe

Table 6
Sam Prouse 45 - 44 Taz Turner
Taz Turner 0 - 85 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 66 - 39 Sam Prouse

Table 7
Ian Wray 47 - 51 Jason Turner
Jason Turner 42 - 45 Dinos Sfyris
Dinos Sfyris 71 - 46 Ian Wray

Table 8
Fiona Titcombe 55 - 64 MSR
MSR 60 - 52 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 59 - 49 Fiona Titcombe

Table 9
Steve Hyde 54 - 47 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 30 - 57 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 71 - 46 Steve Hyde

Table 10
Jack D 30 - 51 James Laverty
James Laverty 45 - 60 Thomas Carey
Thomas Carey 60 - 20 Jack D

Table 11
Tim Hebbes 70 - 21 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 30 - 63 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 59 - 41 Tim Hebbes

Table 12
Dan Byrom 51 - 44 Adam Latchford
Adam Latchford 57 - 45 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 58 - 48 Dan Byrom

Table 13
Anthony Endsor 61 - 40 Adam Beach
Adam Beach 33 - 71 Rob Foster
Rob Foster 64 - 46 Anthony Endsor

Table 14
Adrian Fletcher 46 - 64 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 59 - 64 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 69 - 40 Adrian Fletcher

Table 15
Gevin Chapwell 35 - 56 Mike Springett
Mike Springett 16 - 69 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 42 - 36 Gevin Chapwell

Round 2

Table 1
Tim Down 52 - 69 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 61 - 57 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 72 - 39 Tim Down

Table 2
Rob Foster 64 - 56 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 67 - 77 Conor Travers
Conor Travers 63 - 53 Rob Foster

Table 3
Graeme Cole 50 - 68 MSR
MSR 50 - 40 James Robinson
James Robinson 73 - 76 Graeme Cole

Table 4
Thomas Carey 68*- 58 Dinos Sfyris
Dinos Sfyris 54 - 56 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 74 - 47 Thomas Carey

Table 5
Andy Platt 46 - 45 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 48 - 56 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 80 - 70 Andy Platt

Table 6
Thomas Cappleman 65 - 48 Coral Heath
Coral Heath 62 - 72 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 57 - 73 Thomas Cappleman

Table 7
Jonathan de Souza 66 - 44 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 44 - 62 Anthony Endsor
Anthony Endsor 34 - 55 Jonathan de Souza

Table 8
Richard Priest 42 - 50 Steve Hyde
Steve Hyde 52 - 93 Adam Latchford
Adam Latchford 56 - 52 Richard Priest

Table 9
Dan Byrom 66 - 49 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 61 - 58 David Roe
David Roe 66 - 84 Dan Byrom

Table 10
Jason Turner 41 - 37 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 57 - 54 James Laverty
James Laverty 48 - 52 Jason Turner

Table 11
Chris Marshall 44 - 54 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 62 - 45 Tracey Mills
Tracey Mills 44 - 41 Chris Marshall

Table 12
Vicci Smith 31 - 68 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 66 - 50 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 55 - 27 Vicci Smith

Table 13
Phil Stanton 46 - 55 Adam Beach
Adam Beach 57 - 33 David Hilton
David Hilton 49 - 62 Phil Stanton

Table 14
Taz Turner 45 - 34 Amar Chotai
Amar Chotai 49 - 24 Jack D
Jack D 26 - 64 Taz Turner

Table 15
Fiona Titcombe 76 - 49 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 53 - 64 Mike Springett
Mike Springett 37 - 65 Fiona Titcombe

Round 3

Table 1
Jack Worsley 61 - 71 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 57 - 44 Conor Travers
Conor Travers 74 - 76 Jack Worsley

Table 2
MSR 48 - 94 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 69 - 51 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 62 - 29 MSR

Table 3
Rob Foster 83 - 66 Adam Latchford
Adam Latchford 35 - 19 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 31 - 82 Rob Foster

Table 4
Dan Byrom 58 - 67 Jonathan de Souza
Jonathan de Souza 68 - 53 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 41 - 55 Dan Byrom

Table 5
Andy Platt 79 - 59 Jason Turner
Jason Turner 33 - 72 Thomas Carey
Thomas Carey 54 - 64 Andy Platt

Table 6
James Robinson 53 - 59 Fiona Titcombe
Fiona Titcombe 46 - 67 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 70 - 42 James Robinson

Table 7
Tim Hebbes 52 - 65 Dinos Sfyris
Dinos Sfyris 71 - 62 Tim Down
Tim Down 45 - 55 Tim Hebbes

Table 8
Anthony Endsor 52 - 57 Steve Hyde
Steve Hyde 51 - 44 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 61 - 62 Anthony Endsor

Table 9
Coral Heath 54 - 50 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 52 - 28 David Roe
David Roe 44 - 36 Coral Heath

Table 10
Richard Priest 30 - 46 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 67 - 60 James Laverty
James Laverty 52 - 63 Richard Priest

Table 11
Tracey Mills 75 - 61 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 72 - 54 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 54 - 53 Tracey Mills

Table 12
Ian Wray 46 - 42 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 46 - 68 Amar Chotai
Amar Chotai 53 - 40 Ian Wray

Table 13
Adam Beach 32 - 45 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 43 - 61 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 72 - 45 Adam Beach

Table 14
Vicci Smith 27 - 44 Jack D
Jack D 43 - 53 David Hilton
David Hilton 49 - 31 Vicci Smith

Table 15
Mike Springett 49 - 45 Taz Turner
Taz Turner 35 - 38 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 41 - 39 Mike Springett

Final
Jack Hurst 84 - 74 Callum Todd

[samir pilica]

What happened to Amar Chotai's games in round 1?

[Ben Wilson]

What happened to Amar Chotai's games in round 1?

He was late so was effectively 'pruned' for round 1.

[Ben Wilson]

Rob Foster is the COLIN XIX Hangover champion, beating Adam Latchford 84-56 in a final that hung on the 9 letter word TELECASTS. Full results to follow...

[Ben Wilson]

And the full results:

STANDINGS

Players are ranked by number of wins then total points scored.


P W Pts
1 Adam Latchford 4 4 265
2 Rob Foster 4 4 261
3 Jack Hurst 4 4 260
4 Jack Worsley 4 4 253
5 Callum Todd 4 3 273
6 Thomas Carey 4 3 260
7 Thomas Cappleman 4 3 252
8 Tim Down 4 3 240
9 Dan Byrom 4 3 231
10 George Armstrong 4 3 225
11 Bradley Horrocks 4 3 222
12 Tracey Mills 4 3 203
13 Graeme Cole 4 2 236
14 Eddy Byrne 4 2 232
14 James Robinson 4 2 232
16 Fiona Titcombe 4 2 225
17 Richard Priest 4 2 223
18 Adrian Fletcher 4 2 210
19 Jeff Clayton 4 2 209
20 MSR 4 2 199
21 David Hilton 4 2 191
22 Jason Turner 4 2 169
23 Mark Mills 4 2 104
24 Tim Hebbes 4 1 222
25 Adam Dexter 4 1 210
26 Gevin Chapwell 4 1 208
27 Chris Marshall 4 1 185
28 Phil Stanton 4 1 174
29 Amar Chotai 4 1 172
30 Stewart Gordon 4 1 169
31 Taz Turner 4 1 146
32 Adam Beach 4 1 129
33 Jack D 4 1 81
34 James Laverty 4 0 210


RESULTS

Round 1

Table 1
James Robinson 68 - 27 David Hilton
David Hilton 44 - 68 Thomas Carey
Thomas Carey 52 - 59 James Robinson

Table 2
Graeme Cole 64 - 46 James Laverty
James Laverty 49 -*59 MSR
MSR 45 - 53 Graeme Cole

Table 3
Jeff Clayton 69 - 23 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 52 - 69 Adam Latchford
Adam Latchford 59 - 44 Jeff Clayton

Table 4
Tim Down 73 - 30 Tracey Mills
Tracey Mills 56*- 46 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 39 - 63 Tim Down

Table 5
Thomas Cappleman 77 - 31 Taz Turner
Taz Turner 26 - 61 Dan Byrom
Dan Byrom 60 - 49 Thomas Cappleman

Table 6
Amar Chotai 45 - 53 Adam Beach
Adam Beach 6 - 94 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 72 - 52 Amar Chotai

Table 7
Bradley Horrocks 51 - 6 Jack D
Jack D 12 - 65 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 41 - 72 Bradley Horrocks

Table 8
Jason Turner 58 - 53 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 51 - 66 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 73 - 30 Jason Turner

Table 9
Tim Hebbes 70 - 17 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 6 - 58 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 61 - 39 Tim Hebbes

Table 10
Adam Dexter 61 - 71 Richard Priest
Richard Priest 62 - 37 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 63 - 52 Adam Dexter

Table 11
Fiona Titcombe 80 - 0 Prune
Prune 0 - 76 Rob Foster
Rob Foster 63 - 40 Fiona Titcombe

Table 12
Gevin Chapwell 69 - 0 Prune
Prune 0 - 55 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 91 - 63 Gevin Chapwell

Round 2

Table 1
Eddy Byrne 44 - 51 Rob Foster
Rob Foster 71 - 48 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 59 - 42 Eddy Byrne

Table 2
Tim Down 53 - 49 Richard Priest
Richard Priest 41 - 62 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 52 - 51 Tim Down

Table 3
James Robinson 51 - 54 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 45 - 75 Adam Latchford
Adam Latchford 62 - 54 James Robinson

Table 4
Jack Hurst 74 - 66 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 53 - 58 Dan Byrom
Dan Byrom 52 - 67 Jack Hurst

Table 5
Thomas Cappleman 61 - 53 Fiona Titcombe
Fiona Titcombe 52 - 41 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 35 - 65 Thomas Cappleman

Table 6
Jeff Clayton 41 - 40 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 73 - 81 Thomas Carey
Thomas Carey 59 - 55 Jeff Clayton

Table 7
Stewart Gordon 41 - 58 MSR
MSR 47 - 73 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 46 - 28 Stewart Gordon

Table 8
Chris Marshall 32 - 43 Amar Chotai
Amar Chotai 32 - 49 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 48 - 49 Chris Marshall

Table 9
Tracey Mills 71 - 30 Adam Beach
Adam Beach 40 - 49 Jason Turner
Jason Turner 32 - 56 Tracey Mills

Table 10
Adrian Fletcher 54 - 40 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 69*- 59 James Laverty
James Laverty 56 - 71 Adrian Fletcher

Table 11
Taz Turner 55 - 0 Prune
Prune 0 - 56 David Hilton
David Hilton 64 - 34 Taz Turner

Table 12
Jack D 30 - 0 Prune
Prune 0 - 41 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 40 - 33 Jack D

Final
Rob Foster 84 - 56 Adam Latchford

----------

Back to reality for me now (after two lie-ins tomorrow and Tuesday). As was proved when as I was packing away today, a couple came in to talk to the Memorial Hall manager about booking it for a gender reveal. Such is life. Many thanks to everyone who came over the weekend, especially to Adam, MSR and Robbo for hosting duties in both finals (and Robbo for being a perfect human air horn ). The FOCAL hype train heads to Liverpool next, but we'll be back in Lincoln at the end of next January for COLIN XX- with not just the main event and the hangover on the menu, but for the first time ever, a Friday evening 'pre-drinks' event as well. You won't want to miss the first ever co-event triple header- especially not with what else I have lined up.

[JackHurst]

Cheers for another fantastic Colin weekend Ben! Looking forward to 2025 already.

Also cheers to everybody who came and played, always a pleasure to see you all

[Fiona T]

Great events again Ben - enjoyed it a lot, thank you!

[Gavin Chipper]

Yes, really good again.

If I had one small suggestion, it would be that if there are table numbers, it's best to have them explicitly labelled rather than people having to infer them from the set numbers on the lids of the letters/numbers boxes, which are generally harder to find with the lids often put upside down after being taken off.

But a great weekend all round, and it was good to get access to the rugby club place on the Saturday night. Though I think they could make their door look more like a door you're supposed to go in through rather than some back door to the dungeon.

[George Armstrong]

Yeah thanks again Ben. I'll second everything GC said. Much better atmosphere at the social club than the fox and hounds, but I don't think we'd even be able to describe the food as "ok" this time

[Graeme Cole]

Yeah thanks again Ben. I'll second everything GC said. Much better atmosphere at the social club than the fox and hounds, but I don't think we'd even be able to describe the food as "ok" this time

I didn't eat at the social club. Are you saying the food there was better than OK or worse than OK?

[Gavin Chipper]

I didn't eat there either. Veggie options were limited.

[Graeme Cole]

But a great weekend all round, and it was good to get access to the rugby club place on the Saturday night. Though I think they could make their door look more like a door you're supposed to go in through rather than some back door to the dungeon.

Yes, I think the social club was an improvement. I guess they don't go out of their way to make the entrance look like an entrance because usually only members visit, and they know that door is dungeon-free?

[George Armstrong]

Yeah thanks again Ben. I'll second everything GC said. Much better atmosphere at the social club than the fox and hounds, but I don't think we'd even be able to describe the food as "ok" this time

I didn't eat at the social club. Are you saying the food there was better than OK or worse than OK?

Was implied in what I said, but to clarify, worse. Think everyone said they're chips were undercooked, and everything was served with said chips

[Ben Wilson]

Yeah thanks again Ben. I'll second everything GC said. Much better atmosphere at the social club than the fox and hounds, but I don't think we'd even be able to describe the food as "ok" this time

I didn't eat at the social club. Are you saying the food there was better than OK or worse than OK?

Was implied in what I said, but to clarify, worse. Think everyone said they're chips were undercooked, and everything was served with said chips

Will feed that back to the MH manager next time I speak to him.

Thanks for everyone's kind words about the weekend, though- even after 19 years it becomes no less anxiety-inducing.

[Mark Deeks]

It's probably disingenuous for someone who wasn't at an event to give feedback on it, but: the Fox and Hounds was always integral to my Co:Lin experience. The way that 35 or so people who would never otherwise go to the pub together, would go to the pub together, get embroiled in the world's longest and most terrible darts tournament while also indiscriminately putting pounds on the pool table, was always the best bit. The place turned to shit last year and I wasn't there this year to know whether it has bounced back, but if it has, stick with it.

[Steve Hyde]

It's probably disingenuous for someone who wasn't at an event to give feedback on it, but: the Fox and Hounds was always integral to my Co:Lin experience. The way that 35 or so people who would never otherwise go to the pub together, would go to the pub together, get embroiled in the world's longest and most terrible darts tournament while also indiscriminately putting pounds on the pool table, was always the best bit. The place turned to shit last year and I wasn't there this year to know whether it has bounced back, but if it has, stick with it.

No dartboard at the F&H any more. Worry not, we managed to have a terrible darts tournament (apart from Robbo's 9-darter) and indiscriminately put pounds on the pool table at the new venue this time around

[Fiona T]

It's probably disingenuous for someone who wasn't at an event to give feedback on it, but: the Fox and Hounds was always integral to my Co:Lin experience. The way that 35 or so people who would never otherwise go to the pub together, would go to the pub together, get embroiled in the world's longest and most terrible darts tournament while also indiscriminately putting pounds on the pool table, was always the best bit. The place turned to shit last year and I wasn't there this year to know whether it has bounced back, but if it has, stick with it.

Yeah it was much nicer this year - we went on Friday - been refurbished, friendly and helpful bar staff. But yeah the dartboard is now a big telly and I think they'd have been a bit upset if we'd chucked arrows at it. The social club did a good job of providing the traditional colin activities - Dinos had a board game going while Robbo was supervising darts while Adam was revealing his arse bent over the pool table while Tim and I tried to escape making polite conversation with a local. Was a good evening

[Callum Todd]

Agreed, everything Mark mentioned being good about the Fox and Hounds applied to the social club, and in greater measure than the F&H (in its current iteration) is capable of providing.

I had to ask some locals how to get to the social club as I had found it but thought I would be breaking and entering by trying what turned out to be their front door. Bit of a hidden gem.

[Adam Beach]

Yeah it was much nicer this year - we went on Friday - been refurbished, friendly and helpful bar staff. But yeah the dartboard is now a big telly and I think they'd have been a bit upset if we'd chucked arrows at it. The social club did a good job of providing the traditional colin activities - Dinos had a board game going while Robbo was supervising darts while Adam was revealing his arse bent over the pool table while Tim and I tried to escape making polite conversation with a local. Was a good evening

Totally agree, Fiona. Last year it was utter shit, and as that was my first COLIN, I had no idea what the hype had been about. They've done it up lovely now. I was genuinely pleased they had proper Coke on draught than whatever knockoff was on offer last year. Social club was great as well. Loved playing Dinos' board games (especially the dinosaur one, naturally) and the food was good enough for me. Darts tournament was brilliant despite getting wiped out in the heats.

Love y'all.

[Thomas Carey]

Yeah, I'm with Mark on wanting to keep going to the fox for at least one night each weekend, now that it's changed hands again so we aren't likely to get physically attacked by the locals anymore. But I'm a sucker for tradition, this being my 12th colin weekend (though I didn't go to the fox as a baby so a few of you beat me there). I do still miss the old lot, but one of the new staff was asking me about countdown and generally very nice. The place was so done up that the pool table took card, although at some point in the night they disconnected the wire and two of us put quids in the card machine that then didn't release the balls.

I enjoyed the social club too for the reasons others mention - in terms of food I didn't get the chips and my burger (and beachy's 'rabbit food') was much better than expected considering I paid £4 for it. Won two more games of darts than expected (with a bit of luck, cheers for calling once again Robbo), and as others have mentioned I'd recommend draftosaurus as a quick board game, cheers dinos.

A really nice COLIN, this is what it's about. Thanks Ben for putting up with us all these years and everyone I spent some time with. Long may it continue

[Tim Down]

Many thanks again, Ben, for another excellent weekend. I look forward to returning to Pot C next year.

I thought the social club was a big improvement on the Fox as it was last year. All the proper post-COLIN sports were available with enough room to mingle, reasonable beer and excellent prices. The food was adequate for me, although I'd be tempted to go elsewhere if I wasn't in a burger-and-chips mood. I ate later than most and my chips were very nice.

In terms of the Countdown, I liked the 10-letter conundrums and am putting in another request for monospaced conundrum print-outs, although I do know in my heart of hearts that it isn't really the print-outs that are holding me back conundrum-wise.

[Gavin Chipper]

I didn't eat at the social club. Are you saying the food there was better than OK or worse than OK?

Was implied in what I said, but to clarify, worse. Think everyone said they're chips were undercooked, and everything was served with said chips

Will feed that back to the MH manager next time I speak to him.

You could also mention veggie/vegan options if that's at all possible, thanks!