Recap for Friday 4 December. Series 61, Prelim 100

[Allan Harmer]

Countdown recap for Friday 4 December 2009.

C1: Champion Tom Allerton (4 wins, 337 points.)
Tom is a boring Chartered Accountant from North London, disguised as a trendy bar owner. He is a solid player and is looking to become the last qualifier if he can get a few more wins under his belt. He is also a proof reader, so I wonder if he is related to Phil Reynolds?
C2: Challenger Jan Parker.
Jan is a professional singer from Loughton in Essex and sang the theme tune to the film Highlander II. She looks a bit like an older version of Bo Derek. So, a blonde Essex girl - Cue jokes.
This ought to be a walk in the park for Tom.

DC: Susie Dent and John Gaunt.
Good to see the straight talking John Gaunt back for a second week - Hides behind my copy of the Daily Mail and ducks for cover.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: J D M E I T S T O
R02: R Y E A S L O T D
R03: H B D I A R N T E
R04: S C I E G M X I O
R05: 8, 2, 10, 1, 25, 50. Target: 723.
TTT: REDBASIS - "They get their fill when the tide goes out"
R06: P R U E S T O I R
R07: S N S A E C N P E
R08: D B U I G S D E T
R09: N G M O E W N I S
R10: 9, 6, 2, 1, 1, 100. Target: 334.
TTT: REDFIRST - "Nowhere to live, then come over to my place"
R11: N K T D U I L W E
R12: Y L F A E C O N Q
R13: L P R A O N R F A
R14: 7, 3, 6, 8, 6, 100. Target: 195.
R15: B L E E D S H I M (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: J D M E I T S T O

C1: MISTED (6)
C2: JOISTED (7)
OT: MODISTE (7) OMITTED (7)
Score: 0–7 (max 7)
A good start from Jan to take an early lead.

Round 2: R Y E A S L O T D

C1: ROASTED (7)
C2: LOADERS (7)
DC: LEOTARDS, (8) LODESTAR (8)
OT: DELATORS (8) LEOTARDS (8)
Score: 7–14 (max 15)
Neither contestant picks up the CD favourite LEOTARDS

Round 3: H B D I A R N T E

C1: BRAINED (7)
C2: TRAINED (7)
DC: HAIRNET, (7) ANTBIRD (7)
OT: BANDIER (7) BARTEND (7) BIRTHED (7) BREADTH (7) DETRAIN (7) HABITED (7) HAIRNET (7) THERIAN (7) HANDIER (7) TRIBADE (7)
Score: 14–21 (max 22)
A flat round with tons of sevens available.

Round 4: S C I E G M X I O

C1: COXES (5)
C2: COMES (5)
DC: EGOISM (6)
OT: MIXIES (6)
Score: 19–26 (max 28)

Round 5: 8, 2, 10, 1, 25, 50. Target: 723.

C1: 723. 75-2=73x10=730-8+1 (10)
C2: 723. 75-2=73x10=730-8+1 (10)
Score: 29–36 (max 38)
Jan solves the first numbers round to show that she is capable in both disciplines of the game, to maintain her 7 point lead.

John gives us a good rant about the use of mobile phones, texting and text speak. I am sure that this will go down well with viewers of a 'certain age'.

Teatime teaser: REDBASIS -> SEABIRDS

Round 6: P R U E S T O I R

C1: PRIEST (6)
C2: POUTERS (7)
DC: POSTURER (8) SUPERIOR (8)
OT: TROUPERS (8) ROUTIERS (8) SPORTIER (8)
Score: 29–43 (max 46)
Jan gets a 7 to increase her lead to 14, as Tom misses out in a round where there are plenty of 7's and 8's available. Is he getting tired?

Round 7: S N S A E C N P E

C1: ESCAPES (7)
C2: ESCAPES (7)
DC: PENANCES (8)
Score: 36–50 (max 54)

Round 8: D B U I G S D E T

C1: BUDDIES (7)
C2: BUDDIES (7)
DC: SUBEDIT (7) BUDGETS (7)
OT: BUDGIES (7) DUGITES (7) STUDIED (7)
Score: 43–57 (max 61)
Yet another flat round and Tom is still lagging behind.

Round 9: N G M O E W N I S

C1: SNOWING (7)
C2: MINNOWS (7)
DC: SWINGMEN (8)
Score: 50–64 (max 69)

Susie tells us the origins of Crumpets, Pikelets and Scones.
Round 10: 9, 6, 2, 1, 1, 100. Target: 334.

C1: 333. (9+2+100)x(6/(1+1)) (7)
C2: 333. (9+1+1+100)x(6/2) (7)
RR: 334. (100+9)x3=327+6+1 (10)
Score: 57–71 (max 79)

Teatime teaser: REDFIRST -> DRIFTERS

Round 11: N K T D U I L W E

C1: nutlike
C2: TWINKLED (8)
Score: 57–79 (max 87)
A great spot by Jan as tom declares a 7 that is hyphenated. She is now 22 in front and not looking like stopping.

Round 12: Y L F A E C O N Q

C1: FELONY (6)
C2: FELON (5)
DC: FALCON (6) FLACON (6)
Score: 63–79 (max 93)
Tom wins a round outright for the first time, to reduce the deficit. He still has a chance of pegging Jan back now.
Round 13: L P R A O N R F A

C1: APRON (5)
C2: APRON (5)
OT: APOLAR (6) PLANAR (6)
Score: 68–84 (max 99)

Round 14: 7, 3, 6, 8, 6, 100. Target: 195.

C1: 195. (8-6)x100=200-(7-(6/3)) (10)
C2: 195. (8-6)x100=200-(7-(6/3)) (10)
Score: 78–94 (max 109)
Jan finishes Tom off with another solid numbers solution, which gives her an unassailable lead.

Round 15: B L E E D S H I M

C1 buzzes on 2 seconds to say BLEMISHED which is correct.
Score: 88–94 (max 119)
Tom gets the Conundrum to make the score look very respectable but Jan was always in control, as Tom seemed to flag and get tired.
I was very impressed with Jan's performance, which showed us that there is more than one blonde Essex girl that is good at CD!! She could easily rack up a nice sequence if she continues playing like this.

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=6
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