Friday 15 January 2010 (Series 62, Prelim 5)

[Mike Brown]

Countdown recap for Friday 15 January 2010.

C1: Champion Oliver Garner (3 wins, 302 points.)
C2: Challenger Garry Brough.
DC: Susie Dent and Brian Capron.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

Well, it’s nice to be back in the recap saddle after a few months off and it seems rather appropriate to start off my Series 62 duties with a game featuring my Tuesday recap replacement, Mr Oliver Garner, that well known forumite, apterite and schoolboy (do 15-year-olds like being called that these days?) from New Malden in Surrey. Oliver had already racked up three wins prior to this game and pushed his average score up to over 100 per game following a 113-point victory over the Countdown theme remixing drummer Andy Hewitt. In the challenger’s chair was Garry Brough from Somers Town in Camden – at first glance, I thought it was Phil Reynolds... Anyway, time to get on with the motley!

R01: O E P R D U S E R
R02: M N X R I U A S E
R03: N J N F A I E M G
R04: D N P G O A E C A
R05: 25, 5, 1, 2, 4, 9. Target: 699.
TTT: MINTYPEG - "Getting rid of what's in the bins."
R06: L S D T E I O O R
R07: V T P A I U T C S
R08: R D F L H E I E I
R09: S N T E A R O E T
R10: 50, 75, 7, 8, 9, 9. Target: 459.
TTT: EARTHFLY - "Paternal, in a priestly sort of way."
R11: O A D R N P I U D
R12: Y Q T L N A O I O
R13: S T E O E Z K W C
R14: 50, 25, 3, 4, 7, 9. Target: 849.
R15: S P E D L I M I T (conundrum)

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

The programme starts with Jeff and Rachel discussing homing pigeons, a theme which will return later in the broadcast.

Round 1: O E P R D U S E R

C1: POURERS (7)
C2: PERUSED (7)
DC: PERUSED (7) REPOSED (7)
OT: PERDURES (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)

A nice even start, but everyone misses the darren...

Round 2: M N X R I U A S E

C1: ANEURISM (8)
C2: REMAINS (7)
Score: 15–7 (max 16)

... but not this time, as Oliver is on the money with the alternative spelling of aneurysm.

Round 3: N J N F A I E M G

C1: MEANING (7)
C2: MEANING (7)
DC: MEANING (7) ENIGMA (6)
Score: 22–14 (max 23)

Jeff spots a ‘double meaning’, while Brian is equally amusing with his comment that he has spotted a variation with ‘enigma’.

Round 4: D N P G O A E C A

C1: DECAGON (7)
C2: PONGED (6)
DC: DECAGON (7)
OT: CONGAED (7)
Score: 29–14 (max 30)

I thought I’d been clever by spotting ‘caponed’ as well as DECAGON, but (of course) it’s CAPONIZED.

Round 5: 25, 5, 1, 2, 4, 9. Target: 699.

C1: 699. ((4x25)x(9-2))-1 (10)
C2: 699. ((4x25)x(9-2))-1 (10)
Score: 39–24 (max 40)

A nice little numbers game with which to start the day.

Before the break, Brian regales us with an apocryphal actors’ tale, which I won’t regale you with here.

Teatime teaser: MINTYPEG -> EMPTYING

Nice scramble, with what I felt was a slightly disappointing clue.

Round 6: L S D T E I O O R

C1: OESTRIOL (8)
C2: LOITERS (7)
Score: 47–24 (max 48)

Magnificent spot by Oliver!! ‘Nuff said, I think.

Round 7: V T P A I U T C S

C1: STATIC (6)
C2: PITTAS (6)
DC: ATTICS (6)
OT: CATSUIT (7) TIPCATS (7)
Score: 53–30 (max 55)

We’re down amongst the sixes and Garry was obviously feeling a bit peckish and in need of a kebab. Shame no one spotted either CATSUIT or the splendid-sounding TIPCATS, which are pieces of wood used in the game of tipcat, which is also known as ‘cat and dog’ or ‘one-cat’ and is apparently very similar to ‘gilli-danda’ (thanks, Wikipedia).

Round 8: R D F L H E I E I

C1: FIELDER (7)
C2: FIELDER (7)
DC: FIELDER (7) HEIFER (6)
OT: DEFILER (7) REIFIED (7)
Score: 60–37 (max 62)

For some reason, I’m always amazed that DEFILER is an agent noun that reached the dictionary. Ho hum.

Round 9: S N T E A R O E T

C1: RESONATE (8)
C2: RESONATE (8)
DC: RESONATE (8) ENTREATS (8)
Score: 68–45 (max 70)

Did anyone NOT spot RESONATE? And bonus points to those who saw ENTREATS.

OoW: Susie discussed pigeon-related words, as well as the non-pigeon-related PIDGIN, which derives from a Chinese corruption of the word BUSINESS.

Round 10: 50, 75, 7, 8, 9, 9. Target: 459.

C1: 459. (50x9)+9 (10)
C2: 459. (50x9)+9 (10)
Score: 78–55 (max 80)

A simplicity rating even higher than the previous numbers game gives both our players 10 points, and once again Oliver is on for a great score, as he’s still only two points off the max.

Teatime teaser: EARTHFLY -> FATHERLY

Another nice scramble with a much nicer clue this time (IMO).

Round 11: O A D R N P I U D

C1: PADRINO (7)
C2: PARDON (6)
DC: ANDROID (7)
OT: PONIARD (7)
Score: 85–55 (max 87)

I was well impressed with PADRINO, but quite happy to spot the old Countdown favourite PONIARD. For anyone wondering, it’s a dagger alternatively known as a poignard, but not in this dictionary, so don’t try it on Apterous! (unless, perhaps, you’re playing the French version).

Round 12: Y Q T L N A O I O

C1: LOTION (6)
C2: LOTION (6)
DC: LOTION (6)
OT: LITANY (6)
Score: 91–61 (max 93)

Round 13: S T E O E Z K W C

C1: SOCKET (6)
C2: SOCKET (6)
DC: SOCKET (6)
Score: 97–67 (max 99)

Oliver socks it to Garry, as his 30-point lead becomes unassailable and his fourth win is assured. But we still have two rounds to go – can Oliver hit 117?

Round 14: 50, 25, 3, 4, 7, 9. Target: 849.

C1: 848. (50+3)x(9+7) (7)
C2: 846.
RR: 849. ((50-7-9)x25)-(4-3) (10)
Score: 104–67 (max 109)

Garry picks two from the top and sure enough CECIL makes things harder. It’s left to Rachel to show the boys how it could have been done.

Round 15: S P E D L I M I T

C1 buzzes on 4 seconds to say DIMPLIEST which is correct.
Score: 114–67 (max 119)

Great conundrum spot from the champ, and although he doesn’t make 117, he still gets his top score so far. I was still pondering whether DIMPLIEST was a word or whether I’d just made it up...

‘The Kid’ follows ‘Kid Mole’ with Monday’s recap and all being well, I’ll be back with another Robinson-following Recap on Friday. Later, dudes...

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=62

[James Robinson]

Nice one, Mike. Good to have you back recapping.

[Dinos Sfyris]

Nice one, Mike. Good to have you back recapping.

^THIS. btw Tuesday's may appear sometime later today if I get chance.

[Mike Brown]

Tuesday's may appear sometime later today if I get chance.

Cool, looking forward to it...