c4countdown

FOCAL’s jovialities comes to back to the Midlands as we take a jaunt to Rugby. Hosted by Adam Latchford (S83 victor) and MSR (the one with the shit beard).
DATE-Saturday 18th March 2023, 10:30 am start
ADDRESS-Rugby West Indian Association, 102 Railway Terrace, Rugby, CV21 3HE. It’s a short walk from the railway station.
PREMISE-You will play eight 9-round games of Countdown in the 'Lincoln' style. After eight games, the top two players will face each other in the grand final, with prizes for the top 8. The first round is drawn randomly-if someone wipes the floor with you, don’t fret! In all subsequent rounds, you play opponents that have scored similarly to you, so everyone should get some good, well-matched games. It’s a bit of fun with lovely people
All under-18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult
ADMISSION-£10 per person. Please pay here!
https://paypal.me/CoBrum2022?country.x= ... le.x=en_GB
Please use Friends and Family option. If you want another option, that can be arranged. (Yes this uses MSR’s real name. Yes, it says CoBrum 2022-MSR’s a pillock. The link still works!)
HOTELS-A Travelodge is next to the station, and other local options besides.
PARKRUN-Rugby Parkrun. Details here for you made people who actually like a 5K (https://www.parkrun.org.uk/rugby/course/)
LUNCH-Nothing provided, but there is a Tesco Express next to the hotel and a WH Smith at Rugby railway station

TIMINGS (Rough guide)
10:00 Doors open
10:15 First round draw is made - please try and arrive by this point
10:30 First round starts
11:45 Second round starts
12:45 Lunch-time/GRUDGE MATCH
14:00 Third round starts
15:15 Fourth round starts
16:30 Grand Final
17:00 Prizegiving
17:30 Evening plans a-brewing. Stay tuned!
There’ll be stuff afterwards. Hope to see you there-any further questions, bell either one of us

CONTENDERS (Ready)
01-Fiona Titcombe
02-Coral Heath
03-Adam Beach
04-James Robinson
05-Darren Godfrey
06-Adam Dexter
07-Thomas Carey
08-Phil Stanton
09-Suzy Turner
10-Dave Ryan
11-Melody Coupe
12-George Armstrong
13-Tom Stevenson
14-Last Ashwin Hero
15-Joseph Edge
16-Adrian Fletcher
17-Stewart Gordon
18-Matt Gould
19-Steven Grady
20-Peter Clarke
21-Dan Byrom
22-James Haughton
23-David Hilton
24-Callum Todd
25-Sean Fletcher
26-Jack Hurst
27-Brendan Whitehurst
28-Rob Foster
29-Sam Prouse
30-Liz Heath
31-Tim Down
32-Alison Stevenson

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS; there may be a chance I go but at the same time, everything's gonna be up in the air and descending slowly. Crossing my fingers!

Preparation ticking along nicely, sign up before xmas and i'll give you a teapot
(side note, i won't)

Unfortunate news guys.

I may not be able to go. I wish everyone a great time and I hope to come and visit at the end of the year/2024. Y'all make it a damn good Co:Rugby

No worries Andres!

A solid 19 so far as i'm writing this. We can accommodate many many more so let's make this an absolute banger. Once we get past a certain number we can start talking about meals and entertainment plans a plenty. We'll have a professional karaoke set up at the place if that's what people want. And I have some plans to put even more spice on that if needs be - but let's get signing up!

If we get 40+ sign ups, i'll randomly generate a number on the day and that person get's their entrant fee back personally from me (fix if its coral)

For anyone en route to Lincoln who fancies joining us in Rugby, both Latchford and I are happy to take cash there if you'd prefer

Just checked the train website and it looks like rail strikes will impact travel on the day, unfortunately counting me out it's worth checking to see which services will be impacted on the day.

Yes sadly incredibly infuriatingly there are strikes 16th and 18th.

People coming on friday and leaving sunday will be mostly unaffected.

When more comes out about the strikes i'll look into all the alternatives for people to get up here for it. The events still gonna be a banger

It's quite frustrating living so close to Rugby but having train travel cancelled!

Will anyone be driving through the Warwick/Coventry/Leamington area on their way (and way back) on the day? Happy to contribute fuel costs.

I'll probably end up just skipping the parkrun but on the off-chance that anyone is planning to do that and also is driving through nearby, then that would be amazing!

No worries if no-one is available, as I'm just about within cycling distance, so I can get there!

Dan Byrom wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 10:45 am It's quite frustrating living so close to Rugby but having train travel cancelled!

Will anyone be driving through the Warwick/Coventry/Leamington area on their way (and way back) on the day? Happy to contribute fuel costs.

I'll probably end up just skipping the parkrun but on the off-chance that anyone is planning to do that and also is driving through nearby, then that would be amazing!

No worries if no-one is available, as I'm just about within cycling distance, so I can get there!

I live in Leamington, so if I go, I'll be able to give you a lift. However, I have a commitment that evening and I don't yet know what time I'll need to be back from Rugby, so I can't commit to anything yet.

Thanks for your generosity Tim! It looks like I've managed to get things sorted, so you won't have to worry about it.

I've booked a Chinese buffet restaurant at the new regent. Please if youre on the Facebook page wow the pinned post if you want to come. If you're not on Facebook then just private message me on here if you want to come or get hold of me on apto or whatever. 21 quid per person excluding drinks and very nice.
Also karaoke going on at the venue all night too in our private function room. Gonna be fantastic

9 days to go!

Here’s a run down of the event, the afters, and an everything you need to know.

Round 1 will start at 10:30 am. We know this is earlier than usual so please remember! This is in a bid to get 8 games in , so we’re going to be a bit stricter with times. If running late let me know and we’ll try and make sure your games are uninterrupted.
There will be two rounds before lunch, then two rounds after, then a final.
Food starts at 6:15pm. Bar opens at 2pm. Karaoke starts when people have returned from their meal.
There’ll be prizes for karaoke too…
As it stands there are 35 players. If this remains, it will be standard Lincoln set up of 11 tables of 3 and one table of 2, with a prune.
I have a wide variety of prizes – including a subjective one which is biggest surprise victory. If you achieve this – then I’ll pay for any co events you want to do for the rest of 2023 (refund you if you’ve already paid for them) – so don’t get disheartened if you draw a monster.
The park runners – I won’t be joining you but you should have enough of a turn around between the finish and getting to the event. Everything in rugby is close together.
If you have any questions – now is the time to ask – see you soon
(And if you’re wondering whether I’m serious about banning the word “r*lat*ons), guess you’ll find out soon…

Irritatingly, I now have COVID and it seems highly unlikely I'll be testing negative by Saturday, so I probably won't make it. I'll do a test on Saturday though, more in hope than expectation.

Strikers have buggered this up now, I won't be able to make it.

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:54 pm Strikers have buggered this up now, I won't be able to make it.

I don't think you can blame this one on Gary Lineker.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:05 am

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:54 pm Strikers have buggered this up now, I won't be able to make it.

I don't think you can blame this one on Gary Lineker.

But I can blame it on the Ranting, Moaning, and Terrible union.

People gathering tonight at the merchant's inn in rugby from around 6pm. They do food, lovely little boozer.

I won't be there til 11ish so i'll see any of the hardcore then

xx

COVID test just now very positive indeed, so I’m definitely out.

Tim Down wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:47 am COVID test just now very positive indeed, so I’m definitely out.

Sorry to hear it! Hopefully see you at the next one.

Did anyone do a parkrun?

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/rugby/results/246/

Maus 22.48 56.58%
Matt Gould 23.40 58.10%
Stephen Read 26.39 49.78%
Fiona T 29.12 61.19%

Nice enough course - bit slippy in places and a hill that had to be done twice!


One day I'll learn to take better selfies

Excellent.

I do recall that I was going to give a prize away for karaoke - however I have a slight issue in that I do not remember karaoke. Therefore - i'll pay for the next co event for the winning pair (that they wish to go to, not just co leeds).
If not on facebook - let me know on here as to who should win and whatever gets the most support will win I have vague macklemore memories, a bit of rasputin, some whole new world, maybe euphoria by loreen... not sure who did anything so let me know!
(also , final results to come for the event at some point)

Funny that the results of Karaoke and Park Run garner more attention than the event itself.

Thanks to all involved for running the event! Hope it can happen again next year

JackHurst wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:41 pm Funny that the results of Karaoke and Park Run garner more attention than the event itself.

Thanks to all involved for running the event! Hope it can happen again next year

Ha, full results to come! We're just getting a couple of techy things sorted. The countdown was excellent all day and a huge congrats to everyone on some top performances

Final table

(D) = co event debut

1st) Rob Foster. 8 wins. 510 points.
2nd) Jack Hurst. 7 wins. 511 points.
3rd) Tom Cappleman. 6 wins. 520 points.
4th) Thomas Carey. 6 wins. 472 points.
5th) Dan Byrom. 5 wins. 529 points.
6th) (D) Tom Stevenson. 5 wins. 518 points.
7th) Callum Todd. 5 wins. 517 points.
8th) James Robinson. 5 wins. 451 points
9th) Steven Grady. 5 wins. 435 points.
10th) George Armstrong. 5 wins. 433 points.
11th) Adrian Fletcher. 5 wins. 427 points.
12th) Matt Gould. 5 wins. 417 points.
13th) Adam Dexter. 5 wins. 391 points
14th) Stephen Read. 4 wins. 466 points.
15th) Eeshan Malholtra. 4 wins. 457 points.
16th) (D) Brendan Whitehurst. 4 wins. 451 points
17th) Suzy Turner. 4 wins. 417 points.
18th) Steve Hyde. 4 wins. 408 points
19th) Coral Heath. 4 wins. 407 points.
20th) Phil Stanton. 4 wins. 399 points.
21st) Fiona Titcombe. 4 wins. 391 points.
22nd) Sean Fletcher. 4 wins. 384 points.
23rd) Ruth Cappleman. 4 wins. 374 points.
24th) David Hilton. 4 wins. 371 points.
25th) Last Ashwin Hero. 4 wins. 356 points.
26th) Peter Clarke. 3 wins. 406 points.
27th) Dave Ryan. 3 wins. 402 points.
28th) Sam Prouse. 3 wins. 397 points
29th) Stewart Gordon. 3 wins. 381 points.
30th) Adam Beach. 3 wins. 376 points.
31st) Darren Godfrey. 2 wins. 390 points.
32nd) (D) Liz Heath. 2 wins. 264 points.
33rd) (D) Ali Stevenson. 2 wins. 262 points.
34th) (D) Melody Coupe. 2 wins. 250 points.
35th) Joseph Edge. 1 win. 129 points
36th) Calor Prune. 0 wins. 0 points.

Rob Foster defeated Jack Hurst in the final.

Full results to come later.

There was a prize for biggest upset winner which was free co events for the rest of the calendar year. This was awarded to matt gould defeating Dan byrom.

Also brendan hit a max game in his debut event which is well worth noting.

And Tom got his revenge against me during the lunch break, winning with a rapid tie breaker conundrum solve.

Was a fantastic day. There'll be a blog post later this week with more intricate details. 8 games seemed to work very well!

Cheers Adam - Sean definitely not a debut though - have played him at previous events!

Fiona T wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:36 am Cheers Adam - Sean definitely not a debut though - have played him at previous events!

Corrected

I can't find any records of individual games for this event. Does anybody have them? Would like to get them added to the event rankings.

JackHurst wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 2:43 pm I can't find any records of individual games for this event. Does anybody have them? Would like to get them added to the event rankings.

Same. Would be good for the wiki page that like 6 people will have looked at.

They're on an old laptop of mine that has a currently flat battery and no charger. I will send them across once I've got it working again