Co:Wat?! 2023 - Countdown in Waterford (17/06/2023)
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 11:41 pm
TL;DR summary:
~Held in the city centre this year.
~It costs €15 for those who have sorted out their own accommodation.
~It costs €40 for anyone who is availing of our campsite facilities.
~As the theme this year is "7", there will be a few small adjustments to gameplay and format.
~All 9 games will be live streamed to YouTube, for anyone who cannot attend but would like to play along.
~The Saturday night will likely consist of a pub sing-song.
[Event facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/709137374326312]
[Games will be live streamed to this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EoinJackson]
--------------------------------------
WHAT IS IT?
Based on Channel 4's flagship daytime TV quiz show, this will be a chance to partake in a real-life Countdown tournament, in the beating heart of Waterford city. We'll have consonants, we'll have vowels, we'll have numbers. We may not have Rachel Riley to dispense them, but we won’t have Anne Robinson or Colin Murray either! Every cloud…
--------------------------------------
THE IRISH BONANZA.
This year there are more Irish co-events than ever before! The season kicked off with Jessamine O’Connor’s CO:MON! in Monasteraden, Co. Sligo on April 15th; then we had Eddy Byrne, who hosted Co:Dub yesterday; next is Co:Wat on Saturday.
--------------------------------------
WHO CAN COME?
Anyone at all! Having an interest in anagramming, word games, or puzzles would certainly make it more fun for you, but that is not a requirement. The event caters for all abilities. Some players will be very skilled, but many will be beginners. There will be prizes on offer at each ability level... so whether you are expert, intermediate or novice, there is a chance of coming away with a prize.
--------------------------------------
WHERE IS IT?
The event will be held in the Edmund Rice Youth & Community Multiplex on Manor Street, Waterford, Ireland. (At the heart of the sunny South East. ) This new venue has never been used for Co:Wat before, but it may prove more convenient for some as it is right in the heart of Waterford city, with parking available on site, and dead handy for food, nightlife and accommodation options.
--------------------------------------
HOW WILL IT WORK?
It kicks off at 11am, and will be conducted using the Bristol-style classroom format. Everyone gets to see the same sets of letters and numbers, and to play them at the same time. Each person will have a direct opponent assigned. These match-ups will be drawn at random just before the start of each game. Everyone is guaranteed 7 games during the day. The results of the early matches (four 9Rers) will determine the composition of the different quarter final groupings. After lunch we play the QFs SFs and finals for each grouping of 8 players. These matches will be 15Rers. The top 8 (sorted by number of wins, then number of points) will contest the quarter final group from which the event winner will come. The final game to determine the event winner will be the only game that won’t be done in the classroom-style setting. It will be a stand-alone match, and everyone will be welcome to stick around and spectate if they so wish.
.
After the event, we'll be heading out to Dunmore East for a meal in "The Spinnaker" followed by "The Haven Hotel" to relax and enjoy some banter, pub games and undoubtedly some singing!
.
--------------------------------------
COSTS INVOLVED.
Once again the aim is to make this as cheap as possible while still covering costs. This year there are two price plans:-
.
~PLAN #1 [FULL PACKAGE]:- €40 …includes the event and access to a camp site. (Also, lifts to and from the venue will be provided.)
.
~PLAN #2 [EVENT ONLY]:- €12 …includes the event only. (Lunch won’t be provided this year, as we have no access to a kitchen, and there are zillions of nearby food options.)
.
I would expect that many of those travelling to Waterford for this would need accommodation. Some years we can provide decent dormitory accommodation very cheaply, but this year we can offer a camp-site. We will provide a few tents. We can guarantee 12 spaces in our tents. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, air bed, pillow etc. (There is plenty of space in the campsite. For your €40 you are getting 2 nights access to a camp site specially kitted out for Co:Wat guests (with toilet / basic kitchen facilities), the event, & breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.
.
€12 is the price available for Waterford natives, or anyone else who has their own accommodation sorted.
Other items that are provided throughout, free of charge, include:- 1. Pens and paper to use; 2. Coffees, teas, and some soft drinks; 3. Snacks.
(We are hoping all of this will be doable without operating at a loss financially. Depending on the numbers, it is possible.)
--------------------------------------
BOOKING DETAILS.
We can only guarantee a place in our tents to the first 12 people who apply, and need a place to sleep, thereafter, you'd need to bring and pitch your own tent, or sort out your own accommodation in a local hotel or B&B.
To book your place at Co:Wat?! send the payment to Eoin Jackson via paypal at the address ayum@live.ie. (please remember to select 'payment to friends & family') Alternatively you can pay on the day. (Payments on the day cannot be done by card.)
--------------------------------------
FLIGHTS, TRAVEL, etc.
If you are coming from overseas, the best options are to fly into Cork or Dublin. Both of these are approx a 90min drive from Waterford. Bus and train would be available to the city, and we can arrange a lift to the venue from there (for free, obviously). For anyone who would rather take the Ferry. There are regular sailings into Rosslare harbour from Pembroke and Fishguard in Wales. (Rosslare is a 60min drive from Dunmore East.)
For anyone travelling within Ireland, if you can make it to Waterford, we can provide a lift to the venue for you. If you are using Sat Nav, the Eircode is X91TY8N.
--------------------------------------
I think that’s everything for now! If you have any queries, leave a comment below, or contact me (Eoin Jackson) via a facebook private message.
--------------------------------------
LIST OF CONFIRMED ATTENDEES (as at 14-06-23)
[C= Appeared on CD. | A = Apterite. | N = Co-event Newbie.]
1. Eoin Jackson [C / A]
2. Alan O'Sullivan [A]
3. Hazel Drury [C / A]
4. Finola Jackson
5. Kevin Jackson
6. George Drury
7. Paul Drury
8. Jessamine O'Connor [C / A]
9. Roger Stevens
10. Bradley Horrocks [C / A]
11. Brian Sullivan
12. Donal O'Flynn [N]
13. Liam Thomas Davis
14. Tom Drohan [A]
15. Mark McDonnell
16. Brendan Duke [C / A]
17. Sean Lonergan
18. Marie McDonald [N]
19. Elaine McCormick Dunne
20. Stewart Gordon [C / A]
21. Leeny Jackson [N]
22. Annette Martin
23. Liam Holton
24. Gerry Tynan [C / A]
~Held in the city centre this year.
~It costs €15 for those who have sorted out their own accommodation.
~It costs €40 for anyone who is availing of our campsite facilities.
~As the theme this year is "7", there will be a few small adjustments to gameplay and format.
~All 9 games will be live streamed to YouTube, for anyone who cannot attend but would like to play along.
~The Saturday night will likely consist of a pub sing-song.
[Event facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/709137374326312]
[Games will be live streamed to this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EoinJackson]
--------------------------------------
WHAT IS IT?
Based on Channel 4's flagship daytime TV quiz show, this will be a chance to partake in a real-life Countdown tournament, in the beating heart of Waterford city. We'll have consonants, we'll have vowels, we'll have numbers. We may not have Rachel Riley to dispense them, but we won’t have Anne Robinson or Colin Murray either! Every cloud…
--------------------------------------
THE IRISH BONANZA.
This year there are more Irish co-events than ever before! The season kicked off with Jessamine O’Connor’s CO:MON! in Monasteraden, Co. Sligo on April 15th; then we had Eddy Byrne, who hosted Co:Dub yesterday; next is Co:Wat on Saturday.
--------------------------------------
WHO CAN COME?
Anyone at all! Having an interest in anagramming, word games, or puzzles would certainly make it more fun for you, but that is not a requirement. The event caters for all abilities. Some players will be very skilled, but many will be beginners. There will be prizes on offer at each ability level... so whether you are expert, intermediate or novice, there is a chance of coming away with a prize.
--------------------------------------
WHERE IS IT?
The event will be held in the Edmund Rice Youth & Community Multiplex on Manor Street, Waterford, Ireland. (At the heart of the sunny South East. ) This new venue has never been used for Co:Wat before, but it may prove more convenient for some as it is right in the heart of Waterford city, with parking available on site, and dead handy for food, nightlife and accommodation options.
--------------------------------------
HOW WILL IT WORK?
It kicks off at 11am, and will be conducted using the Bristol-style classroom format. Everyone gets to see the same sets of letters and numbers, and to play them at the same time. Each person will have a direct opponent assigned. These match-ups will be drawn at random just before the start of each game. Everyone is guaranteed 7 games during the day. The results of the early matches (four 9Rers) will determine the composition of the different quarter final groupings. After lunch we play the QFs SFs and finals for each grouping of 8 players. These matches will be 15Rers. The top 8 (sorted by number of wins, then number of points) will contest the quarter final group from which the event winner will come. The final game to determine the event winner will be the only game that won’t be done in the classroom-style setting. It will be a stand-alone match, and everyone will be welcome to stick around and spectate if they so wish.
.
After the event, we'll be heading out to Dunmore East for a meal in "The Spinnaker" followed by "The Haven Hotel" to relax and enjoy some banter, pub games and undoubtedly some singing!
.
--------------------------------------
COSTS INVOLVED.
Once again the aim is to make this as cheap as possible while still covering costs. This year there are two price plans:-
.
~PLAN #1 [FULL PACKAGE]:- €40 …includes the event and access to a camp site. (Also, lifts to and from the venue will be provided.)
.
~PLAN #2 [EVENT ONLY]:- €12 …includes the event only. (Lunch won’t be provided this year, as we have no access to a kitchen, and there are zillions of nearby food options.)
.
I would expect that many of those travelling to Waterford for this would need accommodation. Some years we can provide decent dormitory accommodation very cheaply, but this year we can offer a camp-site. We will provide a few tents. We can guarantee 12 spaces in our tents. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, air bed, pillow etc. (There is plenty of space in the campsite. For your €40 you are getting 2 nights access to a camp site specially kitted out for Co:Wat guests (with toilet / basic kitchen facilities), the event, & breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.
.
€12 is the price available for Waterford natives, or anyone else who has their own accommodation sorted.
Other items that are provided throughout, free of charge, include:- 1. Pens and paper to use; 2. Coffees, teas, and some soft drinks; 3. Snacks.
(We are hoping all of this will be doable without operating at a loss financially. Depending on the numbers, it is possible.)
--------------------------------------
BOOKING DETAILS.
We can only guarantee a place in our tents to the first 12 people who apply, and need a place to sleep, thereafter, you'd need to bring and pitch your own tent, or sort out your own accommodation in a local hotel or B&B.
To book your place at Co:Wat?! send the payment to Eoin Jackson via paypal at the address ayum@live.ie. (please remember to select 'payment to friends & family') Alternatively you can pay on the day. (Payments on the day cannot be done by card.)
--------------------------------------
FLIGHTS, TRAVEL, etc.
If you are coming from overseas, the best options are to fly into Cork or Dublin. Both of these are approx a 90min drive from Waterford. Bus and train would be available to the city, and we can arrange a lift to the venue from there (for free, obviously). For anyone who would rather take the Ferry. There are regular sailings into Rosslare harbour from Pembroke and Fishguard in Wales. (Rosslare is a 60min drive from Dunmore East.)
For anyone travelling within Ireland, if you can make it to Waterford, we can provide a lift to the venue for you. If you are using Sat Nav, the Eircode is X91TY8N.
--------------------------------------
I think that’s everything for now! If you have any queries, leave a comment below, or contact me (Eoin Jackson) via a facebook private message.
--------------------------------------
LIST OF CONFIRMED ATTENDEES (as at 14-06-23)
[C= Appeared on CD. | A = Apterite. | N = Co-event Newbie.]
1. Eoin Jackson [C / A]
2. Alan O'Sullivan [A]
3. Hazel Drury [C / A]
4. Finola Jackson
5. Kevin Jackson
6. George Drury
7. Paul Drury
8. Jessamine O'Connor [C / A]
9. Roger Stevens
10. Bradley Horrocks [C / A]
11. Brian Sullivan
12. Donal O'Flynn [N]
13. Liam Thomas Davis
14. Tom Drohan [A]
15. Mark McDonnell
16. Brendan Duke [C / A]
17. Sean Lonergan
18. Marie McDonald [N]
19. Elaine McCormick Dunne
20. Stewart Gordon [C / A]
21. Leeny Jackson [N]
22. Annette Martin
23. Liam Holton
24. Gerry Tynan [C / A]