Co:Durham - 6th July 2024

[Adam Beach]

Another new city, another new host, and another exciting co-event to add to the mix.

For the first time, letters, numbers and conundurhams are coming to the historic cathedral city of Durham.

————————————

Date and times
Saturday, 6th July 2024

• Doors open: 10:00
• First round draw: 10:45*
• Round 1: 10:45–12:00 (1h 15m)
• Round 2: 12:00–13:15 (1h 15m)
• Lunch: 13:15–14:15 (1h)
• Round 3: 14:15–15:30 (1h 15m)
• Round 4: 15:30–16:45 (1h 15m)
• Grand final: 16:45–17:30 (45m)
• Prize presentation: 17:30–17:50 (20m)

*Please be aware that if you are late, you will be "Pruned" for each game that has already started at the time of your arrival.

————————————

Venue
Merryoaks Community Hall, Park House Rd, Durham, DH1 3QF

We'll be in the main hall for the event, which I’ve booked until 18:00. There’s a party booked in for 18:30, so we will need to be out of the hall by then.

Getting to the venue:
The community hall is located 1.5 miles southwest of Durham Railway Station — the station being located in the city centre. If you want to get your steps in, it's a 36-minute walk from there according to Google Maps. If not, there are two bus services that run from the newly built bus station (oooh), which stop within a five-minute walking distance of the venue: Arriva's 7 towards Darlington, and Go North East's X21 towards West Auckland. Alight at the Douglas Gardens stop.

For anyone planning on driving in, I would highly recommend using the Park and Ride scheme and then either walking or bussing over to the venue. There are three Park and Ride sites: one in Belmont, one in Sniperley, and one in Howlands. The Belmont site is located on the A690, approximately 300 metres east of Junction 62 of the A1; the Sniperley site is located approximately 400 metres north of the A167/A691 junction; and the Howlands site is located less than one mile after joining the A177 at the A167/A177 roundabout. The PR1 and PR2 buses run up to every 15 minutes and take you right into the city centre via Millburngate Bridge (alight here). They are £2 per person each way. The last bus back to the Belmont site is at 18:30; the last bus back to the Sniperley site is at 18:36; and the last bus back to the Howlands site is at 18:37. Please note: the car parks close at 19:00. All information is available at https://www.durham.gov.uk/parkandride.

————————————

Overview
The event will be carried out in the "Lincoln" style. This comprises tables of three, at which there are two players and one host. You will rotate with those on your table, hosting one game and playing two in each round.

You will play eight preliminary games of Countdown in the 9-round format. There will be a random draw ahead of the first game to determine the fixtures. In the games that follow, Atropine's Swiss generator will pit you against similarly scoring contestants, so don't worry if you're completely wiped out in the opening match.

Once the four preliminary rounds have concluded and the scores have been gathered, the two contenders with the most wins and points will compete in the grand final to determine the event champion. There will be a 15-minute break to set the final up. In what is now the typical grand final setup for a "Lincoln"-style event, it will involve my board at the front of the room, which is elevated to give everyone involvement in the game and potentially better the players.

As a subtle twist, the grand final will additionally be a charity match in aid of the mental heath organisation, Mind. At the end of the game, I will convert the combined scores of the two finalists to pounds (£1 per point) and donate the amount to the organisation. This will be a personal donation; it will not come out of entry fees or FOCAL expenditure. https://www.mind.org.uk/

————————————

Prizes
The top 8 will receive prizes for their performances.

The following will also receive a prize:
• Rudest word offered
• Most obscure word declared (any length)
• Closest game result(s)
• Closest score to a random number at the end of the heats

————————————

Admission
£12 per person. This can be paid directly to my PayPal. Remember to select the "Family/Friends" option when sending through the payment. I am also happy to accept cash payments on the day.

————————————

Lunch and snacks

As with most co-events now, lunch will not be provided; however, snacks and such will be. There is a pub, The Duke of Wellington, which is a five-minute walk away. Feel free to venture there for a bite to eat. I've also booked the venue’s kitchen facilities for the day so that everyone will have access to the kettle, microwave and fridge. I will be providing tea, coffee and hot chocolate, with biccies to go with them. If anyone has any requirements, particularly with milk type, please let me know ASAP.

————————————

Evening plans
I'll be making a provisional booking for 20 people at Ask Italian for 19:15. This should be enough time for all of us to get back to the city centre once the event is over. Please let me know if you're interested in attending. Once I've had a sufficient response, I'll post a link to the spreadsheet for the preorders — the deadline for these will be Saturday, 29th June. Menu.

There are a few pubs dotted around, so we can hit them after the meal.

————————————

Parkrun
For the parkrunners among us, the Durham course takes place at the Graham Sports Centre within Durham University. Location: Maiden Castle, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3SE. The average finish time is 00:28:18, which will hopefully be sufficient time for everyone to get back to their accommodation for a shower before the first round draw takes place at 10:45.

Full details here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/durham/course/

————————————

Entries (as of 25th June 2024)
1. James Robinson
2. Matt Gould
3. Euan Crabb
4. Paul Craib
5. Archie Rodger
6. Phil Stanton
7. MSR
8. Bradley Horrocks
9. George Armstrong
10. Tasneem Rana
11. Elizabeth Beer
12. Tom Carey (Maus)
13. George Baker
14. Tricia Lowther
15. Alan Lowther
16. Adrian Fletcher
17. Jason Turner
18. Taz Turner
19. Darren Godfrey (Daz)
20. Callum Todd
21. Dylan Taylor
22. Jack D
23. Stu Harkness
24. Dave Ashton
25. Ashwin Abinashi
26. Mark Ivey
27. Michael Armstrong
28. Matthew Brockwell
29. Eeshan Malhotra
30. Jonathan De Souza

[Stewart Gordon]

I'd love to come but am not sure at the moment – I have potentially a lot of travelling to do in July! Have you got enough of your fancy letters/numbers boards to go round?

[Mark Ivey]

Assuming I get the time off work, I'll be there. Durham is about as local as the event could get (until I get up the nerve to try and run CO:Hartlepool).

[Adam Beach]

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Due to Durham’s annual Miners’ Gala taking place on the same day as the event’s original date (13th July), for which the hotel companies have naturally put their prices through the roof, Co:Durham will now be held the week prior, on Saturday, 6th July 2024.

My sincere apologies to anyone this may have affected. I completely forgot about the Gala when planning this event out.

Refunds will be immediately issued to any current sign-ups who can no longer attend.

[Stewart Gordon]

That puts me out of it.

Hopefully there'll be a next time....

[Adam Beach]

(ANOTHER) IMPORTANT UPDATE

Hey everyone. Sadly, the venue that was originally booked for this event was permanently closed down at the end of February (though I was only informed on Monday after enquiring about having a look around). Luckily, I've secured a booking for a new venue — Merryoaks Community Hall — who have been an absolute godsend. This new premises is just outside of Durham City Centre and will be much better-suited for accessibility. It might add extra time to your commute, but I promise it will be worth it.

Full details are in the information post at the top.

[Adam Beach]

ADVANCE TRAIN TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

Advance train tickets for the weekend of this event are now available to purchase from your desired operators. Get booking (and signing up).

[Bradley Horrocks]

Is anyone thinking of doing the parkrun?

[Thomas Carey]

Is anyone thinking of doing the parkrun?

I will be yeah. My train gets into Durham at 7:59 so probably going straight there with maybe a little noodling around the city

[Adam Beach]

Countdown in Durham 2024 Results

Here are the game results and standings from Co:Durham 2024. Thanks to everyone for an amazing day. It meant a lot to me to be able to anchor a co-event for the first time — and certainly not the last.

Final standings
[Position]. [Player name] | [Games] | [Wins] | [Points]

1. Callum Todd | 8 | 7 | 560
2. Tom Carey | 8 | 7 | 531
3. Dylan Taylor | 8 | 6 | 529
4. George Armstrong | 8 | 6 | 515
5. Eeshan Malhotra | 8 | 6 | 432
6. MSR | 8 | 6 | 405
7. Phil Stanton | 8 | 5 | 446
8. Bradley Horrocks | 8 | 5 | 430
9. Elizabeth Beer | 8 | 5 | 393
10. Stu Harkness | 8 | 4 | 472
11. Matthew Brockwell | 8 | 4 | 457
12. Matt Gould | 8 | 4 | 393
13. Dave Ashton | 8 | 4 | 392
14. Ashwin Abinashi | 8 | 4 | 373
15. Mark Ivey | 8 | 4 | 336
16. Tasneem Rana | 8 | 4 | 330
17. Tricia Lowther | 8 | 4 | 278
=18. Darren Godfrey | 8 | 3 | 396
=18. Jason Turner| 8 | 3 | 396
20. Euan Crabb | 8 | 3 | 369
21. Archie Rodger | 8 | 3 | 358
22. Paul Craib | 8 | 3 | 332
23. Alan Lowther | 8 | 3 | 256
24. George Baker | 8 | 2 | 298
25. Taz Turner | 8 | 2 | 251
26. Jack D | 8 | 1 | 206
27. Michael Armstrong | 8 | 0 | 211

[Adam Beach]

Game results

Round 1

Table 1
Darren Godfrey 46 – 64 MSR
MSR 60 – 49 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 55 – 48 Darren Godfrey

Table 2
Matt Gould 62 – 27 Ashwin Abinashi
Ashwin Abinashi 23 – 68 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 84 – 48 Matt Gould

Table 3
Bradley Horrocks 69 – 39 Elizabeth Beer
Elizabeth Beer 60 – 50 Euan Crabb
Euan Crabb 39 – 71 Bradley Horrocks

Table 4
Tricia Lowther 24 – 70 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 60 – 20 Paul Craib
Paul Craib 65 – 28 Tricia Lowther

Table 5
Callum Todd 60 – 36 Dave Ashton
Dave Ashton 48 – 28 Taz Turner
Taz Turner 0 – 73 Callum Todd

Table 6
George Baker 36 – 54 Jason Turner
Jason Turner 47 – 43 Stu Harkness
Stu Harkness 64 – 32 George Baker

Table 7
Jack D 5 – 54 Eeshan Malhotra
Eeshan Malhotra 47 – 72 Dylan Taylor
Dylan Taylor 71 – 0 Jack D

Table 8
Alan Lowther 12 – 81 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 69 – 31 Mark Ivey
Mark Ivey 41 – 27 Alan Lowther

Table 9
Tasneem Rana 57 – 51 Archie Rodger
Archie Rodger 63 – 15 Michael Armstrong
Michael Armstrong 30 – 53 Tasneem Rana

-------------------------------------------

Round 2

Table 1
Tom Carey 42 – 74 Dylan Taylor
Dylan Taylor 58 – 51 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 72 – 75 Tom Carey

Table 2
Callum Todd 77 – 59 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 64 – 29 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 54 – 72 Callum Todd

Table 3
Tasneem Rana 29 – 66 Jason Turner
Jason Turner 30 – 64 MSR
MSR 51 – 41 Tasneem Rana

Table 4
Matt Gould 38 – 69 Stu Harkness
Stu Harkness 60 – 30 Archie Rodger
Archie Rodger 24 – 53 Matt Gould

Table 5
Eeshan Malhotra 45 – 43 Elizabeth Beer
Elizabeth Beer 53 – 39 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 54 – 60 Eeshan Malhotra

Table 6
Dave Ashton 59 – 49 Mark Ivey
Mark Ivey 47 – 33 Paul Craib
Paul Craib 47 – 27 Dave Ashton

Table 7
Euan Crabb 42* – 32 George Baker
George Baker 34 – 62 Darren Godfrey
Darren Godfrey 45 – 56 Euan Crabb

Table 8
Ashwin Abinashi 58 – 34 Michael Armstrong
Michael Armstrong 32 – 44 Tricia Lowther
Tricia Lowther 38 – 61 Ashwin Abinashi

Table 9
Taz Turner 49 – 38 Jack D
Jack D 48 – 49 Alan Lowther
Alan Lowther 36 – 28 Taz Turner

-------------------------------------------

Round 3

Table 1
Dylan Taylor 57 – 63 MSR
MSR 14 – 84 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 76 – 56 Dylan Taylor

Table 2
Matthew Brockwell 72 – 52 Stu Harkness
Stu Harkness 52 – 63 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 56 – 52 Matthew Brockwell

Table 3
Jason Turner 55 – 58 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 56 – 47 Eeshan Malhotra
Eeshan Malhotra 50 – 36 Jason Turner

Table 4
Elizabeth Beer 44 – 30 Tasneem Rana
Tasneem Rana 19 – 74 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 70 – 38 Elizabeth Beer

Table 5
Euan Crabb 61 – 81 Dave Ashton
Dave Ashton 27 – 71 Matt Gould
Matt Gould 58 – 33 Euan Crabb

Table 6
Paul Craib 52 – 31 Alan Lowther
Alan Lowther 32 – 70 Ashwin Abinashi
Ashwin Abinashi 55 – 45 Paul Craib

Table 7
Darren Godfrey 61 – 49 Archie Rodger
Archie Rodger 58 – 43 Mark Ivey
Mark Ivey 23 – 67 Darren Godfrey

Table 8
Tricia Lowther 29 – 22 Taz Turner
Taz Turner 26 – 59 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 57 – 30 Tricia Lowther

Table 9
Michael Armstrong 37 – 46 Jack D
Jack D 17 – 47 George Baker
George Baker 42 – 35

-------------------------------------------

Round 4

Table 1
Tom Carey 85 – 24 Matt Gould
Matt Gould 39 – 62 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 56 – 60 Tom Carey

Table 2
George Armstrong 48 – 42 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 38 – 43 MSR
MSR 46 – 48 George Armstrong

Table 3
Bradley Horrocks 57 – 49 Ashwin Abinashi
Ashwin Abinashi 30 – 73 Dylan Taylor
Dylan Taylor 68 – 36 Bradley Horrocks

Table 4
Stu Harkness 67 – 36 Darren Godfrey
Darren Godfrey 31 – 59 Eeshan Malhotra
Eeshan Malhotra 70 – 56 Stu Harkness

Table 5
Jason Turner 56 – 59 Dave Ashton
Dave Ashton 55 – 71 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 62 – 52 Jason Turner

Table 6
Paul Craib 28 – 53 Archie Rodger
Archie Rodger 30 – 72 Elizabeth Beer
Elizabeth Beer 44 – 42 Paul Craib

Table 7
Tasneem Rana 49 – 27 Jack D
Jack D 25 – 51 Euan Crabb
Euan Crabb 47 – 52 Tasneem Rana

Table 8
Tricia Lowther 30 – 28 Alan Lowther
Alan Lowther 41 – 29 George Baker
George Baker 46 – 55 Tricia Lowther

Table 9
Taz Turner 57 – 18 Michael Armstrong
Michael Armstrong 10 – 54 Mark Ivey
Mark Ivey 48 – 41 Taz Turner

-------------------------------------------

Grand Final
Callum Todd 118 – 121 Tom Carey