Series 9 Grand Final

[Richard Priest]

Countdown recap for Tuesday 3 June 1986.


C1: Champion Mick Keeble, no.7 seed (3 wins, 1 draw*, 246 points.)
C2: Champion David Trace, no.1 seed (10 wins, 527 points.)
DC: Catherine Clarke, Gyles Brandreth, Bill Tidy.
CV: Carol Mather (in her pre-Vorderman days).
OT: Other words or solutions.


* this series took place in the days when a game would be replayed the following day in the event of a draw, whereas nowadays they keep playing conundrums until there is an outright winner.

On paper, the respective records of the contestants prior to this game suggest not so much a battle of David v Mick as David v Goliath (with the roles reversed). But statistics only set a scene...


R01: Y C I L H F A N T
R02: S D O I R T E T A
R03: 8, 5, 10, 3, 25, 75. Target: 710.
R04: N A L H O M Y E S
R05: R N T A E K P U T
R06: 6, 1, 9, 7, 2, 25. Target: 214.
R07: M O R E S H A P E (conundrum)
R08: S C R E I G V A L
R09: T U G W P O A T L
R10: 2, 6, 1, 7, 8, 50. Target: 105.
R11: R N B E A S G I R
R12: D U C A N R O P I
R13: 8, 5, 5, 4, 75, 100. Target: 664.
R14: C A B A N A R C H (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: Y C I L H F A N T

C1: FAINTLY (7)
C2: FAINTLY (7)
OT: FANCILY (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)

Round 2: S D O I R T E T A

C1: TOASTER (7)
C2: DISTORT (7)
DC: ASTEROID, (8) TARDIEST, (8) STRIATED (8). (These days TOASTIER would also be acceptable).
Score: 14–14 (max 15)

Round 3: 8, 5, 10, 3, 25, 75. Target: 710.

C1: 710. (75 x 10) - (8 x 5) (10)
C2: - declared nothing.
Score: 24–14 (max 25)

Round 4: N A L H O M Y E S

C1: MANHOLES (8)
C2: HOMELY (6)
Score: 32–14 (max 33)

Round 5: R N T A E K P U T

C1: PATTERN (7)
C2: TANKER (6)
OT: TAUNTER (7)
Score: 39–14 (max 40)

Round 6: 6, 1, 9, 7, 2, 25. Target: 214.

C1: 214. (75 x 2) + (9 x 7) + 1 (10)
C2: 212.
Score: 49–14 (max 50)

Round 7: M O R E S H A P E

C2 buzzes to say SEMAPHORE which is correct.
Score: 49–24 (max 60)

Round 8: S C R E I G V A L

C1: GRAVES (6)
C2: CLAVIERS (8)
OT: VISCERAL (8) GLACIERS (8)
Score: 49–32 (max 68)

Round 9: T U G W P O A T L

C1: GLOAT (5)
C2: OUTLAW (6)
OT: PUTLOG (6) TAUTOG (6)
Score: 49–38 (max 74)

Round 10: 2, 6, 1, 7, 8, 50. Target: 105.

C1: 105. (2 x 50) + (6 - 1) (10)
C2: 105. (2 x 50) + (6 - 1) (10)
Score: 59–48 (max 84)

Round 11: R N B E A S G I R

C1: BEARINGS (8)
C2: BEARINGS (8)
OT: REBASING (8) BRINGERS (8) EARRINGS (8) GRAINERS (8)
Score: 67–56 (max 92)

Round 12: D U C A N R O P I

C1: CANDOUR (7)
C2: CANDOUR (7)
OT: CANDIRU (7) PADRINO (7) PONIARD (7) PARODIC (7) PICADOR (7)
Score: 74–63 (max 99)

Round 13: 8, 5, 5, 4, 75, 100. Target: 664.

C1: 662.
C2: 663. (5 + 4) x 75) - (100/5) + 8 (7)
CV: 664. (100 +75) - (5/5 + 8) x 4 (10)
Score: 74–70 (max 109)

Round 14: C A B A N A R C H

C2 buzzes on 2 seconds to say CHARABANC which is correct.
Score: 74–80 (max 119).


So, one of the great Houdini acts in Countdown history from David Trace as he preserves his unbeaten record to become series 9 champion. But spare a thought for Mick Keeble - it must have been heartbreaking to lose after being 35 points ahead just before the halfway stage.

[Jon O'Neill]

What an absolute cracker. Beats even the epic Tournoff/Gallen games for drama.

[Gavin Chipper]

David Trace's other final, in the CofC against Harvery Freeman, was also a corker.

[Richard Priest]

David Trace's other final, in the CofC against Harvery Freeman, was also a corker.

I've got that one somewhere too, when I find it I'll recap it.