Co:Durham 2025 - Saturday, 5th July
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 4:02 am
Letters, numbers and conundurhams are making a comeback to the medieval cathedral city of Durham.
Last year's Countdown in Durham event was my debut as host, and was a truly joyous occasion to both organise and run. I'm delighted and privileged to announce that it will be returning to the co-event scene in 2025, currently as the thirteenth round of the 2025 FOCAL season.
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Date and times
Saturday, 5th July 2025
• Doors open: 10:30
• Introduction: 11:30–11:45 (15m)
• First round draw: 11:45*
• Round 1: 11:45–13:00 (1h 15m)
• Lunch: 13:00–14:00 (1h)
• Round 2: 14:00–15:15 (1h 15m)
• Round 3: 15:15–16:30 (1h 15m)
• Grand final: 16:45–17:30 (45m)
• Prize presentation: 17:30–17:45 (15m)
*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. If the other two players on your table are present, they will play their game first to give you time to arrive without missing out on any gameplay.
————————————
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 six 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 three preliminary rounds have concluded and the scores have been gathered, the two contenders with the most wins and points will compete in the 15-round grand final to determine the event champion. 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.
————————————
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 18:30. The building itself has a large field outside, which a number of 2024's attendees enjoyed making use of for football during the lunch break and between rounds.
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 bus station, 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, which is one stop after the Duke of Wellington.
For anyone planning on driving in, the venue has a car park. Alternatively, you could use the Park and Ride scheme and then walk or bus 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 Stand D (alight here). They are £2.20 per person each way. As things stand, 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.
————————————
Prizes
The top 3 players will receive prizes for their performances.
Prizes will be awarded at the end of the tournament for the following:
• Rudest word offered.
• Obscurest word offered (any length).
• Closest game result(s).
• Lucky Stiff — the player whose aggregate margin from their 3 closest wins (should they win that many games) is the lowest. For instance, beating three opponents by a single point each time would contend for this prize.
• Tuff Luck (the opposite of Lucky Stiff) — the player whose aggregate margin from their 3 closest losses (if they lose that many games) is the lowest. For instance, losing to three opponents by a single point each time would contend for this prize.
• Tim Down Award — the player with at least 3 losses whose opponents end the tournament with the highest average standings position.
Spot prizes will be awarded at the end of each round for the following:
• R1: spread closest to 0.
• R2: closest score to a random number (between the total score of the top and bottom seeds).
• R3: highest losing score.
————————————
Admission
£12 per person. You can sign up via this Google Form. Please also answer the questions on the form.
————————————
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
As with last year, I'll be making a provisional booking 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. Current menu (subject to change).
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 11:45.
Full details here.
————————————
All event organisers and attendees are bound by the FOCAL Code of Conduct.
————————————
Entrants (as of 4th July 2025)
1. Bradley Horrocks
2. Euan Crabb
3. Sean Fletcher
4. Darren Godfrey (Daz)
5. Jason Turner
6. Taz Turner
7. MSR
8. George Baker
9. Phil Stanton
10. George Armstrong
11. Michael Armstrong
12. Ian Wray
13. Logan Skelton
14. Mark Ivey
15. Steven Grady
16. Tasneem Rana
17. Dylan Taylor
18. Tom Carey (Maus)
19. Adam Latchford
20. Coral Heath
21. Dave Ashton
22. Hidden
23. Elizabeth Beer
24. Tim Hebbes
25. Mathew Harris
26. Adrian Fletcher
27. Mark Jeary-Fairbairn
28. Matt Gould
29. Phil Hannan
30. Samuel Stock
31. John Clarke
Last year's Countdown in Durham event was my debut as host, and was a truly joyous occasion to both organise and run. I'm delighted and privileged to announce that it will be returning to the co-event scene in 2025, currently as the thirteenth round of the 2025 FOCAL season.
————————————
Date and times
Saturday, 5th July 2025
• Doors open: 10:30
• Introduction: 11:30–11:45 (15m)
• First round draw: 11:45*
• Round 1: 11:45–13:00 (1h 15m)
• Lunch: 13:00–14:00 (1h)
• Round 2: 14:00–15:15 (1h 15m)
• Round 3: 15:15–16:30 (1h 15m)
• Grand final: 16:45–17:30 (45m)
• Prize presentation: 17:30–17:45 (15m)
*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. If the other two players on your table are present, they will play their game first to give you time to arrive without missing out on any gameplay.
————————————
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 six 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 three preliminary rounds have concluded and the scores have been gathered, the two contenders with the most wins and points will compete in the 15-round grand final to determine the event champion. 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.
————————————
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 18:30. The building itself has a large field outside, which a number of 2024's attendees enjoyed making use of for football during the lunch break and between rounds.
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 bus station, 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, which is one stop after the Duke of Wellington.
For anyone planning on driving in, the venue has a car park. Alternatively, you could use the Park and Ride scheme and then walk or bus 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 Stand D (alight here). They are £2.20 per person each way. As things stand, 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.
————————————
Prizes
The top 3 players will receive prizes for their performances.
Prizes will be awarded at the end of the tournament for the following:
• Rudest word offered.
• Obscurest word offered (any length).
• Closest game result(s).
• Lucky Stiff — the player whose aggregate margin from their 3 closest wins (should they win that many games) is the lowest. For instance, beating three opponents by a single point each time would contend for this prize.
• Tuff Luck (the opposite of Lucky Stiff) — the player whose aggregate margin from their 3 closest losses (if they lose that many games) is the lowest. For instance, losing to three opponents by a single point each time would contend for this prize.
• Tim Down Award — the player with at least 3 losses whose opponents end the tournament with the highest average standings position.
Spot prizes will be awarded at the end of each round for the following:
• R1: spread closest to 0.
• R2: closest score to a random number (between the total score of the top and bottom seeds).
• R3: highest losing score.
————————————
Admission
£12 per person. You can sign up via this Google Form. Please also answer the questions on the form.
————————————
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
As with last year, I'll be making a provisional booking 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. Current menu (subject to change).
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 11:45.
Full details here.
————————————
All event organisers and attendees are bound by the FOCAL Code of Conduct.
————————————
Entrants (as of 4th July 2025)
1. Bradley Horrocks
2. Euan Crabb
3. Sean Fletcher
4. Darren Godfrey (Daz)
5. Jason Turner
6. Taz Turner
7. MSR
8. George Baker
9. Phil Stanton
10. George Armstrong
11. Michael Armstrong
12. Ian Wray
13. Logan Skelton
14. Mark Ivey
15. Steven Grady
16. Tasneem Rana
17. Dylan Taylor
18. Tom Carey (Maus)
19. Adam Latchford
20. Coral Heath
21. Dave Ashton
22. Hidden
23. Elizabeth Beer
24. Tim Hebbes
25. Mathew Harris
26. Adrian Fletcher
27. Mark Jeary-Fairbairn
28. Matt Gould
29. Phil Hannan
30. Samuel Stock
31. John Clarke