c4countdown

THE WAITING IS OVER!!!

I am delighted to announce a new event in southeast England this summer:

ST ALBANS - Saturday 12 July 2014
The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3AG

http://www.thecountyclub.org
Google Streetview: http://tinyurl.com/nrbhfa5

Presented by James Robinson and Jeff Clayton, everybody competes in six games, using the "Bristol" classroom format and playing along with big screen virtual studio graphics:

- Three heats matches using the current 15-round format - opponents drawn at random;
- Then split into groups of eight for the latter stages:
- 9-round quarter final (#1 plays #8, #2 plays #7 etc);
- 9-round semi final;
- 14-round final.
- The grand final in Group A plays out as the tournament showpiece.

Doors open at 9am for a 10am start, with free tea & coffee available on arrival.

A buffet lunch will be provided at 12:30pm and light refreshments will be on sale from the bar throughout the day. (Please advise of dietary requirements, where necessary.)

The grand final starts at or just after 5pm, and we conclude with the prizegiving by 6pm -- prizes will be on offer for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in every group.

Admission costs just £15pp and you can secure your place now:
- By PayPal (jeffrey_clayton@hotmail.com / james_r_robinson@hotmail.com);
- By phone (Jeff: 07595 690 249 / James: 07817 750 544);
- By cheque (address available on request).

We have capacity for 50 contestants; spectators are also welcome.

The venue is a short walk from the mainline railway station (connections from the Midlands, the North and central London) and 15 minutes' walk from the city centre.
There is parking at the club; if the car park is full, there is also limited parking on Ridgmont Road, otherwise the rail station car park costs just £2 for the day.
Accommodation is available locally.

We look forward to hearing from you!

With thanks and regards,

James Robinson
on behalf of Jeff Clayton and Rob Gibney, President of the County Club

P.S. For all those wondering when COHUD3 is, it is currently on hiatus, and could possibly be rearranged for some other venue, or even location. More on that in the future.

Confirmed Entries (40):
Rob Gibney
Dave Noble
Julie McCarthy
Heather Styles
Mauro Pratesi
Jessica Pratesi
Natasha Pratesi
Annick Jean
Alfonso Sintino
Alan Styles
Phyl Styles
Adam Dexter
Adam Curran
Thomas Cappleman
Graeme Cole
Tony Atkins
Mark Murray
Paul Worsley
Jack Worsley
Jayne Wisniewski
Rob Foster
Chris Marshall
Gevin Chapwell
Phil Collinge
Supee Juachan
Andy McGurn
Callum Todd
Jonathan Wynn
Stewart Gordon
Innis Carson
Callum Pickering
James Raper
Neil Tagg
Charlie McChrystal
Mark Tournoff
Ciaran McCarthy
Giles Hutchings
Ned Pendleton
James Burley
Oliver Garner

Overeager Spectators (1):
Adam Gillard

Pretty much next door, but there's a decent chance I will be in America that week, so no commitment yet.

Might be a bit too difficult for me to get to. Hope to see CoHud happen again or somewhere else in the north

This is great news, as long as it's fairly quick to get to the venue from London then I should be able to make this.

Innis Carson wrote:This is great news, as long as it's fairly quick to get to the venue from London then I should be able to make this.

Wahey, me likes the sound of that.

This is awesome James, it's clear you've put a lot of thought and effort into planning and executing this. Thanks a lot, and please pass my thanks onto Jeff as well I just need to get a good idea of what I'll be doing for accommodation then I'll send my entry fee to you

Callum Todd wrote:This is awesome James, it's clear you've put a lot of thought and effort into planning and executing this. Thanks a lot, and please pass my thanks onto Jeff as well I just need to get a good idea of what I'll be doing for accommodation then I'll send my entry fee to you

Perfectly fine, Callum. Plenty of time of course.

Count me in. My home town!

Gah!

I feel those of us wanting to go should agree on a hotel outlet. The ones nearest by, are expensive, however the ones that are cheap... seem to be about 8 miles away. What do we all think?

We've not even been active, yet we already have our first entry, as David Noble has already registered

Quite close to Luton Airport, put me down as a maybe

Edward McCullagh wrote:Quite close to Luton Airport, put me down as a maybe

Me defo likes this.

Here's hoping, now I won't be going to Reading....

QUITE ASTOUNDING!!!

We've only been active for just over 24 hours, and we already have THREE players confirmed for CoStAl

Rob Gibney, Dave Noble and Julie McCarthy are those 3 wise heads who have already signed.

Who will be next

Edward McCullagh wrote:Quite close to Luton Airport, put me down as a maybe

I know someone who lives 11 miles from the venue who'd be happy to host you if you like!

In terms of distance, this would be well above the normal mileage I would be prepared to travel for a CO event. However, I may be able to make it if it is close enough to London, in particular the train and underground stations.
How far is the venue from London? I'm thinking if it is reasonably close I might make a weekend of it.

Please put me on the interested parties list and send me a reminder closer to the time!! I really want to come to a CO-Event this year!

Anthony Endsor wrote:In terms of distance, this would be well above the normal mileage I would be prepared to travel for a CO event. However, I may be able to make it if it is close enough to London, in particular the train and underground stations.
How far is the venue from London? I'm thinking if it is reasonably close I might make a weekend of it.

Trains from St. Pancras can take just 20 minutes to get to St. Albans, so could be worth it, Anthony. Would certainly like you there of course.

kieranbray wrote:Please put me on the interested parties list and send me a reminder closer to the time!! I really want to come to a CO-Event this year!

Perfectly fine, Kieran.

Might be interested in this, given the location.

i am definitely in please

I'm definitely considering it, as is Worsley Snr, so put us down as "interested", please!

Maybe. But my mother inconveniently decided to turn 50 on this date, so maybe not.

Please put Phyl and Alan down on the interested list, sounds good - back to where we first met

Almost certainly in

Interested in going but it all depends on whether I can afford that travelling expenses

I might now be able to make this so switch me to interested. Won't know till end of May/early June however

Interested - it's a few hours travel but fairly cheap to get to.
Only thing is accommodation as I'd rather stay two nights - where is everyone else planning on staying, and does anyone need a roomie? (I don't snore and I make a mean cup of tea)

James Laverty wrote:I might now be able to make this so switch me to interested. Won't know till end of May/early June however

That doesn't matter, James. Me and Jeff can wait.

kerryalcock wrote:Interested - it's a few hours travel but fairly cheap to get to.
Only thing is accommodation as I'd rather stay two nights - where is everyone else planning on staying, and does anyone need a roomie? (I don't snore and I make a mean cup of tea)

I wouldn't mind a roomie, but I've already booked my accommodation at the Quality Hotel, so if the offer for a cuppa is still there....

Might make this my Co event debut... Quite a trek but if Dave Noble's coming from Australia what excuse do I have!

I'll confirm nearer the time but definitely fancy this a lot (if anyone coming from Yorkshire-land wants to share fuel costs I'm happy driving the distance), can work out what nights I'll hotel based on if anyone wants to share travel.

Dave Nicholson wrote:Might make this my Co event debut... Quite a trek but if Dave Noble's coming from Australia what excuse do I have!

I'll confirm nearer the time but definitely fancy this a lot (if anyone coming from Yorkshire-land wants to share fuel costs I'm happy driving the distance), can work out what nights I'll hotel based on if anyone wants to share travel.

Dave, where abouts in Yorkshire do you live? If you're anywhere near the M1, I might consider heading that way and I can meet you somewhere, as that might be the preferred driving route. I'm just weighing up whether it's best to drive or get the train at the moment.

Dave Nicholson wrote:Might make this my Co event debut... Quite a trek but if Dave Noble's coming from Australia what excuse do I have!

I'll confirm nearer the time but definitely fancy this a lot (if anyone coming from Yorkshire-land wants to share fuel costs I'm happy driving the distance), can work out what nights I'll hotel based on if anyone wants to share travel.

Willing to share travel if I am able to go Dave

Please put me on the interested list. My diary is a bit up in the air as we are moving house at some point in the summer but don't have a date yet.

Pretty likely to be there I think.

Stick me on the interested list please Robbo.

Woo, go the south-east! I'm definitely interested, should be able to come.

So, during CO:REA this weekend, our confirmed entries tripled from 3 to 9

And even more amazingly, we have our first ever continental contestants, with 2 entries from Belgium

So, we'll be fully launching on Facebook later this week.

I'm in - managed to sort out return train from Kiddy to St Albans Abbey for £16 which means no overnight stay - should be about 9:45 that I get to the club I'll Paypal you the money over this week

Adam Dexter wrote:I'm in - managed to sort out return train from Kiddy to St Albans Abbey for £16 which means no overnight stay - should be about 9:45 that I get to the club I'll Paypal you the money over this week

Sweet, cheers for that, Adam.

Put down as 'interested' por favour James. Veeeery interested

Can we pay on the day? We should be on the 99.9% definite list, please

Phyl Styles wrote:Can we pay on the day? We should be on the 99.9% definite list, please

Sorry for the delayed response, Phyl. Just need to confer with my counsel.

We would preferably like to know of numbers before the event, mainly for catering reasons. (I'm sure you'd like the same for CoMultiLon. )

James Robinson wrote:

Phyl Styles wrote:Can we pay on the day? We should be on the 99.9% definite list, please

Sorry for the delayed response, Phyl. Just need to confer with my counsel.

We would preferably like to know of numbers before the event, mainly for catering reasons. (I'm sure you'd like the same for CoMultiLon. )

I may come along but I won't be eating or competing, just observing and mingling. I may demand a glass of tap water though.

Adam Gillard wrote:I may come along but I won't be eating or competing, just observing and mingling. I may demand a glass of tap water though.

I'm sure we can cater for your precise demands, Adam.

Now up into double figures thanks to Alan & Phyl Styles, giving us a treble helping of Styles's and Pratesi's.

And Adam Dexter makes it a dozen in, and with 37 more on the "Interested" list, we're still on track to break the record for entries to a single CO-event (We hope. )

Hopefully I'll be paying my entry sometime this weekend.

James S Roper wrote:Hopefully I'll be paying my entry sometime this weekend.

That'll do nicely, James.

Sadly it looks like I won't be able to attend this after all- I'm unable to travel down on the day and I can't get the previous day off work so can't travel down then either. Maybe next year.

Ben Wilson wrote:Sadly it looks like I won't be able to attend this after all- I'm unable to travel down on the day and I can't get the previous day off work so can't travel down then either. Maybe next year.

That's a shame, Ben. Never mind, maybe next time.

What hotel(s) do people plan on using for this? I'd like to be quite close to the venue but really I'm looking for one as cheap as possible!

Callum Todd wrote:What hotel(s) do people plan on using for this? I'd like to be quite close to the venue but really I'm looking for one as cheap as possible!

I was looking into hotels / guest houses as well, and prices seem a bit steep in that area. I'll probably walk the 11 or so miles from where I live instead.

Adam Gillard wrote:

Callum Todd wrote:What hotel(s) do people plan on using for this? I'd like to be quite close to the venue but really I'm looking for one as cheap as possible!

I was looking into hotels / guest houses as well, and prices seem a bit steep in that area. I'll probably walk the 11 or so miles from where I live instead.

I've done a bit of searching around and found the nearest Travelodge, which is just down the road from a shopping centre called the Galleria. It looks like there are a few bus routes running from the Galleria to St Alban's City train station, which is just down the road from The County Club.

The hotel: http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/321/ ... tral-hotel
Maps

I will try and make this if I can (can see I am already on the interested list anyway) Will let you know for definite as soon as...How much does entry cost?

sorry would help if I read it fully - £15 ..will be in touch

Mark Murray wrote:sorry would help if I read it fully - £15 ..will be in touch

Perfectly fine, Mark. Spread the word to everyone else too, just 6 WEEKS TO GO NOW

I'm interested in this but may struggle to get there. Can you put me on the interested list and I'll let you know for definite asap?

Sean Fletcher wrote:I'm interested in this but may struggle to get there. Can you put me on the interested list and I'll let you know for definite asap?

That's certainly fine, Sean. We'd be delighted if you can make it.

Adam Curran makes it 13 up for us. Would love to have many more ASAP.

We're now upto 16 thanks to Tom Cappleman, Graeme Cole and Tony Atkins.

Just over 4 weeks to go now, guys, so get in quick.