COLIN 2010 results & feedback

[Charlie Reams]

Those of us who couldn't attend COLIN 2010 through illness, distance or eating a roasted fig are gagging to know what happened. Who won? Who lost? Who thought my conundrums were a bit shit because I made them at midnight last night? We must be told!

[Ben Wilson]

Before I crawl into bed and sleep off the stinking head cold that blighted me all day (and caused me to leave the afterparty early ) the time is now to oblige those that asked.

One spot prize this year, which went to the person who had the highest score from one game- which was Jon Corby, who in his very first game scored a whopping (and also COLIN record) 83 points against Mike Brown.

Alas I was unable to make a multiple of 3 from the available players this year so I recruited Apterous Prune from out of the ether to give everyone who found themselves on table 11 a 'bye win', consisting of however many points they could score in what was effectively a flat 9-rounder (this is so everyone was able to play 6 games). The 32 human players were divided into 3 groups of 11, with ratings prizes for everyone in the C class and the B class.

The C class ratings prize went to the player in 16th place, with 3 wins and a points total of 299- Howard Somerset!

The B class ratings prize went to the player in 11th, with 4 wins and 310 points- Richard Priest!

So, onto the top 5- nobody finished the day unbeaten, and after 6 games there were 5 players on 5 wins, all of whom took home prizes.

In 5th place, making his co-event debut, was MARTIN MAY with 5 wins and 307 points.

In 4th place was DINOS SFYRIS with 5 wins and 339 points.

3rd was JACK HURST with 5 wins and 360 points- a hugely impressive record for someone who's not been on the show... yet.

2nd was the 2007 runner-up PAUL HOWE with 5 wins and 365 points, just 5 more than Jack.

But in first place, winning his first co-event after what feels like about nine and a half centuries and taking home the COLIN perpetual trophy for the next twelve months, on 5 wins and 376 points, is KIRK BEVINS.

Many thanks to all of you who made the trip through the cold and the snow and occasionally dodgy satnav directions, to Naomi Laddiman for ably assisting me throughout the day and to my mum for keeping us all fed and watered. No prizes for guessing where the leftover apple crumble went.

Full results are below (apologies if the formatting wanders a little)-

Results for first 3 rounds
Table Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2
Round 1
1 Mike Brown (3) 39 - 83 Jon Corby (4)
1 Jon Corby (4) 65 - 41 Alec Rivers (2)
1 Alec Rivers (2) 46 - 43 Mike Brown (3)
2 Jeff Clayton (3) 52 - 55 Jon O'Neill (4)
2 Jon O'Neill (4) 64 - 45 Darren Carter (2)
2 Darren Carter (2) 39 - 50 Jeff Clayton (3)
3 Matt Bayfield (4) 69 - 52 Mark Tournoff (4)
3 Mark Tournoff (4) 46 - 27 Adam Dexter (2)
3 Adam Dexter (2) 33 - 57 Matt Bayfield (4)
4 Richard Priest (4) 49 - 45 Kirk Bevins (5)
4 Kirk Bevins (5) 59 - 30 Anna Woodward (3)
4 Anna Woodward (3) 32 - 68 Richard Priest (4)
5 Jim Bentley (3) 50 - 67 Paul Howe (5)
5 Paul Howe (5) 75 - 26 Lee Fisher (1)
5 Lee Fisher (1) 51 - 56 Jim Bentley (3)
6 Stewart Gordon (3) 42 - 73 David O'Donnell (4)
6 David O'Donnell (4) 46 - 38 Howard Somerset (3)
6 Howard Somerset (3) 53 - 57 Stewart Gordon (3)
7 Josh Hurst (3) 49 - 60 Jack Hurst (5)
7 Jack Hurst (5) 65 - 47 Julie Taylor (2)
7 Julie Taylor (2) 54 - 29 Josh Hurst (3)
8 Lesley Hines (1) 32 - 69 Dinos Sfyris (5)
8 Dinos Sfyris (5) 60 - 33 Chris Corby (2)
8 Chris Corby (2) 31 - 42 Lesley Hines (1)
9 Martin May (5) 53 - 32 Kai Laddiman (4)
9 Kai Laddiman (4) 72 - 32 Sue Sanders (0)
9 Sue Sanders (0) 19 - 50 Martin May (5)
10 David Roe (4) 67 - 42 Ryan Taylor (3)
10 Ryan Taylor (3) 63 - 16 Alex Nightingale (1)
10 Alex Nightingale (1) 6 - 50 David Roe (4)
11 Ian Dent (2) 37 - 62 Nick Wainwright (3)
11 Nick Wainwright (3) 57 - 0 Apterous Prune (0)
11 Apterous Prune (0) 0 - 47 Ian Dent (2)
Round 2
1 Richard Priest (4) 18 - 52 Paul Howe (5)
1 Paul Howe (5) 64 - 52 Jack Hurst (5)
1 Jack Hurst (5) 57 - 52 Richard Priest (4)
2 Martin May (5) 44 - 56 Jon Corby (4)
2 Jon Corby (4) 42 - 47 Matt Bayfield (4)
2 Matt Bayfield (4) 31 - 62 Martin May (5)
3 David Roe (4) 48 - 39 Nick Wainwright (3)
3 Nick Wainwright (3) 49 - 43 Dinos Sfyris (5)
3 Dinos Sfyris (5) 64 - 39 David Roe (4)
4 Jon O'Neill (4) 42 - 58 David O'Donnell (4)
4 David O'Donnell (4) 63 - 28 Julie Taylor (2)
4 Julie Taylor (2) 42 - 70 Jon O'Neill (4)
5 Mark Tournoff (4) 68 - 47 Ian Dent (2)
5 Ian Dent (2) 42 - 54 Stewart Gordon (3)
5 Stewart Gordon (3) 38 - 69 Mark Tournoff (4)
6 Jeff Clayton (3) 47 - 54 Ryan Taylor (3)
6 Ryan Taylor (3) 54 - 49 Lesley Hines (1)
6 Lesley Hines (1) 28 - 55 Jeff Clayton (3)
7 Jim Bentley (3) 54 - 45 Kai Laddiman (4)
7 Kai Laddiman (4) 70 - 26 Alec Rivers (2)
7 Alec Rivers (2) 17 - 59 Jim Bentley (3)
8 Howard Somerset (3) 45 - 70 Kirk Bevins (5)
8 Kirk Bevins (5) 64 - 31 Adam Dexter (2)
8 Adam Dexter (2) 47 - 48 Howard Somerset (3)
9 Mike Brown (3) 40 - 43 Darren Carter (2)
9 Darren Carter (2) 49 - 5 Alex Nightingale (1)
9 Alex Nightingale (1) 27 - 65 Mike Brown (3)
10 Lee Fisher (1) 30 - 69 Josh Hurst (3)
10 Josh Hurst (3) 55 - 20 Sue Sanders (0)
10 Sue Sanders (0) 27 - 35 Lee Fisher (1)
11 Anna Woodward (3) 35 - 36 Chris Corby (2)
11 Chris Corby (2) 39 - 0 Apterous Prune (0)
11 Apterous Prune (0) 0 - 40 Anna Woodward (3)
Round 3
1 David O'Donnell (4) 61 - 71 Paul Howe (5)
1 Paul Howe (5) 36 - 45 Martin May (5)
1 Martin May (5) 53 - 48 David O'Donnell (4)
2 Mark Tournoff (4) 65 - 48 Jon Corby (4)
2 Jon Corby (4) 50 - 40 David Roe (4)
2 David Roe (4) 53 - 49 Mark Tournoff (4)
3 Jim Bentley (3) 21 - 47 Dinos Sfyris (5)
3 Dinos Sfyris (5) 56 - 49 Jon O'Neill (4)
3 Jon O'Neill (4) 62 - 39 Jim Bentley (3)
4 Ryan Taylor (3) 31 - 66 Kirk Bevins (5)
4 Kirk Bevins (5) 72 - 29 Matt Bayfield (4)
4 Matt Bayfield (4) 66 - 38 Ryan Taylor (3)
5 Jack Hurst (5) 68 - 33 Nick Wainwright (3)
5 Nick Wainwright (3) 36 - 55 Jeff Clayton (3)
5 Jeff Clayton (3) 35 - 58 Jack Hurst (5)
6 Richard Priest (4) 63 - 26 Darren Carter (2)
6 Darren Carter (2) 26 - 53 Stewart Gordon (3)
6 Stewart Gordon (3) 33 - 60 Richard Priest (4)
7 Josh Hurst (3) 43 - 69 Kai Laddiman (4)
7 Kai Laddiman (4) 60 - 15 Chris Corby (2)
7 Chris Corby (2) 36 - 61 Josh Hurst (3)
8 Julie Taylor (2) 59 - 79 Mike Brown (3)
8 Mike Brown (3) 58 - 33 Lesley Hines (1)
8 Lesley Hines (1) 57 - 60 Julie Taylor (2)
9 Lee Fisher (1) 35 - 50 Howard Somerset (3)
9 Howard Somerset (3) 65 - 50 Alec Rivers (2)
9 Alec Rivers (2) 35 - 25 Lee Fisher (1)
10 Anna Woodward (3) 50 - 40 Ian Dent (2)
10 Ian Dent (2) 57 - 18 Sue Sanders (0)
10 Sue Sanders (0) 38 - 57 Anna Woodward (3)
11 Alex Nightingale (1) 20 - 42 Adam Dexter (2)
11 Adam Dexter (2) 43 - 0 Apterous Prune (0)
11 Apterous Prune (0) 0 - 38 Alex Nightingale (1)

Standings after round 3
Pos. Player Played Won For Against Rating
1 Kirk Bevins 6 5 376 215 900
2 Paul Howe 6 5 365 252 900
3 Jack Hurst 6 5 360 280 750
4 Dinos Sfyris 6 5 339 223 750
5 Martin May 6 5 307 222 450
6 David O'Donnell 6 4 349 274 900
7 Mark Tournoff 6 4 349 282 900
8 Kai Laddiman 6 4 348 223 750
9 Jon Corby 6 4 344 276 900
10 Jon O'Neill 6 4 342 292 900
11 Richard Priest 6 4 310 245 600
12 Matt Bayfield 6 4 299 299 600
13 David Roe 6 4 297 250 450
14 Mike Brown 6 3 324 291 600
15 Josh Hurst 6 3 306 269 450
16 Howard Somerset 6 3 299 305 150
17 Jeff Clayton 6 3 294 270 600
18 Ryan Taylor 6 3 282 311 750
19 Jim Bentley 6 3 279 289 600
20 Stewart Gordon 6 3 277 323 600
21 Nick Wainwright 6 3 276 251 750
22 Anna Woodward 6 3 244 241 300
23 Julie Taylor 6 2 290 363 150
24 Ian Dent 6 2 270 252 450
25 Darren Carter 6 2 228 275 300
26 Adam Dexter 6 2 223 235 300
27 Alec Rivers 6 2 215 327 300
28 Chris Corby 6 2 190 258 150
29 Lesley Hines 6 1 241 327 450
30 Lee Fisher 6 1 202 312 300
31 Alex Nightingale 6 1 112 269 150
32 Sue Sanders 6 0 154 326 150
33 'Apterous Prune' 6 0 0 264 100

[David Roe]

Hello, I've just got home and want to say I had a great time. Thanks, Ben. See you next year, I hope.

[Howard Somerset]

Just got home, having hit a blizzard in the last five miles.

Excellent day. Thanks Ben for a great event. And thanks Jill for some great food and a pleantiful and much needed supply of black coffee.

Good to see so many people again, and lots of new faces.

[Jon O'Neill]

Just got in after an epic 4 and a half hour drive. Road works and general incompetency seemed to go against me at every stage.. but it was worth every bit of the 8 hours of driving to see everyone again and participate in another brilliant event.

Well done Ben and Gill, and congrats Kirk for being the least bottly of the bottlers.

[Josh Hurst]

Thanks Ben for organising this. I had fun. Jack got away with cheating again.

[Charlie Reams]

Really sad I couldn't come, but also thoroughly relieved I wasn't involved in Jono's epic tour of the midlands given my current state. Congrats to all involved, I hope some of the conundrums raised a smile/eyebrow/erection.

[Martin_May]

Hey. Just wanted to say a big thank you to Ben for organising a fantastic event. It was great to see so many people come, some even making some Herculean journeys to get there.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and even did well to boot! Congrats to Kirk, you have Jon Corby to thank for that

Bring on next year!

[Richard Priest]

Another fantastic event, thanks to Ben and his mum without whom it would not have happened, great to see familiar faces again and meet some new ones.Can't wait for the next one!

[Ian Dent]

I'd like to add my thanks to Ben and his Mum. It was a really nice event. Thanks to DC as well.

[JimBentley]

Wow, best one yet for sure. Many many thanks to Ben and Jill and Naomi, without whom it all couldn't have run so smoothly (or at all) and to everyone I played and everyone else and EVERYONE. But most of all thanks to the awesome David O'Donnell for letting me share his room afterwards so that I could get pissed on the night (this was my favourite bit). I tried to offer him money but he wouldn't take it so I had to fob him off with sexual favours which of course he accepted gladly and reciprocated in kind. What a gentleman.

[JackHurst]

I'm just posting here to echo what everyone else has said really. It was nice to see those of you whom I have seen before again, and also nice to see people for the first time. Thanks to Ben and his mum for running an awesome competition with nice food.

I would nominate man of the match to Martin May, who was unfortunate to be paired up with the only two unbeaten players for the final round of games but managed to beat them both! Excellent stuff that.

Edit: I'd also like to say well done to Kirk for winning his first tournament of this kind, which he must be pleased about. Paul was telling me that he has managed to come second in a few of these events but not first yet, so commiserations to him for narrowly missing out on first place.

[Jon Corby]

Well done Ben & helpers (mum Gill & Naomi) for a superb event. Lovely to see a load of chums again and make a load of new ones. Particularly great to have a good turnout in the pub afterwards as well, really good fun!

Congratulations to Kirky for sneaking it despite losing his first game - although it should be noted that Martin did superbly to notch two victories against the only two previously unbeaten players (Paul Howe and Doddy) so he is my winner really.

I've got a big empty wall at the top of my landing now where the trophy used to be

[Michael Wallace]

So how many crumbles did Kirk eat, in the end?

[Paul Howe]

Cheers everyone (except Martin May ) for an excellent day, great to see lots of new faces too. Somehow Kirk managed to win despite bottling it at the first possible opportunity, well done mate on breaking your duck, and congrats to the many COLIN first timers (Martin, Jack, Matt B, David R, Doddy) who put in some seriously impressive performances.

[Naomi Laddiman]

Thanks Ben (and his mum) for organising everything yesterday, everyone seemed to have a great time. Sorry you had to leave early last night because you weren't feeling well - hope you're better soon. Thanks for giving Kai and I a lift to and from the pub Chris - it was good to be able to have a drink with everyone, and it was lovely to see some familiar faces again and meet some new ones. I've posted my photos on facebook, if anyone wants to have a look.

[Darren Carter]

Thanks to Ben and his mum for the hospitality. I enjoyed the day and particularly enjoyed meeting some new faces and some old. Thanks also to the 'Jedward of Countdown'* for some entertaining conversations on the way there and back.



















* O'Neill, Jon (COLIN 2010)

[Chris Corby]

Great day Ben & Mum - thanks! Evening entertainment good too, much better than last year when it fizzled out at 8pm - this year it was still going strong at midnight!

Just put some piccies on Facebook - link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... c07f35ea48

[Mike Brown]

Pretty much all of the above (expect the stuff about Jim, DOD and sexual favours). Great to meet everyone again and lots of new faces too. COLIN just keeps getting better and better - I was planning to go at 8 and it was well gone nine by the time I tore myself away - I might even consider the Travelodge option next time! I have to say well done to Kirk on finally breaking his tournament duck, a big thank you of course to Ben and Gill for organising the event, and I've even forgiven Jon for thrashing me so resoundingly in Round 1 (I think getting what may have been the second highest score of 79 later in the day in a titanic battle with Julie might have helped a bit). Roll on the next CO-event, can't wait...

[Richard Priest]

Pretty much all of the above (expect the stuff about Jim, DOD and sexual favours)

we certainly have come to expect it

[Matt Bayfield]

I'll echo the thanks to Ben and all who helped make COLIN2010 a success - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

On an individual level, I was staggeringly pleased with my performance, although I'm sure that winning my early games ensured that I ended up playing an even tougher selection of 6 players than I had expected. But I must admit I'm amused by the "ratings" which Ben used to set the seedings! Ben, when you're feeling a touch better, would you care to share with us how you came up with those? They look like they're based on a combination of apterous rating and Countdown performance - but by whatever scale you've used, you clearly rated me higher than I rate myself!

[Martin_May]

Having said that Matt, you would probably be my choice for "Player of the Event", or an award of similar value. Considering that you beat Jon Corby and finished with 4 wins out of 6, I think Ben judged your rating spot on!

Your apterous rating doesn't do you justice, and myself, and many others will be more wary of your ability I'm sure.

[Ben Wilson]

The 'ratings' were largely worked out according to a combination of the now-defunct c4countdown ratings (which hadn't been updated in a while), apterous ratings and estimations of people's ability based on previous co-event results and on-screen appearances. Everyone was divided into 6 bands A-F (easy deduced from the arbitrary ratings points) which were then finalised during a brief msn discussion between myself and Charlie.

Also someone left their 1997 copy of the countdown board game at the venue yesterday which is currently sat in my hall awaiting postage somewhere. If not claimed it will be added to the pile.

[Alec Rivers]

Many thanks, Ben & the crew, for running another successful event. I enjoyed the day very much.

[Jon Corby]

Having said that Matt, you would probably be my choice for "Player of the Event", or an award of similar value. Considering that you beat Jon Corby and finished with 4 wins out of 6, I think Ben judged your rating spot on!

Your apterous rating doesn't do you justice, and myself, and many others will be more wary of your ability I'm sure.

I'd say beating Tournoff was a more impressive scalp for Matt, but yeah I was soundly beaten by him. It's not even like I could look back at the game and say I risked stupid stuff or anything, I was done in by a few good spots in shitty letters rounds and a very neat numbers solution. Very well done!

[Lesley Hines]

The day for me ran something like:
Great car mates (cheers Adam and DO'D, always more fun with other people)
Played rubbish - lost 5 and Chris Corby was unlucky
- Jeff Clayton excellent numbers
- Ryan and I went crucial
- Julie T great conundrum
- Mike B some excellent word spots
- Dinos was just a legend
Food was great
Did very nicely out of the quizzer
Threw some shapes to some 70's beats
The Bentley/Hines pool game was excellent - very well played!
Hangover...

All in all excellent fun and I had a really great time - thanks very much

[Sue Sanders]

Just got in after an epic 4 and a half hour drive. Road works and general incompetency seemed to go against me at every stage.. but it was worth every bit of the 8 hours of driving to see everyone again and participate in another brilliant event.

Well done Ben and Gill, and congrats Kirk for being the least bottly of the bottlers.

Goodness Jono! I got back to Kent in just under 4 hours. A1(M) all the way to the M25. That lecture I gave you at CoLei on on your appalling grasp of geography clearly fell on deaf ears.

Great day and great evening too. Early booking of the Travelodge meant 3 of us could split the cost of a 25 quid room three ways so we were able to make the best use of the pub's alcohol facilities!

I was gloriously bad at the games. A (rare for me) headache, meant I popped a couple of neurofen - which I hadn't had for years, and induced a sort of mini trip. I found myself starring blankly, but with an undercurrent of huge amusement, at my selections, with my brain popping like spacedust (can you still buy that?) but not getting through my skull. But hey - I'm only here for the beer!!!

[Alec Rivers]

A1(M) all the way to the M25.

Me too. Then to the cash machine at Thurrock Tesco cos I had nothing for the QE2 bridge. You'd think they'd take cards by now.

[Julie T]

- Julie T great conundrum

You were unlucky in that game, Lesley. You led from the first round, we matched from then on, and then I got the crucial conundrum first. Great game, well they all were. Mike played brilliantly - at least I got the 9 too, or it would've been a complete whitewash!

23rd out of 32 doesn't sound too great, till you check who the opposition were. Wonderful to take part. Congratulations to Kirk for winning his first Co Event, and special congrats to Howard for winning his 'group'.

Thanks everyone, especially Ben, for a brilliant event, very enjoyable. Roll on CoNot!

Claire and I had a lovely sunny (but cold!) walk around Lincoln Castle before heading home on the Sunday. Alex and I looked around the Cathedral last year. I thoroughly recommend both if anyone is making a weekend of it next year. Perhaps Ben can make a suggestion for me for next year, as unfortunately most other touristy places don't open till end of February/March.

Wonderful excuse for a well-earned break from my wonderful but tiring kids!

[Matt Bayfield]

Having said that Matt, you would probably be my choice for "Player of the Event", or an award of similar value. Considering that you beat Jon Corby and finished with 4 wins out of 6, I think Ben judged your rating spot on!

Your apterous rating doesn't do you justice, and myself, and many others will be more wary of your ability I'm sure.

I'd say beating Tournoff was a more impressive scalp for Matt, but yeah I was soundly beaten by him. It's not even like I could look back at the game and say I risked stupid stuff or anything, I was done in by a few good spots in shitty letters rounds and a very neat numbers solution. Very well done!

Martin & Jon: very kind of you, even if I think you’re being slightly generous. Still, in FA Cup terms, I certainly won’t mind if any of the top players think of me as a potential bananaskin. Inspiration for me to have another good result at a future CO-event, to try to prove it wasn’t a fluke!

Elsewhere in the tourney, I thought that Jack (ELOPEMENT? What a spot!), Martin and Richard all put in great performances. And props to two incredible spots in the warm-up game... (Jack’s 15-second Hyperblind numbers solution, Kai’s nine-letter word SEPTENARY from a Blind round).

{Edited to make spoilers in white.}

[Marc Meakin]

A1(M) all the way to the M25.

Me too. Then to the cash machine at Thurrock Tesco cos I had nothing for the QE2 bridge. You'd think they'd take cards by now.

I sent them all a nice christmas card last year.

[Michael Wallace]

A1(M) all the way to the M25.

Me too. Then to the cash machine at Thurrock Tesco cos I had nothing for the QE2 bridge. You'd think they'd take cards by now.

Admittedly I don't really have any experience of toll bridges, but if they took cards wouldn't that just cause (even more?) massive delays?

[Alec Rivers]

A1(M) all the way to the M25.

Me too. Then to the cash machine at Thurrock Tesco cos I had nothing for the QE2 bridge. You'd think they'd take cards by now.

Admittedly I don't really have any experience of toll bridges, but if they took cards wouldn't that just cause (even more?) massive delays?

I can insert my card and enter my PIN in the same time it takes some monkey at the window to take my tenner, put it in the till, fish out my change, hand it to me, and press the barrier button so, no, I don't think it would cause delays.

[Michael Wallace]

I can insert my card and enter my PIN in the same time it takes some monkey at the window to take my tenner, put it in the till, fish out my change, hand it to me, and press the barrier button so, no, I don't think it would cause delays.

[citation needed]

(seriously, when I was working at the FSA, I had to sit through numerous meetings with people from the electronic money, oyster card style touch-and-pay things, and so I was repeatedly told how cards take forever, cash a long time but not as long, and touch-and-pay is super-quick)

[Charlie Reams]

I think chip&pin is probably as fast in the best case, but you get a lot more people who fumble around, put the card in upside down, type the PIN wrong, get their card rejected etc. I get disproportionately aggravated by people who pay by card in restaurants, even though it should be faster, it always ends up taking longer because of all the hassle.

Urm anyway, was there some kind of Countdown tournament last weekend?

[Ian Dent]

When is the next CO event?

[JackHurst]

..Jack’s 15-second Hyperblind numbers solution...

I don't think it was blind, at least i hope not, because i definitely wrote the numbers down, which would have made me a cheat!

[Jon Corby]

..Jack’s 15-second Hyperblind numbers solution...

I don't think it was blind, at least i hope not, because i definitely wrote the numbers down, which would have made me a cheat!

I was gonna say I didn't think it was blind, but that doesn't really detract from how impressive it was. Still, every round must be like blind with your fringe

[Sue Sanders]

I can insert my card and enter my PIN in the same time it takes some monkey at the window to take my tenner, put it in the till, fish out my change, hand it to me, and press the barrier button so, no, I don't think it would cause delays.

[citation needed]

(seriously, when I was working at the FSA, I had to sit through numerous meetings with people from the electronic money, oyster card style touch-and-pay things, and so I was repeatedly told how cards take forever, cash a long time but not as long, and touch-and-pay is super-quick)

Alec - get a dart-tag. Works like an oyster card in that you just make sure you've got some credit on it (done on the internet needless to say)It sticks just above your mirror, you drive up to any barrier, it opens and it only costs £1 credit rather than the normal £1.50 fee. And as much as you think you can do a speedy transaction - you should have seen the queues on the day the tolls had gone up. The extra few seconds it took for people to find and feed in that extra 50p had a huge knock-on effect. Come on, you live in Kent.... http://www.dart-tag.co.uk Get with the programme, mate

[Alec Rivers]

Come on, you live in Kent.... http://www.dart-tag.co.uk Get with the programme, mate

My use of the Dartford Crossing: moon, blue, once in a. But thanks for the tip anyway.

[Julie T]

I've now uploaded the photos that Claire and I took onto Facebook. Most came out OK, apart from the prizegiving ones. Kirk was the only one to stay still long enough that he wasn't a blur!

[JimBentley]

Also someone left their 1997 copy of the countdown board game at the venue yesterday which is currently sat in my hall awaiting postage somewhere. If not claimed it will be added to the pile.

Aye, it was mine, I meant to tell you before you left that I wanted to donate it to the collection for use in future COLINs.

[David O'Donnell]

I want to also add my thanks to Ben and his mum for some great organisation and plenty of coffee (so that I could stay up for my marathon sex session with Jim). It was nice to meet most of you and you can take that any way you like.

I have to really really thank Leslie for not only driving me to and from the event but also putting me up in her B&B - what a fucking legend!

Have to say I enjoyed my first co-event though Howard Somerset may have given me an ulcer but compared to what Jim Bentley gave me (and the extraordinary burning sensation I have passing water) I think Howard let me off lightly.

Well done, Kirk! Bloody impressive considering that Jon and I made a point of standing over your games, helping your opponents cheat and generally trying our utmost to put you off.

[Adam Dexter]

Ben, it can't be said enough, brilliant event, really glad I came, and will keep coming

Lesley, thanks for the fast but safe driving

D'od, thanks for the shotgun seat in the return, and also the numerous drinks

Had such a great day, think the highlight was a certain REFINERS against Kirk.. still cocked up the numbers though but was glad to win 1 round out of 9

Glad to have won 1/5, or 2/6 if you count Prune . Knew I wasn't going to get anywhere, so was a nice relaxed day on my part.

Anyone want to add me on facebook, I'm the pirate one (obviously). So many of you have common names and I'm finding it hard to find you, so might be easier this way round

[David O'Donnell]

Ben, it can't be said enough, brilliant event, really glad I came, and will keep coming

Lesley, thanks for the fast but safe driving

D'od, thanks for the shotgun seat in the return, and also the numerous drinks

That's ok mate, your dancing gave me a hard-on.

Edited for grammatical slip.

[Dinos Sfyris]

Epic tournament as always. Cheers Neb and Mrs Neb and Mrs Kai. Having seen some of the facebook photo fallout am defo staying overnight for the next one

[Matt Bayfield]

Re: the warm-up game
Ah, you're right, Jack & Jon. The variant in which Jack scored an impressive numbers solution was Speed Hypertouch [15 seconds], not (as I previously stated) Speed Hyperblind. Still darned impressive, considering 5 of the numbers were 1s and 2s and the target high:

75 25 1 1 2 2 2 10 Target: 7423.

Solution: [((10/2 - 1) *75) - 2 - 1) * 25] - 2 = 7423

[Kirk Bevins]

Haha...I took my dictaphone to COLIN to get train numbers on the way. All was fine until when I finished COLIN and got to Lincoln to record more numbers in the evening it said "battery dead". I had no idea what had gone on as it was a full battery when I started. I put new batteries in and luckily the train numbers were still on there but, funnily, I found the cause. Somehow the "hold" button had come unlocked and I had pressed record in my pocket. The file is 5 hours 20 minutes long and you hear me and Howard talking about recent Countdown events and then Ben interrupts with the first round draw. Not the most enthralling listen but it's interesting (?) to relive the day, if by sound only.

[Mike Brown]

The file is 5 hours 20 minutes long and you hear me and Howard talking about recent Countdown events and then Ben interrupts with the first round draw. Not the most enthralling listen but it's interesting (?) to relive the day, if by sound only.

Podcast material, surely?

[Kirk Bevins]

Podcast material, surely?

Haha. Too late anyway....I've deleted it all now.