Monday 22nd December 2014 (Special)

Andy McGurn · Post by **Andy McGurn** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:39 pm

Countdown recap for Monday 22 December 2014.

C1: Challenger Eileen Taylor. A retired personnel advisor from SE London, an octochamp and semi-finalist in series 68, turned 75 at the time of the series 68 finals

C2: Challenger Priscilla Mundy. a retired pharmacist from Redhill in Surrey, won six games in series 70 and reached the quarter final. Priscilla says she is really happy to be there.

DC: Susie Dent and Arlene Phillips.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: I E O S R N B G D
R02: M T A I W H E A X
R03: 3, 6, 3, 9, 10, 75. Target: 897.
TTT: DONSMITH - "it looks like Don Smith came last in the race"
R04: M W O E T L O E F
R05: O U E Z L D R L I
R06: 8, 5, 2, 1, 9, 100. Target: 875.
R07: A O A T K R J S I
R08: P H A O M C I E D
R09: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 75. Target: 330.
TTT: GIRLTINA - "the girl Tina was well behind in the race"
R10: G R F A E A P T O
R11: A O E Y S L T N G
R12: N C I A D N E O M
R13: E A E N R S Q T U
R14: 5, 7, 10, 6, 9, 100. Target: 545.
R15: R I F L E D E C K (conundrum)

And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: I E O S R N B G D

Eileen: derobing
Priscilla: DISROBE (7)
DC: SONGBIRD (8)
OT: DESORBING (18)
Score: 0–7 (max 18)

Its just a friendly so a case of why not risk it for Eileen. Her word is invalid however and Priscilla gets the first lead.

Round 2: M T A I W H E A X

Eileen: WHITE (5)
Priscilla: WHEAT (5)
DC: HAMATE (6)
OT: ATHAME (6)
Score: 5–12 (max 24)

Standard fives for the girls, DC point on one of the two obscure sixes available.

Round 3: 3, 6, 3, 9, 10, 75. Target: 897.

Eileen: 897. ((9+3)*75)-3 (10)
Priscilla: 897. ((9+3)*75)-3 (10)
Score: 15–22 (max 34)

Not expecting any 6 smalls or 4 larges in this game, it’s a one large and an easy one at that.

Teatime teaser: DONSMITH -> HINDMOST

Round 4: M W O E T L O E F

Eileen: FOOTLE (6)
Priscilla: FOOTLE (6)
DC: MOTEL (5)
Score: 21–28 (max 40)

FOOTLE for both here in a letters selection with little to offer otherwise.

Round 5: O U E Z L D R L I

Eileen: ROLLED (6)
Priscilla: LOUDER (6)
DC: DULLER (6)
OT: ROUILLE (7)
Score: 27–34 (max 47)

This game was recorded before Dan McColm spotted ROUILLE in his semi final, if that game had been recorded first one of both of the contestants may have got it.

Round 6: 8, 5, 2, 1, 9, 100. Target: 875.

Eileen: 875. (9*100)-((8-2-1)*5) (10)
Priscilla: 873.
Score: 37–34 (max 57)

A miss by Priscilla sees Eileen go into the lead.

DC Guest – Arlene recounts a story from Las Vegas where she was embarrassed after spilling a huge lobster sandwich.

Round 7: A O A T K R J S I

Eileen: TROIKAS (7)
Priscilla: AORTAS (6)
DC: ROTAS (5) RATIOS (6)
Score: 44–34 (max 64)

Eileen gets the max here to shoot to ten points ahead

Round 8: P H A O M C I E D

Eileen: POACHED (7)
Priscilla: MACHO (5)
DC: CHAMPED (7) CHOMPED (7)
OT: EDAPHIC (7) IMPEACH (7) MOPHEAD (7)
Score: 51–34 (max 71)

There were a few max words here that Priscilla probably should have got, and that miss sees her fall further behind.

Round 9: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 75. Target: 330.

Eileen: 330. ((9-6)*10)+(4*75) (10)
Priscilla: 330. ((9-6)*10)+(4*75) (10)
Score: 61–44 (max 81)

Another simple numbers game and its ten more points each.

Teatime teaser: GIRLTINA -> TRAILING

Round 10: G R F A E A P T O

Eileen: POTAGER (7)
Priscilla: POTAGER (7)
DC: PORTAGE (7)
Score: 68–51 (max 88)

Seven more points to both girls.

Round 11: A O E Y S L T N G

Eileen: GENTLY (6)
Priscilla: slanty
DC: SALTY (5) TANGELOS (8)
Score: 74–51 (max 96)

I remember trying “slantiest” at COLIN one year and it not being allowed, this may be decisive in this game.

Round 12: N C I A D N E O M

Eileen: MINCED (6)
Priscilla: COMEDIAN (8)
DC: DANCE (5) MONDAINE (8)
OT: DOMINANCE (18)
Score: 74–59 (max 114)

But well done to Priscilla here, she wins her first round of the game and still has a chance to come back to win. DOMINANCE is not achieved by anyone (including DC)

Round 13: E A E N R S Q T U

Eileen: TENURES (7)
Priscilla: REQUEST (7)
DC: EARNEST (7) EQUATES (7)
OT: AUSTERE (7) EASTERN (7) EQUANTS (7) NATURES (7) NEAREST (7) NEUTERS (7) QUARTES (7) QUESTER (7) RETUNES (7) SAUNTER (7) SEQUENT (7) STERANE (7) TUREENS (7)
Score: 81–66 (max 121)

Loads of sevens to choose from here, both choose nice words to declare.

Round 14: 5, 7, 10, 6, 9, 100. Target: 545.

Eileen: 545. (100+9)*5 (10)
Priscilla: 545. (100+9)*5 (10)
Score: 91–76 (max 131)

Its been a game of easy numbers rounds and another (perhaps the easiest today) presents itself. That gives Eileen the win in this special game.

Round 15: R I F L E D E C K

Priscilla buzzes on 3 seconds to say FLICKERED which is correct.
Final Score: 91–86 (max 141)

Priscilla has the last word and ensures the game is close as just five points separate the girls as the game concludes. Nick tells them they will both get ew goody bags to add to those they already have.

There don’t seem to be teapots in these goody bags however. Does anyone have more than one countdown teapot, if so how was it acquired.

Its nice to see specials sometimes. Games I’d love to see as specials include Carl Williams vs Richard Brittain, Jeffrey Hansford vs Jon Corby and Graeme Cole vs Conor Travers.

Tomorrow high scoring loser Duncan McGregor faces Michael Mcdowell. Jennifer Steadman will be here to take you through it.

Have a great Christmas boys and girls

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=71