Monday 7th July 2014 series 71 prelim 6

Andy McGurn · Post by **Andy McGurn** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:09 pm

Countdown recap for Monday 7 July 2014.

C1: Champion Neil Rigby (1 win, 63 points.) An optical technician from Nottingham who beat Rob Jennings with a gripping 63-55 victory on Friday

C2: Challenger Tim Gregory. an air cabin crew worker from Poole in Dorset, which seems to be one of Nick’s favourite places.

DC: Susie Dent and Griff Rhys Jones.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: V L P O A D I N P
R02: B N T O U D I S H
R03: 10, 5, 9, 2, 1, 100. Target: 456.
TTT: RICHSAVE - "a rich amount of information is saved in these"
R04: R G N U E I R L N
R05: R C K O E S D O I
R06: 6, 5, 4, 5, 1, 50. Target: 456.
R07: L N S N E O E R C
R08: R T G O I A S D E
R09: 1, 10, 9, 10, 3, 100. Target: 330.
TTT: AUTORANG - "Jason probably sailed past this on his ship"
R10: T W N O A U Q S G
R11: T P H I A M P O E
R12: F S F A I E T G R
R13: B T X I A M E A S
R14: 8, 10, 3, 4, 4, 25. Target: 922.
R15: L P C A P T A I N (conundrum)

And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: V L P O A D I N P

Neil: AVOID (5)
Tim: PLAID (5)
DC: VAPID (5)
OT: DOLINA (6) LADINO (6) OPPIDA (6) POPLIN (6)
Score: 5–5 (max 6)

None of the sixes in this round are standard words, so its an acceptable result that these non-apterites are stuck on five

Round 2: B N T O U D I S H

Neil: BOUNDS (6)
Tim: HOUNDS (6)
DC: OUTBIDS (7) OBTUNDS (7)
OT: BOUDINS (7) BUSHIDO (7) DUSTBIN (7) TUNDISH (7)
Score: 11–11 (max 13)

Its BOUNDS and HOUNDS for the contestants as DC spot two of the sevens available

Round 3: 10, 5, 9, 2, 1, 100. Target: 456.

Neil: 456. ((9*100)/2)+5+1 (10)
Tim: -
Score: 21–11 (max 23)

A nice solution by Neil sees him start by going up to 900 and dividing his way back down. His method gives him a ten point lead.

Teatime teaser: RICHSAVE -> ARCHIVES

Round 4: R G N U E I R L N

Neil: relining
Tim: LINGER (6)
DC: RUNNER (6) RUNNIER (7) GURNER (6)
OT: UNERRING (8)
Score: 21–17 (max 31)

Neil’s word is in the dictionary but unfortunately he needs two I’s so its Tim who takes the points here. The excellent UNERRING, is missed by all.

Round 5: R C K O E S D O I

Neil: discoed
Tim: DOCKERS (7)
OT: COOKERS (7) COOKIES (7) CROOKED (7) DICKERS (7) ODORISE (7) ROOKIES (7)
Score: 21–24 (max 38)

Neil makes the same mistake for the second round in a row, seeing two of a letter which there is only one of. Tim takes a three point lead due to Neil’s error

Round 6: 6, 5, 4, 5, 1, 50. Target: 456.

Neil: 456. ((5+4)*50)+6 (10)
Tim: 456. ((5+4)*50)+6 (10)
Score: 31–34 (max 48)

The target is 456 for the second time in the game, it’s a simple one and both spot the solution.

Round 7: L N S N E O E R C

Neil: LONERS (6)
Tim: CREOLES (7)
OT: CLONERS (7) CORNELS (7) CRENELS (7) ENCLOSE (7) ENCORES (7)
Score: 31–41 (max 55)

An excellent spot by Tim to give him a max and a ten point lead.

Round 8: R T G O I A S D E

Neil: graited
Tim: GOITRES (7)
DC: STORAGE (7) ASTEROID (8) STODGIER (8)
OT: GODETIAS (8)
Score: 31–48 (max 63)

Neil offers an invalid word for the third time in four letters rounds. He’s gonna have to improve to have any chance of scoring his second win.

Round 9: 1, 10, 9, 10, 3, 100. Target: 330.

Neil: 330. (100+10)*3 (10)
Tim: 330. (100+10)*3 (10)
Score: 41–58 (max 73)

A very simple numbers round which Rachael decides not to write on the board.

Teatime teaser: AUTORANG -> ARGONAUT

Round 10: T W N O A U Q S G

Neil: SQUAT (5)
Tim: SQUAT (5)
DC: NOUGAT (6) QUANGOS (7) QUANTS (6)
OT: NOUGATS (7) OUTSANG (7)
Score: 46–63 (max 80)

Neil could have made up some ground here but like his opponent he can only spot a five. Tim won’t mind only getting the five as he’s edging towards the win

Round 11: T P H I A M P O E

Neil: MOTH (4)
Tim: MATH (4)
DC: APOTHEM (7)
OT: EPITAPH (7)
Score: 50–67 (max 87)

Susie gets a chance to shine here with the excellent APOTHEM. EPITAPH also there for seven (I’m expecting one from the Daily Mail regarding Countdown soon, I think one is overdue)

Round 12: F S F A I E T G R

Neil: STIFFER (7)
Tim: GRAFTS (6)
DC: FRIGATES (8) GIRAFFES (8)
Score: 57–67 (max 95)

Neil’s STIFFER than Tim and as a result he gets back to just ten behind. He might not be out of it yet

Round 13: B T X I A M E A S

Neil: MIXES (5)
Tim: EXAMS (5)
DC: EXITS (5) MAXES (5) ABATES (6)
OT: BASMATI (7)
Score: 62–72 (max 102)

As in most earlier rounds the contestants fall quite a bit below the max. As a contest though its still close and the ten point gap means a crucial remains possible

Round 14: 8, 10, 3, 4, 4, 25. Target: 922.

Neil: 922. Mistake in working.
Tim: 923. (((10*4)-3)*25)-(8/4) (7)
RR: 922. ((25*4)-(4-3)*10)-8 (10)
Score: 62–79 (max 112)

Neil thinks he has the solution but he seems to think that four times four is twelve. This mistake hands the win to Tim who is one away.

Round 15: L P C A P T A I N

No one buzzes. The answer was APPLICANT.
Final Score: 62–79 (max 122)

Given the overall standard its unsurprising that the conundrum is not spotted by either contestant and it’s a win for Tim in the end.

Its not be the greatest of starts to the new series with the record lowest wining score recorded last week and many maxes missed today. I'm sure the series will pick up though as apterites Jason Turner, Paul Worsley and others are due to play this series. Lets hope their debuts are not far away.

Have a great week everyone and to those who are going to CoStAl this weekend, I’ll see you there. Innis is playing so, even though we already know who’ll win, lets all have a good time….

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