Wednesday 16th July 2014 (Series 71, Prelim 11)

[James Robinson]

After a phenomenal Saturday co-hosting the CO-event at St. Albans, it's back to normality with the Series 71 recaps.

Well, it seems that Series 71 has finally turned the corner thanks to Ian Linton, but with him now gone, what next...........

Let's find out Enjoy.

Countdown recap for Wednesday 16 July 2014.

C1: Champion "Lord" Damen Bramwell (1 win, 102 points.) A media studies teacher from Failsworth, Greater Manchester.
C2: Challenger James Penny. A maths teacher from Woolley Grange, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He used to work as a bouncy castle assistant. He also cycled on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during his honeymoon!!
DC: Susie Dent and Dan Walker.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: X D R O A E L T N
R02: S A Q S U M R E I
R03: 25, 7, 9, 2, 3, 3. Target: 121.
TTT: INERTRIG - "Getting ready for the rest of your life, perhaps?"
R04: Y D S O I G L O S
R05: L N B A U I R N E
R06: 75, 4, 6, 10, 5, 7. Target: 872.
R07: D I E T F P O I T
R08: V K A I P G E M S
R09: 100, 25, 1, 10, 4, 6. Target: 318.
TTT: YOURBAIT - "You can have it in writing, but you won't get to read it"
R10: P N T I O L A R O
R11: J A C S E V T O D
R12: S M A E G D A F E
R13: R C M U O E H R N
R14: 50, 3, 4, 4, 2, 7. Target: 515.
R15: G O F O R N E T T (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: X D R O A E L T N

Damen: ORATED (6)
James: RODENT (6)
DC: LEOTARD (7)
OT: DELATOR (7) DEXTRAL (7) DEXTRAN (7) TALONED (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)

A pair of 6's from the contestants, but they've missed the legendary LEOTARD

DEXTRAN is a carbohydrate gum formed by the fermentation of sugars and consisting of polymers of glucose.

Round 2: S A Q S U M R E I

Damen: SQUARES (7)
James: SQUARES (7)
DC: MASSEUR (7) MARQUISES (18)
Score: 13–13 (max 25)

And now we have a pair of SQUARES. But, DC have a super impressive NINE

Round 3: 25, 7, 9, 2, 3, 3. Target: 121.

Damen: 121. ((3 + 2) x 25) - (7 - 3) (10)
James: 121. ((3 + 2) x 25) - (7 - 3) (10)
Score: 23–23 (max 35)

Hmmm, Damen must've been seconds away from giving up when he says he used a 2nd 3, until Rachel does some prodding in the right direction.......

Teatime teaser: INERTRIG -> RETIRING

Round 4: Y D S O I G L O S

Damen: SOLIDS (6)
James: SOLIDS (6)
DC: IGLOOS (6)
OT: GLOSSY (6) GOODLY (6) OLIGOS (6)
Score: 29–29 (max 41)

Now we have some SOLIDS, including DC's IGLOOS.

An OLIGO (or OLIGONULEOTIDE) is a polynucleotide whose molecules contain a relatively small number of nucleotides.

Round 5: L N B A U I R N E

Damen: BANNER (6)
James: BANNER (6)
DC: NUBILE (6) UNLEARN (7)
OT: RUNNABLE (8)
Score: 35–35 (max 49)

Now we have a pair of BANNERs, these guys seem to be sticking together after an opposing start. There's a darrenic 8 lurking though..........

Round 6: 75, 4, 6, 10, 5, 7. Target: 872.

Damen: 871.
James: 872. ((10 / 5) x 6 x 75) - (7 x 4) (10)
Score: 35–45 (max 59)

Well, the maths teacher proves he's a good maths teacher with a perfect solve, giving him the first lead of the day.

Dan talks about the cyclist, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, who he describes as having the 2nd best name in sport after the ex-Sri Lankan cricketer, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan. (And if you think that's hard to say, watch this clip from They Think It's All Over ), who won the 1991 Tour de France's green points jersey, despite breaking his collarbone, and limping over the finish line in agony.

Round 7: D I E T F P O I T

Damen: POTTED (6)
James: FITTED (6)
DC: tiptop TIPTOED (7)
Score: 41–51 (max 66)

Another pair of 6's from our contestants, but there is a darrenic 7 picked up by DC.

Round 8: V K A I P G E M S

Damen: MAGPIES (7)
James: MAGPIES (7)
DC: MISGAVE (7)
Score: 48–58 (max 73)

And now, we have a pair of MAGPIES too Maybe good things do come in pairs

Round 9: 100, 25, 1, 10, 4, 6. Target: 318.

Damen: 318. (100 + 6) x (4 - 1) (10)
James: 318. (100 + 6) x (4 - 1) (10)
Score: 58–68 (max 83)

You certainly don't have to be a maths teacher to work this one out

Teatime teaser: YOURBAIT -> OBITUARY

Round 10: P N T I O L A R O

Damen: OPTION (6)
James: PLATOON (7)
DC: PATROON (7) ORTOLAN (7)
OT: OPTIONAL (8) PORTOLAN (8)
Score: 58–75 (max 91)

Hmmm, I wonder what James was thinking of risking there......... Well, it might've been a blessing in disguise, cos he does have a valid 7, while Darren only has 6, so his lead moves up to 17. I wonder if Damen realised the -AL afterwards too.............

A PORTOLAN is a historical book of sailing directions with charts and descriptions of harbours and coasts.

Round 11: J A C S E V T O D

Damen: COASTED (7)
James: COASTED (7)
DC: OCTAVES (7) AVOCETS (7)
OT: ADVECTS (7)
Score: 65–82 (max 98)

Nothing much more than some matching 7's here.

Susie's Origins of Words talks about the origin of "Mickey Finn".

Round 12: S M A E G D A F E

Damen: DAMAGES (7)
James: DAMAGES (7)
DC: DEFAMES (7)
Score: 72–89 (max 105)

Now we have lots of DAMAGES

Round 13: R C M U O E H R N

Damen: MUNCHER (7)
James: MUNCHER (7)
OT: CRUMHORN (8)
Score: 79–96 (max 113)

And to finish off, some MUNCHERs Shame they missed the CRUMHORN. But, this fascinating game isn't done yet

A CRUMHORN (or KRUMMHORN) is a medieval wind instrument with an enclosed double reed and an upward-curving end, producing an even, nasal sound.

Round 14: 50, 3, 4, 4, 2, 7. Target: 515.

Damen: 510.
James: 516. ((7 + 3) x 50) + (4 x 4) (7)
RR: 515. ((4 + 7) x (50 - 3)) - 2 (10)
Score: 79–103 (max 123)

Well, with the maths teacher only needing to match what Damen does, he sticks to the usual 1 large, which brings out a slightly tricky selection, which is too tricky for Damen, and good enough to give him the champions' chair for tomorrow, a century in the process, and a chance to break the highest score of the series too

Round 15: G O F O R N E T T

James buzzes on 12 seconds to say FORGOTTEN which is correct.
Final Score: 79–113 (max 133)

Well, he won't have FORGOTTEN this one in a hurry A fantastic display from James (must be in the name ), who not only gets a century, but also gets the series high score of 113 as well. This series now seems to have taken a turn for the better. Hopefully, we'll be seeing him for a few more shows to come.

Well, he'll certainly be around for tomorrow's show, and you can join me for that too.

So, till then, bye for now. (Make sure you're in for the "Penny" tomorrow. )

Statistics Corner

Damen:
Total score - 79
Raw score - 99
Total % of max - 59
Raw % of max - 74
Total average score per round - 5.3
Raw average score per round - 6.6
Number of maxes - 6

James:
Total score - 113
Raw score - 113
Total % of max - 85
Raw % of max - 85
Total average score per round - 7.5
Raw average score per round - 7.5
Number of maxes - 8

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