C1: Champion David Sandbach (1 win, 97 points.)
C2: Challenger Julie Gregory.
DC: Susie Dent and Dr Phil Hammond.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: F S C O E U D S R
R02: N M T I O I E M D
R03: Y D R C O I A M E
R04: T R G O E I J V E
R05: 25, 3, 2, 6, 9, 10. Target: 774.
TTT: LONEPUCE - "If you've got it, you have it."
R06: T S N O A E S R O
R07: N R N U A E T Z N
R08: M R P R O E A T D
R09: S S R X E I E P A
R10: 25, 75, 3, 5, 10, 8. Target: 795.
TTT: ENDRAILS - "I bad-mouth person from Guernsey."
R11: T S N S E U O B I
R12: Q K L G A E O W T
R13: L N D A E O L G U
R14: 100, 25, 9, 6, 6, 1. Target: 884.
R15: S E T T I T U D E (conundrum)
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
David triumphed in a very exciting game yesterday against triochamp and c4countdown forummer Matt(hew) Coates. David led by 10 points going into the conundrum, only for Matt to buzz in very quickly to tie the scores up and force another conundrum, which again he buzzed in very quickly on... but got wrong! This left David about 28 seconds to unscramble WRESTLING at leisure, while Matt amusingly kept glancing behind him at the clock to try and make it go round faster! David's first challenger to his throne is Julie Gregory from Macclesfield in Cheshire. Julie's a foreign exchange advisor for a travel agent, is married with three children (Chloe, Liam and Lucy) and has seen Westlife in concert eleven times. That's fourteen very painful experiences right there.
Round 1: F S C O E U D S R
C1: SCOURED (7)
C2: SCOURED (7)
DC: CROSSED (7) FOCUSED (7) scouser
OT: FOCUSSED (8) FOCUSERS (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
DC offered focused as a seven, failing to spot you could slip that extra 'S' in there. Whoops!
Round 2: N M T I O I E M D
C1: MINTED (6)
C2: MINTED (6)
DC: DOMINIE (7)
OT: EDITION (7)
Score: 13–13 (max 15)
A dominie is a schoolmaster in Scotland, or a pastor or clergyman in the US.
Round 3: Y D R C O I A M E
C1: ROAMED (6)
C2: ADMIRE (6)
DC: COMEDY (6) COMRADE (7)
OT: DORMICE (7) CAROMED (7) MEDIACY (7) MERCADO (7)
Score: 19–19 (max 22)
To "carom" is to cannon in billiards (chiefly N American), mediacy is being connected indirectly through another person or thing, and a mercado is a market in Spanish speaking countries, such as Spain for example. They also deliver groceries from Waitrose. In a Merc.
Round 4: T R G O E I J V E
C1: GOITRE (6)
C2: JIVER (5)
DC: VERTIGO (7)
Score: 25–19 (max 29)
Round 5: 25, 3, 2, 6, 9, 10. Target: 774.
C1: 768.10*3*25+9*2 (5)
C2: 770.Mistake in working.
CV: 774. (25*10+6+2)*3 (10)
Score: 30–19 (max 39)
Carol's way is clearly the most elegant (as that's how I did it as well), but I was a little surprised she didn't point out to David that he could have doubled his points haul on this round simply by adding on the remaning 6 at the end... whoops! The look on his face suggested that he might have seen this himself shortly afterwards anyway...
Teatime teaser: LONEPUCE -> OPULENCE
Round 6: T S N O A E S R O
C1: ATONES (6)
C2: SOONEST (7)
DC: SENATORS (8) TREASONS (8)
OT: SANTEROS (8) SANTOORS (8) ASSENTOR (8)
Score: 30–26 (max 47)
Santero is yet another word nicked from Spanish speaking countries, and it's someone who make religious images. A santoor is an Indian musical instrument resembling a dulcimer.
Round 7: N R N U A E T Z N
C1: TANNER (6)
C2: TANNER (6)
DC: NATURE (6)
Score: 36–32 (max 53)
Round 8: M R P R O E A T D
C1: PREDATOR (8)
C2: PARROTED (8)
DC: TEARDROP (8)
OT: MORTARED (8) PRORATED (8)
Score: 44–40 (max 61)
To prorate is to distribute pro rata (chiefly N American, again.)
Round 9: S S R X E I E P A
C1: EXPRESS (7)
C2: EXPIRES (7)
DC: PRAISES (7) ASPIRES (7)
Score: 51–47 (max 68)
Lots of sevens here that I can't be bothered to list. Particularly as none of them have "sex" in.
Round 10: 25, 75, 3, 5, 10, 8. Target: 795.
C1: 795.(25+75)*8-5 (10)
C2: 795.(25+75)*8-5 (10)
Score: 61–57 (max 78)
Teatime teaser: ENDRAILS -> ISLANDER
Round 11: T S N S E U O B I
C1: BOUNTIES (8)
C2: BOUNTIES (8)
Score: 69–65 (max 86)
Round 12: Q K L G A E O W T
C1: GLOAT (5)
C2: GLOAT (5)
DC: TOWAGE (6) LEGATO (6) GELATO (6)
OT: KOTWAL (6)
Score: 74–70 (max 92)
Julie thought about towage here, but stuck with her safe five instead.
Kotwal is an Indian word for a police officer.
Round 13: L N D A E O L G U
C1: goaled
C2: GALLEON (7)
DC: LOUNGED (7)
OT: LANGUED (7)
Score: 74–77 (max 99)
Round 14: 100, 25, 9, 6, 6, 1. Target: 884.
C1: 882.9*100-25+6+1 (7)
C2: 882.9*100-25+6+1 (7)
CV: 884. (100+1)*9-25 (10)
Score: 81–84 (max 109)
Round 15: S E T T I T U D E
C2 buzzes on 2 seconds to say DESTITUTE which is correct.
Score: 81–94 (max 119)
Wowsers. Yet another cracking game, probably of higher quality than yesterday's I'd say. David looked to be cruising into a comfortable lead going into the first advert break, but Julie hit back well. While David may look back and be narked about those points dropped in the opening numbers game, Julie can do the same with 'towage', although as it turned out neither would have avoided the crucial conundrum which in the end Julie was simply too quick on (in fairness it wasn't that difficult though)
I always feel sorry for the higher-quality players who don't fulfil their potential (in terms of wins) simply by being unfortunate to be pitted against equally strong opponents, and by golly this series has had them in spades. We've been treated to many games in the preliminaries which wouldn't have been out of place in the finals. And when you've got two very amiable and personable contestants like today, Dr Phil keeping us constantly entertained with his contributions, Susie and Carol looking fantastic, and Des keeping the whole show moving along slickly, it all adds up to some pretty damned-near perfect viewing
I really am full of the love today, I don't know what's happened
Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=58
. It was only 7