But, an early finish from that means an early recap too, so enjoy.
Countdown recap for Thursday 11 July 2013.
C1: Champion June Glasspell (3 wins, 259 points.) A retired school admin officer from Southampton.
C2: Challenger Alan Ottowell. A retired payroll manager from Nether Heage, Derbyshire. He once went on the QE2 to New York, then flew back on Concorde, thanks to some winnings on the Pools.
DC: Susie Dent and Maureen Lipman.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: J D E I S T A G O
R02: P A N E R O T I S
R03: 75, 7, 3, 4, 3, 2. Target: 701.
TTT: PINKRAGS - "Igniting a huge debate, perhaps?"
R04: N U M O A C E X T
R05: D H A E Y R I M O
R06: 50, 1, 5, 8, 9, 4. Target: 171.
R07: S R U I T M E T A
R08: D O R U N G E Z S
R09: 50, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2. Target: 159.
TTT: SATRIGHT - "If you're sat right, your back will be this"
R10: M I Q O L E W L H
R11: S D O I R B A N O
R12: T U L E R G O L D
R13: N G E U F N A T O
R14: 75, 7, 10, 8, 5, 4. Target: 944.
R15: S T E P O N P O D (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: J D E I S T A G O
C1: goaties
C2: jadiest
DC: GODETIAS (8) JIST (4)
Score: 0–0 (max 8)
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Both our contestants 7's are no-no's, and they've both missed the word which now seems to be the new LEOTARDS, in GODETIAS!!
Round 2: P A N E R O T I S
C1: PROTEINS (8)
C2: rations declared as 8
DC: PATRONISE (18)
OT: ISOPTERAN (18)
Score: 8–0 (max 26)
Back to normality, I think, but wait, RATIONS is only a 7. Alan's brain seems to still be in off mode at the moment.....
ISOPTERAN is an adjective meaning relating to or characteristic of insects of the order Isoptera, a genus of termite.
Round 3: 75, 7, 3, 4, 3, 2. Target: 701.
C1: 700. (75 - 3 - 2) x (7 + 3) (7)
C2: 704.
RR: 701. (3 x 3 x 75) + (7 x 4) - 2 (10)
Score: 15–0 (max 36)
June pulls away further with her 1 away offering, while Rach shows us the way to do it.
Teatime teaser: PINKRAGS -> SPARKING
Round 4: N U M O A C E X T
C1: AMOUNT (6)
C2: AMOUNT (6)
DC: TOUCAN (6)
OT: ACUMEN (6) OCTANE (6) OMENTA (6) OUTMAN (6) TAXMEN (6)
Score: 21–6 (max 42)
Alan gets on the board now with his AMOUNT, while "TOUCAN" play over in DC.
An OMENTUM (plural OMENTA) is a fold of the peritoneum connecting the stomach and the abdominal viscera forming a protective and supportive covering.
Round 5: D H A E Y R I M O
C1: ADMIRE (6)
C2: MYRIAD (6)
DC: HAIRDO (6) HEDARIM (7)
OT: HAYRIDE (7) HEIRDOM (7) HYDRIAE (7)
Score: 27–12 (max 49)
A couple more 6's, including Alan's impressive MYRIAD, but there is a good Jewish 7 from both Maureen and Rachel.
Round 6: 50, 1, 5, 8, 9, 4. Target: 171.
C1: -
C2: -
RR: 171. ((5 x 4) - 1) x 9 (10)
Score: 27–12 (max 59)
Oh dear, oh dear, a simple looking numbers game claims both our contestants' minds here.....
Maureen talks about her love of the thesaurus, and it's creator, Peter Roget, and all his other interesting inventions, including the pocket chessboard.
Round 7: S R U I T M E T A
C1: SMUTTIER (8)
C2: MUTATES (7)
DC: MUSTIER (7) MISTREAT (8) MATUREST (8)
OT: MURIATES (8) STRIATUM (8)
Score: 35–12 (max 67)
A very good 8 there from June, as she extends her lead once more. Alan's looking like he needs a minor miracle already............
Round 8: D O R U N G E Z S
C1: RESOUND (7)
C2: GROUNDS (7)
DC: GUERDONS (8)
Score: 42–19 (max 75)
A couple of good, solid 7's, followed by an impressive darren from DC.
Round 9: 50, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2. Target: 159.
C1: 159. (50 + 3) x 3 (10)
C2: 159. (50 x 3) + 5 + 5 - (3 - 2) (10)
Score: 52–29 (max 85)
Here is complete proof on how to do the numbers game if you're using your brain, or if you're using whatever means possible.
But, it's 10 points each, so no complaints. Teatime teaser: SATRIGHT -> STRAIGHT
Round 10: M I Q O L E W L H
C1: MELLOW (6)
C2: MELLOW (6)
DC: MILL (4) HILL (4) WELL (4)
OT: MOLLIE (6) WHILOM (6)
Score: 58–35 (max 91)
A MELLOW double offering here from our contestants, with just a trio of 4's from DC otherwise.
A MOLLIE is a popular aquarium fish.
Round 11: S D O I R B A N O
C1: RADIOS (6)
C2: BRAIDS (6)
DC: INDOORS (7) RIBANDS (7)
OT: BORONIAS (8) BRADOONS (8) BRIDOONS (8) INBOARDS (8)
Score: 64–41 (max 99)
Hmmm, a quartet of 8's completely missed by DC there, but there 7's are still better than the 6's offered up by the contestants.
A BRIDOON is a snaffle when used with a curb on a full bridle.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of the months of the year.
Round 12: T U L E R G O L D
C1: LOUDER (6)
C2: DULLER (6)
DC: TROLLED (7) GROUTED (7) TULLE (5)
Score: 70–47 (max 106)
A double 7 from DC, while our contestants try to be LOUDER and DULLER at the same time. (Almost sounds like the cricket.
)Round 13: N G E U F N A T O
C1: FOUNT (5)
C2: OUTAGE (6)
DC: TONGUE (6) TONNAGE (7) FUTON (5)
OT: TONNEAU (7)
Score: 70–53 (max 113)
Well, well, well......, has Alan given himself the biggest lifeline he could have
His 6 puts him into 17 of June's score, so now a bit of luck on the numbers game could force a grandstand finish................A TONNEAU is a rear part or compartment of an automobile body, containing seats for passengers.
Round 14: 75, 7, 10, 8, 5, 4. Target: 944.
C1: 940. ((7 + 5) x 75) + (10 x 4) (7)
C2: 940. (75 + 7 + 8 + 4) x 10 (7)
RR: 944. ((75 - 7) x (10 + 4)) - 8 (10)
Score: 77–60 (max 123)
OUCH!!!! The agony!!!! Both declared 4 away, but what Alan hasn't realised is that he hasn't used his 5, which if he did, would've made the gap shrink down to just 10 points
So, he has handed the game to June, who maintains her run and is now a half-octochamp. Quite a good solve by Rachel too, especially as it looked like it was a late solve by her. Round 15: S T E P O N P O D
No one buzzes. The answer was POSTPONED.
Final Score: 77–60 (max 133)
Hmmm, interesting conundrum after what happened last week, but with no-one getting it, Alan's miss with the 5 isn't as crucial as it could've been.
So, June has got 4 wins under her belt, although an average of 84 points will need some work, especially with all the talent rumoured to be coming to our screens shortly..... So, octochampdom will probably need to win her other 4 shows to guarantee her place in the series finals.
Join Andy tomorrow for the recap to see if she can complete a week of victories.
I'll be back next Wednesday for 2 more recaps.
So, till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
June:
Total score - 77
Raw score - 82
Total % of max - 58
Raw % of max - 62
Total average score per round - 5.1
Raw average score per round - 5.5
Number of maxes - 4
Alan:
Total score - 60
Raw score - 74
Total % of max - 45
Raw % of max - 56
Total average score per round - 4.0
Raw average score per round - 4.9
Number of maxes - 3
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=69