Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Thursday 24 October 2013.
C1: Champion Bradley Cates (4 wins, 443 points.) A student from Southport, Merseyside.
C2: Challenger James Clarke. A BBC journalist from Birmingham. He's a big Chelsea fan and tries to go to as many games as possible.
DC: Susie Dent and Dr. Phil Hammond.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: B O N E S I D T A
R02: R N L O I E Y M N
R03: 100, 3, 1, 2, 6, 6. Target: 954.
TTT: HENGRASS - "The hen can't eat grass, it's not got these"
R04: L S R A E O V M E
R05: T I N O J E C T A
R06: 50, 6, 8, 5, 10, 4. Target: 599.
R07: S I B U P E T N A
R08: T D L E I A T Z C
R09: 75, 8, 4, 1, 7, 2. Target: 335.
TTT: GOOSERUG - "This Cheddar is absolutely beautiful"
R10: S G P O E I S S G
R11: P O X A R E S R O
R12: D S K I U E R O T
R13: S E R I D O N T E
R14: 100, 75, 25, 2, 8, 1. Target: 312.
R15: G O R Y P I T C H (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: B O N E S I D T A
C1: SEDATION (8)
C2: BASTION (7)
DC: BOTANISED (18)
Score: 8–0 (max 18)
An early lead for Bradley, although I was slightly surprised at him missing the 9, especially with some of the other offerings he's given in the past 4 shows.....
Round 2: R N L O I E Y M N
C1: minorly
C2: MINOR (5)
DC: INNERLY (7) LEMONY (6)
Score: 8–5 (max 25)
Like with refiles yesterday, Bradley seemed so certain with minorly, but unfortunately it's not good news for him.............
Round 3: 100, 3, 1, 2, 6, 6. Target: 954.
C1: 954. (100 + 6) x (6 + 3) (10)
C2: 954. (100 + 6) x (6 + 3) (10)
Score: 18–15 (max 35)
A nice and simple 900+ numbers game for once.
Teatime teaser: HENGRASS -> GNASHERS
Round 4: L S R A E O V M E
C1: REMOVALS (8)
C2: REMOVALS (8)
DC: MOLARS (6)
Score: 26–23 (max 43)
Some simple REMOVALS in this round for our contestants.
Round 5: T I N O J E C T A
C1: TACONITE (8)
C2: INJECT (6)
DC: ACONITE (7)
Score: 34–23 (max 51)
Another magnificent 8 from Bradley, and his lead goes into double figures for the first time today.
Round 6: 50, 6, 8, 5, 10, 4. Target: 599.
C1: 599. ((8 + 4) x 50) - (6 - 5) (10)
C2: 599. ((8 + 4) x 50) - (6 - 5) (10)
Score: 44–33 (max 61)
An even simpler 2nd numbers game keeps this game evenly poised...............
Dr. Phil talks about the complex mess that is the NHS, and even brings out a big rollout laminate to try and explain it.
Round 7: S I B U P E T N A
C1: PETUNIAS (8)
C2: PUNIEST (7)
DC: SUPINATE (8) PANTIES (7) PEANUTS (7)
Score: 52–33 (max 69)
After all the GODETIAS in recent shows, it's nice to admire some PETUNIAS this time.
Round 8: T D L E I A T Z C
C1: TACTILE (7)
C2: LATTICED (8)
DC: CITADEL (7) DIALECT (7)
Score: 52–41 (max 77)
But, James gets back in immediately with a brilliant 8 of his own.
Round 9: 75, 8, 4, 1, 7, 2. Target: 335.
C1: 335. ((75 + 8) x 4) + 2 + 1 (10)
C2: 335. (75 x 4) + ((7 - 2) x (8 - 1)) (10)
Score: 62–51 (max 87)
2 very different methods, but 2 lots of ten points all the same. This game is still in the balance at this stage.
Teatime teaser: GOOSERUG -> GORGEOUS
Round 10: S G P O E I S S G
C1: GOSSIPS (7)
C2: PIGS (4)
DC: POSSES (6)
OT: POSSIES (7)
Score: 69–51 (max 94)
Well, just what James didn't want, a complete meltdown brings out only a 4, while Bradley goes for 7, after Susie offers POSSES, and says POSSIES isn't in. She clearly hasn't been to Australia then.............
A POSSIE is an Australian term for a job or position.
Round 11: P O X A R E S R O
C1: POORER (6)
C2: POORER (6)
OT: SPOORER (7)
Score: 75–57 (max 101)
Both our contestants are considerably POORER, but they could've been a darrenic SPOORER..............
SPOORER relates to SPOOR, a track or trail, especially that of a wild animal pursued as game.
Susie's Origins Of Words carries on with here first name origins of members of the Countdown crew, with the origins of "Cindy", "Karen", "Jeanette", "John", "Jonathan", "Matthew", "Amy", and "Yvonne".
Round 12: D S K I U E R O T
C1: OUTSIDER (8)
C2: TEDIOUS (7)
DC: OUTRIDES (8) DUSKIER (7)
OT: DORKIEST (8)
Score: 83–57 (max 109)
Another good 8 from Bradley, and he's now closing in on win #5.............
Round 13: S E R I D O N T E
C1: DESERTION (18)
C2: STRIDE (6)
DC: INSERTED (8)
Score: 101–57 (max 127)
NOW THAT'S THE WAY TO WRAP UP A MATCH!!!! A magnificent 9 to not only wrap up the win, but it also gives him his 5th century too.
Round 14: 100, 75, 25, 2, 8, 1. Target: 312.
C1: 311. ((2 + 1) x 100) + (75 / 25) + 8 (7)
C2: 311. ((2 + 1) x 100) + (75 / 25) + 8 (7)
RR: 312. ((8 / 2) + 100) x (75 / 25) (10)
Score: 108–64 (max 137)
Another 3 large finish from a beaten finalist, which yet again shows up a weakness of Bradley's, something which some of the other finalists might pick up on, should he make the finals...............
Round 15: G O R Y P I T C H
C1 buzzes on 16.5 seconds to say COPYRIGHT which is correct.
Final Score: 118–64 (max 147)
Another slow solve from Bradley, but at least he's getting these conundrums, which definitely helps in building up those totals on the leaderboard.
Currently, Bradley is the #9 seed, but just needs to score 50 points, win or lose to get into the top 8, a win with a score of more than 42 points, will boost him up to #6 on the table.
Join Anthony tomorrow to see if he can make it 6 of the best.
I'll be back on Wednesday, when Bradley will have gone come what may, he may even lose to Horace Horlicks on Tuesday..............., who knows
Still, join me next week, for my pre-COEDI recaps, which will hopefully be as entertaining as this week's double header.
So, have a good weekend, I know I will, Huddersfield Town will be giving Leeds United a good stuffing on Saturday lunchtime.
Till next week, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Bradley:
Total score - 118
Raw score - 125
Total % of max - 80
Raw % of max - 85
Total average score per round - 7.9
Raw average score per round - 8.3
Number of maxes - 10
James:
Total score - 64
Raw score - 101
Total % of max - 44
Raw % of max - 69
Total average score per round - 4.3
Raw average score per round - 6.7
Number of maxes - 5
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=69