CoStAl - Countdown in St. Albans - Saturday 12th July 2014

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:57 pm

THE WAITING IS OVER!!!

I am delighted to announce a new event in southeast England this summer:

ST ALBANS - Saturday 12 July 2014
The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3AG

http://www.thecountyclub.org
Google Streetview: http://tinyurl.com/nrbhfa5

Presented by James Robinson and Jeff Clayton, everybody competes in six games, using the "Bristol" classroom format and playing along with big screen virtual studio graphics:

- Three heats matches using the current 15-round format - opponents drawn at random;
- Then split into groups of eight for the latter stages:
- 9-round quarter final (#1 plays #8, #2 plays #7 etc);
- 9-round semi final;
- 14-round final.
- The grand final in Group A plays out as the tournament showpiece.

Doors open at 9am for a 10am start, with free tea & coffee available on arrival.

A buffet lunch will be provided at 12:30pm and light refreshments will be on sale from the bar throughout the day. (Please advise of dietary requirements, where necessary.)

The grand final starts at or just after 5pm, and we conclude with the prizegiving by 6pm -- prizes will be on offer for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in every group.

Admission costs just £15pp and you can secure your place now:
- By PayPal (jeffrey_clayton@hotmail.com / james_r_robinson@hotmail.com);
- By phone (Jeff: 07595 690 249 / James: 07817 750 544);
- By cheque (address available on request).

We have capacity for 50 contestants; spectators are also welcome.

The venue is a short walk from the mainline railway station (connections from the Midlands, the North and central London) and 15 minutes' walk from the city centre.
There is parking at the club; if the car park is full, there is also limited parking on Ridgmont Road, otherwise the rail station car park costs just £2 for the day.
Accommodation is available locally.

We look forward to hearing from you!

With thanks and regards,

James Robinson
on behalf of Jeff Clayton and Rob Gibney, President of the County Club

P.S. For all those wondering when COHUD3 is, it is currently on hiatus, and could possibly be rearranged for some other venue, or even location. More on that in the future.

Confirmed Entries (40):
Rob Gibney
Dave Noble
Julie McCarthy
Heather Styles
Mauro Pratesi
Jessica Pratesi
Natasha Pratesi
Annick Jean
Alfonso Sintino
Alan Styles
Phyl Styles
Adam Dexter
Adam Curran
Thomas Cappleman
Graeme Cole
Tony Atkins
Mark Murray
Paul Worsley
Jack Worsley
Jayne Wisniewski
Rob Foster
Chris Marshall
Gevin Chapwell
Phil Collinge
Supee Juachan
Andy McGurn
Callum Todd
Jonathan Wynn
Stewart Gordon
Innis Carson
Callum Pickering
James Raper
Neil Tagg
Charlie McChrystal
Mark Tournoff
Ciaran McCarthy
Giles Hutchings
Ned Pendleton
James Burley
Oliver Garner

Overeager Spectators (1):
Adam Gillard

Mark Deeks · Post by **Mark Deeks** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:08 pm

Pretty much next door, but there's a decent chance I will be in America that week, so no commitment yet.

James Laverty · Post by **James Laverty** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:30 pm

Might be a bit too difficult for me to get to. Hope to see CoHud happen again or somewhere else in the north

Innis Carson · Post by **Innis Carson** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:06 pm

This is great news, as long as it's fairly quick to get to the venue from London then I should be able to make this.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:29 pm

Innis Carson wrote:This is great news, as long as it's fairly quick to get to the venue from London then I should be able to make this.

Wahey, me likes the sound of that.

Callum Todd · Post by **Callum Todd** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:15 am

This is awesome James, it's clear you've put a lot of thought and effort into planning and executing this. Thanks a lot, and please pass my thanks onto Jeff as well

I just need to get a good idea of what I'll be doing for accommodation then I'll send my entry fee to you

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:22 am

Callum Todd wrote:This is awesome James, it's clear you've put a lot of thought and effort into planning and executing this. Thanks a lot, and please pass my thanks onto Jeff as well I just need to get a good idea of what I'll be doing for accommodation then I'll send my entry fee to you

Perfectly fine, Callum. Plenty of time of course.

Catriona Cappleman · Post by **Catriona Cappleman** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 8:32 am

Count me in. My home town!

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 1:15 pm

Zarte Siempre · Post by **Zarte Siempre** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 1:50 pm

I feel those of us wanting to go should agree on a hotel outlet. The ones nearest by, are expensive, however the ones that are cheap... seem to be about 8 miles away. What do we all think?

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:07 pm

We've not even been active, yet we already have our first entry, as David Noble has already registered

Edward McCullagh · Post by **Edward McCullagh** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 8:52 pm

Quite close to Luton Airport, put me down as a maybe

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:02 pm

Edward McCullagh wrote:Quite close to Luton Airport, put me down as a maybe

Me defo likes this.

James S Roper · Post by **James S Roper** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:49 pm

Here's hoping, now I won't be going to Reading....

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:03 pm

QUITE ASTOUNDING!!!

We've only been active for just over 24 hours, and we already have THREE players confirmed for CoStAl

Rob Gibney, Dave Noble and Julie McCarthy are those 3 wise heads who have already signed.

Who will be next

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:16 pm

Edward McCullagh wrote:Quite close to Luton Airport, put me down as a maybe

I know someone who lives 11 miles from the venue who'd be happy to host you if you like!

Anthony Endsor · Post by **Anthony Endsor** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:20 pm

In terms of distance, this would be well above the normal mileage I would be prepared to travel for a CO event. However, I may be able to make it if it is close enough to London, in particular the train and underground stations.
How far is the venue from London? I'm thinking if it is reasonably close I might make a weekend of it.

kieranbray · Post by **kieranbray** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:34 pm

Please put me on the interested parties list and send me a reminder closer to the time!! I really want to come to a CO-Event this year!

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:41 pm

Anthony Endsor wrote:In terms of distance, this would be well above the normal mileage I would be prepared to travel for a CO event. However, I may be able to make it if it is close enough to London, in particular the train and underground stations.
How far is the venue from London? I'm thinking if it is reasonably close I might make a weekend of it.

Trains from St. Pancras can take just 20 minutes to get to St. Albans, so could be worth it, Anthony. Would certainly like you there of course.

kieranbray wrote:Please put me on the interested parties list and send me a reminder closer to the time!! I really want to come to a CO-Event this year!

Perfectly fine, Kieran.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:24 am

Might be interested in this, given the location.

Ciaran McCarthy · Post by **Ciaran McCarthy** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:42 am

i am definitely in please

Jack Worsley · Post by **Jack Worsley** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:46 pm

I'm definitely considering it, as is Worsley Snr, so put us down as "interested", please!

Jennifer Steadman · Post by **Jennifer Steadman** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:19 pm

Maybe. But my mother inconveniently decided to turn 50 on this date, so maybe not.

Phyl Styles · Post by **Phyl Styles** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:32 am

Please put Phyl and Alan down on the interested list, sounds good - back to where we first met

Thomas Cappleman · Post by **Thomas Cappleman** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:21 pm

Almost certainly in

Tracey Anne Mills · Post by **Tracey Anne Mills** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:48 pm

Interested in going but it all depends on whether I can afford that travelling expenses

James Laverty · Post by **James Laverty** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:51 pm

I might now be able to make this so switch me to interested. Won't know till end of May/early June however

kerryalcock · Post by **kerryalcock** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:04 am

Interested - it's a few hours travel but fairly cheap to get to.
Only thing is accommodation as I'd rather stay two nights - where is everyone else planning on staying, and does anyone need a roomie? (I don't snore and I make a mean cup of tea)

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:16 am

James Laverty wrote:I might now be able to make this so switch me to interested. Won't know till end of May/early June however

That doesn't matter, James. Me and Jeff can wait.

kerryalcock wrote:Interested - it's a few hours travel but fairly cheap to get to.
Only thing is accommodation as I'd rather stay two nights - where is everyone else planning on staying, and does anyone need a roomie? (I don't snore and I make a mean cup of tea)

I wouldn't mind a roomie, but I've already booked my accommodation at the Quality Hotel, so if the offer for a cuppa is still there....

Dave Nicholson · Post by **Dave Nicholson** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:28 pm

Might make this my Co event debut... Quite a trek but if Dave Noble's coming from Australia what excuse do I have!

I'll confirm nearer the time but definitely fancy this a lot (if anyone coming from Yorkshire-land wants to share fuel costs I'm happy driving the distance), can work out what nights I'll hotel based on if anyone wants to share travel.

Anthony Endsor · Post by **Anthony Endsor** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:34 pm

Dave Nicholson wrote:Might make this my Co event debut... Quite a trek but if Dave Noble's coming from Australia what excuse do I have!

I'll confirm nearer the time but definitely fancy this a lot (if anyone coming from Yorkshire-land wants to share fuel costs I'm happy driving the distance), can work out what nights I'll hotel based on if anyone wants to share travel.

Dave, where abouts in Yorkshire do you live? If you're anywhere near the M1, I might consider heading that way and I can meet you somewhere, as that might be the preferred driving route. I'm just weighing up whether it's best to drive or get the train at the moment.

James Laverty · Post by **James Laverty** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:26 pm

Dave Nicholson wrote:Might make this my Co event debut... Quite a trek but if Dave Noble's coming from Australia what excuse do I have!

I'll confirm nearer the time but definitely fancy this a lot (if anyone coming from Yorkshire-land wants to share fuel costs I'm happy driving the distance), can work out what nights I'll hotel based on if anyone wants to share travel.

Willing to share travel if I am able to go Dave

Karen Pearson · Post by **Karen Pearson** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:02 am

Please put me on the interested list. My diary is a bit up in the air as we are moving house at some point in the summer but don't have a date yet.

Andy McGurn · Post by **Andy McGurn** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:09 am

Pretty likely to be there I think.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:16 pm

Stick me on the interested list please Robbo.

Giles · Post by **Giles** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:34 am

Woo, go the south-east! I'm definitely interested, should be able to come.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 10:28 am

So, during CO:REA this weekend, our confirmed entries tripled from 3 to 9

And even more amazingly, we have our first ever continental contestants, with 2 entries from Belgium

So, we'll be fully launching on Facebook later this week.

Adam Dexter · Post by **Adam Dexter** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:39 pm

I'm in - managed to sort out return train from Kiddy to St Albans Abbey for £16 which means no overnight stay - should be about 9:45 that I get to the club

I'll Paypal you the money over this week

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:44 pm

Adam Dexter wrote:I'm in - managed to sort out return train from Kiddy to St Albans Abbey for £16 which means no overnight stay - should be about 9:45 that I get to the club I'll Paypal you the money over this week

Sweet, cheers for that, Adam.

Jonathan Wynn · Post by **Jonathan Wynn** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 1:21 pm

Put down as 'interested' por favour James. Veeeery interested

Phyl Styles · Post by **Phyl Styles** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:08 am

Can we pay on the day? We should be on the 99.9% definite list, please

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:59 pm

Phyl Styles wrote:Can we pay on the day? We should be on the 99.9% definite list, please

Sorry for the delayed response, Phyl. Just need to confer with my counsel.

We would preferably like to know of numbers before the event, mainly for catering reasons. (I'm sure you'd like the same for CoMultiLon.

)

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:03 pm

James Robinson wrote:
Phyl Styles wrote:Can we pay on the day? We should be on the 99.9% definite list, please
Sorry for the delayed response, Phyl. Just need to confer with my counsel.

We would preferably like to know of numbers before the event, mainly for catering reasons. (I'm sure you'd like the same for CoMultiLon. )

I may come along but I won't be eating or competing, just observing and mingling. I may demand a glass of tap water though.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:45 pm

Adam Gillard wrote:I may come along but I won't be eating or competing, just observing and mingling. I may demand a glass of tap water though.

I'm sure we can cater for your precise demands, Adam.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:03 pm

Now up into double figures thanks to Alan & Phyl Styles, giving us a treble helping of Styles's and Pratesi's.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu May 08, 2014 5:01 pm

And Adam Dexter makes it a dozen in, and with 37 more on the "Interested" list, we're still on track to break the record for entries to a single CO-event

(We hope.

)

James S Roper · Post by **James S Roper** » Thu May 08, 2014 9:42 pm

Hopefully I'll be paying my entry sometime this weekend.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sat May 10, 2014 12:39 pm

James S Roper wrote:Hopefully I'll be paying my entry sometime this weekend.

That'll do nicely, James.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed May 21, 2014 12:19 pm

Sadly it looks like I won't be able to attend this after all- I'm unable to travel down on the day and I can't get the previous day off work so can't travel down then either.

Maybe next year.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Wed May 21, 2014 5:03 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:Sadly it looks like I won't be able to attend this after all- I'm unable to travel down on the day and I can't get the previous day off work so can't travel down then either. Maybe next year.

That's a shame, Ben.

Never mind, maybe next time.

Callum Todd · Post by **Callum Todd** » Wed May 28, 2014 9:34 am

What hotel(s) do people plan on using for this? I'd like to be quite close to the venue but really I'm looking for one as cheap as possible!

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Wed May 28, 2014 10:17 pm

Callum Todd wrote:What hotel(s) do people plan on using for this? I'd like to be quite close to the venue but really I'm looking for one as cheap as possible!

I was looking into hotels / guest houses as well, and prices seem a bit steep in that area. I'll probably walk the 11 or so miles from where I live instead.

Callum Todd · Post by **Callum Todd** » Thu May 29, 2014 2:28 pm

Adam Gillard wrote:
Callum Todd wrote:What hotel(s) do people plan on using for this? I'd like to be quite close to the venue but really I'm looking for one as cheap as possible!
I was looking into hotels / guest houses as well, and prices seem a bit steep in that area. I'll probably walk the 11 or so miles from where I live instead.

I've done a bit of searching around and found the nearest Travelodge, which is just down the road from a shopping centre called the Galleria. It looks like there are a few bus routes running from the Galleria to St Alban's City train station, which is just down the road from The County Club.

The hotel: http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/321/ ... tral-hotel
Maps

Mark Murray · Post by **Mark Murray** » Sat May 31, 2014 9:58 am

I will try and make this if I can (can see I am already on the interested list anyway)

Will let you know for definite as soon as...How much does entry cost?

Mark Murray · Post by **Mark Murray** » Sat May 31, 2014 9:59 am

sorry would help if I read it fully - £15 ..will be in touch

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sat May 31, 2014 11:58 am

Mark Murray wrote:sorry would help if I read it fully - £15 ..will be in touch

Perfectly fine, Mark. Spread the word to everyone else too, just 6 WEEKS TO GO NOW

Sean Fletcher · Post by **Sean Fletcher** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:03 pm

I'm interested in this but may struggle to get there. Can you put me on the interested list and I'll let you know for definite asap?

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:40 pm

Sean Fletcher wrote:I'm interested in this but may struggle to get there. Can you put me on the interested list and I'll let you know for definite asap?

That's certainly fine, Sean. We'd be delighted if you can make it.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:49 pm

Adam Curran makes it 13 up for us. Would love to have many more ASAP.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 4:24 pm

We're now upto 16 thanks to Tom Cappleman, Graeme Cole and Tony Atkins.

Just over 4 weeks to go now, guys, so get in quick.