(I just happened to be at a Huddersfield Town quiz last night, which I happened to win, justifying my decision. 
)So, as we head into the bank holiday, let's enjoy.
Countdown recap for Friday 2 May 2014.
C1: Champion Neil Green (5 wins, 462 points.) A Scrabbler and comedy writer from Cardiff.
C2: Challenger Stuart McQuitty. A tennis coach from Belfast, known as "The Wolf". He's also the commentator for MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)'s Cage Contender. He's also a past contestant, having won 3 shows in Series 38, back in 1998.
DC: Susie Dent and Tony Jacklin.
RR: Rachel Riley, who was voted as the 17th sexiest woman in the world in the updated list of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World this week (Just thought you'd like to know that
).OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: D T G L I U E N I
R02: M E Y O R C D U R
R03: 50, 8, 4, 9, 1, 10. Target: 666.
TTT: VETODOUR - "Tony did this often to his opponents during his career"
R04: B D W E I O N L A
R05: M J N T E O E S R
R06: 9, 8, 1, 4, 7, 2. Target: 226.
R07: B H X T O A E R N
R08: T P S A I M O N G
R09: 10, 1, 7, 10, 8, 4. Target: 352.
TTT: ARKDONUT - "Susie's done this often to her colleagues during her career"
R10: H S A O P T A N O
R11: Z R T N E A I K R
R12: T D G S D E E O E
R13: N L S P O I E D O
R14: 50, 100, 25, 75, 4, 6. Target: 130.
R15: T H E U S O P E N (conundrum)
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Round 1: D T G L I U E N I
Neil: DILUTING (8)
Stuart: DILUTING (8)
DC: DILIGENT (8)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)
A good start with 8's apiece here.
Round 2: M E Y O R C D U R
Neil: COMEDY (6)
Stuart: COMEDY (6)
OT: DECORUM (7) MERCURY (7)
Score: 14–14 (max 15)
An attempt at COMEDY by the players here, but no-one is laughing, as both 7's are missed in the studio.........
Round 3: 50, 8, 4, 9, 1, 10. Target: 666.
Neil: 665.
Stuart: 666. ((9 + 8 + 50) x 10) - 4 (10)
Score: 14–24 (max 25)
How appropriate that "the Wolfman" got the number of the Beast to take the first lead today.
Teatime teaser: VETODOUR -> OUTDROVE
Round 4: B D W E I O N L A
Neil: windable
Stuart: windable
DC: BOWLINE (7)
Score: 14–24 (max 32)
Both contestants seem to be windable, but unfortunately, neither can be, so no change here..............
Round 5: M J N T E O E S R
Neil: STOREMEN (8)
Stuart: MONSTER (7)
DC: TEES (4) MENTORS (7) METEORS (7)
Score: 22–24 (max 40)
Neil gains some ground back with the darrenic 8 in this round. What numbers tricks will Stuart try
Round 6: 9, 8, 1, 4, 7, 2. Target: 226.
Neil: 225. (9 x 8 x (4 - 1)) + 7 + 2 (7)
Stuart: 228.
RR: 226. (((8 x 4) - 7) x 9) + 1 (10)
Score: 29–24 (max 50)
Well, his 6 small strategy backfires, as Neil gets one closer than Stuart, taking the lead off him in the process.
Tony talks about going in Arnold Palmer's LearJet, which Palmer used to "show off" to Tony and some other golfing buddies.
Round 7: B H X T O A E R N
Neil: ANOTHER (7)
Stuart: BARONET (7)
DC: HATBOX (6) HOAXER (6)
OT: NARTHEX (7)
Score: 36–31 (max 57)
BARONET and ANOTHER. ANOTHER what
In architecture, a NARTHEX is an enclosed passage between the main entrance and the nave of a church.
Round 8: T P S A I M O N G
Neil: STAMPING (8)
Stuart: STAMPING (8)
DC: STOMPING (8) POSTING (7)
OT: MAINTOPS (8) TAMPIONS (8)
Score: 44–39 (max 65)
Plenty of STAMPING around here by our contestants. This game is getting very intense and tight.
A MAINTOP is a platform at the head of the lower mainmast.
A TAMPION is a plug or stopper placed in the muzzle of a piece of ordnance when not in use, to keep out dampness and dust.
Round 9: 10, 1, 7, 10, 8, 4. Target: 352.
Neil: 352. ((4 + 1) x 7 x 10) + 10 - 8 (10)
Stuart: 352. ((4 + 1) x 7 x 10) + 10 - 8 (10)
Score: 54–49 (max 75)
Neil decides to use Stuart's tactic from the last round, but while it doesn't extend his lead, he at least keeps him in check for now.
Teatime teaser: ARKDONUT -> OUTDRANK
Round 10: H S A O P T A N O
Neil: PHOTONS (7)
Stuart: PHOTOS (6)
DC: POTASH (6)
Score: 61–49 (max 82)
Ouchy, super bad luck for Stuart, as he forgets to stick the N into his PHOTOS for the darrenic 7............
Round 11: Z R T N E A I K R
Neil: TRAINER (7)
Stuart: TRAINER (7)
DC: KERATIN (7)
OT: NARKIER (7) RETRAIN (7) TERRAIN (7)
Score: 68–56 (max 89)
Ah, a pair of TRAINERs.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of the phrase, "you take the high road, you take the low road".
Round 12: T D G S D E E O E
Neil: EGESTED (7)
Stuart: EGESTED (7)
DC: STODGE (6) SEEDED (6)
Score: 75–63 (max 96)
Oh dear, maybe we should move along from this darrenic 7...........
Round 13: N L S P O I E D O
Neil: POOLSIDE (8)
Stuart: POOLSIDE (8)
DC: POISONED (8) POLONIES (8)
OT: EIDOLONS (8) SOLENOID (8)
Score: 83–71 (max 104)
Stuart displays a sense of complete relief after seemingly spotting the POOLSIDE right at the death. Can he still take the victory away from Neil at this late stage
Round 14: 50, 100, 25, 75, 4, 6. Target: 130.
Neil: 130. 100 + 25 + (50 / (4 + 6)) (10)
Stuart: 130. ((6 x 75) / 50) - 4 + 25 + 100 (10)
Score: 93–81 (max 114)
Well, 4 large it is then, and while 1 away either side is a piece of cake, can they both get to the magic 130
Well, with a bit of going round the houses, Stuart gets there, and Neil gets there a bit quicker, which is good for him to get his 6th win. So, with the win wrapped up, can he get back-to-back centuries Round 15: T H E U S O P E N
Neil buzzes on 2.5 seconds to say PENTHOUSE which is correct.
Final Score: 103–81 (max 124)
A brilliant golfing scramble here, but Neil, as per normal, doesn't need much time to unscramble it, and he indeed gets to win #6 and century #2.
Stuart deserves credit too, for providing a stern test to Neil, and is super unlucky to run into him. Not the first time we've said that about someone this series...........
So, a win on Monday for Neil will guarantee his place in the finals, join Andy for that.
Unfortunately, as Anthony mentioned yesterday, the next 2 weeks sees horse racing firmly in charge of the Countdown slot, meaning that the show will only be shown on Monday and Tuesday for the next 2 weeks, so the next Robinson Recap won't be until Wednesday May 21st..............
Ah well, you'll have to make do with Andy and Callum until then, not that you should complain, mind you.
So, have a great time in the meantime, and enjoy your bank holiday weekend.
So, till then, bye bye for now.
Statistics Corner
Neil:
Total score - 103
Raw score - 110
Total % of max - 83
Raw % of max - 89
Total average score per round - 6.9
Raw average score per round - 7.3
Number of maxes - 11
Stuart:
Total score - 81
Raw score - 101
Total % of max - 65
Raw % of max - 81
Total average score per round - 5.4
Raw average score per round - 6.7
Number of maxes - 9
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=70
