Monday 5th January 2015 (series 71, prelim 1)

[Andy McGurn]

Countdown recap for Monday 5 January 2015.

C1: Champion Andy Noden (1 win, 112 points) A retail advisor from St Helens, won the final preliminary game of series 71 to earn the right to be here today. He is a collector of vintage toys and advertising memorabilia


C2: Challenger Peter Wilson, from Kelso in the Scottish Borders, he has a golf handicap of 11. Nick describes him as a “big guy with a big swing”, just the latest in Nick’s long line of making references to a contestant’s weight.


DC: Susie Dent and Jon Culshaw.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: D W N T A I E U K
R02: T H B E O I V N E
R03: 2, 9, 6, 8, 4, 25. Target: 258.
TTT: BRAVEASI - "Brave as I am, this is too rough for me"
R04: D R S A O U G P E
R05: I R O C E T U X P
R06: 6, 7, 3, 4, 50, 25. Target: 937.
R07: A R B C E A E Y T
R08: R U D S L I O E G
R09: 6, 2, 6, 2, 10, 75. Target: 354.
TTT: SCALETEN - "On a scale of one to ten it gets a ten for hygiene"
R10: C L I A I M E T P
R11: O I A S R S U M F
R12: T H P A E I F E D
R13: A O S M E L S A L
R14: 7, 5, 9, 1, 1, 75. Target: 187.
R15: B E R Y L T H O R (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: D W N T A I E U K

Andy: WAITED (6)
Peter: UNITED (6)
DC: INTAKE (6) TANKED (6)
OT: AUNTIE (6) DETAIN (6) DUNITE (6) KENTIA (6) TIENDA (6) TWINED (6) UNAWED (6) UNTIED (6) WANKED (6) WANTED (6) WINKED (6)
Score: 6–6 (max 6)

It’s a flat start to the countdowning year as its six apiece for both champion and challenger.

A KENTIA is an Australasian palm tree which is popular as a houseplant while it is young.
A TIENDA, in the south-western United States is a shop, especially a general store


Round 2: T H B E O I V N E

Andy: EBONITE (7)
Peter: BOVINE (6)
DC: BOTHIE (6)
Score: 13–6 (max 13)

That’s a nice max from Andy as he takes the lead.


Round 3: 2, 9, 6, 8, 4, 25. Target: 258.

Andy: 258. ((6+4)*25)+8 (10)
Peter: 258. ((6+4)*25)+8 (10)
Score: 23–16 (max 23)

No problems here as both ease into the numbers year with a simple solution.


Teatime teaser: BRAVEASI -> ABRASIVE

Round 4: D R S A O U G P E

Andy: GROUPED (7)
Peter: GOPURAS (7)
DC: GROUSED (7) SUGARED (7) UPGRADES (8)
Score: 30–23 (max 31)

Nick asks Andy if he knew what GOPURAS meant to which he replies “of course” before adding “not really”. There was an eight there and Andy is no longer on a max game.


Round 5: I R O C E T U X P

Andy: CUPRITE (7)
Peter: COPTER (6)
DC: PICTURE (7) POUTIER (7)
Score: 37–23 (max 38)

Another nice max for the champion who takes his lead into double figures with that spot.



Round 6: 6, 7, 3, 4, 50, 25. Target: 937.

Andy: 936. ((25-6)*50)-(7+3+4) (7)
Peter: 936. ((3*6)*50)+25+7+4 (7)
RR: 937. (((50*6)+4)*3)+25 (10)
Score: 44–30 (max 48)


Both declare 936 and as Nick starts to ask Peter for his method Andy quickly says that it is not written down, that could have been crucial if they’d both had the same method but it turned out to be irrelevant as both describe different methods.




DC Guest – Jon Culshaw talks about his recent experiences of making Dead Ringers for the radio. He does an impression of Tom Baker’s Dr Who during the course of this monologue and mentions a chance meeting with Elizabeth Slade while doing this impression.



Round 7: A R B C E A E Y T

Andy: CABARET (7)
Peter: CREATE (6)
DC: ABREACT (7)
OT: BEARCAT (7)
Score: 51–30 (max 55)

Another seven letter max from Andy sees him increase his lead by seven for the third time in the game.


Round 8: R U D S L I O E G

Andy: GUILDERS (8)
Peter: SLUDGIER (8)
Score: 59–38 (max 63)

An excellent round from both as between them they spot the only two eights available.


Round 9: 6, 2, 6, 2, 10, 75. Target: 354.

Andy: 351. Mistake in working.
Peter: 357. ((10/2)*75)-((6*2)+6) (7)
RR: 354. ((6*10)-(2/2))*6 (10)
Score: 59–45 (max 73)

Both declare three away but only the challenger is able to get there. This means that Peter cancels out one of the three winning sevens that Andy had earlier this game.


Teatime teaser: SCALETEN -> CLEANEST

Round 10: C L I A I M E T P

Andy: IMPLICATE (18)
Peter: LIMPET (6)
Score: 77–45 (max 91)

First nine of the year goes to Andy and he is now in a very strong position to claim his second win.


Round 11: O I A S R S U M F

Andy: FAMOUS (6)
Peter: FORUMS (6)
OT: AMOURS (6) FORMAS (6) MASSIF (6) MORASS (6) SAMFIS (6) SAMFUS (6)
Score: 83–51 (max 97)

Maxes from both in a round where most of the unspotted maxes are pretty obscure.

A MORASS is both an area of muddy ground or a complicated or confused situation.
SAMFIS are confidence tricksters
A SAMFU (plural SAMFUS) is a light suit consisting of a plain high-necked jacket and loose trousers, worn by women from China


Round 12: T H P A E I F E D

Andy: PITHEAD (7)
Peter: DEFEAT (6)
OT: HEADTIE (7)
Score: 90–51 (max 104)

Fittingly it’s a seven letter max word from Andy that seals the game…


Round 13: A O S M E L S A L

Andy: LLAMAS (6)
Peter: SMALLS (6)
DC: SLALOMS (7)
Score: 96–57 (max 111)

…he can’t finish the letters rounds with another one though, but he won’t mind having secured the win


Round 14: 7, 5, 9, 1, 1, 75. Target: 187.

Andy: -
Peter: 188. Mistake in working.
RR: 187. ((9+5)*(1+7))+75 (10)
Score: 96–57 (max 121)

Andy blanks and Peter errors, giving Rachel the final word in the numbers stakes today.



Round 15: B E R Y L T H O R

Andy buzzes on 1 second to say BROTHERLY which is correct.
Final Score: 106–57 (max 131)


Andy almost seems to be hansfording as he buzzes in almost instantly with the right answer.

It’s a strong start to the year for him and he already looks like a contender.

So a new countdowning year begins and Andy is the first champion of 2015….



Its just three weeks to go until one of THE absolute highlights of the countdowning year, COLIN, which will take place for the 11th consecutive year. I just want to take this opportunity to congratulate Ben Wilson for his continued brilliant organising of the event and to encourage anyone reading this who has never attended, to sign up to appear, you won’t regret it.



Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=72

[Kevin Thurlow]

Elisabeth Sladen