COLIN XX- Countdown in Lincoln, 24-26 January 2025

[Ben Wilson]

Well, it's that time again. Or rather, it will be in January.

For the twentieth year, IRL Countdown will be heading to Lincoln (well, North Hykeham, but same diff), and this year, we're definitely celebrating that landmark- and the landmark of 20 years of co-events.

On the Saturday, though, it'll be business as usual. Everybody plays 3 rounds of Edinburgh-style (I refuse to call it Lincoln-style as Edinburgh were there first) play, where everyone sits 3 to a table, plays each other once and hosts once. After that, a grand final match will determine who goes home with the winner's wooden spoon. Play starts at 11:45am and is all done by 6pm. Then on Sunday for the 'Hangover' event, it's the same thing, only everyone plays 2 rounds instead of 3, play starts at 11am (well, it's meant to, anyway) and is all done by 2:30pm.

This year, though, we're going even bigger. For the first time ever, COLIN weekend kicks off on a Friday with the first ever (and possibly one-off, depending on how popular it is) 'Predrinks' event. Same format as the Sunday event, only play kicks off at 6pm with the aim of being all done by 9pm so we can all get something to eat... and to give me time for the vast amounts of in-event admin that goes into this event.

Because it's not just the top players who go away with prizes- everyone has the chance of winning something throughout the weekend. The usual side prizes of overachiever, tuff luck and tuff draw/Tim Down will be on offer, as well several more that will be revealed on the day(s). As usual, the team event will be run on the Sunday, ensuring that at least 50% of those attending go away with a prize (even if it just a box of Matchmakers), and the usual plethora of badges will be up for grabs, including a few new ones designed for players toward the middle/bottom of the standings. The promised 'Big Book of COLIN' will probably not be available as a prize on the day as it needs a lot more work to make it, well, not look like crap, so mugs will be the order of the day on Friday and Sunday, and I'll think of something special for Saturday.

All three events will, of course, count towards FOCAL standings for 2025, so here's the perfect opportunity to get your season off to a flying start.

The venues for the events are unchanged: The Ark on Moor Lane for COLIN XX on the Saturday, and the Memorial Hall on Newark Road for the Predrinks and the Hangover on Friday and Sunday respectively (directions below). For accommodation, the Thorpe on the Hill Travelodge is the usual choice, but there are other hotels nearby and closer to the city, and both venues are served by buses from the city centre. For post-event entertainment on the Friday and Saturday, we'll have access to the clubhouse bar behind the Memorial Hall, as well as the stalwart Fox and Hounds pub further down Newark Road, assuming it actually is under new management by then.

Price for the Saturday event is £15 and for Friday or Sunday is £10. Friday & Saturday together is £20, Saturday & Sunday together is £20 and all three days will be £25. And because Gevin will inevitably ask, if (for some reason) you only want to play on Friday and Sunday, it'll cost £15. All payable by PayPal to hulla.mahulla@btopenworld.com . If you want to pay by an alternative method, drop me a message and I'll see what we can arrange. Numbers are limited to 60 for the main event, 36 for the Hangover and for the Predrinks.

And all of the above? That isn't all I have planned for the week. There'll be plenty more exciting announcements to come, so keep your eye on this thread for more news regarding side events and online events both before and after COLIN weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary.

Directions from the station(s) to the venue(s):

Hykeham Station to the Ark
Hykeham Station to the Memorial Hall

Facebook events pages-

COLIN XX
The Predrinks
The Hangover

See you all in January!

Number of entries (as of 22/01/25):

COLIN XX: 45/60
The Pre-drinks: 35/42
The Hangover: 41/42

[JackHurst]

Looks great Ben! I don't know if I will be playing Countdown in 2025 but if I am (let's face it I probably will be) then I'm there baby!

Here's to 20 more years of CoLins

[Ben Wilson]

Big news: COLIN weekend isn't going to stop at 'treble' in 2025! I mentioned online events in my original post, so here's what's going to happen after the dust settles in North Hykeham: it's going to get kicked up again on apterous.

After what will undoubtedly be a much-needed rest day on Monday, on the evening of Tuesday 28th January I'll be hosting the first ever COLIN handicap event on apterous. I keep meticulous stats of every point that everyone has ever scored at COLIN, so I'm going to put them to good use and generate handicaps that should hopefully result in the closest event ever. if the predrinks event takes place in 2026 or after, it'll be a handicap event based on how successful the online event ends up being (and won't be FOCAL rated as a result).

On Wednesday 29th January, exactly 20 years to the day after the very first COLIN, will be the online 'I can't believe it's been 20 years' event. This will be simple- 6 games, quarter finals, semi finals and a final to determine the first winner of the third decade of the community's longest running event.

Sign ups will be on apterous closet to the time- you'll need to have played at a COLIN event before to enter the handicap event but online events count and I might host one on Thursday evening (the warm up to the warm up) if there's enough demand.

See you all (repeatedly!) In January!

[Graeme Cole]

12 entrants, meaning that the Friday event is already 2/3 full! :-O if there's enough demand (24 being the cut off) I'll see about getting us into the bigger room at the memorial hall, but now really is the time to listen to that FOMO voice is you want to to the treble in January.

In attending every COLIN event since 2012, I think I'm right in saying I've been to the Memorial Hall 11 times. Other than the kitchen, the toilets, the hallway, the cupboards, and what is presumably a bigger kitchen behind those roll-up catering hatches in the main room, are you telling me there's a secret second room I've never noticed?

[Graeme Cole]

12 entrants, meaning that the Friday event is already 2/3 full! :-O if there's enough demand (24 being the cut off) I'll see about getting us into the bigger room at the memorial hall, but now really is the time to listen to that FOMO voice is you want to to the treble in January.

In attending every COLIN event since 2012, I think I'm right in saying I've been to the Memorial Hall 11 times. Other than the kitchen, the toilets, the hallway, the cupboards, and what is presumably a bigger kitchen behind those roll-up catering hatches in the main room, are you telling me there's a secret second room I've never noticed?

After some bare minimum research, I've discovered that as well as the main room (which I bet nobody except Ben knew is called the Tabernacle Room), the building also contains the tautologically-named "Chamber Room".

Mysteriously, the gallery page shows only the main room, with photographic evidence of the forbidden Countdown chamber nowhere to be found.

[Ben Wilson]

In attending every COLIN event since 2012, I think I'm right in saying I've been to the Memorial Hall 11 times. Other than the kitchen, the toilets, the hallway, the cupboards, and what is presumably a bigger kitchen behind those roll-up catering hatches in the main room, are you telling me there's a secret second room I've never noticed?

There's also an office. Well, there was, it's now a kitchen salesroom (somehow). The room in question can be accessed by going straight ahead instead of turning left into the main hall. I've tried looking for photographic evidence of the door but the best I got was a photo of the front entrance that also contained an accidental selfie of James Robinson.

Also, I'm pretty sure those hatches have been permanently closed for years now, and anything that was behind them now only exists in folklore. And the bar/club behind the memorial hall existed for 13 years before we were finally allowed access to it, so there may still be areas of the hall yet to be explored.

[Callum Todd]

Memorial Hall still releasing DLC expansion packs all this time after release, got to respect that.

[Ben Wilson]

Cross posted from Facebook:

Prizes and trophies are going to be ordered over the next few days and it's looking like I'm going to go with coasters for Friday & Sunday and mugs for Saturday- apologies to all those who were expecting the 'Big Book of COLIN' I had promised, but I simply didn't have the time or the skill to produce it in such a way that wouldn't seem completely slapdash.

However, what I don't mind producing in a way that's always been completely slapdash is the COLIN puzzle magazine, which ran from 2011 to 2022 and will be making a comeback for 2025! The mag will be at least 24 pages long, include classic and new puzzles and quizzes, a few facts and stats about the event (such as an expanded 'hall of fame') and will be free to all those who enter the event. If you want to contribute to the mag, please drop me a message with your idea and it'll almost certainly be included.

See you all in January!

[Ben Wilson]

News!

The pre-drinks will no longer be in the small hall of the Memorial Hall, but in the main hall, meaning that capacity has just doubled from 18 to 36. So no need to be polite anymore and wait for others to take the final spots, as there are now 20 left!

[Ben Wilson]

More news!

My annual badge order has been made, and there are 3 new designs that'll be making their debut at COLIN XX! Following feedback from previous years, all badges except the revenge ones will be limited to one per player per event, but there'll be plenty of opportunity to pick up something throughout the three days.

Oh, and there'll be a badge-based mini game throughout the weekend too, just as there was in (I think) 2019. never let it be said you go away from my events without lots of holes being poked in your clothes.

[Ben Wilson]

Following recommendations from FOCAL, entrant lists and announcements have been removed, but entrant totals will continue to be updated. As will announcements about prizes (the pre-drinks trophies arrived earlier this week, keep your eye on Facebook) and freebies (still looking for contributors to the puzzle mag ).

[Thomas Cappleman]

If anyone wants a nicer option than the Travelodge, Best Western (who own the hotel across the roundabout) are doing a 2 for 1 sale for the next 3 days, for stays up until March. Currently £125 for 1 person or £134 for 2, including breakfast.

https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/2for1

[Dan Byrom]

Thanks for sharing TCap! Anyone want to share a twin room?

(Note: I'm typically an early sleeper and early riser)

[Ben Wilson]

3 entries today take the total number of entries so far to 24. 24! In perspective, on 1/1/24, COLIN XIX had a mere 22 entries. So many thanks everyone for getting in early and thanks to TCap for sharing that link! Only 12 spots left in the Pre-drinks and the Hangover, but a reminder (though this doesn't need to be said) that you can enter one event now and add the others on later if you choose.

Just 2 and a half months to go...

[Fiona T]

Usually get a good parkrun crowd for Lincoln - as we're here for anagramming, the proposal is to do NEWARK, which is a 20 minute drive - hopefully enough parkrunners with cars - if not we'll have a rethink!

[Ben Wilson]

Up to 27 for all events now! just 9 spaces left on Friday and Sunday! Glad to see everyone's eager about the event, there may be additional treats and prizes in store for everyone in January as a result.

Just a word on the annual outrage that are the seedings- as the entrant list is being kept secret this year, they won't be published as they usually are, but the main event on Saturday will be seeded as it usually is, namely based on finishing positions of the previous five main events. If you want to know where you're currently seeded, pop me a PM and I'll let you know where you are (though with plenty of entrants still to come, there's not much point right now). Sunday will be seeded based on finishing positions on Saturday. Friday will be a completely random draw for round 1.

[Gavin Chipper]

If anyone wants a nicer option than the Travelodge, Best Western (who own the hotel across the roundabout) are doing a 2 for 1 sale for the next 3 days, for stays up until March. Currently £125 for 1 person or £134 for 2, including breakfast.

https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/2for1

No Travelodge, no COLIN.

[Ben Wilson]

If anyone wants a nicer option than the Travelodge, Best Western (who own the hotel across the roundabout) are doing a 2 for 1 sale for the next 3 days, for stays up until March. Currently £125 for 1 person or £134 for 2, including breakfast.

https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/2for1

No Travelodge, no COLIN.

It's not like they've demolished the thing.

[Gavin Chipper]

If anyone wants a nicer option than the Travelodge, Best Western (who own the hotel across the roundabout) are doing a 2 for 1 sale for the next 3 days, for stays up until March. Currently £125 for 1 person or £134 for 2, including breakfast.

https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/2for1

No Travelodge, no COLIN.

It's not like they've demolished the thing.

It doesn't count as going to COLIN if you don't stay at the Travelodge.

[Adam Dexter]

Just a question, as I note the Predrinks event is right when most people would eat (6pm - 9pm).

I see there is a chippy not far away going towards Lincoln - wondering about anyone who wants to placing an order for delivery at about half 5? Would it be OK to access the hall prior to 6pm?

If this doesn't work, and/or anyone has a better idea, please say

[George Armstrong]

If that's the chippy near the Ark, last time someone had lunch from there and I pinched a chip, it was so bad I didn't finish said chip. Make of that what you will.

Dunno what time people are turning up. For me, if I'm on the train, I'll just about make it to Hykeham for 17.20 and can imagine others will be cutting it finer with Friday traffic. Maybe there'll be time during the tourney for a food break? Unless there's a set time we have to leave by?

[Fiona T]

yeah I'll probs eat at lunchtime and grab a meal deal or something for dinner

[Ben Wilson]

The chippy in question is probably Frydays, which isn't bad, there are other options a few doors down like the Jade Garden and a kebab shop, and thw Spar shop a few yards further. The hall will be open from 4:30pm, which is about when I'll be arriving. The original plan was to play both rounds and the final as quick as possible to get to the pub as fast as possible but plans can be altered.

[Callum Todd]

I've got scran from the Chinese place opposite the Ark before and that was decent

[Ben Wilson]

It's the 25th of November today, which means only one thing- just two months to go until COLIN!

I'm hard at work on the puzzle mag and I have plenty of puzzles, games, facts and stats to go into it but there's always room for more. If you'd like to contribute, my inbox is always open, and if you have any stats or facts you'd like me to look up and include, simply ask. I've currently got top 10 highest score, top 10 most wins, most games played and top 11* total points scored. But there's plenty more stuff in the stat file.

And with 31 entrants already, the COLIN coffers are a lot healthier than they usually are at this point in time, even with 3 events to cater for instead of 2. I still have to pay for the venues, buy trophies and buy prizes (coasters, mugs, maybe t-shirts for the hangover) and, of course, the refreshments, but there'll still be some funds available for freebies, so if anyone really misses the pens or pads, let me know and if enough people want them, something can be arranged.

And, of course, if you've not signed up for COLIN weekend yet, what's stopping you? The biggest weekend in co-event history- all 20 years of it- is just a couple of months away!

*it would be 10 but there are 11 members of the 5000 club and it'd feel rude to leave out the player in 11th place.

[JackHurst]

Do you have a link to the Colin Stat file? Always makes an interesting read.

[Ben Wilson]

Do you have a link to the Colin Stat file? Always makes an interesting read.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qi1d267b ... 1615x&dl=0

Be my guest

[Thomas Cappleman]

What do the double and treble mean in the badges page? Looks like I'll get the Centurion badge at the end of Sunday, unless I make any finals, and the 64champ if I win any game at all, so wondering how to get the other two.

[Thomas Carey]

What do the double and treble mean in the badges page? Looks like I'll get the Centurion badge at the end of Sunday, unless I make any finals, and the 64champ if I win any game at all, so wondering how to get the other two.

It's just two or three of the first 3 badgers

[Thomas Cappleman]

What do the double and treble mean in the badges page? Looks like I'll get the Centurion badge at the end of Sunday, unless I make any finals, and the 64champ if I win any game at all, so wondering how to get the other two.

It's just two or three of the first 3 badgers

Oh yeah, makes sense. One completion coming up then.

[Ben Wilson]

What Maus said. I sometimes think I track a few too many stats.

[Ben Wilson]

Cross-posted from Facebook:

Good news! I've spoken to the manager of the Memorial Hall and he's agreed that if we bunch the tables together a bir and cut down on the mingling space near the prize tables, we can get 42 players in, so that's the new capacity for Friday and Sunday. I enquired about the possibility of 48 but the manager seemed a lot less confident so right now, 42 is the absolute top limit for Friday and Sunday.

Good news, but with a catch: we can use the social club behind the bar again for post-event activities on Friday and Saturday evening, but there may be a darts league match on the Friday evening, meaning the dartboard and pool table may be out of action. Will keep you posted once this is known for certain.

[Fiona T]

If you've never done a parkrun, but will go the extra mile (or 5K) for a good anagram, the parkrun of choice to celebrate 20 years of COLIN, is NEWARK, a 20 minute drive from North Hykeham. Should be enough people with cars to ferry anyone who wants to come along. You can run, jog or walk, and you won't be last! The perfect event to pop your parkrun cherry!

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/newark/

[Ben Wilson]

Update!

Sorry if I've been a bit quiet with updates both here and on Facebook- real life and the festive season have been a bit greedy with my free time lately. Planning is coming along well, though, and after Christmas I will start posting those photos of prizes that I promised, umm, months ago.

In happier news, though, we're up to 36 entries for the Saturday already, and we're *never* up to 36 before the new year! :-O This does mean a nice healthy budget that I'll be able to spend on extra prizes and freebies that'll be available on the day (don't get too excited, it'll probably just be a pen).

The Hangover and Predrinks currently stand on 35 and 34 entries each, which I think makes it the second biggest Hangover event yet (already), and put my earlier prediction of 'hardly anyone will want to do the Friday event, it'll be 18 people max) firmly down the toilet. Still spaces available in both- 42 is the hard limit though.

Also, if you plan on contributing a puzzle or some other article for the magazine, please send it my way asap after Christmas so I can get it all collated together.

Hope you have a great Christmas if you celebrate!

BJW

[Ben Wilson]

BTW I've spent £360 on this event on prizes alone.

Edit: so far.

[Ben Wilson]

A little bit on the timings for the weekend

Anyone who's been before will know the schedule for the Saturday and the Sunday, but it's printed below just for good measure as well. For Friday, the plan is that the doors open at (as I won't even be there before) 5pm, we get going at 6pm and play 2 rounds and a final straight through, with the aim being we get done by 9pm, prizegiving and all. Thankfully, the afterparty venue is literally behind the predrinks venue so it won't be too far to trudge to get dinner.

COLIN XX predrinks itinerary-

17:00 doors open
18:00 round 1
19:20 round 2
20:40 final
21:00 prizegiving

COLIN XX itinerary-

10:30 doors open
11:30 introductions
11:50 round 1
13:10 lunch
14:00 round 2
15:20 break
15:35 round 3
16:50 break
17:15 grand final
17:30 prizegiving


COLIN XX hangover itinerary-

10:00 doors open
11:00 round 1
12:10 break
12:40 round 2
14:00 final
14:30 prizegiving

[Ben Wilson]

Welp, the unthinkable has happened- the hangover is now full. If you wish to play on the Sunday anyway, let me know and I'll put you on a standby list in case of any last minute dropouts, but I can't guarantee anything.

Still spaces left on Friday and Saturday

[Ben Wilson]

Just 4 spots left on the Friday... If you're entered on the Saturday (and Sunday) and want to upgrade to the three dayer, you can send me the remainder of the entry fee with a note and I'll add you to the Friday as well.

[Ben Wilson]

Hey everyone- presumably we've all seen the weather reports for Friday and how they look less than ideal (the joys of organising an event in January, eh?). If you're delayed or unable to attend on Friday evening, please let me know ahead of time by email (same as my PayPal address), Facebook message or c4c private message. The plan is still to start games promptly at 6pm as we have to be out of the hall by 9:30pm. If I don't hear from you by 5:45pm, I'll assume you're on your way and include you in the draw.

[Ben Wilson]

COLIN XX: The Pre-Drinks
The Memorial Hall
24 January 2025

STANDINGS

Players are ranked by number of wins then total points scored.


P W Pts
1 Thomas Cappleman 4 4 280
2 Callum Todd 4 4 262
3 Eddy Byrne 4 4 261
4 Jack Hurst 4 4 244
5 Zohaib Rehan 4 3 278
6 Tom Carey 4 3 261
7 Dylan Taylor 4 3 237
8 Dan Byrom 4 3 228
9 Sean Fletcher 4 3 222
10 Adrian Fletcher 4 3 214
11 Tim Hebbes 4 3 209
12 Richard Priest 4 3 208
13 George Armstrong 4 2 247
14 Matthew Brockwell 4 2 230
15 Tim Down 4 2 225
16 James Robinson 4 2 214
17 Bradley Horrocks 4 2 203
18 Gevin Chapwell 4 2 202
19 Adam Dexter 4 2 193
20 Fiona Titcombe 4 2 192
21 Sam Prouse 4 2 184
22 Jeff Clayton 4 2 182
23 Dave Robjohns 4 2 181
24 Stewart Gordon 4 2 173
25 Tracey Mills 4 1 223
26 Zubair Patel 4 1 189
27 Phil Stanton 4 1 183
28 Adam Beach 4 1 176
28 Ian Wray 4 1 176
30 Chris Marshall 4 1 174
31 Graeme Cole 4 1 159
32 Jack D 4 1 103
33 MSR 4 0 200
34 Mike Springett 4 0 163
35 Mark Mills 4 0 108
36 George Baker 4 0 68


RESULTS

Round 1

Table 1
Fiona Titcombe 57 - 28 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 61 - 44 Adam Beach
Adam Beach 34 - 57 Fiona Titcombe

Table 2
Chris Marshall 32 - 81 Zohaib Rehan
Zohaib Rehan 64 - 40 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 45 - 58 Chris Marshall

Table 3
Richard Priest 36 - 37 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 50 - 66 Tim Down
Tim Down 48 - 63 Richard Priest

Table 4
Dan Byrom 66 - 47 Tracey Mills
Tracey Mills 72 - 13 Jack D
Jack D 21 - 56 Dan Byrom

Table 5
Thomas Cappleman 84 - 22 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 54 - 46 Zubair Patel
Zubair Patel 45 - 72 Thomas Cappleman

Table 6
Mike Springett 34 - 50 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 55 - 53 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 67 - 41 Mike Springett

Table 7
Gevin Chapwell 47 - 53 James Robinson
James Robinson 43 - 37 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 61 - 46 Gevin Chapwell

Table 8
Dave Robjohns 33 - 60 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 61 - 59 MSR
MSR 50 - 52 Dave Robjohns

Table 9
Eddy Byrne 62 - 48 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 45 - 49 Sean Fletcher
Sean Fletcher 54 - 72 Eddy Byrne

Table 10
Tim Hebbes 38 - 66 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 63 - 16 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 37 - 45 Tim Hebbes

Table 11
George Baker 20 - 73 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 59 - 69 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 70 - 17 George Baker

Table 12
Dylan Taylor 44 - 55 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 43 - 59 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 17 - 73 Dylan Taylor

Round 2

Table 1
Adam Beach 52 - 27 George Baker
George Baker 4 - 53 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 47 - 46 Adam Beach

Table 2
Tom Carey 66 - 41 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 38 - 68 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 59 - 56 Tom Carey

Table 3
Dan Byrom 66*- 56 James Robinson
James Robinson 62 - 70 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 54 - 50 Dan Byrom

Table 4
Callum Todd 70 - 31 Fiona Titcombe
Fiona Titcombe 47 - 72 Zohaib Rehan
Zohaib Rehan 61 - 63 Callum Todd

Table 5
George Armstrong 61 - 39 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 24 - 59 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 64 - 54 George Armstrong

Table 6
Jeff Clayton 44 - 57 Richard Priest
Richard Priest 52 - 28 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 59 - 62 Jeff Clayton

Table 7
Sean Fletcher 62 - 59 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 57 - 47 Tracey Mills
Tracey Mills 57 -*67 Sean Fletcher

Table 8
Graeme Cole 44 - 68 Dylan Taylor
Dylan Taylor 52 - 46 Tim Down
Tim Down 65 - 39 Graeme Cole

Table 9
Adrian Fletcher 61 - 31 Dave Robjohns
Dave Robjohns 65 - 37 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 47 - 55 Adrian Fletcher

Table 10
Matthew Brockwell 71 - 39 MSR
MSR 52 - 62 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 64 - 61 Matthew Brockwell

Table 11
Mike Springett 38 - 55 Zubair Patel
Zubair Patel 43 - 47 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 62 - 50 Mike Springett

Table 12
Stewart Gordon 46 - 23 Jack D
Jack D 46 - 25 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 30 - 42 Stewart Gordon

Final
Callum Todd 63 - 56 Thomas Cappleman


Congrats to Callum on his first COLIN title! On to the big one tomorrow...

[Ben Wilson]

Today's results:


COLIN XX
The Ark
25 January 2025

STANDINGS

Players are ranked by number of wins then total points scored.


P W Pts
1 Thomas Cappleman 6 6 419
2 Jack Hurst 6 6 382
3 Dylan Taylor 6 5 411
4 Callum Todd 6 5 390
5 Zohaib Rehan 6 5 385
6 Tom Carey 6 5 365
7 Jack Worsley 6 4 394
8 George Armstrong 6 4 387
9 Eddy Byrne 6 4 384
10 Matthew Brockwell 6 4 366
11 James Robinson 6 4 329
12 Dave Robjohns 6 4 324
13 Chris Marshall 6 4 309
14 MSR 6 4 284
15 Bradley Horrocks 6 3 374
16 Tim Down 6 3 365
17 Dan Byrom 6 3 362
18 Tim Hebbes 6 3 340
19 Adrian Fletcher 6 3 335
20 Graeme Cole 6 3 333
21 Sam Prouse 6 3 325
22 Tracey Mills 6 3 319
23 Adam Dexter 6 3 308
24 Amar Chotai 6 3 301
25 Richard Priest 6 3 295
26 Gevin Chapwell 6 3 287
27 Jeff Clayton 6 3 271
28 Anthony Endsor 6 2 328
29 Fiona Titcombe 6 2 327
30 Jason Cullen 6 2 313
30 Sean Fletcher 6 2 313
32 Phil Stanton 6 2 289
33 James Laverty 6 2 275
34 Stewart Gordon 6 2 265
35 Mike Springett 6 2 258
36 Ian Wray 6 1 291
37 Steve Hyde 6 1 283
38 Zubair Patel 6 1 282
39 Mark Mills 6 1 207
40 Thomas Roebuck 6 1 194
41 George Baker 6 1 168
42 Jack D 6 1 135


RESULTS

Round 1

Table 1
Zohaib Rehan 72 - 10 Jack D
Jack D 23 - 64 Steve Hyde
Steve Hyde 56 - 65 Zohaib Rehan

Table 2
Zubair Patel 55 - 62 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 38 - 81 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 72 - 48 Zubair Patel

Table 3
Dave Robjohns 56 - 36 Richard Priest
Richard Priest 36 - 70 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 77 - 49 Dave Robjohns

Table 4
MSR 56 - 54 Anthony Endsor
Anthony Endsor 59 - 62 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 67 - 24 MSR

Table 5
James Robinson 69 - 45 James Laverty
James Laverty 26 - 72 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 52 - 36 James Robinson

Table 6
Tim Down 71 - 27 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 26 - 75 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 69 - 59 Tim Down

Table 7
Tim Hebbes 71 - 17 George Baker
George Baker 13 - 72 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 50 - 47 Tim Hebbes

Table 8
Fiona Titcombe 59 - 61 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 27 - 73 Dylan Taylor
Dylan Taylor 75 - 44 Fiona Titcombe

Table 9
Jeff Clayton 52 - 24 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 39 - 64 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 47 - 63 Jeff Clayton

Table 10
Thomas Roebuck 25 - 66 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 39 - 59 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 70 - 31 Thomas Roebuck

Table 11
Tracey Mills 50 - 40 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 42 - 62 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 63 - 41 Tracey Mills

Table 12
Amar Chotai 45 - 38 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 38 - 68 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 71 - 45 Amar Chotai

Table 13
Jason Cullen 80 - 51 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 35 - 71 Dan Byrom
Dan Byrom 73 - 38 Jason Cullen

Table 14
Sean Fletcher 58 - 40 Mike Springett
Mike Springett 17 - 58 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 43 - 53 Sean Fletcher

Round 2

Table 1
Dan Byrom 54 - 71 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 74 - 64 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 73 - 83 Dan Byrom

Table 2
Eddy Byrne 56 - 73 Zohaib Rehan
Zohaib Rehan 63 - 60 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 59 - 69 Eddy Byrne

Table 3
Sean Fletcher 38 - 73 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 61 - 16 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 58 - 56 Sean Fletcher

Table 4
Dylan Taylor 80 - 79 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 61 - 78 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 50 - 55 Dylan Taylor

Table 5
Callum Todd 70 - 60 Tim Down
Tim Down 45 - 69 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 75 - 66 Callum Todd

Table 6
MSR 69 - 52 Steve Hyde
Steve Hyde 51 - 66 Tracey Mills
Tracey Mills 44 - 45 MSR

Table 7
Gevin Chapwell 49 - 56 James Robinson
James Robinson 46 - 54 Dave Robjohns
Dave Robjohns 37 - 50 Gevin Chapwell

Table 8
Amar Chotai 55 - 45 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 61 - 71 Tim Hebbes
Tim Hebbes 78 - 42 Amar Chotai

Table 9
Anthony Endsor 59 - 75 Fiona Titcombe
Fiona Titcombe 43 - 66 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 54 - 55 Anthony Endsor

Table 10
George Baker 18 - 60 Mike Springett
Mike Springett 44 - 53 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 52 - 29 George Baker

Table 11
James Laverty 56 - 18 Jack D
Jack D 17 - 58 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 70*- 60 James Laverty

Table 12
Thomas Roebuck 16 - 40 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 29 - 35 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 60 - 36 Thomas Roebuck

Table 13
Ian Wray 55 - 62 Adam Dexter
Adam Dexter 71 - 55 Jason Cullen
Jason Cullen 63 - 55 Ian Wray

Table 14
Sam Prouse 57 - 53 Richard Priest
Richard Priest 63 - 46 Zubair Patel
Zubair Patel 50 - 35 Sam Prouse

Round 3

Table 1
Dylan Taylor 65 - 35 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 53 - 54 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 73 - 63 Dylan Taylor

Table 2
Jack Hurst 55 - 45 Dan Byrom
Dan Byrom 36 - 64 Zohaib Rehan
Zohaib Rehan 48 - 54 Jack Hurst

Table 3
Tim Hebbes 34 - 52 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 73 - 40 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 66 - 39 Tim Hebbes

Table 4
Adam Dexter 45 - 52 MSR
MSR 38 - 44 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 69 - 30 Adam Dexter

Table 5
Jack Worsley 51 - 50 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 59 - 56 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 26 - 67 Jack Worsley

Table 6
Sean Fletcher 61 - 78 Tracey Mills
Tracey Mills 40 - 64 James Robinson
James Robinson 58 - 47 Sean Fletcher

Table 7
Amar Chotai 63 - 54 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 34 - 68 Dave Robjohns
Dave Robjohns 60 - 51 Amar Chotai

Table 8
Phil Stanton 56 - 64 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 74 - 46 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 54 - 52 Phil Stanton

Table 9
Anthony Endsor 50 - 35 Steve Hyde
Steve Hyde 25 - 63 Tim Down
Tim Down 67 - 51 Anthony Endsor

Table 10
Graeme Cole 55 - 33 Zubair Patel
Zubair Patel 50 - 60 Fiona Titcombe
Fiona Titcombe 46 - 61 Graeme Cole

Table 11
Richard Priest 50 - 27 James Laverty
James Laverty 61 - 41 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 35 - 57 Richard Priest

Table 12
Mike Springett 46 - 28 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 47 - 79 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 68 - 51 Mike Springett

Table 13
Jason Cullen 24 - 73 Adrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 41 - 75 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 71 - 53 Jason Cullen

Table 14
George Baker 46 - 24 Jack D
Jack D 43 - 39 Thomas Roebuck
Thomas Roebuck 47 - 45 George Baker


Final

Thomas Cappleman 73 - 39 Jack Hurst


Congrats to TCap on going one better than yesterday and taking his first COLIN title! One more day to go...

[Ben Wilson]

And last but not least, today's results:

COLIN XX: The Hangover
The Memorial Hall
26 January 2025

STANDINGS

Players are ranked by number of wins then total points scored.


P W Pts
1 Dylan Taylor 4 4 287
2 Jack Hurst 4 4 273
3 Thomas Cappleman 4 4 263
4 Jack Worsley 4 3 293
5 Callum Todd 4 3 271
6 Dan Byrom 4 3 260
7 Matthew Brockwell 4 3 259
8 Tim Hebbes 4 3 258
9 Eddy Byrne 4 3 253
10 Bradley Horrocks 4 3 251
11 James Robinson 4 3 243
12 Tracey Mills 4 3 242
13 Adrian Fletcher 4 3 234
14 Sam Prouse 4 3 177
15 Tom Carey 4 2 241
16 Jason Cullen 4 2 222
17 Richard Priest 4 2 219
18 Jeff Clayton 4 2 218
19 George Armstrong 4 2 216
19 Tim Down 4 2 216
21 Stewart Gordon 4 2 214
21 Zubair Patel 4 2 214
23 Dave Robjohns 4 2 213
24 Chris Marshall 4 2 206
25 MSR 4 2 199
25 Sean Fletcher 4 2 199
27 Graeme Cole 4 1 224
28 Phil Stanton 4 1 212
29 Ian Wray 4 1 183
30 Adam Dexter 4 1 163
31 Amar Chotai 4 1 161
32 Fiona Titcombe 4 1 159
33 Mike Springett 4 1 150
34 George Baker 4 1 139
35 Jack D 4 1 114
36 Gevin Chapwell 4 0 215
37 Mark Mills 4 0 92


RESULTS

Round 1

Table 1
Graeme Cole 72 - 55 Jason Cullen
Jason Cullen 37 - 60 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 71 - 66 Graeme Cole

Table 2
Tim Hebbes 84 - 23 Mark Mills
Mark Mills 17 - 71 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 61 - 57 Tim Hebbes

Table 3
Bradley Horrocks 61 - 27 Fiona Titcombe
Fiona Titcombe 43 - 42 MSR
MSR 63 - 59 Bradley Horrocks

Table 4
Adam Dexter 52 - 46 Zubair Patel
Zubair Patel 76 - 35 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 70 - 32 Adam Dexter

Table 5
Adrian Fletcher 63 - 41 Jack D
Jack D 6 - 62 James Robinson
James Robinson 57 - 54 Adrian Fletcher

Table 6
Jeff Clayton 37 - 51 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 44 - 64 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 51 - 68 Jeff Clayton

Table 7
Gevin Chapwell 52 - 58 Mike Springett
Mike Springett 26 - 73 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 68 - 52 Gevin Chapwell

Table 8
Sam Prouse 54 - 50 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 38 - 63 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 58 - 24 Sam Prouse

Table 9
Dan Byrom 60 - 43 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 60 - 77 Dylan Taylor
Dylan Taylor 77 - 64 Dan Byrom

Table 10
Tracey Mills 68 - 22 George Baker
George Baker 35 - 82 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 61 - 58 Tracey Mills

Table 11
Tim Down 68 - 49 Sean Fletcher
Sean Fletcher 33 - 42 George Armstrong
George Armstrong 59 - 65 Tim Down

Table 12
Richard Priest 52 - 0 Prune
Prune 0 - 69 Dave Robjohns
Dave Robjohns 46 - 43 Richard Priest

Table 13
Amar Chotai 53 - 0 Prune
Prune 0 - 54 Tom Carey
Tom Carey 63 - 24 Amar Chotai

Round 2

Table 1
Mark Mills 20 - 61 Phil Stanton
Phil Stanton 48 - 70 Jason Cullen
Jason Cullen 60 - 32 Mark Mills

Table 2
Tim Down 43 - 81 Jack Hurst
Jack Hurst 71*- 61 Matthew Brockwell
Matthew Brockwell 55 - 40 Tim Down

Table 3
Tom Carey 76 - 86 Jack Worsley
Jack Worsley 75 - 78 Thomas Cappleman
Thomas Cappleman 64 - 48 Tom Carey

Table 4
Dylan Taylor 69 - 52 Dave Robjohns
Dave Robjohns 46 - 69 Callum Todd
Callum Todd 61 - 64 Dylan Taylor

Table 5
Tim Hebbes 54 - 52 Graeme Cole
Graeme Cole 34 - 65 James Robinson
James Robinson 59 - 63 Tim Hebbes

Table 6
Fiona Titcombe 50 - 54 Zubair Patel
Zubair Patel 38 - 39 Sam Prouse
Sam Prouse 60 - 39 Fiona Titcombe

Table 7
Adrian Fletcher 57 - 48 Ian Wray
Ian Wray 40 - 57 Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall 44 - 60 Adrian Fletcher

Table 8
Tracey Mills 72 - 62 Richard Priest
Richard Priest 62 - 47 Amar Chotai
Amar Chotai 37 - 44 Tracey Mills

Table 9
MSR 59 - 30 Mike Springett
Mike Springett 36 - 68 Dan Byrom
Dan Byrom 68 - 35 MSR

Table 10
Adam Dexter 43 - 49 Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton 64 - 74 Bradley Horrocks
Bradley Horrocks 57 - 36 Adam Dexter

Table 11
George Armstrong 63 - 40 Gevin Chapwell
Gevin Chapwell 71 - 81 Eddy Byrne
Eddy Byrne 57 - 52 George Armstrong

Table 12
Prune 0 - 67 Sean Fletcher
Sean Fletcher 50 - 23 Jack D
Jack D 44 - 0 Prune

Table 13
Prune 0 - 44 George Baker
George Baker 38 - 71 Stewart Gordon
Stewart Gordon 55 - 0 Prune


Final

Dylan Taylor 66 - 57 Jack Hurst


Congrats to Dylan and to all the winners from the weekend, and many thanks to everyone who came along and made it the event it is- Adam for his assistance both behind the scenes with the puzzle mag, Jeff for his awesome quiz and even more awesome video tribute (which still makes me smile ), to George, MSR and Sam for being awesome final hosts, to Graeme for his software making everything easy, and to everyone for coming along and making COLIN the event it's been for the past twenty years (I'm sure I've forgotten someone somewhere). I'm now going to sleep for about the next 4 months. See you at COLIN XXI!

[Fiona T]

Thanks Ben for a great weekend - very much appreciate the work that goes into it!

Congrats to all the winners/runners up

See you next year!

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Thank You Ben for a fantastic weekend yet again ! see you all in 2026

[Fiona T]

Made myself a badge ...

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Putting a Countdown tournament together and running it isn't always an easy task it takes a lot of work and commitment

Firstly a big thank you to Ben Wilson for putting Countdown In Lincoln together and keeping us entertained over the past 20 years

Secondly a huge thank you to his mother Jill who couldn't attend this year for keeping us all fed and watered over the years

I have been attending Countdown in Lincoln for 12 years and for me it is one of the best tournaments in the world, I have made some wonderful friends along the way and had some really good memories and some really good laughs especially the after party in the pub that are always fun........with some really good stories to tell ! (not the Eddy Byrne variety............figure those out for yourselves)

On behalf of the Countdown and Apterous community a big thank you to Ben and Jill for all of their hard work and everything that they do to keep this amazing tournament going.

Cheers to another 20 years and many more Lincoln Tourneys..........

Love and Peace to you all and happy Countdowning !

[JackHurst]

Had a great time, thanks for 20 years of Colining Ben W, and thanks to all of you whacky bunch for turning up love you all xxx


Confession time: I stole a chocolate orange accidentally because I misunderstood what colour team won the team thing.
Confession time #2: I've already eaten 90% of said chocolate orange, it was delicious.

[Steve Hyde]

Random one, did anyone find a wallet in the Clubhouse bar on Saturday night? Small, black metal thing with a few bank cards and a driving licence in. I seem to have misplaced mine somewhere

[Ben Wilson]

I'll try to head up there tomorrow to see if anything was handed in.

[Steve Hyde]

Thank you Ben, hope it's not too much of an inconvenience

[Steve Hyde]

Update: wallet has been found! Almost immediately after I'd ordered replacements for everything in it, naturally

[Ben Wilson]

Good to hear I had gone up to the Memorial Hall but the clubhouse wasn't open. Glad to hear it's been resolved.

[JackHurst]

A conundrum I was hoping might come up in one of the finals

TWENTYBOI