CO:LON 2025 - Countdown in London - 12th April 2025

[Phil Stanton]

I'm pleased to announce CO:LON 2025 - Countdown in London 2025 – a FOCAL Countdown event.


WHEN
Saturday 12th April 2025
Doors open at 10:45 am.
Gameplay starts at 11:30.

WHERE & GETTING THERE
“The Venue”, Level 2, The O2 Centre, 255 Finchley Road, London NW3 6LU
We’ll be in “The Venue”, on the top floor … the event will be clearly signposted.

The O2 Centre is a small shopping centre located just a 2-minute walk from Finchley Road Underground Station on the Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines, or a 4-minute walk from Finchley Road & Frognal Overground Station.

It’s reachable in around 20 to 25 minutes via public transport from all the major train stations in London, as well as being well served by bus routes.

If you feel compelled to drive, there is paid parking in the O2 Centre car park.

If you’re a Parkrunner, the nearest one to the venue is Hampstead Heath, just over a mile away on foot, or a short trip by bus or Overground.
If you’re overnighting the night before, you might also find one closer to your accommodation … London has plenty of them!

WHAT
You’ll be playing 9-round games of Countdown in the “Bristol” format, where everyone plays in pairs from the same selections projected on a big screen, and with each pair choosing their preferred selection during the numbers rounds … all will be explained on the day for anyone unfamiliar, and we’ll start with a practice round.
We'll play 7 games in total, followed by the top two players on the day facing off in a grand final.

As with most Countdown events, the first round will be drawn randomly, but don't worry if you have a bumpy start - for the remaining games you will be playing opponents that have scored similarly to you, so everyone should get some good, well matched games. The primary aim is to have fun!

And of course there will be prizes!

FOOD & DRINK
Within the O2 Centre itself is an ALDI Local, a big Sainsburys, a Nandos, and a coffee shop. There are also various places outside the Centre within easy reach.
You are also welcome to bring your own food, but please note that alcohol is not allowed to be consumed at the venue.

We will have access to a small kitchen in the venue itself, with tea/coffee making facilities, etc.

AFTER THE EVENT
We’ll most likely go back to Pizza Express in Baker Street again, because they’re really good to deal with, and can accommodate big bookings and pretty much all dietary requirements.
Keep an eye out either on this thread or on the Facebook event page here: https://fb.me/e/4C35VezFx

SIGN ME UP!
The entry fee is £12.
Please pay by Paypal using this link: https://paypal.me/stantonphil/12GBP
Please ensure you select the "Friends and Family" option when paying, and include a note about what the payment is for, and also who you are if your Paypal name doesn’t match your preferred name for some reason
If you can't pay via Paypal, then please contact me and we'll work something out.

Please note that your name will be added to the attendees list on this page and the Facebook Event page here: https://fb.me/e/4C35VezFx
If you would prefer for this not to happen, please let me know when you sign up.

I look forward to seeing you there!


CONFIRMED ENTRANTS
1. Tom Carey
2. Joseph Bartram
3. Sean Fletcher
4. Fiona Titcombe
5. Lju L
6. Frank Wharton
7. Adrian Fletcher
8. David Holmes
9. Darren Godfrey
10. Tim Scott
11. MSR
12. Mauro Pratesi
13. Jessica Pratesi
14. Josephine Sinclair
15. Entrant 15
16. Tom Cappleman
17. Marc Meakin
18. Dan Byrom
19. David Millar
20. Ashwin Abinashi
21. Caroline Wood
22. Sandie Simonis
23. Phil Hannan
24. Matthew Brockwell
25. Vik Shah
26. Jonathan De Souza
27. Jason Cullen
28. Matt O'Connor
29. Amar Chotai
30. Ian Wray
31. Jonny Rye
32. Toby Pereira
33. Ross King
34. Mike Springett
35. Chris Marshall
36. Samuel Stock
37. Coral Heath
38. Andy Evans
39. Gabriel Thallon
40. Kate Scranage
41. Matthew Tassier
42. Lynne Cumberland
43. Tim Hebbes
44. Ellen Harrison
45. Annie Gallagher
46. Joe Henry
47, Mike Lee
48. Adam Latchford
49. Oliver Garner
50. Ronan Higginson
51. Toby Byfield
52. Dan Spinks

[Marc Meakin]

Yay just checked my work calendar and this falls on a weekend off so , I will pencil myself in but I won't send money just yet as the last 2 occasions I paid early I was jinxed and couldn't go .

[Phil Stanton]

Yay just checked my work calendar and this falls on a weekend off so , I will pencil myself in but I won't send money just yet as the last 2 occasions I paid early I was jinxed and couldn't go .

If you have to pull out before the day of the event, you get a refund.
So go ahead and gimme your money!

[Marc Meakin]

Yay just checked my work calendar and this falls on a weekend off so , I will pencil myself in but I won't send money just yet as the last 2 occasions I paid early I was jinxed and couldn't go .

If you have to pull out before the day of the event, you get a refund.
So go ahead and gimme your money!

I'm broke until the 25th so I may send it then but I will blame you if pandemic or accident happens

[Phil Stanton]

Yay just checked my work calendar and this falls on a weekend off so , I will pencil myself in but I won't send money just yet as the last 2 occasions I paid early I was jinxed and couldn't go .

If you have to pull out before the day of the event, you get a refund.
So go ahead and gimme your money!

I'm broke until the 25th so I may send it then but I will blame you if pandemic or accident happens

I'll get my alibi ready.

[Phil Stanton]

Want free entry to CO:LON 2025?

Everyone who signs up (and pays!) for CO:LON 2025 before 13th February (i.e. by 23:59 on 12th February) will go into a draw ... winner gets their entry fee refunded.

This includes anyone who has already signed up.

[Thomas Carey]

Fellow parkrun wankers - since I only have I and J left for my alphabet and the Is are annoying if you don't live in the south, I'm going to be doing the newish Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham before this. There's a 10:03 train that gets you to Finchley Road before doors open so time won't be an issue. I've been informed this will be my 100th assuming I don't miss any before then, so if anyone wants to take a detour into Essex feel free to join

(J will most likely be the one in Spennymoor before co:Durham)

[Gavin Chipper]

It's not in actual Essex. I'm not signed up yet but if I do go I could potentially do this parkrun. I have a race the next day which is why I've been hesitant to sign up. I probably will though. I won't be staying out late though and I'd have to take the parkrun easy.

[Phil Stanton]

LAST CHANCE TO WIN FREE ENTRY!

SIGN UP BY 11:59 PM ON WED 12TH FEBRUARY TO QUALIFY!

If you're thinking of coming along to CO:LON - Countdown in London - time is running out to be in with a chance of getting FREE ENTRY.

All sign-ups received (and paid for!) by 11:59 pm UK time on Wednesday 12th February will go into a draw to get their £12 entry fee refunded.

For full details, go to www.focalcountdown.com/london-2025 or the Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/4C35VezFx

[Jon O'Neill]

Fellow parkrun wankers - since I only have I and J left for my alphabet and the Is are annoying if you don't live in the south, I'm going to be doing the newish Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham before this. There's a 10:03 train that gets you to Finchley Road before doors open so time won't be an issue. I've been informed this will be my 100th assuming I don't miss any before then, so if anyone wants to take a detour into Essex feel free to join

(J will most likely be the one in Spennymoor before co:Durham)

I'll do this with you! Not COLONing on my anniversary but can prob sneak out in the morning.

[Phil Stanton]

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

TRAVEL
Advance train fares have been out for a while now, but don't forget that you can also get a coach to London pretty reasonably, if train fares are putting you off.
There is a coach stop (Finchley Road, stop CL) 80 yards down the road from the venue, serving National Express, Flixbus, and Megabus.
As an example, a 6:30 am National Express coach from Manchester would get you to the venue on time for the event, and would cost a tenner!

ACCOMMODATION
Obviously London can be pricey, but sharing can help ... I've seen some local AirBnB options which would work out at around £100 per person for 4 people sharing for 2 nights (Friday and Saturday).

If you stay a little further out, things probably get a bit cheaper.
You can get from Wembley Park to the venue in as little as 15 minutes (including the walk to the venue), and it has Premier Inn and Travelodge options.

Some people last year also stayed in the Travelodge in Cricklewood, and you can get from there to the venue in around 30 minutes.
(It's also only a 10-15 minute walk from there to the Gladstone Park Parkrun, if that's your thing.)

Let me know if you've got any questions!

[Phil Stanton]

MEAL PLANS!

Once again, we'll be heading to Pizza Express in Baker Street at 7 pm for a Saturday evening meal.

Please either vote in the poll on the Facebook page at https://fb.me/e/4C35VezFx or just let me know here on privately whether or not you'd like in on this, so that I can get the booking made.

Thanks!

[Dan Byrom]

I've booked to watch Mark Lettieri on the Friday night at Ronnie Scott's at 17:30 (restricted view ticket), if anyone fancies joining.

[Adam S Latchford]

Gonna head to Waterloo brewdog from 5ish today if anybody interested I'm a beverage tonight

[Gavin Chipper]

Fellow parkrun wankers - since I only have I and J left for my alphabet and the Is are annoying if you don't live in the south, I'm going to be doing the newish Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham before this. There's a 10:03 train that gets you to Finchley Road before doors open so time won't be an issue. I've been informed this will be my 100th assuming I don't miss any before then, so if anyone wants to take a detour into Essex feel free to join

(J will most likely be the one in Spennymoor before co:Durham)

Where does this train go from and to exactly?

Edit - Rainham to West Ham then Jubilee line?

[Thomas Carey]

Fellow parkrun wankers - since I only have I and J left for my alphabet and the Is are annoying if you don't live in the south, I'm going to be doing the newish Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham before this. There's a 10:03 train that gets you to Finchley Road before doors open so time won't be an issue. I've been informed this will be my 100th assuming I don't miss any before then, so if anyone wants to take a detour into Essex feel free to join

(J will most likely be the one in Spennymoor before co:Durham)

Where does this train go from and to exactly?

Edit - Rainham to West Ham then Jubilee line?

Train to West Ham and the jubilee to finchley road

Edit: yeah what you said

[Marc Meakin]

Enjoying it so far.
Random observation.
Conundrums should get increasingly easier to have less crucials

[Marc Meakin]

So good to see so many Countdowners.
Putting some faces to names.
Apologies for dashing off before the final az I had to get back to Canterbury.
Looking forward to next year

[Gavin Chipper]

Good to finally meet you!

[Gavin Chipper]

Really enjoyed the day. Shame I couldn't stay for the meal.

Enjoying it so far.
Random observation.
Conundrums should get increasingly easier to have less crucials

I think there is an argument for this with tie-breaks.

[Phil Stanton]

Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great day, looking forward to seeing the newbies at more events in future!

With regards to the tie-breaks, I discussed this with Fiona afterwards.
Currently, tie-break conundrums are just drawn from the same file as the regular ones, so they are as hard as all the rest for that particular half of the room. (And how hard they are in the first place is down to what conundrums the host decided to set ... for my ones, the first half of the room (higher table numbers) got ones ranging from 1 to 5 in difficulty as defined by Apto, and the second half of the room got ones ranging from 6 to 10.)

There currently isn't a mechanism in Fiona's RoboRiley software for specifying that tie-breaks should be pulled from a different source (and then there's a question of what that source should be, and when during the game play it's defined.)
The workaround at the moment is what I did at one point, which is to exit the game and re-launch a single conundrum game using the easier conundrum file, though that's a slight faff.

Another solution might just be for Latchford to get better at Countdown