COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Discussion and announcements relating to unofficial Countdown competitions, held online or in real life. Observation, discussion, reflection, and other stuff ending in -ion.
Post Reply
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Hosted by Fiona Titcombe and Tony Atkins, Countdown in Reading is back for 2025! This event will be part of the FOCAL calendar.

The event is being held as a fundraiser for The Leprosy Mission - see details below.

When is it?

30 August 2025. Doors will open at 10:45, with the first round draw taking place shortly after. Please arrive before 11:00. We anticipate finishing around 6pm.

Where is it?

PLEASE NOTE - This is at a different venue to last year's event.

Christ Church Woodley
Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire,
RG5 3LA
Map

Woodley is a short journey from Reading town centre. If you are driving to the venue, it is very easy to access from the M4, and there is plenty of free parking at the venue.

If you are travelling by public transport, there are regular bus and train services from central Reading. Catch the 13 or 14 orange bus from Blagrave street which takes around 25 minutes and drops you 150 yards from the venue, or catch the train from Reading to Earley which takes just 5 minutes and walk about a mile to the venue.

The venue is fully wheelchair accessible


What will I be doing?

Keeping with the traditional format of Reading events, you will be playing 15 round games in 'Bristol' style, where everyone plays the same selections in pairs, with each pair choosing their preferred numbers round format.
Game presentation will be using RoboRiley - selections will be projected on a big screen at the front.

Image

We will play five games, then the top two players will face each other in a grand final.


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!

The five heat games will be standard 15 rounders as played on TV, the Grand Final will follow the standard format for 14 rounds, but the conundrum will be replaced with a supernundrum - the first time we're trying this for a co-event final.

What about lunch?

You can bring a packed lunch, or there are plenty of local shops. Tea and coffee will be freely available at the venue - if you do have a travel mug, please bring it along.

And after?

Plans to be confirmed nearer the time, but likely to be drinks and food at a local pub.

I'm in - what do I do?

The entry fee is £12. Paypal is preferred. https://www.paypal.me/FionaTitcombe/12GBP. If you can't pay via paypal, then please contact me to make alternative arrangements. Please ensure you select the family and friends option.


We are very grateful to the church for hosting our event to raise funds for the charity the church is supporting - The Leprosy Mission. £9 of your entry fee, and any left over event profit will be donated to the charity.

Please note your name will be added to the attendees list below and on facebook. If you would prefer for this not to happen, please let us know when you sign up.

Any questions, please contact me or Tony and we'll do our best to help.

Look forward to seeing you there!

At time of writing, hotels look to be a reasonable price - however it is Reading Pride on the Saturday so if you are going to book a hotel, it is probably sensible to do so sooner rather than later!

facebook link https://www.facebook.com/events/2019466705223706/

Parkrun!

For those who like to wake up their brain with a 5K, the venue is just half a mile from Woodford Park, the home of Woodley parkrun, so plenty of time to enjoy your run and post run breakfast before the event starts!

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

If you've got transport, then Dinton Pastures is a little further away, but a lovely parkrun and well worth a visit.


We want everyone to enjoy the event and have a good time. All attendees or organisers of FOCAL events are bound by the FOCAL Code of Conduct regarding respect for boundaries, respect for opponents and fair play. Any breaches of the Code of Conduct can be discussed in confidence with Fiona, Tony or any member of the Focal committee.


Signups

1. Phil Stanton
2. Sean Fletcher
3. Mauro Pratesi
4. Jessica Pratesi
5. T-Cap
6. Maus
7. Adrian Fletcher
8. Catriona Cappleman
9. Dave Cappleman
10. Jo Bartram
11. Rowland Reeves
12. Tom Stevenson
13. Mike Lee
14. Sam Stock
15. Stewart Gordon
16. Ram Patel
17. Graeme Cole
18. Matthew Brockwell
19. MSR
20. Gabriel Thallon
21. Jase Cullen
22. Ellen Harrison
23. Neil Collins
24. Marc Meakin
25. Dan Byrom
26. Mike Springett
27. Amar Chotai
28. Thomas Finn
29. Ashwin Abinashi
30. Sandie Simonis
31. Robin McKay
32. Steve Aucello
33. Tim Hebbes
34. Ronan Higginson
Last edited by Fiona T on Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:10 pm, edited 32 times in total.
User avatar
Tony Atkins
Fanatic
Posts: 2246
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:19 pm
Location: Reading
Contact:

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Tony Atkins »

History of the first nine COREAs is at http://www.kisekigo.com/cd/

Details of Christ Church Woodley are at http://christ-church-woodley.org.uk/
Click on "Find Us" for more travel info.

The pub for after event drinks/food is likely to be the George Inn at Loddon Bridge. https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs/berkshire/george
CO-MSO every August
COREA 30th August 2025
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Can you find the only max? Bonus point if you can work out its connection to this year's COREA event!

Image
Matthew Brockwell
Rookie
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 3:16 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Matthew Brockwell »

Ah yes, the answer is a treatment for the charitable cause the event is raising money for!
User avatar
Johnny Canuck
Kiloposter
Posts: 1666
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:44 pm
Location: Montréal 😃, Québec 😕, Canada 😃

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Johnny Canuck »

Fiona T wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 4:05 pm Can you find the only max? Bonus point if you can work out its connection to this year's COREA event!

Image
Cool filename
everything has meaning - existence has meaning - being alive has meaning - have dreams - use power
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Johnny Canuck wrote: Fri Mar 07, 2025 2:52 am
Fiona T wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 4:05 pm Can you find the only max? Bonus point if you can work out its connection to this year's COREA event!

Image
Cool filename
Lol that was unfortunate :D
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Six weeks to go and we're up to 17 - I'll order some trophies when we get to 20, so get your entries in!
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Three weeks to go! Currently on 22 signups - optimistic we can make 30! Any questions at all, please give me a shout!
Thomas Cappleman
Series 72 Champion
Posts: 370
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:42 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Thomas Cappleman »

I think I saw a post on FB about the final's con being a Supernundrum? Might be worth updating the description here and on the Focal page so that no one's taken by surprise
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Thanks - yes, that's the intention!
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Just three days till co:Rea and we're up to 30 players! Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday!
User avatar
Tony Atkins
Fanatic
Posts: 2246
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:19 pm
Location: Reading
Contact:

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Tony Atkins »

Congrats to Tom Cappleman who beat Matthew Brockwell in the final.
Watch the game on CCW's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFwyfcgwJKA
CO-MSO every August
COREA 30th August 2025
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Thanks so much Tony - venue and facilities were spot on!

Delighted that we raised £320 for the leprosy mission, and DAPSONE even came up as a max in game 1 :)

Thanks to everyone who came along to make the day a success, and many congratulations to T-Cap on a very impressive winning score, and for making supernundrums look easy :)
Fiona T
Kiloposter
Posts: 1848
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:54 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Fiona T »

Full results from CO:REA 2025
Christ Church Woodley
30 August 2025

PODIUM

1st place: Thomas Cappleman (Won final 151 - 126 against Matthew Brockwell)
2nd place: Matthew Brockwell (Lost final)
3rd place: Ronan Higginson


STANDINGS

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


P W Pts
1 Thomas Cappleman 5 4 577 (won final)
2 Matthew Brockwell 5 5 573 (lost final)
3 Ronan Higginson 5 4 561
4 Tom Stevenson 5 4 554
5 Tim Hebbes 5 4 537
6 Gabriel Thallon 5 4 532
7 Jessica Pratesi 5 3 545
8 Jase Cullen 5 3 544
9 Dan Byrom 5 3 540
10 Sam Stock 5 3 513
11 Graeme Cole 5 3 511
12 Matthew S Rutherford 5 3 510
13 Neil Collins 5 3 497
14 Phil Stanton 5 3 496
15 Mike Lee 5 3 491
16 Thomas Finn 5 3 489
17 Steve Aucello 5 3 423
18 Robin McKay 5 2 532
19 Thomas Carey 5 2 494
20 Adrian Fletcher 5 2 488
21 Catriona Cappleman 5 2 487
22 Sean Fletcher 5 2 464
23 Rowland Reeves 5 2 463
24 Stewart Gordon 5 2 417
25 Amar Chotai 5 2 401
26 Ashwin Abinashi 5 2 398
27 Jo Bartram 5 2 363
28 Marc Meakin 5 2 320
29 Sandie Simonis 5 1 444
30 Mike Springett 5 1 433
31 Dave Cappleman 5 1 373
32 Ram Patel 5 1 362
33 Ellen Harrison 5 1 358
34 Mauro Pratesi 5 0 226


RESULTS

Round 1
Ronan Higginson 122 - 73 Jo Bartram
Stewart Gordon 109 - 89 Phil Stanton
Tom Stevenson 132 - 122 Dan Byrom
Mauro Pratesi 58 - 114 Mike Lee
Mike Springett 109 - 93 Rowland Reeves
Adrian Fletcher 111 - 128 Matthew Brockwell
Ashwin Abinashi 103 - 96 Matthew S Rutherford
Sam Stock 97 - 125 Jase Cullen
Graeme Cole 98 - 96 Thomas Finn
Catriona Cappleman 78 - 97 Gabriel Thallon
Ram Patel 80 - 124 Sean Fletcher
Sandie Simonis 105 - 114 Jessica Pratesi
Thomas Cappleman 122 - 59 Steve Aucello
Dave Cappleman 88 - 59 Marc Meakin
Ellen Harrison 78 - 129 Robin McKay
Neil Collins 108 - 104 Thomas Carey
Amar Chotai 84 - 103 Tim Hebbes

Round 2
Robin McKay 95 - 104 Tom Stevenson
Jase Cullen 93 - 110 Matthew Brockwell
Sean Fletcher 65 - 113 Thomas Cappleman
Mike Lee 70 - 112 Ronan Higginson
Tim Hebbes 118 - 39 Ashwin Abinashi
Jessica Pratesi 113 - 81 Mike Springett
Neil Collins 92 - 69 Stewart Gordon
Gabriel Thallon 110 - 102 Graeme Cole
Dan Byrom 101 - 59 Dave Cappleman
Thomas Carey 108 - 79 Sam Stock
Ram Patel 77 - 79 Amar Chotai
Sandie Simonis 69 - 89 Adrian Fletcher
Thomas Finn 100 - 70 Matthew S Rutherford
Marc Meakin 53 - 85 Jo Bartram
Phil Stanton 97 - 74 Rowland Reeves
Catriona Cappleman 95 - 68 Ellen Harrison
Steve Aucello 95 - 46 Mauro Pratesi

Round 3
Matthew Brockwell 94 - 76 Tom Stevenson
Tim Hebbes 103 - 98 Jessica Pratesi
Thomas Cappleman 103 - 84 Ronan Higginson
Gabriel Thallon 90 - 84 Neil Collins
Robin McKay 88 -*98 Dan Byrom
Jase Cullen 105 - 73 Thomas Carey
Graeme Cole 93 - 78 Adrian Fletcher
Thomas Finn 98 - 74 Mike Springett
Sean Fletcher 85 - 94 Phil Stanton
Stewart Gordon 68 - 93 Mike Lee
Ellen Harrison 66 - 68 Ram Patel
Sam Stock 106 - 66 Sandie Simonis
Amar Chotai 88 - 86 Catriona Cappleman
Marc Meakin 73 - 36 Mauro Pratesi
Jo Bartram 53 - 95 Steve Aucello
Ashwin Abinashi 99 - 65 Dave Cappleman
Matthew S Rutherford 102 - 69 Rowland Reeves

Round 4
Matthew Brockwell 123 - 108 Thomas Cappleman
Tim Hebbes 124 - 121 Gabriel Thallon
Thomas Finn 87 - 126 Jase Cullen
Jessica Pratesi 118 - 76 Amar Chotai
Mike Lee 106 - 111 Tom Stevenson
Phil Stanton 90 - 108 Dan Byrom
Graeme Cole 106 - 123 Neil Collins
Ronan Higginson 115 - 56 Ashwin Abinashi
Steve Aucello 74 - 113 Robin McKay
Mike Springett 73 - 100 Stewart Gordon
Matthew S Rutherford 126 - 81 Ram Patel
Rowland Reeves 114 - 95 Sandie Simonis
Dave Cappleman 79 - 112 Sam Stock
Catriona Cappleman 130 - 55 Marc Meakin
Thomas Carey 111 - 94 Sean Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher 120 - 66 Jo Bartram
Mauro Pratesi 43 - 67 Ellen Harrison

Round 5
Ronan Higginson 128 - 95 Jase Cullen
Matthew Brockwell 118 - 89 Tim Hebbes
Tom Stevenson 131 - 90 Neil Collins
Jessica Pratesi 102 - 114 Gabriel Thallon
Dan Byrom 121 - 131 Thomas Cappleman
Sam Stock 119 - 98 Catriona Cappleman
Adrian Fletcher 90 - 100 Steve Aucello
Amar Chotai 74 - 112 Graeme Cole
Ashwin Abinashi 101 - 126 Phil Stanton
Mike Lee 108 - 107 Robin McKay
Ram Patel 56 - 80 Marc Meakin
Sandie Simonis 109 - 43 Mauro Pratesi
Stewart Gordon 71 - 108 Thomas Finn
Thomas Carey 98 - 116 Matthew S Rutherford
Jo Bartram 86 - 79 Ellen Harrison
Sean Fletcher 106*- 96 Mike Springett
Rowland Reeves 113 - 82 Dave Cappleman

Final
Matthew Brockwell 126 - 151 Thomas Cappleman
Gavin Chipper
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 14297
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Gavin Chipper »

That's a whopping final score.
Marc Meakin
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 7056
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 3:37 pm

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Marc Meakin »

Great day though I missed the final along with at least 10 gettable numbers round totals hence the low score but I will take the 2 wins and avoiding the wooden spoon, though I had second lowest total.
Will have to up my numbers game though going 4 large and 6 small didn't pay off much
GR MSL GNDT MSS NGVWL SRND NNLYC NNCT
User avatar
Tony Atkins
Fanatic
Posts: 2246
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:19 pm
Location: Reading
Contact:

Re: COREA 2025 - Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025

Post by Tony Atkins »

Image

Recaps of the rounds and final are now available at http://www.kisekigo.com/cd/
CO-MSO every August
COREA 30th August 2025
Post Reply