) Enjoy. 
Countdown recap for Wednesday 12 November 2014.
C1: Champion Laurence Killen (4 wins, 397 points.) An Apterite from Belfast, but is currently studying Actuarial Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
C2: Challenger Alex Davies. From Bicester, Oxfordshire. He's currently on his final year at Southampton University studying journalism. He also likes playing loose-head prop for Bicester Rugby Club, and supports Bolton Wanderers F.C..
DC: Susie Dent and Kate Garraway.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R P T E A I G T E
R02: P R T L O I E A R
R03: 100, 50, 25, 75, 2, 10. Target: 744.
TTT: SEEITNEW - "They might provide domestic help or Bella, Jake and Fizz"
R04: E O E Z C T D G U
R05: R C A U E N S Y A
R06: 50, 3, 2, 4, 8, 9. Target: 279.
R07: R M S B U I A M U
R08: W X P L I A E A D
R09: 100, 50, 75, 9, 3, 2. Target: 559.
TTT: ACRIDGEM - "It tasted so acrid, she pulled an ugly face"
R10: H I O E A D P R D
R11: T K M E A O V F L
R12: T N S L A O E O E
R13: S N O A E C T N I
R14: 25, 100, 10, 9, 7, 1. Target: 274.
R15: R O T A R Y P A L (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: R P T E A I G T E
Laurence: PIRATE (6)
Alex: PIRATE (6)
DC: REPEAT (6) TARGET (6) TRIAGE (6)
OT: AIGRETTE (8)
Score: 6–6 (max 8)
Not a brilliant start as it's just 6's all round the studio, even though there were plenty of 7's and even a darrenic 8 too
An AIGRETTE is a headdress consisting of a white egret’s feather or other decoration such as a spray of gems.
Round 2: P R T L O I E A R
Laurence: PORTLIER (8)
Alex: POLITER (7)
DC: LOITER (6) PARROT (6) PETIOLAR (8)
OT: EPILATOR (8) PALTRIER (8) PRETRIAL (8) PRIORATE (8)
Score: 14–6 (max 16)
That's much better, and a big offering from Laurence gives him the first lead of the day.
Round 3: 100, 50, 25, 75, 2, 10. Target: 744.
Laurence: 744. (10 x 75) - ((100 + 50) / 25) (10)
Alex: 746.
Score: 24–6 (max 26)
Laurence goes 4 large once again, and he gets full marks, with Alex 2 behind.........
Teatime teaser: SEEITNEW -> TWEENIES
Round 4: E O E Z C T D G U
Laurence: outcede
Alex: -
DC: OUTED (5) EDUCE (5)
OT: COUDE (5) DEUCE (5) DOUCE (5) ETUDE (5) GEODE (5) GODET (5) OGEED (5)
Score: 24–6 (max 31)
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear..... Alex blanks out and Laurence wastes his chance to extend his lead by going for a non-existent 7........
COUDÉ is an adjective relating to or denoting a telescope in which the rays are bent to a focus at a fixed point off the axis.
DOUCE is a Scottish adjective meaning sober and sedate.
An ÉTUDE is a short musical composition, typically for one instrument, designed as an exercise to improve the technique or demonstrate the skill of the player.
A GODET is a triangular piece of material inserted in a dress, shirt, or glove to make it flared or for ornamentation.
OGEED is an adjective relating to OGEE, an S-shaped line or moulding.
Round 5: R C A U E N S Y A
Laurence: CRANES (6)
Alex: unscary
DC: CANARY (6)
OT: CAESURA (7) CARNEYS (7)
Score: 30–6 (max 38)
Not too unscary by Alex, as Laurence's CRANES build up his score further......
In Greek and Latin verse, a CAESURA is a break between words within a metrical foot.
Round 6: 50, 3, 2, 4, 8, 9. Target: 279.
Laurence: -
Alex: 279. ((50 + 4) x (3 + 2)) + 9 (10)
Score: 30–16 (max 48)
A slight shock with Laurence blanking, which lets Alex take full advantage and gets himself back in the game.
Kate talks about a trip she did to the Syria-Jordan border where she cheered up refugee children by playing the song "Gangnam Style".
Round 7: R M S B U I A M U
Laurence: BARIUM (6)
Alex: RUMBAS (6)
OT: MIMBARS (7) MUSAMBI (7)
Score: 36–22 (max 55)
Another pair of 6's from our contestants, although there are a couple of tricky 7's here........
A MIMBAR is a short flight of steps used as a platform by a preacher in a mosque.
A MUSAMBI is an orange of a variety with green skin and yellow flesh.
Round 8: W X P L I A E A D
Laurence: WAILED (6)
Alex: PIXEL (5)
DC: IDEAL (5) PLAID (5)
OT: EPAXIAL (7)
Score: 42–22 (max 62)
Laurence goes further ahead again with his 6, and once more another odd 7 is missed by all.....
EPAXIAL is an adjective meaning situated on the dorsal side of an axis.
Round 9: 100, 50, 75, 9, 3, 2. Target: 559.
Laurence: 559. ((2 + 3) x 100) + 50 + 9 (10)
Alex: 559. ((2 + 3) x 100) + 50 + 9 (10)
Score: 52–32 (max 72)
A simple numbers game for both. The gap of 20 points is still retrievable for Alex, but can he bridge the gap
Teatime teaser: ACRIDGEM -> GRIMACED
Round 10: H I O E A D P R D
Laurence: DIAPER (6)
Alex: ROPED (5)
DC: PARODIED (8) DROPHEAD (8)
Score: 58–32 (max 80)
Well, the gap is expanding thanks to a DIAPER, but DC get a double 8.
Round 11: T K M E A O V F L
Laurence: METAL (5)
Alex: METAL (5)
DC: FLAME (5) FLAKE (5) OVATE (5)
OT: FOETAL (6) FOLATE (6) FOVEAL (6)
Score: 63–37 (max 86)
5's all around in the studio, but there are a trio of 6's available.........
A FOLATE is a salt or ester of folic acid.
Susie's Origins of Words talks about the origins of some bingo terms.
Round 12: T N S L A O E O E
Laurence: LOOSEN (6)
Alex: SALOON (6)
DC: STOLEN (6) ETALONS (7)
OT: LATEENS (7) LEANEST (7) LOANEES (7) OLEATES (7)
Score: 69–43 (max 93)
Another pair of 6's from the contestants. Alex needs something big in this round, or it's game over for him...............
A LATEEN is a triangular sail on a long yard at an angle of 45° to the mast.
An OLEATE is a salt or ester of oleic acid.
Round 13: S N O A E C T N I
Laurence: CONTAINS (8)
Alex: ENACTIONS (18)
Score: 69–61 (max 111)
WOAH! WOAH!! WOAH!!! Alex pulls a rabbit out of the hat and has decimated Laurence's lead to just 8 points............, a crucial conundrum is now definitely on the table..............
Round 14: 25, 100, 10, 9, 7, 1. Target: 274.
Laurence: 274. (7 x 25) + 100 - 1 (10)
Alex: 276.
Score: 79–61 (max 121)
So, we've had a 4 large, a 1 large, a 3 large and now a 2 large, but, unfortunately for Alex, he blows it and hands Laurence his 5th win.
Round 15: R O T A R Y P A L
No one buzzes. The answer was PORTRAYAL.
Final Score: 79–61 (max 131)
But, it's back-to-back conundrum blanks from Laurence, as his average makes a noticeable drop with his lowest score of his run to date. His 5 game total is now at 476 points, averaging just over 95 points, which if he were to maintain and become an octochamp would put him at #5 on the leaderboard. Currently, he is at #7, which he'll certainly stay whatever happens tomorrow, as he would need an unlikely score of 172 to go above Paul Worsley.
Join Anthony Endsor tomorrow for the last game of the week, and see if he can make a recovery in form.
I'll look forward to seeing many of you at COHUD on Saturday, which I'm sure will be a blast, like they always are.
I'll be back in the recappers' chair next Wednesday, when Laurence will have gone, but will he have become an octochamp by then?? Who knows.........
So, till then, have a great weekend and see you soon. Bye for now.
Statistics Corner
Laurence:
Total score - 79
Raw score - 87
Total % of max - 60
Raw % of max - 66
Total average score per round - 5.3
Raw average score per round - 5.8
Number of maxes - 4
Alex:
Total score - 61
Raw score - 92
Total % of max - 47
Raw % of max - 70
Total average score per round - 4.1
Raw average score per round - 6.1
Number of maxes - 3
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=71