Co:Wat?! 2022 - Countdown in Waterford (18/06/2022)
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 11:32 pm
TL;DR summary:
~As regards coronavirus, facemasks and distancing probably will not be required.
~The event will be run in line with whatever the public health guidelines at the time are.
~It costs €15 for those who have sorted out their own accommodation.
~It costs €50 for anyone who is availing of our campsite facilities.
~Overseas guests will be welcome to attend, and some special arrangements can be made for those doing Waterford AND Galway.
~Galway on the 11th. Waterford on the 18th. Exactly one week later. It's an Irish bonanza! Why not do both?!
~The Saturday night will likely consist of a pub sing-song and some games of pool.
[Event facebook page is here: https://fb.me/e/5ioP0CtkO]
--------------------------------------
WHAT IS IT?
Based on Channel 4's flagship daytime TV quiz show, this will be a chance to partake in a real-life Countdown tournament, in a rural setting. We'll have consonants, we'll have vowels, we'll have numbers. We may not have Rachel Riley to dispense them, but we won’t have Anne Robinson either! Every cloud…
--------------------------------------
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.
Having had the experience of hosting Co:Wat in 2020 and in 2021, we are well used to running events with covid safety measures in place. Now that restrictions have been lifted, it is likely Co:Wat 2022 will resemble the 2018 and 2019 editions. However, the pandemic is not over yet, and we will be keeping an eye on public health recommendations and will ensure the event meets the standards.
--------------------------------------
THE IRISH BONANZA.
This year there are more Irish co-events than ever before! There is Jessamine O’Connor’s brand new CO:MON! in Monasteraden, Co. Sligo on April 23rd.(spaces are limited, so sign up for that one while there is still some availability) Then we have the bonanza itself. Zoomdown host Paul Anderson launches the first ever Co:Galway on June 11th, followed by Co:Wat exactly one week later on the 18th. The idea behind scheduling these two events so close to one another was to accommodate anyone travelling from the UK who might want to make a holiday of it. Come for Co:Gal, get to do the touristy stuff, and stay on for Co:Wat. A Summer get-away bookended by Co-events in two scenic locations on the Western and South-Eastern coasts. There is no word on whether the original (and still the best) event, Co:Dub will take place this year, but hopefully Eddy will announce a date for that soon.
(For UK visitors who are coming to both events, get in touch if you are stuck for accommodation in the week between the two events, and I will see what I can do for you.)
--------------------------------------
WHO CAN COME?
Anyone at all! Having an interest in anagramming, word games, or puzzles would certainly make it more fun for you, but that is not a requirement. The event caters for all abilities. Some players will be very skilled, but many will be beginners. There will be prizes on offer at each ability level... so whether you are expert, intermediate or novice, there is a chance of coming away with a prize.
--------------------------------------
WHERE IS IT?
The event will be held in the Carbally Community Centre in Ballymacaw, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, Ireland. (At the heart of the sunny South East. ) The Community Centre is located a 5 minute walk from a beach and around a 7 minute walk from the two local pubs, Dowers and Whites. The venue is very spacious, and contains kitchen facilities.
--------------------------------------
HOW WILL IT WORK?
It kicks off at 11am, and will be conducted using the Bristol-style classroom format. Everyone gets to see the same sets of letters and numbers, and to play them at the same time. Each person will have a direct opponent assigned. These match-ups will be drawn at random just before the start of each game. Everyone is guaranteed 7 games during the day. The results of the early matches (four 9Rers) will determine the composition of the different quarter final groupings. After lunch we play the QFs SFs and finals for each grouping of 8 players. These matches will be 15Rers. The top 8 (sorted by number of wins, then number of points) will contest the quarter final group from which the event winner will come. The final game to determine the event winner will be the only game that won’t be done in the classroom-style setting. It will be a stand-alone match, and everyone will be welcome to stick around and spectate if they so wish.
.
After dinner, we’ll stroll down to Whites for a few games of pool, followed by an evening of music. Can’t bate the oul singsong!
--------------------------------------
COSTS INVOLVED.
Once again the aim is to make this as cheap as possible while still covering costs. This year there are two price plans:-
.
~PLAN #1 [FULL PACKAGE]:- €50 …includes the event, access to a camp site, and up to 3 meals during your stay.
.
~PLAN #2 [EVENT ONLY]:- €15 …includes the event and a gourmet lunch (no... really, ask anyone who's been before, Finola has a talent when it comes to all things culinary!).
.
I would expect that many of those travelling to Waterford for this would need accommodation. Some years we can provide decent dormitory accommodation very cheaply, but this year we can offer a camp-site. We will provide a few tents. We can guarantee 12 spaces in our tents. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, air bed, pillow etc. (There is plenty of space in the campsite. For your €50 you are getting 2 nights access to a camp site specially kitted out for Co:Wat guests (with toilet / basic kitchen facilities), the event, breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Saturday, and also breakfast on Sunday.
€15 is the price available for Waterford natives, or anyone else who has their own accommodation sorted. The price includes the event, and lunch on Saturday.
Other items that are provided throughout, free of charge, include:- 1. Pens and paper to use; 2. Coffees, teas, and some soft drinks; 3. Snacks.
(We are hoping all of this will be doable without operating at a loss financially. Depending on the numbers, it is possible.)
--------------------------------------
BOOKING DETAILS.
We can only guarantee a place in our tents to the first 12 people who apply, and need a place to sleep, thereafter, you'd need to bring and pitch your own tent, or sort out your own accommodation in a local hotel or B&B.
To book your place at Co:Wat?! send the payment to Eoin Jackson via paypal at the address ayum@live.ie. (please remember to select 'payment to friends & family') Alternatively make out a cheque to Eoin Jackson and send it on to 33 Shanakiel, Coxtown, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. Or you can pay on the day. (Payments on the day cannot be done by card.)
--------------------------------------
FLIGHTS, TRAVEL, etc.
If you are coming from overseas, the best options are to fly into Cork or Dublin. Both of these are approx a 90min drive from Waterford. Bus and train would be available to the city, and we can arrange a lift to the venue from there (for free, obviously). For anyone who would rather take the Ferry. There are regular sailings into Rosslare harbour from Pembroke and Fishguard in Wales. (Rosslare is a 60min drive from Dunmore East.)
For anyone travelling within Ireland, if you can make it to Waterford, we can provide a lift to the venue for you. If you are using Sat Nav, “Carbally Community Centre, Ballymacaw” should work fine.
Alternatively, if you are a part of the Irish Bonanza, you may be best off to fly into Galway Airport, and arrange to fly out from Cork or Dublin. I will have 3 spaces available in my car for people who need a ride from Galway to Waterford. Obviously get in touch sooner rather than later regarding these spots.
[More details to go here as they come available.]
--------------------------------------
I think that’s everything for now! If you have any queries, leave a comment below, or contact me (Eoin Jackson) via a facebook private message.
.
So if you fancy a few games of Countdown potentially followed by a swim on the beach, come to Waterford in the sunny South East of Ireland this June! Hope to see you there.
--------------------------------------
LIST OF CONFIRMED ATTENDEES (as at 01-06-22)
[C= Appeared on CD. | A = Apterite. | N = Co-event Newbie.]
1. Alan O'Sullivan [A]
2. Fiona Titcombe [C / A]
3. Hazel Drury [C / A]
4. Michelle Jackson
5. Finola Jackson
6. Kevin Jackson
7. Jessamine O'Connor [C / A]
8. Roger Stevens
9. Gerry Tynan [C / A]
10. Brendan Duke [C / A]
11. Shane Heylin [C]
12. Sarah Langan
13. Elaine McCormick Dunne
14. Sarah Tynan
15. Niall Waters [A / N]
16. Paul Drury
17. George Drury
18. Mairead McGovern-Fitzgerald [N]
19. Thomas Carey [C / A]
20. Damian McEvoy [A]
21. Mark O'Regan [C / A / N]
22. Liam Thomas Davis
23. Liam Holton
24. Marie McDonald [N]
25. Sean Lonergan
26. Kevin O'Sullivan
27. Brian Sullivan [N]
28. Ewie Anggoro [N]
29. Tom Drohan [A]
30. Georgi McGeary [N]
31. Mark McDonnell
~As regards coronavirus, facemasks and distancing probably will not be required.
~The event will be run in line with whatever the public health guidelines at the time are.
~It costs €15 for those who have sorted out their own accommodation.
~It costs €50 for anyone who is availing of our campsite facilities.
~Overseas guests will be welcome to attend, and some special arrangements can be made for those doing Waterford AND Galway.
~Galway on the 11th. Waterford on the 18th. Exactly one week later. It's an Irish bonanza! Why not do both?!
~The Saturday night will likely consist of a pub sing-song and some games of pool.
[Event facebook page is here: https://fb.me/e/5ioP0CtkO]
--------------------------------------
WHAT IS IT?
Based on Channel 4's flagship daytime TV quiz show, this will be a chance to partake in a real-life Countdown tournament, in a rural setting. We'll have consonants, we'll have vowels, we'll have numbers. We may not have Rachel Riley to dispense them, but we won’t have Anne Robinson either! Every cloud…
--------------------------------------
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.
Having had the experience of hosting Co:Wat in 2020 and in 2021, we are well used to running events with covid safety measures in place. Now that restrictions have been lifted, it is likely Co:Wat 2022 will resemble the 2018 and 2019 editions. However, the pandemic is not over yet, and we will be keeping an eye on public health recommendations and will ensure the event meets the standards.
--------------------------------------
THE IRISH BONANZA.
This year there are more Irish co-events than ever before! There is Jessamine O’Connor’s brand new CO:MON! in Monasteraden, Co. Sligo on April 23rd.(spaces are limited, so sign up for that one while there is still some availability) Then we have the bonanza itself. Zoomdown host Paul Anderson launches the first ever Co:Galway on June 11th, followed by Co:Wat exactly one week later on the 18th. The idea behind scheduling these two events so close to one another was to accommodate anyone travelling from the UK who might want to make a holiday of it. Come for Co:Gal, get to do the touristy stuff, and stay on for Co:Wat. A Summer get-away bookended by Co-events in two scenic locations on the Western and South-Eastern coasts. There is no word on whether the original (and still the best) event, Co:Dub will take place this year, but hopefully Eddy will announce a date for that soon.
(For UK visitors who are coming to both events, get in touch if you are stuck for accommodation in the week between the two events, and I will see what I can do for you.)
--------------------------------------
WHO CAN COME?
Anyone at all! Having an interest in anagramming, word games, or puzzles would certainly make it more fun for you, but that is not a requirement. The event caters for all abilities. Some players will be very skilled, but many will be beginners. There will be prizes on offer at each ability level... so whether you are expert, intermediate or novice, there is a chance of coming away with a prize.
--------------------------------------
WHERE IS IT?
The event will be held in the Carbally Community Centre in Ballymacaw, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, Ireland. (At the heart of the sunny South East. ) The Community Centre is located a 5 minute walk from a beach and around a 7 minute walk from the two local pubs, Dowers and Whites. The venue is very spacious, and contains kitchen facilities.
--------------------------------------
HOW WILL IT WORK?
It kicks off at 11am, and will be conducted using the Bristol-style classroom format. Everyone gets to see the same sets of letters and numbers, and to play them at the same time. Each person will have a direct opponent assigned. These match-ups will be drawn at random just before the start of each game. Everyone is guaranteed 7 games during the day. The results of the early matches (four 9Rers) will determine the composition of the different quarter final groupings. After lunch we play the QFs SFs and finals for each grouping of 8 players. These matches will be 15Rers. The top 8 (sorted by number of wins, then number of points) will contest the quarter final group from which the event winner will come. The final game to determine the event winner will be the only game that won’t be done in the classroom-style setting. It will be a stand-alone match, and everyone will be welcome to stick around and spectate if they so wish.
.
After dinner, we’ll stroll down to Whites for a few games of pool, followed by an evening of music. Can’t bate the oul singsong!
--------------------------------------
COSTS INVOLVED.
Once again the aim is to make this as cheap as possible while still covering costs. This year there are two price plans:-
.
~PLAN #1 [FULL PACKAGE]:- €50 …includes the event, access to a camp site, and up to 3 meals during your stay.
.
~PLAN #2 [EVENT ONLY]:- €15 …includes the event and a gourmet lunch (no... really, ask anyone who's been before, Finola has a talent when it comes to all things culinary!).
.
I would expect that many of those travelling to Waterford for this would need accommodation. Some years we can provide decent dormitory accommodation very cheaply, but this year we can offer a camp-site. We will provide a few tents. We can guarantee 12 spaces in our tents. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, air bed, pillow etc. (There is plenty of space in the campsite. For your €50 you are getting 2 nights access to a camp site specially kitted out for Co:Wat guests (with toilet / basic kitchen facilities), the event, breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Saturday, and also breakfast on Sunday.
€15 is the price available for Waterford natives, or anyone else who has their own accommodation sorted. The price includes the event, and lunch on Saturday.
Other items that are provided throughout, free of charge, include:- 1. Pens and paper to use; 2. Coffees, teas, and some soft drinks; 3. Snacks.
(We are hoping all of this will be doable without operating at a loss financially. Depending on the numbers, it is possible.)
--------------------------------------
BOOKING DETAILS.
We can only guarantee a place in our tents to the first 12 people who apply, and need a place to sleep, thereafter, you'd need to bring and pitch your own tent, or sort out your own accommodation in a local hotel or B&B.
To book your place at Co:Wat?! send the payment to Eoin Jackson via paypal at the address ayum@live.ie. (please remember to select 'payment to friends & family') Alternatively make out a cheque to Eoin Jackson and send it on to 33 Shanakiel, Coxtown, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. Or you can pay on the day. (Payments on the day cannot be done by card.)
--------------------------------------
FLIGHTS, TRAVEL, etc.
If you are coming from overseas, the best options are to fly into Cork or Dublin. Both of these are approx a 90min drive from Waterford. Bus and train would be available to the city, and we can arrange a lift to the venue from there (for free, obviously). For anyone who would rather take the Ferry. There are regular sailings into Rosslare harbour from Pembroke and Fishguard in Wales. (Rosslare is a 60min drive from Dunmore East.)
For anyone travelling within Ireland, if you can make it to Waterford, we can provide a lift to the venue for you. If you are using Sat Nav, “Carbally Community Centre, Ballymacaw” should work fine.
Alternatively, if you are a part of the Irish Bonanza, you may be best off to fly into Galway Airport, and arrange to fly out from Cork or Dublin. I will have 3 spaces available in my car for people who need a ride from Galway to Waterford. Obviously get in touch sooner rather than later regarding these spots.
[More details to go here as they come available.]
--------------------------------------
I think that’s everything for now! If you have any queries, leave a comment below, or contact me (Eoin Jackson) via a facebook private message.
.
So if you fancy a few games of Countdown potentially followed by a swim on the beach, come to Waterford in the sunny South East of Ireland this June! Hope to see you there.
--------------------------------------
LIST OF CONFIRMED ATTENDEES (as at 01-06-22)
[C= Appeared on CD. | A = Apterite. | N = Co-event Newbie.]
1. Alan O'Sullivan [A]
2. Fiona Titcombe [C / A]
3. Hazel Drury [C / A]
4. Michelle Jackson
5. Finola Jackson
6. Kevin Jackson
7. Jessamine O'Connor [C / A]
8. Roger Stevens
9. Gerry Tynan [C / A]
10. Brendan Duke [C / A]
11. Shane Heylin [C]
12. Sarah Langan
13. Elaine McCormick Dunne
14. Sarah Tynan
15. Niall Waters [A / N]
16. Paul Drury
17. George Drury
18. Mairead McGovern-Fitzgerald [N]
19. Thomas Carey [C / A]
20. Damian McEvoy [A]
21. Mark O'Regan [C / A / N]
22. Liam Thomas Davis
23. Liam Holton
24. Marie McDonald [N]
25. Sean Lonergan
26. Kevin O'Sullivan
27. Brian Sullivan [N]
28. Ewie Anggoro [N]
29. Tom Drohan [A]
30. Georgi McGeary [N]
31. Mark McDonnell