Friday 24th February 2023 (Series 87, Preliminary 25)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Friday 24 February 2023.

C1: Champion Seán Dennehy (4 wins, 332 points.) A theatre production manager from County Clare, Republic of Ireland.
C2: Challenger Gesuine Martin. A retired schoolteacher. She's a big fitness obsessive and runs many 10k races.
DC: Susie Dent and Bob Harris.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: S R T M A O A N L
R02: N S H P E U E S T
R03: 50, 1, 8, 6, 9, 1. Target: 851.
TTT: THEIRSLY - "Their sly behaviour matches their character."
R04: R O G S E B A P T
R05: G R N S U E I F S
R06: 100, 25, 1, 5, 7, 6. Target: 962.
R07: M L N E U A S W H
R08: N I D C O I E V L
R09: 50, 75, 4, 10, 10, 1. Target: 137.
TTT: SHESTRIM - "Montgomery's assistant is in pieces."
R10: A E E U F G N Y A
R11: T W R E I C P G U
R12: L A I N T D O E R
R13: T M Q S A I A R E
R14: 25, 50, 2, 5, 1, 10. Target: 118.
R15: P A I R T O O N E (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: S R T M A O A N L

Seán: AROMAS (6)
Gesuine: MORALS (6)
DC: MORTALS (7) MANTRAS (7)
OT: MATRONAL (8) MATRONAS (8)
Score: 6–6 (max 8)

Round 2: N S H P E U E S T

Seán: PUSHES (6)
Gesuine: UPSETS (6)
DC: ENTHUSES (8)
Score: 12–12 (max 16)

Round 3: 50, 1, 8, 6, 9, 1. Target: 851.

Seán: 851. ((9 + 8) x 50) + 1 (10)
Gesuine: 854.
Score: 22–12 (max 26)

Teatime teaser: THEIRSLY -> SLITHERY

Round 4: R O G S E B A P T

Seán: BARGES (6)
Gesuine: BASTER (6)
DC: PROBATES (8)
OT: PEATBOGS (8) PORTAGES (8) POTAGERS (8)
Score: 28–18 (max 34)

Round 5: G R N S U E I F S

Seán: REFUSING (8)
Gesuine: ensue
DC: FUSSIER (7) refussing
OT: INFUSERS (8) RESUINGS (8)
Score: 36–18 (max 42)

Round 6: 100, 25, 1, 5, 7, 6. Target: 962.

Seán: -
Gesuine: -
RR: 962. (100 - 25 - 1) x (7 + 6) (10)
Score: 36–18 (max 52)

Bob talks about the longevity of country music, and how it still remains true to its roots today.

Round 7: M L N E U A S W H

Seán: HUMANE (6)
Gesuine: AMUSE (5)
DC: WHALES (6) UNLEASH (7)
OT: ALUMENS (7) MAHEWUS (7)
Score: 42–18 (max 59)

Round 8: N I D C O I E V L

Seán: COILED (6)
Gesuine: DIVE (4)
DC: VIOLIN (6) INDOCILE (8)
OT: INVOICED (8) NIDICOLE (8)
Score: 48–18 (max 67)

Round 9: 50, 75, 4, 10, 10, 1. Target: 137.

Seán: 139.
Gesuine: 136. 75 + 50 + 10 + 1 (7)
RR: 137. 75 + 50 + 10 + (10 / (4 + 1)) (10)
Score: 48–25 (max 77)

Teatime teaser: SHESTRIM -> SMITHERS

Round 10: A E E U F G N Y A

Seán: FAUNA (5)
Gesuine: FAN (3)
DC: FUNGEE (6)
Score: 53–25 (max 83)

Round 11: T W R E I C P G U

Seán: PICTURE (7)
Gesuine: griper
OT: CUPRITE (7)
Score: 60–25 (max 90)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "biting the bullet" and "turncoat".

Round 12: L A I N T D O E R

Seán: ORIENTAL (8)
Gesuine: LOADER (6)
DC: RELATION (8) RODENTIAL (18)
Score: 68–25 (max 108)

Round 13: T M Q S A I A R E

Seán: MASTER (6)
Gesuine: RAISE (5)
DC: MAESTRIA (8)
OT: ARTEMIAS (8)
Score: 74–25 (max 116)

Round 14: 25, 50, 2, 5, 1, 10. Target: 118.

Seán: 116. (50 x 2) + 10 + 1 + 5 (7)
Gesuine: 116. (50 x 2) + 10 + 1 + 5 (7)
RR: 118. (50 + 10 - 1) x 2 (10)
Score: 81–32 (max 126)

Round 15: P A I R T O O N E

Seán buzzes on 11.25 seconds to say OPERATION which is correct.
Final Score: 91–32 (max 136)

Statistics Corner

Seán:
Total score - 91
Raw score - 98
Total % of max - 67
Raw % of max - 72
Total average score per round - 6.1
Raw average score per round - 6.5
Number of maxes - 4

Gesuine:
Total score - 32
Raw score - 62
Total % of max - 24
Raw % of max - 46
Total average score per round - 2.1
Raw average score per round - 4.1
Number of maxes - 0

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=87