Countdown in Nottingham 2009

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:02 pm

Hi all

It is with much excitement I can announce that Countdown in Nottingham 2009 will be taking place on Saturday 23rd May at the Westdale Lane Community Centre in the Mapperley area of Nottingham. Everybody will play 6 games of 15 round Countdown in the Bristol style, and before the tournament proper, the first ever live trial (and hopefully naming) of a brand new variant.

Entry fee will be £8 and for an extra £2 a lunch will be available at the event consisting of a well-filled sandwich, a scone and a piece of fruit. Drinks will be available throughout the day at no extra charge.

If you're interested, just drop me a pm or post in this thread stating your interest.

Hope to see you in May!

Itinerary:

Doors open: 10:00
Welcomes: 10:45
Exhbition game: 11:00
Games 1 & 2: 11:30
Lunch: 12:30
Games 3 & 4: 1:15
Break: 2:15
Games 5 & 6: 2:45
Prizegiving: 4:00

Current entrants:

Mike Brown
Rich Priest
Kai Laddiman
Dinos Sfyris
Junaid Mubeen
Dan Vanniasingham
Jon O'Neill
Kirk Bevins
Charlie Reams
Paul Howe
Howard Somerset
Adam Dexter
Jack Morgan
Barry Evans
Callum Laddiman
Lee Fisher
Stewart Gordon
Karen Pearson

If I've missed you off, just give me a nudge.

Richard Priest · Post by **Richard Priest** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:05 pm

Count me in please.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:09 pm

Curse you Priest, beat me to it.

I'm (currently) going.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:13 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:15 round Countdown

Excellent

Ben Wilson wrote:the most anticipated new sport of the year, the CoNot ball game.

Excellent

Ben Wilson wrote:a well-filled sandwich

You know how to satisfy a man, Neb.

See you in May

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:35 pm

Yes please

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:47 pm

Is there a limit to the number of places? I don't think I'd be able to commit until quite near the time.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:00 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:Is there a limit to the number of places? I don't think I'd be able to commit until quite near the time.

Let me know when you can- the room's pretty big and I doubt it'd fill.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:01 pm

Count me in. I'm so excited about a 15 round tournament!! Yes yes yes!!

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:26 pm

I'll be there, obviously.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:29 am

Ben Wilson wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:Is there a limit to the number of places? I don't think I'd be able to commit until quite near the time.
Let me know when you can- the room's pretty big and I doubt it'd fill.

Cool. My grandmother lives in Nottingham so it *should* be fairly easy for me to go. The only problem is that the other half has exams around then, and I think I have a report due in at some point near then too.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:50 am

Excellent, I'm in. Hope its as good as last year.

Ben Wilson wrote: after round 2 there will a lengthy lunch break in which there will be opportunity to play the most anticipated new sport of the year, the CoNot ball game.

For the uninitiated, this involves nine separate people picking letters and trying to make a word from the resulting selection. The letter picker has a small yellow ball, which they throw to someone else once they've picked their letter. Unless you're Stewart Gordon, in which case you ping it straight into Joyce Cansfield's eighty year old face.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:45 am

Sounds good, I'm free that weekend, hopefully all my exams will be finished by then too. Put me down as a very likely, barring unexpected exams or social events.

JackHurst · Post by **JackHurst** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:38 pm

I'd like to go, I'd probably go just to harass everyone else and then get kicked out. Saying that, the 23rd of may is right in the middle of My As exams

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:59 pm

I want to go but it's likely I'll have exams then. We'll see.

JackHurst · Post by **JackHurst** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:24 pm

Jimmy Gough wrote:I want to go but it's likely I'll have exams then. We'll see.

I think that Saturday is the first day of a half term, so you shouldn't have any exams for about 8 days. Thats how it works out for me anyway.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:07 pm

In any event the Monday after CoNot is a bank holiday so I doubt anyone will have exams then.

JackHurst · Post by **JackHurst** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:13 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:In any event the Monday after CoNot is a bank holiday so I doubt anyone will have exams then.

You'd think, but knowing the dreadful organistation skills of the exam boards i wouldnt be suprised.

If i can get myself soem transport i will try and go fo sho.

*Heads to google maps and national rail*

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:27 pm

Bollocks. The other half just got his exam timetable - this is a no go for me now.

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:05 am

Yes please!

JackHurst · Post by **JackHurst** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:19 pm

I dont suppose anyoen who likes giving lifts to strangers is driving through leicester on the way there and/or back?

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:07 am

Anyone driven there from Londonish area before?
Google maps directions reckons 2 hours for the journey, in which case it'd be doable in a day.
Is 2 hours realistic?

Lifts possible along route (M1 from Luton northwards).
I'll be skirting past Leicester, Jack, so presumably not too much of a detour to collect you.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:55 am

Julie T wrote:Anyone driven there from Londonish area before?
Google maps directions reckons 2 hours for the journey, in which case it'd be doable in a day.
Is 2 hours realistic?

That's about right, it takes me slightly under 2 hours coming from Hemel Hempstead.

JackHurst · Post by **JackHurst** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:01 pm

Julie T wrote:Anyone driven there from Londonish area before?
Google maps directions reckons 2 hours for the journey, in which case it'd be doable in a day.
Is 2 hours realistic?

Lifts possible along route (M1 from Luton northwards).
I'll be skirting past Leicester, Jack, so presumably not too much of a detour to collect you.

That sounds very kind offer Julie. I've not got too many personality disorders, so a car journey with me would be more than bearable.

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:57 am

Paul Howe wrote:
Julie T wrote:Anyone driven there from Londonish area before?
Google maps directions reckons 2 hours for the journey, in which case it'd be doable in a day.
Is 2 hours realistic?
That's about right, it takes me slightly under 2 hours coming from Hemel Hempstead.

Thanks, Paul.

JackHurst wrote:
Julie T wrote:Anyone driven there from Londonish area before?
Google maps directions reckons 2 hours for the journey, in which case it'd be doable in a day.
Is 2 hours realistic?

Lifts possible along route (M1 from Luton northwards).
I'll be skirting past Leicester, Jack, so presumably not too much of a detour to collect you.
That sounds very kind offer Julie. I've not got too many personality disorders, so a car journey with me would be more than bearable.

That's OK, Jack. And I'll leave my bloody axe at home this time.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:24 pm

I'm tempted.

How scary are you lot in person?

D Eadie · Post by **D Eadie** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:40 pm

Clare Sudbery wrote:I'm tempted.

How scary are you lot in person?

Don't do it Clare, they're all extremely weird. Dribbling, twitching, sweating, full-fat Coke, spots, v-neck jumpers, halitosis, ungroomed and in some places, disfigured. And that's just Corby.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:35 pm

Unsure actually. I've been talking about going to see Christine in France at the "end of May", plus there's the UK Scrabble Championship (the one in French, with about 5 players) and the French WSC either side of that date.

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:38 pm

Do come!

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:40 am

Clare Sudbery wrote:I'm tempted.

How scary are you lot in person?

Oooh, do come Clare! They appear almost human IRL.

I went to CoLin in January, and it was great fun.

Only 2 other women playing apart from me, so it'd be nice to increase the numbers this time.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:02 am

Julie T wrote:Only 2 other women playing apart from me, so it'd be nice to increase the numbers this time.

As long as you don't expect me to represent womankind by actually winning a game or anything... although interestingly... the idea of competing in something I'm bound to do badly at is rather refreshing. Takes the pressure off.

Ian Dent · Post by **Ian Dent** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:07 am

If it were a Monday. Maybe.

Darren Carter · Post by **Darren Carter** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:50 pm

Would love to come but it's too close to my exams, oh well there's always next year.

Karen Pearson · Post by **Karen Pearson** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:01 pm

I'd like to come but can't commit yet. I'ts my brother's 50th birthday around then and we haven't agreed a date for a family get-together yet. Will confirm one way or another as soon as I know.

tomrowell · Post by **tomrowell** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:54 pm

If i can get the weekend off work then I will be coming

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:47 am

D Eadie wrote:Don't do it Clare, they're all extremely weird. Dribbling, twitching, sweating, full-fat Coke, spots, v-neck jumpers, halitosis, ungroomed and in some places, disfigured. And that's just Corby.

Harsh, he is in his sixties now.

Adam Dexter · Post by **Adam Dexter** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:34 pm

I must say I am mightily interested in this one. Closer to my area for a change

What kinda times is it?

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:40 pm

Adam Dexter wrote:I must say I am mightily interested in this one. Closer to my area for a change What kinda times is it?

Will be from around 10:45-4:30, not counting the piss-up afterwards.

Adam Dexter · Post by **Adam Dexter** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:34 am

OK

Count me in. Train gets into Nottingham at 10:37... don't know how long it takes to get to the community centre from there? Might be a tad late looking at distance; hope that isn't a problem!

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:13 pm

As stated in the top post the games will be underway at 11am so you'll likely just miss my waffle but not much else. The timetable's got some flexibility anyway.

Jack Morgan · Post by **Jack Morgan** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:44 pm

Definitely would like to come

Will be a welcome break from exams! Thanks!

Matthew Green · Post by **Matthew Green** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:59 pm

I can't make it but I can arrange some reinforced steel chairs to be sent via FedEx in case of any Shallow Hal moments.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:52 am

You've probably realised I won't be there. I'll probably start watching again at the QF stage, unfortunately watching Countdown every day gets a bit mind-numbing, so I need to take regular breaks from it.

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:55 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:You've probably realised I won't be there.

Not me..

Callum Laddiman · Post by **Callum Laddiman** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:36 pm

Count me in please Ben.

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:10 pm

Ben, please could you remove my name from the CoNot event?
Sorry, and I'm sure it would be as great as the CoLin one you ran, but I've decided that I'm spending too much time on Countdown stuff, and I have other things I need to concentrate on at home.

Rob Thomas · Post by **Rob Thomas** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:52 am

Fairly good chance I can come, will confirm later in the week...

Clare, i'm one of the lowest ranked people on the attendee list, fully expecting a 6-pack of hammerings, so you're not the only one!

Rob

Barry Evans · Post by **Barry Evans** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:30 pm

So...any plans for a post-CoNot social?

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sun May 10, 2009 2:27 pm

There are still plenty of places available in this if anyone's interested- although in true co- event fashion the advertised exhibition game has been replaced by a different one less than two weeks before the event itself.

The as-yet unnamed variant trialled on msn will receive a much wider trial before round 1 (I've updated the timetable to reflect the changes). There will be prizes on offer for 1st-3rd place with an additional 'ratings prize' on offer for those who finish furthest ahead of their 'seeding'.

Simply let me know either in the thread or via a pm if you want in on what is guaranteed to be a fun day meeting fellow forumites/stars of the show! If you've entered (or even if you haven't) please let me know if you want the optional £2 lunch as well- it's getting to the point where we need exact numbers for that.

Hope to see you all on the 23rd!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:27 pm

Can I have the lunch please.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Sun May 10, 2009 4:57 pm

Lunch please.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:39 pm

Luncheon please Benjemin.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:01 pm

Lunch for me too please Mr Neb

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:34 pm

If you're a filthy vegetarian, what could you expect in your well-filled (woof) sandwich?

(yes, I still haven't worked out if I'm going yet - is there a deadline for lunch/attendance confirmation?)

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:26 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:If you're a filthy vegetarian, what could you expect in your well-filled (woof) sandwich?

(yes, I still haven't worked out if I'm going yet - is there a deadline for lunch/attendance confirmation?)

Ironically the deadline for lunch confirmation is before that of the attendance confirmation. (i.e. about a week from now as opposed to 'two days before')

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:57 pm

All the cool cats seem to be having lunch; I will as well.

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:10 pm

Lunch for me too please, Ben.

Rob Thomas · Post by **Rob Thomas** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:09 pm

OK i'm a definite now, and i'll go for the lunch please. Ta. See you all there.

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:35 pm

Rob Thomas wrote:OK i'm a definite now, and i'll go for the lunch please. Ta. See you all there.

See you there, bathrooms.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:57 pm

Jon O'Neill wrote:
Rob Thomas wrote:See you all there.
See you there, bathrooms.

Could be worse - his name could be T. S. Eliot.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:58 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote: Could be worse - his name could be T. S. Eliot.

LITOTES?