Recap for Friday 11 September. Series 61 Prelim 40

[Allan Harmer]

Countdown recap for Friday 11 September 2009.

C1: Champion Bob De Caux (2 wins, 170 points.)
Bob is a member of apterous but i have not come across him before - lucky for both of us!
A former investment banker, who has presumably made his mega millions and taken early retirement. Or is he part of the De Caux advertising company family, which we see on a lot of advertising billboards??
He is a Spurs fan and plays left back football for his local team. I was always left back in the the changing room!

C2: Challenger Alex Richards.
Alex is a maths student. He is a Spurs supporter too and is a sports fan. His favourite song is My Sharona by The Knack, which strikes a chord with Jeff.
DC: Susie Dent and Kate Humble.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: S D T N O E I O L
R02: D U N I Q U T E D
R03: G S P V A E A E S
R04: P U C I S A T E S
R05: 2, 1, 6, 3, 3, 75. Target: 780.
TTT: DIALTWIN - "It's always behind you unless you turn around"
R06: H I D O R E P O W
R07: D R J G A U I A S
R08: L P R I C O S E M
R09: K G H X A E O R L
R10: 7, 7, 10, 4, 3, 75. Target: 841.
TTT: RANGLINE - "Taking lessons about a curve perhaps"
R11: M T L F A E O E R
R12: D I M A T O R E Y
R13: N T L C A E A E N
R14: 1, 9, 2, 9, 3, 50. Target: 520.
R15: B U L N U T T E R (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: S D T N O E I O L

C1: LOONIEST (8)
C2: LOONIEST (8)
DC: SOLENOID (8)
OT: EIDOLONS (8) OILSTONE (8)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)

Round 2: D U N I Q U T E D

C1: UNIQUE (6)
C2: UNTIED (6)
DC: UNQUIET (7)
Score: 14–14 (max 15)

Round 3: G S P V A E A E S

C1: PASSAGE (7)
C2: PAVES (5)
DC: SAVAGES (7)
Score: 21–14 (max 22)

Round 4: P U C I S A T E S

C1: AUSPICES (8)
C2: PACIEST (7)
OT: SPACESUIT (18)

Everyone misses a tricky 9, including DC but nevertheless Bob takes a nice lead against Alex, who seems a little lack-lustre, probably due to nerves.
Score: 29–14 (max 40)

Round 5: 2, 1, 6, 3, 3, 75. Target: 780.

C1: 780. 75+3=78x(6+2+1) (10)
C2: 780. 75+3=78x(6+2+1) (10)
Score: 39–24 (max 50)

Teatime teaser: DIALTWIN -> TAILWIND

Round 6: H I D O R E P O W

C1: POWDER (6)
C2: whored
DC: WHOOPED (7)
OT: WHOOPER (7) WOODIER (7)
Score: 45–24 (max 57)
Alex declares a 7 but his dodgy word only has 6 letters. The word would have been allowed, which is a choker for Alex who now slips further behind.

Round 7: D R J G A U I A S

C1: JAGUARS (7)
C2: GUARDS (6)
OT: SUDARIA (7)
Score: 52–24 (max 64)

Round 8: L P R I C O S E M

C1: imposer
C2: CLOSER (6)
DC: COMPILERS (18)
A dodgy round for Bob, as he misses a fairly easy 9 in COMPILERS (which jumps off the page) and has IMPOSER disallowed as it is not in the Dictionary. Alex misses the 9 too and only gets 6, so he still has a mountain to climb to get back into the game.

Score: 52–30 (max 82)

Round 9: K G H X A E O R L

C1: REGAL (5)
C2: HOAXER (6)
DC: GHERAO (6)
OT: GALORE (6) GAOLER (6)
Score: 52–36 (max 88)

Round 10: 7, 7, 10, 4, 3, 75. Target: 841.

C1: 842. 7+4=11x75=825+10+7 (7)
C2: 842. 7+4=11x75=825+10+7 (7)
RR: 841. 75+7=82x10=820+(7x3) (10)
Score: 59–43 (max 98)

Teatime teaser: RANGLINE -> LEARNING

Round 11: M T L F A E O E R

C1: FLOATER (7)
C2: FLOATER (7)
DC: FORMATE (7)
OT: FEMORAL (7) FLOREAT (7) REFLOAT (7) REFLATE (7)
Score: 66–50 (max 105)

Round 12: D I M A T O R E Y

C1: MATIER (6)
C2: TAMER (5)
DC: DAYTIME (7) MEDIATORY (18)
MEDIATOR is a regular CD word missed by both contestants and Kate Humble is delighted to add the Y for a nice 9 with MEDIATORY.
Score: 72–50 (max 123)

Round 13: N T L C A E A E N

C1: ANNEAL (6)
C2: CLEAN (5)
OT: CATENANE (8)
Score: 78–50 (max 131)

Round 14: 1, 9, 2, 9, 3, 50. Target: 520.

C1: 520. 50+2=52x(9+1) (10)
C2: 520. 50+2=52x(9+1) (10)
Score: 88–60 (max 141)

Round 15: B U L N U T T E R

No one buzzes. The answer was TURBULENT.
Score: 88–60 (max 151)
Both contestants miss the CONUNDRM and Bob eases to his third win.
Bob seems a nice easy-going guy and it is good to see he is human, which has led to a few close games and has had some hard-fought victories. Unfortunately, Alex just didn't have the word-power to compete at this level.
Good luck to Bob in his quest for Octochamp status.

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=61
This website is not endorsed by or affiliated with Channel 4, the makers of Countdown, or any person associated with the aforementioned in any way whatsoever at all, never has been, never will be, and moreover is proud not to be. Yep.

Page design and all good stuff copyright © Charles Reams 2008. Thanks for Mike Brown