Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Thursday 18 October 2012.
C1: Champion Rose Boyle (3 wins, 275 points.) A forumite originally from Arranmore Island, County Donegal. She went on safari to Kenya last year and saw all the "Big 5".
C2: Challenger Dave Moore. A retired construction manager from Hull.
DC: Susie Dent and Dr. Phil Hammond.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: P G S A I I H R T
R02: A U H F S E A M O
R03: K R S P I E A V N
R04: C M N O E A L S O
R05: 25, 75, 100, 9, 1, 7. Target: 412.
TTT: ROMEREPS - "They were reps of Rome back in the old day"
R06: U E O J S N L T A
R07: S M X O U E T I D
R08: E A E S H G I T W
R09: T D T E O I N L D
R10: 75, 2, 9, 3, 6, 9. Target: 147.
TTT: FOULDRUG - "It's how you might collect your water on safari"
R11: G L Y E A T R E W
R12: T D T B I E A F I
R13: T C D E I O Z S A
R14: 100, 7, 10, 5, 9, 7. Target: 525.
R15: G R E Y N O T U S (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: P G S A I I H R T
C1: SPIRIT (6)
C2: PARISH (6)
DC: AIRSHIP (7)
OT: HARPIST (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
The SPIRIT and PARISH go well together here. There are 2 nice little 7's here too.
Round 2: A U H F S E A M O
C1: FAMOUS (6)
C2: FAMOUS (6)
DC: AMUSE (5) SUMO (4)
OT: MAHOES (6) MAHUAS (6)
Score: 12–12 (max 13)
The most FAMOUS of the 6's is spotted by everyone concerned, leaving the others to be defined by moi.
A MAHOE (or HAU TREE) is a tropical American tree, Hibiscus elatus, of the mallow family, having wood used for cabinetwork and gunstocks.
A MAHUA is any of several trees of the genus Madhuca, of the sapodilla family, native to India, the Malay Peninsula, and southeastern Asia, especially Madhuca latifolia, the flowers of which are used, fresh or dried, for food or are fermented to prepare an intoxicating drink.
Round 3: K R S P I E A V N
C1: RAVINES (7)
C2: RAVINES (7)
DC: SPANKER (7) PARKIES (7) PARKINS (7)
OT: KIRPANS (7) PARVISE (7) SNAKIER (7)
Score: 19–19 (max 20)
Seven 7's here.
A KIRPAN is a small dagger worn by orthodox Sikhs.
A PARVISE (or PARVIS) is a court or portico in front of a building, especially a church.
Round 4: C M N O E A L S O
C1: COALMEN (7)
C2: MONOCLES (8)
DC: SOLEMN (6)
Score: 19–27 (max 28)
The tie is broken and it's our challenger who takes the lead thanks to his MONOCLES.
Round 5: 25, 75, 100, 9, 1, 7. Target: 412.
C1: 416. ((7 - 1) x 75) - (25 + 9) (7)
C2: -
RR: 412. ((75 - 25 + 9) x 7) - 1 (10)
Score: 26–27 (max 38)
Rose gets back in it immediately with her 4 away in the numbers, with Dave all at sea. Good solve by Rachel too.
Dr. Phil talks about his trip to America and his kiss with Beyoncé the dolphin.
Teatime teaser: ROMEREPS -> EMPERORS
Round 6: U E O J S N L T A
C1: SALUTE (6)
C2: JOSTLE (6)
DC: JEALOUS (7) ETALONS (7)
OT: ELUANTS (7) LUNATES (7) SOUTANE (7)
Score: 32–33 (max 45)
A few 7's here, but the contestants just JOSTLE and SALUTE their 6's. Interestingly, Nick thinks an ETALON is a stallion, and while we normally think of it in terms related to electricity, he is correct that with an accent above the E, an ETALON is a French name for a stallion.
Round 7: S M X O U E T I D
C1: OUTSIDE (7)
C2: OXIDES (6)
DC: TEDIOUS (7)
OT: MODISTE (7) TIMEOUS (7) TUXEDOS (7)
Score: 39–33 (max 52)
Rose takes the lead for the first time today with her OUTSIDE approach.
Round 8: E A E S H G I T W
C1: WEIGHTS (7)
C2: WEIGHTS (7)
Score: 46–40 (max 59)
Time WEIGHTS for no man.
Round 9: T D T E O I N L D
C1: DOTTED (6)
C2: DELTOID (7)
DC: LENTOID (7)
Score: 46–47 (max 66)
Another impressive spot there from Dave, and he regains his single point advantage.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "words you never knew existed", such as "snib", "ferrule", "muntin", "Morton's toe", "Brannock device" and "feat".
Round 10: 75, 2, 9, 3, 6, 9. Target: 147.
C1: 147. (75 x 2) - 3 (10)
C2: 147. (75 x 2) - 3 (10)
Score: 56–57 (max 76)
Another simple 2nd numbers game.
Teatime teaser: FOULDRUG -> GOURDFUL
Round 11: G L Y E A T R E W
C1: GREATLY (7)
C2: GREATLY (7)
DC: GYRATE (6)
OT: EAGERLY (7)
Score: 63–64 (max 83)
The standard definitely seems to be GREATLY improving this week, and this game shows no signs of dropping in skill level yet. Clearly we're EAGERLY awaiting the outcome.
Round 12: T D T B I E A F I
C1: FITTED (6)
C2: BATTED (6)
DC: tidbit
OT: BAITED (6) BITTED (6) FATTED (6) TIBIAE (6)
Score: 69–70 (max 89)
Six 6's here, or seven if you include the illegal offering that DC give us. Tidbit is American spelling, just in case you're wondering why I've da'd it.
Round 13: T C D E I O Z S A
C1: COASTED (7)
C2: seized
DC: DACOITS (7) ZODIACS (7)
OT: DOZIEST (7) IODATES (7) TOADIES (7)
Score: 76–70 (max 96)
Wow, a slightly shocking turn of events here, as Rose suddenly retakes the lead, but she certainly hasn't COASTED this one, or got this game wrapped up yet.
Round 14: 100, 7, 10, 5, 9, 7. Target: 525.
C1: 525. (7 - (9 - 7) + 100) x 5 (10)
C2: 523.
Score: 86–70 (max 106)
Until now that is!!! Dave can only muster 2 away, while Rose clearly shows off her accountancy brain to get the game and her half-octochampdom status secured.
Round 15: G R E Y N O T U S
No one buzzes. The answer was YOUNGSTER.
Final Score: 86–70 (max 116)
No takers for the conundrum, apart from a young gentleman in the audience. Rose has so far done very impressively in her 4 shows, averaging just over 90 points, and definitely could be a serious threat in the finals, should she get there. Hopefully, she'll definitely still be here by the time of my next recap, which would be her octochamp show on Wednesday.
Join Thomas tomorrow to see if she can make it a clean sweep for the week.
I'll be back next week for the next exciting installment.
So till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Rose:
Total score - 86
Raw score - 99
Total % of max - 74
Raw % of max - 85
Total average score per round - 5.7
Raw average score per round - 6.6
Number of maxes - 9
Dave:
Total score - 70
Raw score - 83
Total % of max - 60
Raw % of max - 72
Total average score per round - 4.7
Raw average score per round - 5.5
Number of maxes - 8
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=67
