COLIN XXII- Countdown in Lincoln, 30-31 January 2027
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2026 9:54 pm
Well, would you look at that, I'm doing this again.
For the 22nd time, COLIN is kicking off the co-event calendar with the traditional double header in Hykeham* at the end of (what I am told is) the suckiest month of the year. Happy as always to give people a thing to look forward to at the end of the cold first month of the year, especially if you particularly look forward to cramming yourself into a church hall with a couple dozen other letters and numbers enthusiasts.
And as it has been since 2005, the format will be thus: on the Saturday, in the 'main event,' everyone will play 3 rounds of ‘three to a table’ Countdown. In each round, every player will play 2 games and host 1 game of 9 round Countdown, so at the end of the day everyone will have played 6 games and hosted 3 games. The top 2 will then play each other in the grand final to determine who will take custody of the coveted COLIN spoon for the next 12 months.
The following day, we head to a slightly different community hall, where everyone will play the same format as the previous day, only with 2 rounds instead (everyone plays 4 games, hosts 2) before the final. And, of course, there’ll be the team competition at the Hangover, meaning at least 50% of all those who play will leave with at least one prize.
And, as always, the usual spot prizes will be on offer- overachievers, the Tuff Luck award, the Tim Down award**, random number award and everything. However, as '22' isn't quite as significant as '21' was as an age, any other spot prizes will be strictly by the numbers***. Though as the Hangover the following day will be the 13th one, I can be persuaded to put some money aside for a Halloween (in January)-themed fancy dress prize if enough people promise to actually come in fancy dress.
Venues and schedules are the same as last year- the main event will take place at the Ark on Moor Lane in North Hykeham (directions below) and will kick off at 11:30am, while the Hangover will take place at the Memorial Hall on Newark Road in North Hykeham (directions below again) and will kick off at 10:45am (hopefully).
As my wallet took a bit of a beating with last year's lower than expected numbers, prices have gone up a bit- £20 for Saturday, £15 for the Sunday 'hangover' or £25 for both. Payment via Paypal please. (The link still says 'COLIN XX,' I can't change it so please bear with.)
Directions from the station(s) to the venue(s):
Hykeham Station to the Ark
Hykeham Station to the Memorial Hall
And as always, any questions, feel free to ask away. That's what the 'reply' box is for, after all.
*Which sort of technically is and isn't Lincoln, what with the local authority re-organisation
**Never actually won (yet) by Tim Down himself
***This was a deliberately obtuse cryptic clue
Facebook pages-
COLIN XXII: https://www.facebook.com/events/2083106812591333/
The Hangover: https://www.facebook.com/events/971731382542796/
Entries (as of 29/07/26)-
COLIN XXII: 2
The Hangover: 2
For the 22nd time, COLIN is kicking off the co-event calendar with the traditional double header in Hykeham* at the end of (what I am told is) the suckiest month of the year. Happy as always to give people a thing to look forward to at the end of the cold first month of the year, especially if you particularly look forward to cramming yourself into a church hall with a couple dozen other letters and numbers enthusiasts.
And as it has been since 2005, the format will be thus: on the Saturday, in the 'main event,' everyone will play 3 rounds of ‘three to a table’ Countdown. In each round, every player will play 2 games and host 1 game of 9 round Countdown, so at the end of the day everyone will have played 6 games and hosted 3 games. The top 2 will then play each other in the grand final to determine who will take custody of the coveted COLIN spoon for the next 12 months.
The following day, we head to a slightly different community hall, where everyone will play the same format as the previous day, only with 2 rounds instead (everyone plays 4 games, hosts 2) before the final. And, of course, there’ll be the team competition at the Hangover, meaning at least 50% of all those who play will leave with at least one prize.
And, as always, the usual spot prizes will be on offer- overachievers, the Tuff Luck award, the Tim Down award**, random number award and everything. However, as '22' isn't quite as significant as '21' was as an age, any other spot prizes will be strictly by the numbers***. Though as the Hangover the following day will be the 13th one, I can be persuaded to put some money aside for a Halloween (in January)-themed fancy dress prize if enough people promise to actually come in fancy dress.
Venues and schedules are the same as last year- the main event will take place at the Ark on Moor Lane in North Hykeham (directions below) and will kick off at 11:30am, while the Hangover will take place at the Memorial Hall on Newark Road in North Hykeham (directions below again) and will kick off at 10:45am (hopefully).
As my wallet took a bit of a beating with last year's lower than expected numbers, prices have gone up a bit- £20 for Saturday, £15 for the Sunday 'hangover' or £25 for both. Payment via Paypal please.
(The link still says 'COLIN XX,' I can't change it so please bear with.)Directions from the station(s) to the venue(s):
Hykeham Station to the Ark
Hykeham Station to the Memorial Hall
And as always, any questions, feel free to ask away. That's what the 'reply' box is for, after all.
*Which sort of technically is and isn't Lincoln, what with the local authority re-organisation
**Never actually won (yet) by Tim Down himself
***This was a deliberately obtuse cryptic clue
Facebook pages-
COLIN XXII: https://www.facebook.com/events/2083106812591333/
The Hangover: https://www.facebook.com/events/971731382542796/
Entries (as of 29/07/26)-
COLIN XXII: 2
The Hangover: 2