c4countdown

Countdown recap for Friday 1 September 1989.

C1: Challenger Mark St. John London.
C2: Champion Bill Taylor (1 win, 50 points.)
DC: Della Thompson and Gyles Brandreth.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: R S G Z I E F A I
R02: A E H L N M G O E
R03: N C W G A I U T D
R04: 25, 7, 1, 9, 1, 4. Target: 608.
R05: O E P T S S G N A
R06: R P R U N E D U L
R07: W C E I T T N R E
R08: 25, 3, 4, 8, 10, 5. Target: 641.
R09: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: R S G Z I E F A I

C1: FAIRIES (7)
C2: FAIRIES (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)

Round 2: A E H L N M G O E

C1: HOMAGE (6)
C2: HOMAGE (6)
DC: LEMON (5) MELON (5) melange
OT: GLEEMAN (7) HALOGEN (7) MANHOLE (7)
Score: 13–13 (max 14)

Round 3: N C W G A I U T D

C1: DATING (6)
C2: WADING (6)
DC: CAWING (6)
OT: DUCTING (7)
Score: 19–19 (max 21)

Round 4: 25, 7, 1, 9, 1, 4. Target: 608.

C1: 608. ((7 - 1) x 4 x 25) + 9 - 1 (10)
C2: 608. ((7 - 1) x 4 x 25) + 9 - 1 (10)
Score: 29–29 (max 31)

Round 5: O E P T S S G N A

C1: postages
C2: POSSET (6)
DC: POSTAGE (7)
OT: APTNESS (7) ONSTAGE (7) PATNESS (7) SPONGES (7) STEPSON (7) TANGOES (7)
Score: 29–35 (max 38)

Round 6: R P R U N E D U L

C1: PLUNDER (7)
C2: PURRED (6)
DC: PRUNED (6) UNRULED (7)
Score: 36–35 (max 45)

Round 7: W C E I T T N R E

C1: WRITTEN (7)
C2: WINTER (6)
DC: RETICENT (8)
Score: 43–35 (max 53)

Round 8: 25, 3, 4, 8, 10, 5. Target: 641.

C1: 640. (3 x 8 x 25) + (4 x 10) (7)
C2: 640. (5 + 3) x 8 x 10 (7)
CV: 641. (((8 x 25) + 10 + 5) x 3) - 4 (10)
Score: 50–42 (max 63)

Round 9: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

No one buzzes. The answer was ?????????.
Score: 50–42 (max 73)

Yup, unfortunately, Mike had no idea what the conundrum was.

Statistics Corner

Mark:
Total score - 50
Raw score - 50
Total % of max - 68
Raw % of max - 68
Total average score per round - 5.6
Raw average score per round - 5.6
Number of maxes - 3

Bill:
Total score - 42
Raw score - 54
Total % of max - 58
Raw % of max - 74
Total average score per round - 4.7
Raw average score per round - 6.0
Number of maxes - 2

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=18

James Robinson wrote:Round 9: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

No one buzzes. The answer was ?????????.
Score: 50–42 (max 73)

Yup, unfortunately, Mike had no idea what the conundrum was.

Possibly the only time this happened. Evidently, the solution was never stated by Richard (instead he just said, "ooh, it's a word - and there it is!" If only I'd bought a VCR earlier...