Amar Chotai brings us all the details from our latest iteration of CO:Reading

My first trip to The Royal County for the tenth edition of CO:Rea with Christ Church Woodley playing host once again, and the second time CO:Rea has been proudly affiliated with FOCAL, turned out to be well worth the wait yet as I write I ask myself, why did it take this long? It may have been the first, but it certainly won’t be the last, although I am a long way away from being remotely considered Countdown royalty!

Despite nearly missing the first game, I was pipped to the crucial conundrum TAUNTFELL by one of the greatest players to have never appeared on TV, Tim Hebbes, in what would have been an all-time win. The second tournament in succession this year that I have been handed a rough draw, after narrowly losing to Matthew Brockwell in London, which goes to show that I can mix it with the games’ titans when on it. The less said about my second game the better, in which I managed to see off the very brave Ram Patel by two points, overcoming a shocking mid-game collapse in the process.

After a short break for lunch, Round 3 saw me face off against a member of arguably one of Countdown’s finest ever dynasties & the mother of the eventual winner, Catriona Cappleman. In a close-fought contest, strong 6-small numbers play enabled me to seal another two-point win, this time by 88 to 86. Game 4 saw me stay competitive with another descendant of one of the games great bloodlines, in the form of Series 89 semi- finalist Jess Pratesi. In the end, she proved too strong for me, aided by the superb early spot of CONGEALED. A similar story also unfolded in my final duel against merry old soul Graeme Cole, which saw me finish 25th overall. Not bad but could do better.

So onwards to the final, which turned out to be one of FOCAL’s best ever, between Thomas “T-Cap” Cappleman and the aforementioned Matthew “Brocky” Brockwell. Featuring 3 nines, HARMONIES/HARMONISE, UNTRAINED, and ARRESTING (both meat & drink to these kings), Thomas showed his class by solving a supernundrum (nine individual conundrums whose first letter is taken to form another separate anagram) in a scarcely believable 22 seconds, eventually edging a high-quality contest by 151-126. Third place would go to the equally impressive Series 87 champion Ronan Higginson. Some pups these, eh? Overdogs is putting it mildly. Finally, kudos must go to the organisers themselves, Fiona & Tony, who between them raised £320 for the Leprosy Mission, the event’s charity, plus commendation to Series 85 winner Dan Byrom who did both a 67km run and shaved his head the following day for JustGiving UK, raising over £1000 (regal stuff indeed).

Onwards and upwards to Blackpool next weekend. You can find all the details here in you want to join in the fun on the Fylde Coast. Or you can check out the rest of what 2025 has to offer here.