Date: Saturday 24th – Sunday 25th January 2026
Venue: The Ark, North Hykeham (Saturday) and The Memorial Hall, North Hykeham (Sunday)
Admission: £16 for the Saturday, £10 for the Friday, or £22 for both, payable here
Start time: Saturday: 11:45am, Sunday: 11am
Finish time: Saturday: 6pm, Sunday: 2:30pm
Hosted by: Ben Wilson
Games to be played: 4 plus Grand Final (Friday), 6 plus Grand Final (Saturday)
Wheelchair accessible?: Yes
Yep, the event hosted by the man with the same initials as ‘Blackjack’ (and the same physique as Jack Black) is turning 21 this year, and even though the weekend won’t be as big as last (this) year’s triple-header, there’ll still be plenty to keep you busy throughout what is undoubtedly the best weekend of, um, January.
…And this year, there’s a double celebration as FOCAL itself is also turning 10 in 2026! There’ll be plenty of side events and prizes to celebrate both milestones – details of which will be revealed in due course. Both events will, of course, count toward your points total for the 2026 FOCAL season.
As in many previous years, CO:Lincoln (dubbed COLIN) will be a double event, with the main event taking place on the Saturday, and a smaller ‘hangover’ event following on the Sunday. It is not obligatory to play in both events, although there is a slight discount to the overall entry fee if you do.
Accommodation
The hotel of choice for COLIN is, as always, the Lincoln Thorpe-on-the-Hill Travelodge. Prices are usually low, so book soon to reserve your place! Failing that there are other hotels and B&Bs available in the North Hykeham area.
Getting to the venue
The venues are within a reasonable and straight walking distance of both the Thorpe-on-the-Hill Travelodge, and Hykeham railway station. From Lincoln station it would be advisable to get either a taxi or a train to Hykeham.
If driving, then both venues and the Thorpe-on-the-Hill Travelodge have free guest parking.
How the tournament works
Lincoln, unsurprisingly, is a Lincoln-style event. Three rounds of games across the day, with three players to a table in each round. One person hosts/adjudicates while the other two play and pick their letters and numbers in turn.
So you play twice and host once in each round, which means you’ll play six games and host three altogether. (For more details, see ‘How do you play?’ here.)
A Grand Final between the top two players in the table will play out in front of its audience sometime after 5pm, followed by prize giving and closedown by 6pm.
Refreshments and lunch
For lunch, the Saturday venue is very close to a Fish and Chip shop, a Cooplands bakery, and a Co-op, and the Sunday venue is within walking distance of a Spar and a Subway.
Payment
£16 for the Saturday, £10 for the Sunday, or £22 for both. Pay through PayPal (please select the “family/friends” option). To arrange an alternate payment method if you cannot use PayPal, please contact us at focalcountdown@gmail.com
Pre- and post-event socialising
The traditional pub of choice for COLIN-goers has been The Fox and Hounds. It has undergone several changes in management in recent years however so its current state is unknown. Recently, we have spent time at Hykeham PFA Sports & Social Club
Why come?
As the longest-running event, COLIN has become something of an annual pilgrimage for many in our community. Among the most stalwart members in attendance every year, there’s an ever-growing fresh crop of new players, with something here for diehard Countdowners and casual social players alike. Come along, make a weekend of it: you won’t regret it.
Any questions?
Feel free to get in touch with us at hello@focalcountdown.com
Attending or organising a FOCAL event is subject to the Code of Conduct.
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