(I REGRET NOTHING)
As implied, the FOCAL Circus returns to Rugby, with the usual Brummie-Geordie duo of chaos…With some new stuff!
IMPORTANT BITS:
When: Friday 19th March-Saturday 20th March 2026
Where: Rugby West Indian Association, 102 Railway Terrace, Rugby, CV21 3HE (map)
Hosted by: MSR & Adam Beach
Format: ‘Lincoln style’, each player will play eight 9-rounder games.
Admission: £5 for Friday, £10 for Saturday, or £15 for both. (See form at the bottom of this page)
Start: 18:30 doors on Friday for a 19:00 start. 10:00am doors for an 11:00am start on Saturday, please arrive by 10:45am
Finished by: 22:00 on Friday, 18:00 on Saturday
LOCATION:
Public Transport – The venue is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Rugby railway station, which has regular trains from London, Birmingham and Nuneaton (change from Leicester or Peterborough).
Driving – There are nearby Pay & Display car parks
Railway Terrace Car Park, CV21 2XQ. A short walk away. Open 24hrs
The adjacent John Barford Car Park shuts in the evening.
ACCOMODATION AND FOOD:
For hotels, there is a Travelodge next to the train station, plus other options available locally. Lunch is not provided but there are many nearby shops including a Tesco Express underneath the Travelodge and a plenty of options in the town centre.
TIMINGS AND FORMAT:
Playing Lincoln-style, at tables, for both. Friday it’s 2 rounds, meaning everyone plays 4 games. Saturday it’s 4 rounds, meaning everyone plays 8 games.
Friday’s tournament will be played to Goatdown rules, as we have done previously in 2024. For those unfamiliar, you pick the first 8 letters as normal, then you get to choose the final letter. No numbers rounds will be played. Saturday’s tournament is standard Countdown rules.
FRIDAY 19TH MARCH (k.o 19:00):
18:30-Doors open
19:00-First round draw is made and things kick-off
20:15-Second round starts
21:30-Grand final
SATURDAY 20TH MARCH (k.o 11:00):
10:00-Doors open
11:00-First round draw and kick-off
12:15-Second Round starts
Lunch Break
14:15-Third Round starts
15:30-Fourth round starts
17:0-Finals round starts (see below!)
18:00-Out
FORMAT AND NEW THINGS:
Time to FAFO and see what happens. There will be some minor changes to previous years, mainly to finals:
-Both Grand Finals will have Supernundrums (including the Goat – thanks to Rob Foster).
-5th-8th will play off in a Supernundrum Shoot-Out for a small prize.
-1st v 2nd play-off for victory, as usual, with 3rd v 4th will play alongside for the final podium place (as done at MSO). Both games will have separate Supernundrums.
AFTER:
Once I’ve gauged some numbers, I will book a meal at the New Regent Chinese Restaurant. We have been there before, and comes highly recommended. Following that, it’s back the venue for pool, darts, and other stuff until close. Go easy on the rum this time you lunatics.
SIGN-UP:
https://forms.gle/ZcEQsoHxTKCXrJgF6
Here is a link to a Google form with all your details. At the end of that is a link to PayPal to send me money. All of this uses my real name, so don’t fret if it appears to be different.
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.
