Two in a row for Bryant as James wins Championship and Circle line melts in the heat
Glen Bryant closed the 2012/13 season of the Random 15 Championship with an emphatic victory, beating Countdown contestant and Guinness World Record holder Steve Wilson. Andi James and Peter Smyth finished joint third, thus giving Andi James the championship title in a turnout of 10 as the Circle line melted in the heat.
Glen Bryant has now won two rounds in a row with a brilliant route to beat Steve Wilson into second place. Wilson appeared on Countdown in 2010, winning his first game against Paul Stevenson (not related to the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner) but losing to Danny Pledger by just four points. His good fortune earned him second place with minimal waits for trains.
Third place saw a four-way tie between the two Championship contenders (Peter Smyth and Andi James), Martin Hazel, and Kevin Brown. They took the 'conventional' route and all finished on the same train. Andi James therefore won the championship, retaining his title. Last season he controlled the race for the title yet only won by a canvas. This season, the Championship went right down to the wire.
Seventh place went to Andrew Baker, making his first appearance at a tube challenge for over six years. Eighth went to Richard Graham, and ninth went to Andrew Chilcraft, who made the rather embarrassing error of doubling back at North Acton, rather than East Acton, as North Acton did not have to be visited but East Acton did.
Last place went to Rhys Benjamin who did not finish after being caught in the Circle line meltdown. It took Benjamin 40 minutes to travel between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street. Consequently, he gave up at the four hour mark at Highbury & Islington. He was also delayed by long waits at Monument, Tower Hill, and a mix-up at Wimbledon. He himself made a colossal route planning error when he decided it would be better to go to South Wimbledon from the starting station at Clapham South and go to Wimbledon to go up the District line to Barons Court. It was a costly decision as he was misinformed at Wimbledon as to which train would leave first, costing him a further five minutes.
Benjamin experienced the Circle line chaos first-hand. He arrived at Aldgate, having run from Aldgate East, only to wait for 20 minutes on a train in the platform and a further 20 minutes in the tunnel. It cost him ninth place.
The stations that had to be visited were: Clapham South; Barons Court; Sloane Square; Queensway; Shepherd's Bush; East Acton; Warwick Avenue; Paddington (H&C/Cir); Lambeth North; Bank; Monument; Aldgate East; Whitechapel; Holloway Road; Camden Town.
Glen Bryant has now won two rounds in a row with a brilliant route to beat Steve Wilson into second place. Wilson appeared on Countdown in 2010, winning his first game against Paul Stevenson (not related to the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner) but losing to Danny Pledger by just four points. His good fortune earned him second place with minimal waits for trains.
Third place saw a four-way tie between the two Championship contenders (Peter Smyth and Andi James), Martin Hazel, and Kevin Brown. They took the 'conventional' route and all finished on the same train. Andi James therefore won the championship, retaining his title. Last season he controlled the race for the title yet only won by a canvas. This season, the Championship went right down to the wire.
Seventh place went to Andrew Baker, making his first appearance at a tube challenge for over six years. Eighth went to Richard Graham, and ninth went to Andrew Chilcraft, who made the rather embarrassing error of doubling back at North Acton, rather than East Acton, as North Acton did not have to be visited but East Acton did.
Last place went to Rhys Benjamin who did not finish after being caught in the Circle line meltdown. It took Benjamin 40 minutes to travel between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street. Consequently, he gave up at the four hour mark at Highbury & Islington. He was also delayed by long waits at Monument, Tower Hill, and a mix-up at Wimbledon. He himself made a colossal route planning error when he decided it would be better to go to South Wimbledon from the starting station at Clapham South and go to Wimbledon to go up the District line to Barons Court. It was a costly decision as he was misinformed at Wimbledon as to which train would leave first, costing him a further five minutes.
Benjamin experienced the Circle line chaos first-hand. He arrived at Aldgate, having run from Aldgate East, only to wait for 20 minutes on a train in the platform and a further 20 minutes in the tunnel. It cost him ninth place.
The stations that had to be visited were: Clapham South; Barons Court; Sloane Square; Queensway; Shepherd's Bush; East Acton; Warwick Avenue; Paddington (H&C/Cir); Lambeth North; Bank; Monument; Aldgate East; Whitechapel; Holloway Road; Camden Town.