One of my favourite radio programmes, "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" has been going on Radio 4 since 1972, and I'll often listen to old episodes on my iPod, if I'm caching alone. Recently, I was listening to an episode from 2002, with stalwarts Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor & Barry Cryer, who were joined by part-time panelist Jeremy Hardy. I was so engrossed in following the game of Mornington Crescent that they were playing that day, that I ignored the proximity alarm on my GPSr and almost walked straight past the cache! They were playing a version which included the higher echelon of Trumpington's Variations so it's hardly surprising that it took all my attention to follow the gameplay.
Jeremy was the first player to call, and opened with a well-judged, if conservative Tottenham Court Road. This was followed by a slightly more off-the-wall choice of South Ruislip from Graeme. In fact it was so unexpected that it earned him a cheer from the audience for his bravery! However, not to be outdone, Tim leapt in with an almost suicidal Pinner, and the audience let out a collective gasp at his audacity! It was so close to being his undoing at that point! The usually much less adventurous player Barry, was almost swept up in the moment and almost called out before checking himself, taking a deep breath and getting back to basics with a slow but steady Chesham. A relative newcomer to the game (after all, the others had been playing for over 30 years by this point) Jeremy was almost too flummoxed to talk and needed a ruling from Humph not to fall for the obvious recipreversexclusion. Luckily he came in, just in time with what might almost be termed beginners luck and an amazing Rayners Lane. Of course, Graeme wasn't to be fooled by this and didn't fall for the obvious trap, nicely sidestepping on his turn to call Watford High Street. This was the moment of truth. Would Tim take his possibly one and only chance for glory? You could have cut the tension in the room with a knife, but almost unbelievably, he went straight for Regents Park, which as a poor choice of secondary reverse, nearly left him in Nidd. Which just left Barry the obvious choice - and who could refuse....? Mornington Crescent he called loudly and victory was his!
I'm not sure we'll see the like of that game again!
As always, advice from the first few finders on D/T rating would be appreciated.