Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Zone 1, Alphabet, All Lines - discuss them here
nozzacook
All Zones
Posts: 1218
Joined: 17 Apr 2006, 16:45
Location: Zone 900

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by nozzacook »

EastActionWoman wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 14:05
tractakid wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 12:21£4.20 for a coke is a joke.
I like the pub, but was a little surprised that a pint of cider and a pint of coke from the squirty dispenser thing came to £8.80.
I like the pub but it has got very pricey £5.10 for a pint of Cider and their no screen policy is a bit tedious. It might be time to find a new venue.
26 miles 385yards in 4h 14m 40s.
RJSRdg
All Zones
Posts: 1227
Joined: 16 Mar 2015, 00:35

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by RJSRdg »

tractakid wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 12:21 What a daft twist. I made my own special protest on the way back by crossing the Thames 4 times by rail. :lol:
I actually thought it was quite a nice twist. I've never used a boat on an R15 before, and I'm not aware of anyone else having done so previously so I may be the only person to have ever done so!
272 stations in 18:30:32
The only person to have used a boat in a Random 15 Challenge!
hopeful traveller
All Zones
Posts: 1397
Joined: 15 Jul 2011, 16:28

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by hopeful traveller »

I hated it as well. Especially for any non-runners like me.
1 FNC Completion (PB: 17:18:18 with G Bryant, A Chilcraft, I MacNaughton)
4 Zone Ones (PB: 03:00:35 with G Bryant)
15 R15s (PB: 01:55:48 with T Cooling and R Jackson)
11 All Lines (PB: 00:44:03)
Winner of the 2014 Formula 1 Side Competition
RJSRdg
All Zones
Posts: 1227
Joined: 16 Mar 2015, 00:35

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by RJSRdg »

Running wasn't really necessary though (at least not for the river crossing) as a lot of the challengers crossed the river by bus.
272 stations in 18:30:32
The only person to have used a boat in a Random 15 Challenge!
roblo97
Zone 3
Posts: 193
Joined: 12 Feb 2017, 19:04
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by roblo97 »

nozzacook wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 20:37
EastActionWoman wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 14:05
tractakid wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 12:21£4.20 for a coke is a joke.
I like the pub, but was a little surprised that a pint of cider and a pint of coke from the squirty dispenser thing came to £8.80.
I like the pub but it has got very pricey £5.10 for a pint of Cider and their no screen policy is a bit tedious. It might be time to find a new venue.
I visited the pub David recommended at the end of the Park Challenge thread, The Sheaf, which whilst not the cheapest (I paid £6.20 for a pint of craft beer) was a couple of mins from London Bridge, had live sport on and the dartboards looked to be in good condition as well.
R15 PB: 2:23.23
DLR PB: 2:00:50
Bottle PB: 02:30:30
Tramlink PB: 1:55.37 (Cheers David!)
Triple Crown: 7:00.13
FNC: 18:42:50 (Cheers Andi and Josh!)
Park: 8:29:35
Z1: 02:45:54
2018 Z1 winner!
Parkrun PB: 26 minutes something
User avatar
Going Underground
The Twilight Zone
Posts: 8793
Joined: 11 Apr 2006, 12:24
Location: Down in a tube station at midnight.
Contact:

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by Going Underground »

I like the pub - but the pricing is a joke, the beer / lager/ cider is not great either TBH and is now the reason we stop of at a Spoons on the way and text result through to Martin...
Just over 10 years ago when we first used Sam Smiths pubs the bitter was £1.95 and lager £2.05 (way cheaper than other pubs at that time) - year on year prices have soared..
I now usually have 2 - 3 pints max, whereas that would have been 5 - 6 a couple of years back...
Having to keep going outside to simply text Das for update 2/3 times etc. is a bit silly as well IMO, but their chain policy dictates this
Agreed the darts board was shocking and probably hasn't been replaced in a year. I have thrown away boards in far batter condition because I felt they were barely playable..

As for the R15 itself - why oh why oh why do I always forget Lancaster Gate :arrow: Paddington on these challenges :( I am sure we could have reduced our time by a good 30 mins using this option
Twice former full network GWR holder and former Zone 1 Olympic and World Record holder with The Raven and Soupie
Tube personality of the year 2009
Twice Winter Olympic Biathlon Gold Medalist with The Beer Baron
2008 All Lines Olympic Gold
xcooler123
Zone 5
Posts: 455
Joined: 17 Jun 2015, 10:20
Location: Derby

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by xcooler123 »

The other place we have used before and always (from what I can remember) had a good time is the Prince William Henry in Southwark. Well priced food and drink which is also tasty, 2 dartboards to choose from, can accommodate parties of up to 24 and is in a pretty nice central location to get back to being a short walk from Waterloo East/Southwark/Blackfriars
David
5 x FNC attempts, Best Tine - 17:25:11 (Comic Relief 2017)
20 x R15, Best Time - 02:02:46
2017/18 & 2018/19 R15 Champion
4 x Alternative Challenge Records (LO, Z1&2, SofT & Compass)
A2
Zone 4
Posts: 385
Joined: 02 Oct 2005, 01:12
Location: Stevenage

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by A2 »

xcooler123 wrote: 22 Sep 2019, 21:00 Sounds like i need to pair up with Rob next time to make sure he does all the stations on the list!
I'm pairing up with him next round (apparently I suggested this at the end of last season), on condition that he turns up to Parkrun first :D
- Andrew
User avatar
tangy
Site Administrator
Posts: 2011
Joined: 23 Apr 2006, 22:26
Location: Walthamstow, London
Contact:

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by tangy »

My thoughts on the post challenge meet up venue.

I agree about the drink prices creeping up, it seems every time we go there the price has increased but I believe on par with other pubs in the area (we are in Central London after all) although saying that I can make a pint last the whole session!

However, I do like the current choice of venue as we can all gather in the darts area with just us Tube Challengers and maybe the occasional guest plus with no music or live sport playing on big screens it does make it so much easier for me personally to read out the results and verify each challengers routes in relatively quiet surroundings.

I appreciate I may be in the minority and that my autism may have a part to play but just wanted to add what I felt to the discussion as leader of the group.
Adjudicator of the Alternative Challenges and webmaster of the Tube Challenge "Top Times" website at www.explorerticket.co.uk/tubechallenge

This is a Central line train to "Woodford via Hainault"- sadly, not no more!

Tangy.
RJSRdg
All Zones
Posts: 1227
Joined: 16 Mar 2015, 00:35

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by RJSRdg »

I think there's pros and cons both ways.

On the pro side, it's nice and central and we have a good relationship with them.

On the cons side, that back room's quite cramped for 20+ people, especially when playing darts (!) - it would be nice if more of us could sit down after a 4-6 hour Challenge - and the food isn't that great.
272 stations in 18:30:32
The only person to have used a boat in a Random 15 Challenge!
User avatar
tractakid
The Twilight Zone
Posts: 3320
Joined: 15 Nov 2011, 20:04
Location: Milton Keynes

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by tractakid »

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/h ... 52461.html

I am no fan of swearing but to leave a couple jobless and a town without it's pub is shocking. I don't really want to support Sam Smiths any more.
*insert boasting about notable tube accomplishments here*
User avatar
al
Zone 6
Posts: 774
Joined: 20 May 2007, 09:34
Location: Staffs

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by al »

Whilst a no swearing aim is possibly laudable, having it in a pub is deluded, especially in a town like Droitwich and a housing estate like Westlands!
Held some Alternative Challenge records for a long time.
Doesn't any more.
xcooler123
Zone 5
Posts: 455
Joined: 17 Jun 2015, 10:20
Location: Derby

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by xcooler123 »

I am in London a few times over the next couple of weeks, I can have a look to see if there is another suitable venue that meets the needs of everyone. From the thread above they are -
  • A dartboard, preferably in a separate room/area that can be booked out
  • Somewhere with a decent selection of drinks (and hopefully food) at not unreasonable prices
  • Central London so its easy for people to get to after challenges
  • Preferably not a pub with live band/music/sport, it may be great but people would like to hear themselves think and other conversations
  • Preferably not a pub with seemingly onerous rules
So no mean feat... any other suggestions welcome and I can do a bit of a summary before the next R15 to canvass opinion.
David
5 x FNC attempts, Best Tine - 17:25:11 (Comic Relief 2017)
20 x R15, Best Time - 02:02:46
2017/18 & 2018/19 R15 Champion
4 x Alternative Challenge Records (LO, Z1&2, SofT & Compass)
tufnellpark
Zone 3
Posts: 173
Joined: 06 Apr 2015, 11:53
Location: Lewes, Sussex

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by tufnellpark »

Bricklayers Arms is fine with me. I don’t think a pub in Droitwich should influence our decision. OBB (best bitter) is good and very good value for London. I’m surprised cider is so expensive. You get a room for darts and results and an office for Tangy. Location makes it easy to get to from any R15 finish. A warning known to Arsenal fans who wanted Wenger out: be careful what you wish for!
London 16h:14m:10s Paris 13:23:33 Z1 02:57:53 Metrolink 05:53:25 Lands End to John O'Groats by bus 3d:8h:17m All the Stations 35d:10h:10m
xcooler123
Zone 5
Posts: 455
Joined: 17 Jun 2015, 10:20
Location: Derby

Re: Random 15 Championship 2019/20: Round 1

Post by xcooler123 »

tufnellpark wrote: 14 Oct 2019, 12:26 Bricklayers Arms is fine with me. I don’t think a pub in Droitwich should influence our decision. OBB (best bitter) is good and very good value for London. I’m surprised cider is so expensive. You get a room for darts and results and an office for Tangy. Location makes it easy to get to from any R15 finish. A warning known to Arsenal fans who wanted Wenger out: be careful what you wish for!
Whilst very true, there is also no harm in looking at alternatives and seeing if there is a better option. At the end of the day, the Bricklayers is the benchmark. If we find anywhere better then great, if not then we stick with it. Perhaps if somewhere can be found as a potential alternative it could be trialled at Parks Challenge/another round after discussions with Tangy. The grass is not always greener but sometimes there is no harm in checking :D
David
5 x FNC attempts, Best Tine - 17:25:11 (Comic Relief 2017)
20 x R15, Best Time - 02:02:46
2017/18 & 2018/19 R15 Champion
4 x Alternative Challenge Records (LO, Z1&2, SofT & Compass)
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests