Tel GK/Herculis Links Game : December Week 3

[sarumite]

A short reminder that the object of the game is to predict Monday's Herculis link words (from Telegraph) with Saturday's link words given at the end of this thread.

Rules and the method of points allocation is fully explained in the riddles section and can be reached by clicking on the link below.

Of course "crofter" will contribute his usual wizardry with the numerics once Monday's link words are known, assuming his hard drive doesn't once again crack under the extreme pressure!

Following a magnificent sprint last week to overtake the pack we have an outright leader in "Christiana" with a total of three points. However, no less than 12 ABers are snapping at her heels with two points each!

Saturday's link words will need to be posted below before entries can be accepted, so as soon as one of you has them available, I would be grateful if you post them accordingly.

Thanks, and good luck to you all (S).

[crofter]

In view of the decision of the DT to discontinue the Herculis Links, it is impossible to carry on with the challenge of trying to double-guess the devious mind of Michael Mepham for one last time. The crossword grid published today does not follow on from that published on Saturday.

In my opinion, three of the link words set by MM were so flexible that ABers could spot at least twenty feasible options making over 8000 combinations to fill these words alone (assuming that EXPERT WITNESS was the final link). What we have learned is that it would be foolish to assume anything concerning MM. He was rarely predictable and often would come up with a link that almost 100 ABers failed to predict! I am now thinking of Journal Bearing, Vanity Press and Cosmic Space to name but a few from the very recent past!

It is with great sadness that I close this thread and dedicate the sentiments therein to the memory of an extraordinary quizmaster who clearly has touched the hearts of many whilst challenging their minds. The fact that the Link game attracted regular entrants from as far afield as Canada and Australia speaks volumes.

It is perhaps poignant that the solution of 5down in today's Crossword reads simply IN MEMORIAM.

I now put away my spreadsheets and abacus - and thank everyone who has taken part in the competition. If, in an attempt to introduce wit, I have offended anyone, then I apologise. That was not my intention!

Special thanks go to ShamrockBlue for the initial concept and to sarumite for the sustaining energy to build up the competition into a successful weekly event.

[pollythecat]

Thanks for all your hard work in what was en enoyable diversion on a saturday morning. We will miss MM and the links game in equal measure. End of an era.

[bridgenut]

You said it all Crofter . Many thanks for the efforts that have been put in by all concerned .
5 down says it all

[Arabesque]

Many thanks Crofter, Sarumite and Shamrock Blue for organising this fun over the past months. Saturday mornings will never be the same.

[jan1956]

many thanks to all involved as said before the weekends will never be the same
jan

[rogerr]

It is a shame that our game had to finish on such a sad note.
Many thanks to ShamrockBlue, Crofter and Sarumite for all your hard work. I will miss the banter and the awful puns!
Barbara

[dwil]

We should have a new competition: How long will the �250 Monday GK last? And indeed the Saturday one?

[paulineward]

I must express my thanks also to Crofter, ShamrockBlue and Sarumite....will miss the banter and challenge this weekly diversion created. Even my hubby took an interest in it, and indeed guessed the last links...will never know now how he did.
What a shame....sudden end of a game that was destined to carry on for a long time I think!

[keyboardix]

I share in all of the sentiments already expressed, but, cheer up everybody - there is a new game - it is called "Guess where to send the Monday Crossword that replaces Herculis-with-links".

[shaneystar2]

Many thanks to Crofter ShamrockBlue and Sarumite for organising this over the past weeks .All good things usually come to an end but it's so sad that it had to happen this way .

[GK Fanatic]

It was great while it lasted. Hopefully General Knowledge Puzzles will continue in the Telegraph. My cryptic brain is hopeless !!!

[Christiana]

Nothing remotely original to say - just to echo the rest, thanks so much Sarumite, Crofter, Shamrock Blue. It was fun while it lasted, but, like Michael himself, didn't really run its course.
Sadly missed - both MM and the puzzle.

[teacher1]

Cheers and thanks to everybody.

[Muzz]

I would like to add my thanks to you all, but especially Sarumite, Crofter and Shamrock Blue. It was good fun to try to work out the possible link words, and Mondays won't be the same without Herculis. I don't think I ever got any correct, but I still enjoyed it. Season's greetings to you all.

[Elspeth]

Thank you to everyone who gave up their precious time to make our 'puzzling' lives that much more enjoyable. I for one am so glad to have stumbled upon the AB site and all the kind-hearted and generous folk who contribute.

[ontarioice]

Tuesday morning. United Kingdom time.

How sad to read of the death of Michael Mepham. We have only known his brilliance a short time - since we joined this site, actually.
When a soul leaves this earth, hearts break. May he rest in peace.
Ontarioice.

[ontarioice]

On a separate note:
Many thanks to Sarumite and Crofter for weekends of fun, and to shamrockblue also.
I hope that when MM was with us that he got a kick out of the likes of us trying to outwit him.
We tried Michael - we really tried.

[sally259]

Thank you crofter, sarumite and shamrock blue for running the link word competition over the last few months and for the crosswords answers always found on AB.

[sarumite]

Thank you all for your generous comments concerning the running of the Herculis links game, for my part it has certainly been a most enjoyable interlude.

Perhaps in the not to distant future we will be able to initiate some form of replacement competition, to maintain the weekly "get-together" of us addicts on the Q&P section of answerbank.

Kind regards to you all (S).