TowersStreet European Cup: Playoff 1

With the Winter Olympics underway, a World Cup in summer, the rugby lot doing whatever it is they're up to and the Mitch Hawker poll making a sort-of return, I'm in the mood for some competition to wile away the last few weeks of closed season. A mini version of the old polls we used to do on here to find our favourite European coaster!

The Cup will start with 40 coasters in 4 groups of 10 sorted by country, with the top 5 from each advancing to a randomised 2 groups of 10 quarter finals, then a top 10 semi final, with the top 5 once more advancing to a grand final. In the first and second rounds, each member will have 5 votes to allocate, in the semi final 3 votes, and a single vote in the final. Group 1 is UK and Ireland, Group 2 is Germany, Group 3 is Scandinavia and Group 4 is the rest of Europe. This week we are doing groups 1 and 2, next week will be 3 and 4. The two quarter finals the week after and the top 10 taking us up to The Wickerman opening, with this all wrapping up in the following week.

As was traditional, the Alton Towers coasters are banned. The old MH polls, general consensus and ridership on here have been used to choose the rides. Didn't seem fair to include rides that most people on here haven't been on etc. To avoid completely spamming up the place I've kept it to 40 total and to keep the country theme there's some obvious exclusions and if your favourite is missing, a larger poll next winter if this one goes well is possible.

The winner will receive a coveted TST VIP Limited Edition Box (RRP £80) including a keyring, pin badge, and a £5 voucher for the Alton Towers Resort Hotels (NOt valid during Scarefest, Fireworks, or the months of July and August).

So here we go with Group 1, UK and Ireland. 10 coasters, 5 votes each, and the top 5 advance.

Odyssey, Fantasy Island


Speed, Oakwood


Saw, Thorpe Park


Nemesis Inferno, Thorpe Park


Megafobia, Oakwood

The Ultimate, Lightwater Valley


Stealth, Thorpe Park


Wild Mouse (RIP), Blackpool Pleasure Beach


The Swarm, Thorpe Park


Cú Chulainn, Tayto Park

Great to see this competition make a return!


I have opted for:
1. Megafobia*
2. Wild Mouse*
3. The Ultimate*
4. Nemesis Inferno*
5. Saw*
------------------------
6. Speed*
7. Cú Chulainn
8. The Swarm*
9. Stealth*
10. Odyssey*


*Ridden all of these besides the woody at Tayto Park.

In a way it would be slightly depressing if the Wild Mouse won Europe's best roller coaster. I wonder whether Amanda Thompson would accept the certificate.

I thought this was going to be a football topic at first. Glad I clicked.

GO ULTY!!

I use to love doing the old polls and glad they're back! Anyway my 5 from the British isles are:

1. Wild Mouse
2. Stealth
3. Ultimate
4. Megafobia
5. Cú Chulainn

Only ridden four of the rides on the list, so my votes go to:

1. The Swarm
2. Nemesis Inferno
3. Stealth
4. Saw

Most of Thorpe's coasters are nothing special in the grand scheme of things, this poll relies on everyone giving due consideration to rides they haven't been on.

I've voted for Ultimate, the woodies + Stealth.

Wild Mouse
Megafobia
The Ultimate
Swarm
Saw
----------
Nemesis Inferno
Stealth
Speed
Cu Chulainn*
Odyssey*

*Not ridden so not fair for me to make a comparison.

The current standings in this group pretty much sums up why the Mitch Hawker poll was created in the first place.

Inferno leading is surprising, I'm assuming it's down to being no one's favourite but many people putting it like third, I can't imagine it progressing past the next round.

Think to an extent there'll always be some bias to rides you've been on, hence us never including the coasters at Towers, and everyone has their different criteria for what's better but ideally you should be as subjectively objective as possible.

Brilliant to see something like this make a return, so first of all thanks for that Martin! If this proves popular it would be great to see it expand into a lager full poll again come next closed season.

Anyway, on with my votes. I’ve only been on 7 of the coasters in the category, so this is partly based on real life and part sad act YouTube POV


1. Stealth *
2. Wild Mouse *
3. Cú Chulainn
4. The Swarm *
5. Nemesis Inferno *
_______________________

6. The Ultimate *
7. Megaphobia
8. Speed
9. Saw *
10. Odyssey *


I know these rankings will possibly cause upset, but it’s just the style of rides I like. I feel had I actually been in Megaphobia it could probably rank higher as could Cú Chulainn!

Ps. Sorry Ultimate, I do still love you but really I just can’t quite bring myself to put you in the top 5

Pps. I’ve ridden Odyssey. If you’re still missing the cred. Don’t waste your time visiting Ingoldmells for the sake of it... It’s bloody awful!

Nemesis Inferno over Ultimate? How can you be so wrong?

Last couple of days to get your votes in for this group and group 2, it's impossibly tight as we go into the 11th hour!

I have ridden all of these coasters bar Cú Chulainn and Odyssey. My top 5, in no particular order, are as follows:

• Cú Chulainn
• The Swarm
• Nemesis Inferno
• Stealth
• Megafobia

Cú Chulainn looks the stand out coaster in this group mind.

As things stand the top 5 and progressing to the next round are

Megafobia
Swarm
Nemesis Inferno
Stealth
Wild Mouse.

Looks like the Justice For The Ultimate campaign is starting early this year...

AAAAANNNNDDDDD the results are in! Thank you very much for voting, see you in the next round!

Odyssey
2 votes
The less said the better really.

Speed
7 votes
Oakdud

Cú Chulainn
12 votes
Brits out

Saw
15 votes
Saw loser

Ultimate
15 votes
You know who you are


---

Wild Mouse
16 votes
Squeaking through in its final year, could be a dark horse

Stealth
17 votes
Lauched itself into the next round

Nemesis Inferno
17 votes
Getting through on second, third and fourth preferences, the Lib Dem of the group

The Swarm
19 votes
Looks like its run in the competition won't be as short as its layout

Megafobia
22 votes
More votes than anything in the Germany group, unbelievable

Megafobia won but the far better looking Cú Chulainn got knocked out!? Ermmm, ok!

Ultimate didn't get through‽

That's it, I'm not playing anymore.