Crossword News March 2025

 

Crossword News March 2025

The February Prize Puzzle was Defeat by Chalicea. Extra letters gave ‘DIED FOR YOUR WEE BIT HILL AND GLEN’ Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, sung by the CORRIES, refers to Edward’s defeat by Robert the Bruce’s men at Bannockburn. They ‘sent him homeward to think again’

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Chalicea always provides entertaining fare. We were delayed a while in looking at the lyrics of the Corries' 'Bannockburn' before realising we needed to look elsewhere - we didn't know the Corries also wrote 'Flower of Scotland'! An enjoyable solve.  Thanks to Chalicea and the Crossword Centre.

Some clever touches from Chalicea, unco as an anagrind for example.  With the multiple Scottish references in the clues, including Robert the Bruce, and especially if you were familiar with the thematic song, the unclued perimeter and entries were easily filled, all making the puzzle slightly too easy.

Amazed by how many Scottish words Chalicia managed to squeeze into this crossword as well as all the thematic words. Her skill as a setter keeps getting better. Unfortunately I hate that song! PS I'm Scottish.

There were 58 entries, of which 4 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner was David Gogol, who will be receiving a prize of a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by Chambers.

There is a full solution and notes at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/03/solution-to-defeat-by-chalicea.html

There is still time to solve the March puzzle, Round Robin XVII and email your entry. Do not forget to vote for your favourite clues. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/02/march-2025-prize-puzzle-rr-xvii-round-up.html

The April puzzle will be Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut. Entries for this must be submitted via a link on the puzzle. Adam Vellender has devised an amazing utility for marking entries and recording comments. We have been testing it and it works beautifully. My advice would be to solve the puzzle with pencil and paper and then copy it into the grid for submission. We were the first to accept email entries and I think that this will make the marker’s job much easier.

We would still welcome any crossword submissions for later months.
***
The 2025 Listener Crossword Dinner was held in the Waterfront Hotel, Southport on the 15^th March. After the dinner it was time for the speeches. Jim Coulson (Jago) began with a tribute to John Green, who had been the marker for Listener crosswords for almost 40 years. Unfortunately, John was not present to receive his award of an engraved real ale tankard and a cheque for £8000.

Jane Teather read the excuses for absence and announced that there would be four obituaries.

Sadly, Charles Curran had died in November. He was an avid crossword solver and had won, with his wife Shirley, the Silver Salver in 2017.

There was a tribute to Andy Stewart (Dysart) who died last year. Starting to compose quite late in life, he had a prodigious output, with 20 Listener, 15 IQ, 6 EV and 22 Magpie puzzles. He had moved to Thailand and enjoyed his hobby of photographing birds in his trips into the jungle.

Mick Hodgkin gave a tribute to Richard Rogan who had died of a heart attack in June. As well as being crossword editor for the Times, Richard composed crosswords for the Times and for the Listener as Aragon. Some of the best of his crosswords were published anonymously in the Times following a rule that Richard insisted upon. The Times Crossword of Friday 14 March was one of Richard’s, a puzzle that gained much praise from Simon Anthony. His Listener puzzles showed incredible ingenuity and variety. Mick pinpointed one, Pub Crawl, with its superb preamble and execution.

Shane Shabankareh stood up to present the awards. The Radix Auditorium is awarded to the most successful new solver and this year it went to Joe Baldwin. He solved his first Listener at no. 4812 and followed with 29 correct entries.

The Solver Silver Solver is awarded to the solver with the longest record of all-correct solutions who has not been a winner previously. This year with a record of 241 correct entries the winner was Keith Williams who was not present.

The fourth obituary was for Alan Scott (Ascot) who died in May. It was he who awarded the Ascot Gold Cup. From 1977 he set 23 Listener crosswords plus 2 in collaboration with Mass. In the mid-80s he took over the Everyman puzzles in the Observer from Alec Robins.

21 all-correct solvers voted for their favourite puzzles of 2024. Shane read out the results in reverse order.

10 Free for All by Toffee
9 Summertime by Harribobs
8 A Royal Tour by Agricola
7 Parentage in USA by Tringa
6 Brilliant by Brock
5 Second to Last by Karla
4 Creature Feature by Sabre
3 Ready Now by ‘Eck
2 Bygone Characters by Shark

And the winner was By George! By Enigmatist, the puzzle based on the mathematical titles of albums by Adele and Ed Sheeran. An emotional John Henderson received the Ascot Gold Cup.
The table quiz was based on the fact that Lee Mack and (the novelist) David Mitchell were born in Southport which was also the home of Red Rum. Tables were asked to write a clue to John Green. Table 8 won the Bronze Casket with this clue.

Can my knight capture rook, checking king

There is a copy of the quiz on Fifteen Squared. https://www.fifteensquared.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Listener-Dinner-2025.pdf

Finally, Steve Bartlett was awarded the Inquisitor prize for his puzzle, Battle of the Sausages.

There was a hint that next year’s venue will be on the south coast. Rumour has it that Listener statistics will be issued by email.

Thanks to John and Jane for organising such an excellent event. It was a pleasure to meet up with lots of friends in a fine hotel.
***
Phi published his annual APEX (A Phi Every Xmas) puzzle in December. It was a Playfair crossword and solvers had to write a clue to CANDY STORE. The results are now published.

1st Source of sweets - or centre for dental decay, sadly John Hood
2nd Actors deny working for US establishment that targets kids Mark O’Connor
3rd Try a second brittle here Mark Oshin

My clue came 5^th out of the 37, just behind 4^th placed Richard Heald.
***
The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament will be taking place for the 47^th time on the weekend of the 4^th to 6^th April. It will be directed, as usual, by Will Shortz. You can find all the details at this link. https://www.crosswordtournament.com/
***
The Azed Slip with the results for ANCIENTS is now on the Crossword Centre. The winner was A. Plumb:

Cineast sadly screening last of golden oldies
(n in anag.)

http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
***
Sowmya Ramkumar has sent me details of the World Cryptic Crossword Championship.

Extra C, the organization behind the Indian Crossword League (IXL) is delighted to invite you to the World Cryptic Crossword Championship (WCCC), a premier global event for cryptic crossword lovers. This exciting championship will take place in London and promises a day of challenging puzzles, camaraderie, fun, and prizes for solvers of all levels.

Event Details
• Date: 28th June 2025 Online Individual Championship on crypticsingh.com
• Date: 29th June for the Team Championship (World Cup)
• Venue: The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London
• Eligibility: Open to all crossword enthusiasts worldwide• Website: wccc.crypticsingh.com

What to Expect:
1. Individual Championship:
Test your individual skills against the best solvers from around the globe. Show off your talent and compete for the coveted title of Individual and Team WCCC Champion!
2. Team Event:
Participate as a one-member team, collaborate and solve challenging puzzles together, and showcase your collective brainpower.

How to Participate: Visit wccc.crypticsingh.com to register as an individual for the online contest on 28th June or as a one-member team.
***
Best wishes
Derek

 

Solution to Defeat by Chalicea

 Defeat by Chalicea - Solution

Extra letters gave ‘DIED FOR YOUR WEE BIT HILL AND GLEN’

Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, sung by the CORRIES, refers to Edward’s defeat by Robert the Bruce’s men at Bannockburn. They ‘sent him homeward to think again’

Across: 9 Noma, 10 Lee, 12 Orca, 14 Ill-used, 15 Omrah, 16 Afaras, 17 Nirled, 18 Think again, 19 Assert, 24 Sneesh, 25 Emir, 26 Deism, 28 Bannockburn, 30 Iratest, 31 Tarrow. 

Down: 1 Omlah, 2 Waur, 3 Elsan, 4 Rees, 5 Flong, 6 Simian, 7 Corries, 8 Oral, 11 Edward, 13 Cheese, 20 Smirr, 21 Erato, 22 Reney, 23 Tense, 24 Sects, 27 Murl, 29 Kae. 

Across: 9 D: NOMA[D], 10 I: L(o)[I](T)E(r)E(d), 12 E: OR + CA[E], 14 D: [D]ILL USED, 15 F: (HARM O[F])<, 16 O: AFAR [O]ASIS less IS, 17 R: RINGLEADE[R]* less AGE*, 19 Y: (STA[Y]ERS)*, 24 O: S[O]N + first letters, 25 U: EM[U] I R, 26 R: DE[R] ISM, 30 W: (ARTIST [W]E)*, 31 E: T[E]AR ROW. 

Down: 1 E: (HAL[E] MO)<, 2 B: ([B]RAW (lo)U(ts))*, 3 I: (AL[I]ENS)*, 4 T: [T]REES, 5 H: [H]F LONG, 6 I: [I]S (t)IMI(d) AND less D(aring), 8 L: [L]ORAL, 13 L: CE around HEE[L]S, 20 A: SR around M[A]IR, 21 N: (esp)ERA[N]TO, 22 D: (NERDY E)*, 23 G: [G]EST< around EN, 24 L: SS around [L]ECT, 27 E: MUR[E] L, 29 N: (s)K(i)[N](c)A(r)E. 

March 2025 Prize Puzzle RR XVII Round Up

 RR XVII - Round Up

The wordplay in each clue renders an extra letter. These letters in clue order say how to find the ‘round up’ being celebrated and what should be produced in five entries by changing some of their letters (one new entry doing double duty). The final grid contains real words. The Chambers 13th edition is the primary reference.

PDF copy

Across

  1 The Waltz King has no right to entertain time standing (6)

  5 Ordinary fellows (two of them) relieve wound around old horse’s front leg (7)

11 I move in a slightly eccentric circle that is absorbed by a bunch of letters (5)

13 Cwm Rhondda’s opening fills man with passion (6)

14 A carcinogen halved warts and all skin disease (9)

15 Unconventional guys' hopes now and then followed by glory ultimately (5)

16 What rodent might fear in water rippling around grass from the East (8, 2 words)

17 General situation on new chaps coming over, feeling estranged (7)

20 Latest ugly truck (5)

21 After a fashion show, train lacking width is recycled (7, 3 words)

23 Calls for kisses with girlfriend not cross (5)

27 Noise from Jersey City getting quiet - typical of old people? (7)

28 Mood abnormality underlying noxious impulsive activity principally (5)

32 Quaver held by soprano's missing richness at first (7)

33 What managers do to one detected in idleness while playing (8)

34 Ruler, heading from extreme north, tracks a little lower to Fort William (5)

35 Grasping dynasty behind crime involving revolutionary painting (9)

36 One’s crazy about French sticks (6)

37 Only ten cheese sandwiches flipping radical (5)

38 Pink fruit having peel removed, after shelling eggs (7)

39 Cinnamon provides treatment of ascaris (6)

Down

  1 Kyoto menial with karate kit was up for gap left by carpenter (7, 2 words)

  2 Top-notch agent first to behold cocked weapon (9, 2 words)

  3 Rest and a short sleep brewing? One has nap after work (8)

  4 Flowing tears, etc? (7)

  6 Old ref: "It smashed the upper part of the foil!" (5)

  7 Quick dance parts; quick chance parts (7)

  8 Florida's gross, honest! (5)

  9 Kir Royale finally demolished: that is a sort of therapy! (5)

10 Take out England's opener by bowling Cotes (6)

12 Man of art went to get a little light (6)

18 Unfashionably dressed but having good prospects when king becomes God (5)

19 Two bad ones, surprisingly they are the opposite of arses (9)

22 Old American eyes pigmeat covered in pickles (8)

23 Section cut out from oil silk fitted inside soft, new cushion (7)

24 Pacific island captured by mad cretin following the end of Empire (7)

25 Business involving palms, donkey? Could be holy ride when penny drops (6)

26 Clobber messy ape eating nuts under leafy ash, primarily (7)

27 Partly dismiss fallacious religious book (6)

29 Yes, it takes a bit of bottle, prepared to do nothing when something bad's happening (5, 2 words)

30 Butterfly warm over centre of Sahara (5)

31 Judge pub - it gives spirit to Muslim (5) 

Entries
To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the final entries to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th April 2025. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

 Voting
You may vote for your favourite clue with your entry. You can just nominate one clue, which will be awarded 3 points, or your top three which will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points. The person whose clue accumulates the most points will receive a prize, which also has been donated by the Crossword Centre.

Clues by…
…Anax, Avtaar, Josie Barnes, Steve Bartlett, David Beamish, Rod Beards, Brian Betker, Terrence Brennan, Kieran Callaghan, Geri Cashell, Chalicea, Andy Grady, Simon Griew, Derek Harrison, Hawk, Helen Heath, Hedge-sparrow, John Hood, Jugular, Karla, Kevin McDermid, Toby McLeay, Rob Moline, Alf Mullins, Jonathan Owen, Bhalchandra Pasupathy, Jeff Pearce, Phylax, Ed Powles, Paul Pridmore, John Reardon, Simon Shaw, Ian Simpson, Peter Smith, William Snow, Colin Thomas, Andrew Varney, Adam Vellender, John Walsh, Luciano Ward, David Whyte and Dave Williams.  

Crossword News February 2025

 

Crossword News February 2025

The January Prize Puzzle was Twin Beaks by Jugular. This was based on a famous Guinness advert and the grid showed the toucan’s beaks and two pints of Guinness. Before Dorothy L. Sayers became a well-known crime novelist she worked as an advertising copywriter for S. H. Benson and worked on a campaign for Guinness where she is credited with the phrase:

"If he can say as you can Guinness is good for you How grand to be a Toucan Just think what Toucan do.”

An excellent start to 2025 with a puzzle that was widely enjoyed by just about everyone.  The highlighting of Dorothy L Sayers was a little ambiguous with two Ds close together and an extra L within the confines of the beak, so any version that spelt out the 14 cells required was marked correct.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

This is the sort of puzzle that is definitely 'good for you'... The clues were neat, the theme novel and the end-game fun: I thought I'd leave a bit of head on the two shaded subjects.  Thanks to Jugular and the Crossword Centre.

I found this to be a very enjoyable puzzle with good clues and an interesting theme. I was aware of the connection between toucans & Guinness but didn’t know where it had come from so it was interesting to find this out.

Cork comedian and actor Niall Tóibín, used tell a joke about how an Irishman could be described as “a complex machine for converting Guinness into urine”, he would pause briefly in thought and follow it up with “which to a Murphy’s drinker is superfluous anyway”. While I have done no justice to his abilities as a storyteller, it was nice to be reminded of one of Cork’s greatest, by, ironically, a Dublin institution. Thanks to Jugular for the challenge and also for bringing back some great memories.

There were 55 entries, of which 7 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat was Alan Chamberlain, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary which was donated by Chambers.

There is a solution with notes at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/02/solution-to-twin-beaks-by-jugular.html

There is still time to complete the February Prize Puzzle, Defeat by Chalicea.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/01/february-2025-defeat-by-chalicea.html

The March challenge will be our 17^th Round Robin puzzle, RR XVII – Round Up. The grid and the concept were the work of John Nicholson (Wan). He tells me that he has run out of ideas for these crosswords and wants someone else to take over. If you have an idea for a 2026 Round Robin, I would be very grateful. The only good thing is that you do not have to write the clues!

We would welcome submissions for later months.
***
Robert has produced the 2024 results for the Crowther Cup.

Checking and calculating the scores for this over the past month has thrown up a few more concerns regarding the issues with my email!  For instance, when I looked back at last January there were more entries than I had originally marked at the time.  I am confident that I now have the full information required for the results, but it has persuaded me even more that it would be a good thing going forward if we get a volunteer to take over! (Edited article to follow below).  Once again I am happy to provide individual records on request (email me at toots@tinyworld.co.uk), but for some I may not be able to respond until next week (I am still going through the year thoroughly to add in any "missing" entries).

Despite us posting just the 12 competition puzzles in 2024 only 3 competitors managed to survive the year intact!  Matthew Auger continued his long unbeaten run and he was joined by Ronan Cullinane and Christine Thomas.  As per the Listener, The Crowther Cup passes on to the best all correct solver who has not been on before, so it went to countback.  The final positions were:

1. Matthew Auger (last failure Dec 2015)

2. Christine Thomas (last failure Oct 2023)

3. Ronan Cullinane (last failure Dec 2023)

So congratulations to Christine Thomas who wins the Crowther Cup!

http://www.crossword.org.uk/crowther.html
***
The Clue-writing competition has been running for the past 17 years on the fantastic software designed by John Tozer for the Azed & lit site.  However, he is unable, for health reasons to change the site and since he fell ill we have been unable to accept new members - frustrating for those wishing to join and develop their clue-writing skills.  We know that there are many new people who would like to enter the competition. So we are suggesting moving back to the old method, where a manager receives the clues by email, sends out a list of the clues for voting, records the votes and composes a summary of the successful clues plus any comments, to then send out to the group each month. In this way, we could accept more new clue-writers. It is a shame to move away from the wonderful interface on the CCCWC website, but there is always the possibility that we may be able to resume there at some time in the future.  Robert Teuton has been managing the CCCWC for the past 25 years and he feels that it is time for someone else to inject renewed energy and enthusiasm into our long-running competition!

Since the inception of the Crowther Cup in 2015 Robert Teuton has also been marking our monthly crosswords, but he thinks it is time for a rest from that as well, so I am asking for a volunteer to take on the role of marking the monthly crosswords. It would mean checking around 30 to 70 entries per month, making a document of all the comments received and keeping a record of individual entries for the annual statistics.

If you would be willing to take on either of these tasks, please let me know.  If you would like more information on what either role entails before committing, please email Robert at toots@tinyworld.co.uk

***
John Henderson has published the results of the IQ puzzle of the year votes. The winner was eXternal with his sausage-themed puzzle. On the podium were -

1.     1843 Sausage Competition    eXternal

2.     1852 Made Runny                  Charybdis

3.     1850 Blast Off                        Serpent

Read the full report here - https://www.fifteensquared.net/2025/02/15/inquisitor-review-of-the-year-2023-4-the-results/

***
The Magpie continues to produce the most original and testing puzzles every month. They have just published their annual statistics for 2024 and the names on the leader board are a good picture of the top solvers in the world.

Who were the top solvers in 2024?
1= Daniel Angel 12 12 72 [249]
1= Matthew Auger 12 12 72 [225.5]
1= Michael Bennett 12 12 72 –
1= Richard Chamberlain 12 12 72 [240]
1= David Giles 12 12 72 [249.2*]
1= John Reardon 12 12 72 [251.6]
1= Darren Roberts 12 12 72 [251]
1= Deane Short 12 12 72 [247.3]
1= Don Thompson 12 12 72 [252.1]
1= Clive Walker 12 12 72 –
1= Philip Wood 12 12 72 [204.5]
1= Nick Yannacone 12 12 72 [240.3]
13 Larry Baum 12 12 71 259.5
14 Geoff Telfer 12 12 71 263.5
15 Chris Cawthorn 11 12 71 258.2
16 Keith Sutherland 11 12 71 259.3
17= Tim Burt 11 12 71 262.2
17= Dale Johannesen 11 12 71 262.2
17= G Mullineux 11 12 71 262.2

The numbers after the names give a. all correct Magpie. b. all correct mathematical c. Total d.  Last failure issue (This month is issue 266).
https://www.piemag.com/
***
Now that Jason Crampton is the editor of the Times crossword, he has left the Magpie team. Colin Thomas (Twin) has taken over his job of First Test Solver.
***
The Listener Crossword Dinner will be held in the Seafront Hotel, Southport on Saturday 15 March. Jane Teather tells me that there are still some places available if you want to make a booking. Contact Jane or email me for details.
***
The latest Azed Slip is now on the Crossword Centre with the results of the competition for TENEBROSE. The winner was P. W. Marlow:

Reform seen to be limiting Starmer’s focus? That’s dismal (r in anag.).

http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2742.pdf
***
When I published the Apex Letters two years ago, I tried to contact the family of Eric Chalkley. I had the email address of his daughter, Jennifer, but that address was defunct. However, I knew that his son Geoffrey lived in Haddonfield, NJ, and a Google search found his address. I wrote to him and he was able to give me Jennifer’s address. I sent them both copies of the book. Just recently, I have located Eric’s nephew, Brian, and I have been able to send him a copy. Eric was proud of his nephew and told me that he was a very good artist. Of course, Brian is now better known as the acclaimed artist, Brian Dawn Chalkley
***
Best wishes
Derek

 

Solution to Twin Beaks by Jugular

 Twin Beaks by Jugular - Solution

This crossword was inspired by Komornik's 2023 challenge. Before Dorothy L. Sayers became a

well known crime novelist she worked as an advertising copywriter for S. H. Benson and worked

on a campaign for Guinness where she is credited with the phrase:

"If he can say as you can

 Guinness is good for you

 How grand to be a Toucan

 Just think what Toucan do"

Across:

1 Defn. cas(e-H). PECK in COS

7 Defn. p(e-O)tty. DAF (fad/fancy in retirement) + T (that at first)

12 anag (m-W)ild "rational or" less 'l'

13 Defn. bu(y-G). anag (corrupt) "police" - no 'p'

14 French (d-R)iver wiping out NE (New England) – SEI(ne)

15 Defn. l(o-A)ss, A ROD (bar) returned

16 E(ff)LUENT (flowing out after fi(r-N)e disregarded more than once)

17 Defn. (w-D)ill (Victorian= Australian). anag (crazily) "doit" after (chasing) I (one)

18 anag (unusual) "trea(d-T)" including (inspired by) IS

19 anag. (b(a-O)ttled) "least"

26 O ((w-B)all) + GEED anag. (baroque) "edge"

27 Defn. b(a-E)g for Ed (Spenser). IN (popular) TREAT (pleasure excursion)

30 Hidden (some) thIN R(u-A)Gs (from the East)

32 Defn. (c-T)ree, I (Indian's leader) follows MIR (farming community) IT (appeal)

33 Defn. (a-O)men. SING (carol) delaying 'n'

34 (J)UDA(s) (traitor) sh(o-U)cked

35 Defn. (m-C)ad. (b)ROGUE

36 anag (bothered) "roadt(y-A)pes"

37 HE (gentleman) introduces Y (unknown) L (li(f-N)e)

38 (n)RETS (tail back nearly) hampering URN (c-J)ar.

Down:

1 Defn. (cryptic) rations on bread. CREDIT (tick) LIMITS (c(a-U)rbs)

2 OP (out of print) CODE (Morse (m-S)ay)) S (principally show)

3 Defn. Indian ho(g-T) dish. PI (pie mostly) stuffed with OOR (climbing marsupial).

4 Defn. (m-T)ucks in cells. anag (about) "i care" round (interrupted by) ST (saint)

5 K(king) A(accepted) S(special) B(British) A(area) H((t-H)our)

6 Defn. Walter(Scott)'s dust-up. EE((j-I)an's eye) R(runs) inside STY (filthy place)

7 Defn. Troo(p-N)'s foolish. I (one) captured by DOLT(stupid fellow)

8 Defn. See(m-K)ing to show. A (a) RING (clique) circling round GU (short "gun" - expert in Perth

(Australia))

9 F (fellow) IE (that is) capturing NESS (sca(r-W))

10 AUNT (family member) after T (s(p-H)ort time)

11 anag. (wobbly) "(i-A)sensenudist"

20 SA(w-T) RAP (gentle punishment) Y (unknown)

21 LYR(e) (cu(p-T) instrument) I CAL (state)

22 DOG (f(e-O)llow) TROT (communist)

23 PEN (swan) GIN (trap) capturing head of (o-U)tter

24 AIDE (confidential assistant) enters RR (expensive (b-C)ar)

25 anag (all over the place) "rese(n-A)t"

28 anag. (organised) "ha(c-N)k+i"

29 Hidden – bErTbUn(g-D)lEd

31 RIG (l(a-O)rry from America) + OR (alternatively). 

February 2025 Defeat by Chalicea

 Defeat by Chalicea

The wordplay in every clue leads to an extra letter in addition to those needed for the answer. These, in clue order, give a shortened version of the lines that follow those that appear around the perimeter, sung by 7d, about 28, and 11d, who had to 18 after his DEFEAT. PDF copy

Across

9 Destructive ulceration relating to wanderers (4)

10 Intermittently loitered in shelter (3)

12 Men with computerized engineering creating monster (4)

14 Mistreated Aussie fool victimised (7)

15 Revolutionary harm of Muslim lord (5)

16 Remote oasis is removed for West African trees (6)

17 Dithering ringleader, age roughly ignored, pinched with cold in         Holyrood (6)

19 Insist upon exceptional stayers (6)

24 Son principally enjoys every small heady pinch of snuff in Dundee (6)

25 Flightless bird - one runs for an independent ruler (4)

26 The German distinctive doctrine; rational belief in the existence of a supreme being (5)

30 Most enraged artist we dealt with (7)

31 Hesitate in Perth to rip apart line of houses (6)

Down

1 Staff of Indian officials upset Scotland's whole modus operandi (5)

2 For Robert the Bruce, say, defeat unco braw louts essentially (4)

3 Portable means of defecation of distressed aliens (5)

4 Wooden structures for cattle's winter accommodation on Skye (4)

5 Half drawn-out papier-mâché for stereotyping (5)

6 Ape is endlessly timid and lacking daring for a start (6)

8 Relating to section between bird's eye and bill, expressed in speech (4)

13 Heels in church lead to grovel some say (6)

20 Scotland's misty rain, more, according to Scots, in southern region (5)

21 Esperanto introduces mythological figure (5)

22 Abjure long ago mishandled nerdy energy (5)

23 Uptight backward gest about enrolled nurse (5)

24 Lecture on board ship for dissenting bodies (5)

27 In Edinburgh crumble Will's wall length (4)

29 Regular skincare for Prestwick's thieving flier (3)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format,  to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th March 2025. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers

Crossword News January 2025

 

Crossword News January 2025

The December Prize Puzzle was Seasons Greetings XV by Eclogue with a circular grid. The theme was a Christmas carol. “PAST THREE O’CLOCK” is an English Christmas carol set to the traditional tune “LONDON WAITS” (both illustrated by the clock hands to be drawn).  The words were written by GEORGE RATCLIFFE WOODWARD (highlighted).  The THIRD letter of each extra word clues in grid order provides “LIGHT OUT OF STAR-LAND, LEADETH FROM FAR LAND.”

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

A splendid puzzle. Of course, the grid design, highlighting “past three o’clock” and hidden composer’s name (which allowed me to correct to “weEned”) are absolutely stunning.  Thanks for a wonderful year of brain-benders!

Congratulations to Eclogue on this long running series with a nicely thematic subject and appropriately shaped grid. 

 As always with an Eclogue puzzle: a satisfying - and on this occasion a not too difficult! - solve with impeccable clues and an interesting theme nicely developed.  Thanks to Eclogue and the Crossword Centre.

There were 38 entries, of which 5 were marked incorrect. The winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Graham O’Neill, of Purley, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which is donated by Chambers.

There is a full solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/01/solution-to-seasons-greetings-by-eclogue.html

We also had a Christmas special – checkerboard Challenge by Arcadia. This proved to be very popular with over 1200 visitors to the puzzle. This was a real challenge, with 5 grids to fill and a final test of adding the number values of all the letters in the grids. Unfortunately, the wrong version was posted (mea culpa) and only corrected 24 hours later.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

One of the most absorbing and enjoyable puzzles I've seen on this site. It was expertly paced, with the first four grids feeling like Everest base camps, before the final push to the Grid E summit. Many thanks to Arcadia and the Crossword Centre.

A clever series of grids leading to an elegant final submission. I'd printed off an earlier version so was glad to spot the update and resolve some queries. Not sure if extremity (noun) is quite aphelian (adjective) but think that has to be the answer. 

This was a bit of an epic challenge - I thoroughly enjoyed! My thanks to Arcadia for such a clever construction and an unusual route through the grids to get to the end. Superb stuff.

There were only, not surprisingly, 16 entries and all were correct. The winner, picked from the electronic hat is Julian Stradling who will be receiving a bottle of Brut Champagne which has been donated by Arcadia.

There is a full solution here https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/01/solution-to-christmas-checkerboard.html

There is still time to send your entry to our January puzzle, Twin Beaks by Jugular. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/12/january-2025-twin-beaks-by-jugular.html

The February Prize Puzzle will be Defeat by Chalicea.

Robert Teuton will be finalising the 2024 statistics and hopes to publish the results of the Crowther Cup competition next month.
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This month marks the 100th anniversary of the first Sunday Times crossword, which was printed on January 11, 1925, with a statement that the paper had “fallen victim to the universal craze of Cross-Word puzzles”.

Peter Biddlecombe, crossword editor of the Sunday Times, wrote an article describing the history of the crossword and included 3 old crosswords from 1935, 1955 and 1975. The article (possibly behind paywall) is here https://www.thetimes.com/uk/media/article/100-years-of-the-sunday-times-crossword-try-some-of-the-classics-0r8cszvpb

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Solvers of The Observer's Azed crossword, both regular and occasional, are invited to a special lunch to celebrate puzzle No. 2,750 at Wolfson College, Oxford on Saturday 3rd May, followed by afternoon tea at Azed's Oxford home.  For full details please email heald.richard@gmail.com. 
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Solvers of the Listener Crossword will have noticed that since the beginning of January the address for entries has changed to Pontefract. I have it on good authority that the new marker is Neil Aspland, a long-time successful Listener solver and AZ competitor, who solved with his father and won the Solver Silver Solver in 2006.  Good luck to him in the role!

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There will be a Word- Puzzles Conference at Magdalen College, Oxford, on the 21 March. Speakers include Simon Anthony, Mark Goodliffe, John Finnemore and Alan Connor. Tickets for this 8 hour event are £25 and include lunch.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/word-puzzles-a-conference-tickets-1144015303569
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I have been looking at the Clue Clinic which has some very sound reviews of Azed puzzles. The reviewer, Doctor Clue, certainly knows a lot about clue writing, and is, I guess, an Azed solver. Does anyone know who is behind this site?
https://www.clueclinic.com/
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Paul Henderson (Phi) tells us that he has taken over as crossword editor for The Church Times, following the retirement of Don Manley.
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The editors and setters of the New York Times Crossword have been reviewing the new words that appeared in 2024.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/crosswords/2024-crossword-debuts.html?smid=em-share
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John Henderson’s review of the IQ crosswords of 2024 is interesting reading.
https://www.fifteensquared.net/2024/12/30/inquisitor-review-of-2023-24-by-nimrod/
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The Azed slip for the Christmas competition is now on the Crossword Centre. The word to clue was the Playfair key-word, DOUBLE-PARKING. Azed admits that he used this in a competition 10 years ago, also a Playfair puzzle. http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2740.pdf

The winner was Dr I. S. Fletcher with this clue.

 Result of turning up with no empty space alongside kerb? (anag. less s, e, & lit.)
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I will be going to the Listener Crossword Dinner in Southport in March. We have booked the hotel for the Friday night as well and look forward to meeting lots of friends there. Jane Teather has already been there to check out suitable pubs and she will soon announce her best choice.

Best wishes
Derek