Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle May 2024

 Singing by Chalicea

PDF copy

According to 16, 12 needed only 1ac, 1d, 15 and his love SINGING to turn the 29 to 39 (all unclued). Letters in circles, read in order, spell what was probably in 1ac.

Across

    10    Through passage for Scots across Spain? (6)

    13    Secular men, the French in charge and insisting essentially (5)

    14    Some papyrus makes a depilatory (5)

    17    Short sitting of court produces antiquated tax (4)

    18    Engineers activity that wearies; process of adjusting worn-out engine (6)

    19    Notable exploits following upsets (5)

    21    Election losers are not oddly robustest (4)

    23    Exclamations of dismay involving one junior's exoduses (7)

    25    Scotland's marsh wolf making a comeback (4)

    26    Strangeness involves bit of hereditary material (4)

    27    Unfledged hawk, last of eyrie, say, returning (4)

    31    Slighting remarks about second-class squalid neighbourhoods in city outskirts (6)

    33    Royal lady with yen for ecstasy is a Scots lassie (5)

    35    Unusually banal system originally for mathematical symbols (6)

    36    A raid collapsed. No raid! (6)

    37    Messages set me back with troubles (6)

    38    For entertainment on the box mistakenly streaming video (Ironside sadly rejected) (6, 2 words)

Down

    2    Intermittently fortuitous event at heart producing no effect (6)

    3    Overturned sacrosanctity, disregarding godliness, reveals monsters (5)

    4    Leg irons not right! They make people cry (6)

    5    Partly hover briefly, swoop and strike, for example (4)

    6    Residential areas outside ancient city extremes of boundaries (6)

    7    Raising aloes? You're now and then rash! (7)

    8    Obstreperously adverse shirkers (7)

    9    Noxious British beer not completely drunk (7)

    11    Intricate serif in Hebrew religious texts (6)

    20    A letter we're told is off the straight in Holyrood (4)

    22    Number of casualties initially brought about resisting roadblock (7, 2 words)

    23    Heartless boss chasing the one indoors for aromatic plants (5)

    24    Section of core surgery to come up again (7)

    28    Light and warmth expected, we hear for bog plant (6)

    30    At the proper time, mostly, I advanced reverence accorded to saints (5)

    31    US uncle principally accepts honorific title (4)

    32    Is examined in computer technology on board ship (4)

    34    Ecstasy over article relating to dawn (4)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th June 2024. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers

Crossword News April 2024

 

Crossword News April 2024.

The March Prize Puzzle was our 16^th Round Robin, at Sixes and Sevens. For 12 answers the first six letters were used jumbled to form the entry. The last letters of these answers formed the unclued row - SHORT-CHANGED - which could describe the modifications. Solvers had to highlight CUT LOOSE, which also could describe the modifications.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Thank you to all of the setters and grid designer for a splendid challenge.  I always approach the Round Robins with a mixture of pleasure and fear.  There is no opportunity for the solver to get on the wavelength of the setter and the different approaches can be bewildering.  Always a challenge, they are among my favourite puzzles.   I am relieved that I took the trouble to check the last letters of the modified answers because I had SHORTCHANGES instead of SHORTCHANGED across the middle.    Phew!  That was close.

A simple idea beautifully executed.  I guess a lot of 6-letter words jumble to a 7-letter word when an additional letter is thrown in, but the number that have that letter at the end of the new word must be much smaller.  Adding the complicating demands of two thematic phrases makes this a complex composition, yet one that presents so simply.  Many delightful clues.  I found 36a particularly amusing.

An excellent challenge, with high-quality clues throughout. Many thanks to all the contributors and The Crossword Centre.

And a word of congratulation to John Nicholson for managing to incorporate so many unfamiliar (to me anyway) words into the grid.

There were 63 entries, of which 2 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Craig Fothergill, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary donated by the publishers.

Solvers were asked to vote for their favourite clues. Here are the results. The voting was more spread out amongst the clues than ever before, with only 12 clues failing to trouble the scorer.  Three clues did stand out from the chasing pack though:

1. 23pts - OMINOUS - John Walsh
2. 18pts - CLOSING – Pandiculator
3. 17pts - ORGANIC – Phylax
4. 11pts - ACUSHLA - Brian Betker
5. 10 pts - LAMPERN- Keiron Callaghan

If John sends me a mailing address I shall send him a prize book. If you would like to see all the votes, email me.

There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/04/solution-to-rr-xvi-at-sixes-and-sevens.html

The May challenge will be Singing by popular setter, Chalicea. Unfortunately, that will be the end of our pipe-line. As I write, there is no puzzle for June.
***
Robert Teuton has released the results of our 2023 Crowther Cup competition.

The Crowther Cup 2023

Four solvers managed to continue their unbeaten streaks in 2023 and were joined by two more solvers who were all correct for the year.  In order of last time since an error/omission they are:

• Matthew Auger
• Brian Betker
• Philip Wood
• Keith Williams
• Clive Walker
• Dave Howell

As mentioned, the top four have already received the Cup previously, so the next in line is someone whose last error was in March 2022...

...congratulations to Clive Walker!

Close behind were those entrants with just one error/omission:

• Tim Coates
• Craig Fothergill
• Gerry Murtagh
• Bhalchandra Pasupathy
• Julian Stradling
• Adam Vellender

After this there were six solvers on 10/12:

• Rod Beards
• Christopher Edwards
• RJ Green
• Andie Johnson
• Geoff Lee
• John Reardon
• Christine Thomas

Just behind these we had:

• 9 correct - 6 solvers
• 8 correct - 3 solvers
• 7 correct 5 solvers

Many thanks to all entrants for their continued support! individual statistics are available for anyone who wants - email me at toots@tinyworld.co.uk.

http://www.crossword.org.uk/crowther.html
***
The Guardian has introduced a Saturday crossword which will be an easier access for beginner solvers. The Quick Cryptic has only four types of wordplay, or tricks, and these are explained in a preamble.
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick-cryptic/1

On Sundays the on-line Guardian will also have a Quiptic crossword – “a cryptic crossword for beginners and those in a hurry”.

In a similar vein, Raider has introduced a new aid for solvers. On the fantastic Mycrossword site, there is now a button on puzzles which will underline the definition part of the clues.
https://www.mycrossword.co.uk/
***
Scrabble is set to change for the first time in its 75-year history as part of a new 'inclusivity' drive to deter those who find the word game too 'intimidating' from abandoning the game. The much-loved board game will now be printed with a simpler version on the back of the original board for those whose knowledge of dictionaries and thesauruses are limited.

The new game from its owners Mattel is called Scrabble Together and will feature a second side 'to make gameplay more accessible for anyone who finds word games intimidating'. Scrabble is set to change for the first time in its 75-year history as part of a new 'inclusivity' drive to deter those who find the word game too 'intimidating' from abandoning the game.

The much-loved board game will now be printed with a simpler version on the back of the original board for those whose knowledge of dictionaries and thesauruses are limited. The new game from its owners Mattel is called Scrabble Together and will feature a second side 'to make gameplay more accessible for anyone who finds word games intimidating'.
***
For many years, I have been solving John Nolan’s monthly crosswords. John, an exiled Scot who now lives in Farmington, New Hampshire, often breaks Ximenean rules but always creates a fun puzzle with a theme. He acknowledges all his solvers and offers a monthly prize. Ian Simpson is planning a holiday in the USA and hopes to meet John during his visit. You can try the Very Logical Puzzle at http://www.stephaniepiro.com/Crossword%20Page.htm
***
As well as his interest in crosswords, Stephen Sondheim loved all sorts of puzzles and games. He had a huge collection of antique games, many of which adorned the walls of his house. Some of his collection is in an auction at Doyles of New York on the 18^th of May. You can see the items and place a bid at this link.
https://www.doyle.com/auction/search/?au=8984
***

Best wishes
Derek

 

 

 

Solution to RR XVI At Sixes and Sevens

 RR XVI - At Sixes and Sevens SOLUTION

For 12 answers the first six letters were used jumbled to form the entry. The last letters of these answers formed the unclued row - SHORT-CHANGED - which could describe the modifications. Solvers had to highlight CUT LOOSE, which also could describe the modifications.

 

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle April 2024

 Hymn by Vismut

PDF copy

Clues are presented in the alphabetical order of their solution and must be entered where they will fit. Read in normal clue order, an extra letter from the wordplay in some clues will give the first line of a hymn. In the completed grid solvers should draw a curved figure, without moving pen from paper, through the second line of the hymn, with the last word running into the first, for a hint of what is to be highlighted (31 letters). Any that are not complete grid entries – which, when lines are ignored, read as though they are – can be confirmed by the letters and enumeration of the spurious clue. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.

- Saw second of bachelors heading to double date (5)

- Royal rage about Vismut pushing right back (5)

- Dried bits of dung strike artists in retrospective (6)

- Rosie Lee’s written up new poem in time (6, two words)

- More heroic British are extremely short (6)

- Caught yours and mine at end of Kelso’s unbacked horse race (5)

- Treat scientist (4)

- Top to bottom paradise in small valley (4)

- Previously works upon the two diamonds first (4)

- Couple beside first 3 of miniature cathedrals (5)

- Bad toenail threat throws ace (6)

- Noble hosts cored the apple for one (5)

- Dumbo flying the plane? (8)

- Send out when beer stops getting served on the counter (4)

- Swell space has stripped snoggers excited  (7)

- Parrot coming back eating constant quantity of dry goods (4)

- Record Heidi book for daughter and 18-20 Greek boys (6)

- Some get a taxi in Parisienne rank (4)

- Always losing American pitcher (4)

- Runs away from one’s own family base aboard (5)

- Catches the light fluff found in empty galleries (6)

- Indian state enthusiastic about naked lady in parade (6)

- Looked for bed after dance (5)

- Pushes clipped mount to carry headless man (5)

- Maybe pet cat starts to lick dead awful pet food under lid (6)

- Illuminated five men in bluish colour (5)

- Sad nudist regularly shelters in Scotland (6)

- Wizard changing one into old juicy gourd (5)

- Wind working wheels, this one has buckets (5)

- Broke people at university invested in fake pearls (7) 

- Twelve year old pine tree cut up (7)

- Scan Australian consuming iodine for potential worms (5)

- Describing wealth of right creeps pushing nationalist down south (8)

- Now and again shah kicked off about ancient Yemini (6)

- Sarah snubbed earl in Nancy’s lobby (5)

- Caught Jack eating no fat fish (5)

- First piece of lingerie pierced sisters dressed without bustle (8)

- Maybe two lots of columns halt briefly outside of Sparta (4)

- Hot floor stripped around vacated latrine (6)

- Taxed adult departing island full up (6)

- Exquisite instrument sound from horn cutting off tenor (6)

- Ground teal tacos keeping, not yet handed out (7)

- Animal hunter’s close family sent up whiskey in the van  (8)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the highlighted entries and curved line, to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th May 2024. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers

Crossword News March 2024

Crossword News March 2024

The February Prize Puzzle was Annus Mirabilis by Phylax. The miraculous year was 1966. The Roman numerals in the circled cells could be added up to make 1966. By altering the letters in the circles you get the surnames of the England football team that won the World Cup in 1966.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Loved the puzzle, the amazingly high quality clues being the hallmark.  It's not often there's a puzzle with just normal clues without variations, so all the more impressive.  Wasn't straightforward to identify the theme even after completion and did some unproductive 'Newtonian' research.  What helped was the fact that changed letters had to lead to names, and a prominently placed BOBBY provided the clincher.  Thoroughly enjoyed, many thanks.

A popular subject, but one which remained hidden until I'd completed the grid and started looking for letter replacements. I see we're now up to 58 years of hurt, and counting. Many thanks to Phylax and The Crossword Centre.

Anyway, though I am fed up to death with the 1966 World Cup, it was a very well composed puzzle. Plenty of very nice clues (favourites expert spinners and bigots like me) and a clever gridfill. I am always envious of people who can fit in so many thematics without wrecking the normality of entries. Congratulations to Phylax.

I guess that 1066 and 1966 is a summary of the average English bloke’s historical knowledge.

There were 54 entries, of which 5 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner was Mark Nichols from Rugby, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by Chambers.

There is a full solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/03/solution-to-annus-mirabilis-by-phylax.html

There is still lots of time to email your entry to the March puzzle, Round Robin XVI.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/02/crossword-centre-prize-puzzle-march-2024.html

The April Prize Puzzle will be Hymn by Vismut.

We still welcome submissions for the summer months.
***
I attended the Listener Crossword Setters’ Dinner in Lincoln. The venue was the Lincoln Hotel, situated directly opposite the magnificent cathedral. I was able to meet up with lots of old friends on the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon pubs, and met lots of new setters and solvers. It was great to see Andrew Fisher from Australia, Shirley Curran and Charles from France. It was nice to meet up with Rob Pinnock (Hedge-sparrow) who has also contributed his puzzles on the Crossword Centre.

Jane Teather began the proceedings by reading the list of absentees and those we had lost. It was Neil Aspland who stood up to give a tribute to his father, Denis, who had recently died at the age of 90. John Henderson gave a tribute to the late Margaret Irvine and quoted some of her clues.

Shane Shabankareh then spoke, announcing the winner of the Radix Auditorum, the award given to the best new solver. John Howe took the silver jug.

The record for all-correct solutions is still held by Simon Long with 412 with Neil Talbott a close second with 409. With previous winners stepping aside, the Solver’s Silver Salver went to Andrew Nelson with 206 all-correct. He was unable to attend so Patrick Bair took the trophy as he lives nearby.

There were 21 all-correct solvers in 2023 and 19 0f them voted for their favourite puzzles, giving 5, 3, 2 or 1 points.26 puzzles gained votes and 9 received the top vote. In reverse order here are the results.

10. Self-contained by Woracle
9.  Contemporary Still by Filbert
8. Die Hard by Charybdis
7. Transposition Cipher by Serpent
6. Queen by Rebel
5. I Want You by win
4. Infeasible by Quinapalus
3 Doing the Lord’s Work by Craft
2. Life 2 by Hawk

And the winner was -
Citation Needed by Cagey

A surprised Stuart Thomas (Cagey) came out to accept the Ascot Gold Cup. In his speech, Stuart explained his setting aims. “I want everyone to get the answers, I just want them to take a bloody long time!”

The table quiz had a Lincoln theme, with the final task to write a clue to ROBIN HOOD. Table 13 won with this clue.

Winger covering Nottingham Forest’s poor defender

Stuart Thomas came forward to accept the bronze casket for his table and distribute the sweets. The quiz is now available on Jane’s website - https://www.jetdoc.co.uk/crossword-and-quiz-links

John Henderson then gave the prize of the voting for the best IQ puzzle of 2023 to Ploy (Phil Lloyd) for his Retrospective. He said that as soon as he saw the pattern of hexagons on the James Webb Telescope, he thought there must be a puzzle there!

Jane hinted that next year’s do might be in the north-west.

Shirley Curran has put her photos here. https://www.flickr.com/photos/194321761@N03/albums/72177720315369886/

Our trip home began well, with a nice chat with Dave Hennings, who maintains two fantastic websites, Listen With Others and The Crossword Database. However, animals on the line meant that our train was delayed and we spent an hour shivering in York station and missed our connection at Newcastle.
***
NPR puzzle master and New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz announced on Sunday that he is recovering from a stroke.

Shortz, who hosts NPR's Sunday Puzzle, shared the health update in a brief recorded message which aired at the end of the segment — in part to explain his recent absence from the show.

"Hey guys, this is Will Shortz. Sorry I've been out the last few weeks. I had a stroke on Feb. 4 and have been in rehabilitation since then, but I am making progress. I'm looking forward to being back with new puzzles soon," he said.

We wish him a speedy recovery.
***
William Snow has announced the recreation of Neil Shepherd's website at https://www.alberich-crosswords.com/

The site brings together the crossword-related writings of Neil (AKA Alberich/Klingsor) originally published on his own website. You can contact William via the website and he would welcome comments and donations to help maintain the site.
***
Phi issued his APEX puzzle for Christmas 2023, a letters latent crossword, and solvers had to write a clue to ASTRONOMY with one letter latent of their choice. The result of the voting is now available, with Richard Morse winning the competition.

Winning clues to ASTRONOMY (with choice of latent letter)

1st Science familiar to Greeks but alien to Romans Richard Morse

2nd A case of subject covering a lot of space? Christopher Brougham

3rd A study in which universal dimension is space Mick Hodgkin
***
The results of the Azed competition for MALIK are now available on the Crossword Centre.

J. C. Leyland won the competition with this.

 Fresh out of ecstasy, like a bit of marijuana? I could manage a gram

(anag. less E incl. a, m; gram 4). It makes sense when you realise that a malik is the head of a village and the 4^th definition of gram is a village in India.
http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2694.pdf

In his slip, Azed points out that there is a new edition of The Cain’s Jawbone Book of Crosswords by Torquemada, first published by Pushkin Press in 1942.It is published by Unbound, the company that produced the boxed set of Cain’s Jawbone a few years ago.

Best wishes
Derek

 

Solution to Annus Mirabilis by Phylax

 Annus Mirabilis by Phylax - Solution

The initial grid.

The circled letters, read in normal crossword order, give MCMLVVVI. This equates to 1966, the annus mirabilis in which England won the soccer World Cup. The eight circled letters should be changed to yield (Alan) BALL, (Geoff) HURST, (Martin) PETERS, (Gordon) BANKS, (George) COHEN, (Nobby) STILES, (Bobby) MOORE and (Roger) HUNT. These names should be highlighted, along with the remaining members of the team BOBBY (Charlton), JACK (Charlton) and RAY (Wilson), not forgetting the manager, ALF (Ramsey).

Explanations:

Across: 1 (p)ar(a)MOUR, 6 M + (DO(e) in AQUA), 11 (R(eckon) D(el) A(nd) R(odney) ARGUE)*, 12 ie A after ALFALF, 13 SPILT with I moved just ahead of T, 14 CURT around S(hrink), 15 METES around (ca)R, 16 SEL(d)OM< around ASS, 18 LON(don)ER, 19 BOBB(l)Y, 22 STAR(k)ERS, 24 (RAF A)<, 25 CON around V(illag)E, 26 W A FT, 28 (S PL ENS) around E, 31 WALKE(r)*, 32 MOO + V(illag)E, 33 A(r)TS< + SIMON, 36 PIN in JAG, 38 ((ARE ILL) - (fu)R)*, 39 (cak)E + LITE, 40 RA(c)Y, 41 FREER around (S HEN), 42 (SINK SEE)*, 43 TUR(bo)T + L(ak)E.

 

Down: 2 REP ROOF, 3 MA'LL, 4 ((s)AY I RO(manticize))<, 5 (fe)RULES, 6 MAT TES(t), 7 REST in (A RED), 8 (b)ONUS, 9 L in (m)USTER, 10 A + F(it)TER, 12 EA in (A + NEAR*), 13 S AM B(oys) AS, 17 EYES* around C, 18 (p)LANS around K(ate), 20 BY around ALONE, 21 (CON SIRE) around P, 23 (con)STANCE, 27 LOAT(h)E in FL, 29 NAP< around (O LL), 30 ST IVES, 32 MAI R(ogu)E, 34 (boomer)ANGS T(hreaten), 35 I + (E in DLR), 36 JACKPOT - TOP<, 37 (s)HINT(y).

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle March 2024

 RR XVI - At Sixes and Sevens

PDF version

In an effort to be as fair as possible to clue writers, each was allocated a plain clue to a seven-letter answer. However, the grid proved too difficult to build, so for 12 answers the first six letters are used ‘at sixes and sevens’ to make a new Chambers entry. The last letters of these answers could be arranged to form the unclued centre row, which was a consideration for the title. Solvers should highlight another Chambers entry, crossing the centre row, that likewise could cryptically explain the 12 modifications (8 cells).

The Chambers 13th edition is the primary reference.

Across

  1 Committee initially to interrogate quiet believer in positivism

  5 A fuss about actuaries’ failure of recognition

11 Fasten vessel carrying Scottish preserve (2 words)

13 Those who ramble are getting more confused about Rishi Sunak, primarily

14 Element of logic in a grower turning chemical-free

15 Suffering single mum’s after prime beef cut?

16 Brief text I, for one, answer about old prejudices

17 A habit's redesigned for religious adherent

18 Said about university furnished with sculpted forms

19 Comparatively speedy replacing whiskey with new dram

23 Surprisingly learn MP admitted he’s a sucker?

27 Caught eating cat, occasionally canines will be hurling

32 Encounter's commencement is sealed by a glove shaken about and put down (2 words)

33 Casino's gutted, fleeced by unerring gambler ultimately becoming flusher

34 Thick bread left to cut bread slices

35 Silver regularly missing, thus arranged detectives

36 Bishop against women in places of worship

37 Nothing less (nothing gained) - that's not looking promising

38 College function holding another finale

39 Cartoon characters made for lively dance

Down

  1 Cerebral structures one found in layers

  2 Will’s boat shifted TNT with care

  3 Desire place overlooking lake for everyday work

  4 Put too much text in books about poetry

  6 Worry about craving for cake decoration

  7 Biting off each end of twig as medication

  8 Our site's dilapidated - shabbiest in Glasgow

  9 Sit pens haphazardly on instruments

10 Greedy horse in house is starting to hallucinate

11 African singer, live in Costa Rica, intoned sacred syllable by clubs

12 Fix dye in fading raincoat

20 Managed to detain evil criminal in part of fortress

21 Start to hope potters lacking money still produce on the black market?

22 Big easy golfer works around poor lies, but they leave sour taste

23 An example of this is kinda rising sound overwhelming Ligeti's boundaries

24 Mealtimes are disturbed as this wind blows

25 Softly a sexy European pinched near the ear

26 Distilled oil and trace nutrient eyesight requires primarily

28 One applying finishing touches to rug woven by old queen

29 Such a shaggy look for Irish pet

30 Ignorant preacher, following mass, omitting chapter from translation of extract

31 Nieces excited about introduction to Ruby Wax 

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 2024. 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, Steve Bartlett, David Beamish, Rod Beards, Brian Betker, Kieran Callaghan, Chalicea, Conto, John Covenhope, Simon Griew, Derek Harrison, Hawk, Richard Heald, Helen Heath, Hedge-sparrow, Karla, Chris Lancaster, Loonapick, John Nolan, Kevin McDermid, Mertytsetesh, Mr E, Pandiculator, Bhalchandra Pasupathy, Phylax, Ed Powles, Nick Pursey, Sowmya Ramkumar, Skinny, Simon Shaw, Ian Simpson, Peter Smith, Sprout, Robert Teuton, Colin Thomas, David Thompson, Trigot, Verbascum, George Walker, John Walsh, Luciano Ward and Keith Williams.