June 2024 Prize Puzzle - Sage Derby by Vagans

 Sage Derby by Vagans

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PDF version

Two down answers are thematic characters, big cheeses in their day, and are clued with wordplay only. Solvers must highlight these two characters and the first part of a (rather cheesy) cryptic representation of a thematically-linked saying that could also refer to them in a rather cheesy way (12 characters in a straight line, leaving symmetrical highlighting), and enter five further characters beneath the grid to complete it. Single extra letters generated by the wordplay in each across clue indicate a quotation that could be applied to them, from a UK perspective, and five other cheeses (but not a red herring) must be removed from across clues before solving. Five further characters of a different sort must also be removed from the down clues before solving; these complete a set. All entries, including this set of characters, are to be found in The Chambers Dictionary (2016), which is recommended.

Across

1 Ed's flung blue toys around with weight briefly (5)

5 Swiss Lass in sun hat sent back turpentine (7)

10 Desert boys prepared home for shellfish (9)

11 Rumour about Beirut (5)

12 US university region missing energy of bishop's office (6)

14 Rule has sex appeal with early English set on fire again (8)

15 Inn lynch mob hides Comte entirely (4)

16 Very loud Killarney tune: pretty good (4)

17 Irish wander about with garden weighing machine (9)

20 Unprotected Gouda under prepared (9)

23 Mother nevertheless returned instrument (4)

24 Sikh's uncut hair overturned wine hour (4)

26 Cream playing the bluest short playful pieces (8)

28 Sewage cycling round before tankers (6)

29 Resident in old people's home installed in vehicle (5)

30 French moderate animosity about old milk in Paris (9)

31 German city (dry) sent back fine Tokay (7)

32 Scots grass, jerk on run (5)

Down

1 Youth taken aback by mistake is behaving like a lout (7)

2 One of unclued lights is war god without name (5)

3 Disturb saint slowing down in retirement (4)

4 Old city hill conceals trial explosive compound (6)

5 Pitta custom: Kerridge's Glutton perhaps mixing dry egg and suet (10, two words)

6 Old ambassador once swindler in India? Quite the opposite. (6)

7 Source of spicy seeds no longer Colombia but Peru (9)

8 Send out atomic number retrospectively once (7, three words)

9 Alert about bias in old German tender (5)

12 Show of affection from Auden promoting North in Russian commune, that is (10)

13 Lob us clue when drunk (9)

18 Metallic oxides to this extent keep trouble on retreat (7)

19 Notice that woman with expression of hesitation for follower (7)

21 Solo Nash encountered beside lakes regularly near to limitless trona (6)

22 Sailor undergoes examination and leaves to stay away from college (6)

23 Litchi lone meal (hardly!) putting bishop in temper (5)

25 Precipitous cliff to cause fright in Grampians (5)

27 Current money backing Forth ales enjoying success (4, two words)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8th July 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 May 2024

 

Crossword News May 2024

The April Prize Puzzle was Hymn by Vismut. The second line in the HYMN, ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL is ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL which forms an 8 in the filled grid. The extra clue is BAD TOENAIL THREAT THROWS ACE a jumble of BEE, ANT, OSTRICH, WHALE, TOAD & RAT, which are hidden in the grid. The entries ELEPHANT & SPRAT bring the total of creatures highlighted to 8.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

It was a very enjoyable solve, with the added twist of the additional letters having to stay in clue order.  Hopefully I got the highlighting correct, with the 6 anagrammed beasties from the additional clue, and the already partially highlighted elephant and sprat.  I count a bird, two land mammals, a sea mammal, an amphibian, a fish, and a couple of insects. Literally all creatures great and small.  Many Thanks to Vismut.

Another great Crossword Centre puzzle, I thought - thanks. Perhaps a slightly stiffer challenge than often, with the jigsawing a bit tricky to get started. I thought the figure of eight was a very clever and original device. Perhaps the overlapping highlighting was a bit unusual, but the idea of the spurious clue allayed most confusion regarding that. Thanks to Vismut for an excellent bit of fun.

Another clever and enjoyable puzzle. I am in awe of your setters - how they come up with such clever ideas and particularly how they make them work within the confines of a crossword grid always amazes me.

Regarding the April puzzle, amusingly last Tuesday, The Times published a letter beginning "We are fortunate in this country to have such a splendid repertoire of hymns: English, Welsh, Anglican, Non-Conformist, mighty, joyous, reflective, peaceful. Why, then, do we have to suffer All Things Bright and Beautiful?". There have been follow-up letters every day since, and finally today a leading article!

There were 46 entries, of which 4 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat was Logan Armstrong, who will be receiving a prize book which has been donated by Chambers.

Many thanks to Vismut for such a delightful puzzle. There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/05/solution-to-hymn-by-vismut.html

There is still time for you to email a solution to our May challenge, Singing by Chalicea http://www.crossword.org.uk/singing.html

Our June Prize Puzzle will be Sage Derby by Vagans.

Since my plea in last month’s newsletter, we have been inundated with submissions. John and I have tested 8 or 9 puzzles in the past weeks. My apologies to those setters who are still waiting for comments. I am always touched by the incredible support that we receive.
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The latest Azed Slip is now on the Crossword Centre. T. C. Borland won first prize for this clue to CATACLASIS

Kinks in rock classic, a hit about a terminal in sunset

(a t in anag.; ref. Kinks pop hit ‘Waterloo Sunset’ (1967)).

http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2703.pdf
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For those interested in crossword books, there are two that are in the proof-reading stage. American writer, Barry Joseph has finished his book about Stephen Sondheim and his passion for puzzles of all kinds. A proofreader has let me know that I get a mention in the chapter about crosswords. Matching Minds with Sondheim will be published later this year.

Peter Biddlecombe has finished his magnum opus. 100 Years of Sunday Times Crosswords will be published soon.
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Dean Mayer continues to delight in his Sunday Times crosswords. Among lots of beauties, this clue had me foxed until I had a hilarious PDM.

Bear with lost fish pieces found in books (3, 6)
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Tim Moorey is to retire from the Mephisto team in the Sunday Times next month.  After almost 30 years of setting as part of the Mephisto team. His last puzzle will appear on the 16th June 2024. I am sure Tim will make it a special finale.
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Best wishes
Derek

Dean Mayer clue.

ONE MOMENT (Nemo + men in OT)

 

Solution to Hymn by Vismut

 Hymn by Vismut Solution

The second line in the HYMN, ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL is ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL which forms an 8 in the filled grid. The extra clue is BAD TOENAIL THREAT THROWS ACE a jumble of BEE, ANT, OSTRICH, WHALE, TOAD & RAT, which are hidden in the grid. The entries ELEPHANT & SPRAT bring the total of creatures highlighted to 8.

Note: In the grid shown there is an erroneous bar and a wrong letter. Down HOPED across EMIT.