Crossword News June 2025

 

Crossword News June 2025

The May Prize Puzzle was Gig Economy. The theme was Barbeque 67, thought to be the first rock festival. The event was held in TULIP BULB AUCTION HALL in Spalding, given by extra letters in down clues. Solvers were to change 1a BOUTIQUE to BARBEQUE and highlight it along with the numbers 6 and 7. Solvers were also to change 16 letters so as to show six acts in the grid. I thought it was amazing that Wan fitted all six acts in the grid. CREAM, JIMI HENDRIX, GENO WASHINGTON, PINK F, FLOYD, ZOOT MONEY and MOVE.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

After completing the grid, I still had no idea what the theme was, but luckily searching for the extra letters from the down clues online gave the Wikipedia article about the theme as the first result. I had solved the puzzle quite late in the month, so I wondered if my search results had been influenced by many others also searching for this phrase and then visiting the relevant page. I don't see how I could have worked out the theme without the helpful information.

I enjoyed the task of changing letters in the grid to make the names of the acts, and I liked that all new entries were real words even though it wasn't promised. I also liked that the changes made the final grid a pangram, even though I later realised that the thematic material in the grid is actually pangrammatic.

A well-crafted crossword with an endgame that taught me something. Who knew that the first rock festival was in the UK and not California. Thanks Wan.

Very nice puzzle - an interesting theme, good to find out about something completely new to me. The construction was also impressive to leave real words in the grid after the changes -- kudos to Wan.

There were 43 entries, of which 10 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner was Chris Chatwin, who will be receiving a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary. I am down to my last of the books that Chambers sent last year. At the moment I am doubtful whether the sponsorship will continue.

There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/06/solution-to-gig-economy-by-wan.html

There is still time for you to solve the June Prize Puzzle, Current Affairs by Hedge-sparrow. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/05/june-2025-prize-puzzle-current-affairs.html

The July challenge will be Dame by Skylark. Skylark is from Stockport, has two children, who are now young adults, and loves reading, family fun and games. 

She wrote The Einstein Code, The Darwin Code and The Quantum Code for children before submitting her first crossword - and was amazed when The Times accepted it for a Listener.

***
The inaugural World Cryptic Crossword Championship (WCCC) 2025, organized by Extra-C, is rapidly approaching, promising to be a landmark event for cryptic crossword enthusiasts worldwide. Set to elevate the art of cryptic crosswords to a global stage, WCCC 2025 features both an online Individual Championship and an in-person Team Championship in London. 

Key Highlights:
Dates: The Individual Championship will be held online on June 28, 2025, followed by the Team Championship in London on June 29, 2025.
Star-Studded Participants: The WCCC is attracting top international talent. Invited participants representing their countries includes several recognized names such as:
England: Mark Goodliffe (Reigning Times Crossword Champion)
USA: Matthew Marcus (Times Crossword Champion 2023)
Australia: Philip Coote (Star performer in The Indian Crossword League)

Many others have signed up to participate as well and details of other invited participants will be revealed by the organizers in the coming days.

Registration & Eligibility: Participation in WCCC 2025 is seamlessly integrated with registration for ACAD Global, Extra-C's daily online international crossword challenge. Registration for ACAD Global is free and mandatory for both WCCC championships. Solvers can register at https://acadglobal.crypticsingh.com/registration. ACAD Global serves as excellent practice for the WCCC.

Individual Championship (Online):
Date & Time: June 28, 2025, 1 PM – 2 PM (GMT) on www.crypticsingh.com.
Format: Two cryptic crosswords, each to be completed within 30 minutes.
Prizes: $1000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd, and $250 for 3rd.

Team Championship (WCCC World Cup – London, In-Person):
Date & Time: June 29, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM GMT at Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London.
Prizes: $1500 for 1st place, $1000 for 2nd, and $500 for 3rd.
Eligibility: Invited Country Representatives and open Challenger Participants who have registered for ACAD Global.
Format: A preliminary written round, followed by an on-stage final for the top solvers, featuring cold solving cryptic crossword clues in a quiz format.

This promises to be a thrilling event, bringing together the best minds in cryptic crosswords from around the globe. Don't miss it.
***
I often watch Simon Anthony and Mark Goodliffe solving sudokus on their Cracking the Cryptic YouTube channel. Simon now solves the Friday Times crossword which has become more and more difficult.

Cracking the Cryptic is increasingly popular with just short of 650,000 subscribers. They now have an on-line store where you can buy tee-shirts and mugs.
https://www.youtube.com/@CrackingTheCryptic/store
***
Does solving crosswords increase your cognitive abilities? A Guardian article from a few months ago was about 98 year-old Miriam Raphael, whose daily crossword solving keeps her young. You can read the article here.

Best wishes
Derek

 

 

 

Solution to Gig Economy by Wan

 Solution to Gig Economy by Wan

The theme is Barbeque 67, thought to be the first rock festival. The event was held in TULIP BULB AUCTION HALL in Spalding, given by extra letters in down clues. Solvers were to change 1a BOUTIQUE to BARBEQUE and highlight it along with numbers 6 and 7. Solvers were also to change 16 letters so as to show six acts in the grid…

CREAM

JIMI HENDRIX

GENO WASHINGTON

PINK FLOYD

ZOOT MONEY

MOVE

 

June 2025 Prize Puzzle - Current Affairs by Hedge-Sparrow

 Current Affairs by Hedge-Sparrow

Crossing entries clash in four cells.  The retained letters (giving real words across and down), in normal reading order, indicate the theme, giving directions for completing the unclued entries.  In the filled grid, solvers must highlight four more symmetrically-placed thematic examples (28 cells in total).

PDF version

Across

1 English gentleman turns up (4)

6 Unclued (6)

11 Stone implements chanced upon in Oxford, perhaps, heading west (7)

12 Temples where the Muses dwelt, largely destroyed (4)

13 Wrote animatedly, making a couple of points? (5)

14 Musée, not the first to include English artist’s work (6)

15 Repellent American breaking sailor’s bones (6)

17 University rower going around deposit at edge of lake (4)

18 Open prison, we hear, is child’s play (6)

20 Gull tucking into fish and N. Atlantic gulfweed (8)

21 Recreate lost item when programme’s broadcast (8, two words)

25 Potato pancakes, almost the hottest around Cambodia (6)

27 Edible tuber making a comeback in laboratory (4)

29 Very special purple fruit (6)

32 After opening of emporium, I flog out-of-date vinegar (6)

33 Heavy truck one mired in fen broke in the end (5)

34 Delay over start of Autumn fair (4)

35 American river – a river once more flowing from the east (7)

36 Unclued (6)

37 Affectionately greet a thousand saints crossing island (4)

Down

1 Unclued (6)

2 Palm oil at first infuses a little bit (4)

3 Jingle bells heartily ring, borne by mounted horses (6)

4 What Ian may clutch at before being beset by a lot of anxiety (6)

5 Discreet, graceful undergarments ultimately protect bust – they provide uplift (8)

7 Fast runner, entering marathon, ends up passing all but the leaders (4)

8 Sanctuary in bliss, the first earth having passed away (5)

9 Laugh about Rector and his converting of English city (7)

10 Almost emit tears under right lash (4)

15 Drink spirit in state capital (6)

16 Sing in jazz style with tenor and soprano making historic tributes (6)

18 Protein for thin layer of bone that’s reduced (8)

19 Record’s operatic song drowned by racket (7)

22 Beta test keeps referring to race (6)

23 Indian antelope, ailing badly (6)

24 Unclued (6)

26 Vehicle unit (5)

28 Shut up top-floor flat (4)

30 Bring up son of Miss Black (4)

31 Hedge-sparrow, for one, whispered hoarsely on the telephone (4)

Entries
To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th July 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 May 2025

 

Crossword News May 2025

The April Prize Puzzle was Tan Goes so Stripey by Vismut. This tiger-themed puzzle proved to be tricky. The titles are LIFE OF PI, THE JUNGLE BOOK and WINNIE THE POOH, the brand is FROSTIES all off which feature tigers. RICHARD PARKER, SHERE KHAN, TIGGER and TONY. The title is another tiger and brand TANGO ESSO. The message from the down clues is GRID ORANGE FOUR NAMES BLACK and the first letters of these down clues read TIGERS CAN ROAR BUT CAN’T PURR.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Many thanks, Vismut. An amusing puzzle where the level of difficulty was boosted by the use of some of the less frequently visited corners of Chambers, and the merging of titles from the across clues. I did feel the title was a jumble of something but couldn't figure out what. The new submission method was taken advantage of with the requirement to highlight the full grid.

A brilliant puzzle, resulting in a beautiful tiger (especially when coloured by Excel!). Two cluing devices, with redundant words and emerging extra letters deviously concealed by excellent clues maintained a high level of challenge from start to finish. The theme was beautifully exploited. The link of the tiger might have emerged earlier for me if I'd tried picking out the message from the across clues before I'd identified all the redundant words.

When I first read the preamble, I wasn't sure how the titles were going to be merged, and assumed that 'how and which cells to fill' meant filling with letters rather than colour, but after I had filled most of the top half of the grid I could see how FROSTIES and LIFE OF PI were merged from the early extra words, and also GRID ORANGE was presumably something to do with colouring in. After this I tried to guess the extra words from the Across clues I hadn't solved, saw the other two titles, and realised that each of them contained a tiger. It took me a little while to notice I had TIGGER and the start of RICHARD PARKER in the grid, and it helped me a little to guess where SHERE KHAN and TONY could appear. I can see the word 'Stripey' in the title could be related to the stripes depicted in the grid, but apart from that I have no idea what it is supposed to mean. I can see how 'administered drug' could be a definition for DOCTORED in 3d, but I don't like it with the words the other way around. As for 41a, the only meaning of DARKLE I can find is 'to become dark' or maybe 'to be dark' so I don't see how to get a definition out of 'as light lowers'.

There were 49 entries, of which 7 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner is Ian Hickman who will be receiving a prize of a copy of the Chambers Crossword Dictionary which was donated by Chambers.

The new entry method worked well, although, perhaps we should have started with a puzzle that did not demand so much shading. Although there were some negative comments, most of the solvers were happy with the entry method.

There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/05/solution-to-tan-goes-so-stripey-by.html

You still have time to solve the May crossword, Gig Economy by Wan. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/04/crossword-centre-prize-puzzle-may-2025.html

The June Prize Puzzle will be Current Affairs by Hedge-sparrow.
We always welcome submissions for later months.
***
The lunch to celebrate Azed’s 2750^th publication was held at Wolfson College, Oxford, on Saturday. I was not there but watched the speeches via Zoom. One of the best reports with photos is on the Clue Clinic. https://www.clueclinic.com/index.php/2025/05/06/azed-2750-lunch/

Many more photos are on the FaceBook Crossword Centre page.

At the end of the speeches, Don Manley was able to receive the Azed Cup for his winning clue to DRAUGHT-HOUSE (a privy) in the April competition.

 Urine had to gush out – in this?
 (comp. anag. & lit.)

All of the clues submitted are available in the latest Azed Slip.
http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
***
The Observer has been taken over by Tortoise Media. For the moment the Azed and Everyman crosswords continue to be available for free. The possibility of a future paywall has not been ruled out. I have changed the link on the Crossword Centre https://observer.co.uk/crossword
***
The Latin O Tempora! crossword in The Times has recently recorded its 500^th puzzle. An incredible achievement. Congratulations!
***

A shorter newsletter this month, but Lois and I are off for a holiday in Kos next week and I wanted to post it before we go.

Best wishes
Derek

 

 

Solution to Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut

 Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut - Solution

The titles are LIFE OF PI, THE JUNGLE BOOK and WINNIE THE POOH, the brand is FROSTIES all off which feature tigers. RICHARD PARKER, SHERE KHAN, TIGGER and TONY. The title is another tiger and brand TANGO ESSO. The message from the down clues is GRID ORANGE FOUR NAMES BLACK and the first letters of these down clues read TIGERS CAN ROAR BUT CAN’T PURR.

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle May 2025 Gig Economy by Wan

 Gig Economy by Wan

36 clues include an extra letter in the wordplay part of the clue which much be removed to enable solving. The extra letters in across clues tell solvers a) what should be shown by changing one entry and highlighting it along with two entry numbers and b) what should be shown in the grid by changing a further 16 cells. The extra letters in down clues provide helpful information.

PDF copy

Across

  1 Stint in Quebec shop (8)

  6 Unwell after eating one food (5)

10 A rival shortened name for Lady Gaga? (5) 

13 Too advanced, ahead of orchestra (4)

14 Sword happens to be returned with note (4)

15 Need to burst into short tremulous sound for shoot (7)

16 Player leaving arena desperate to come back (5)

17 Tires breaking twigs in the sticks (4)

18 Birds coming from the east for about two pounds (4)

20 Rhino in SA, lost among trees (5)

21 Rejecting hospital where fangs might be lost (6)

22 Spain native plugging drugs sensing device (5)

23 Dick contributing to gooey mess (3)

24 Heard to break stiff back in golf driving violently (7)

26 Young louse returned money (3)

27 Pulls apart snail, putting head at the rear (5)

31 US main deputy cleared on number for cipher (6)

33 Ruby repaired old box (5)

37 Fashion display putting second half first (4)

38 See uncooked animal's stomach (4)

39 Hero avoided lust going west, that is excellent (5)

40 Crushed cans look painted? (7)

41 Saving skin, twit without tissue gets small bunch of straw (4)

42 Wealthy grass's shot for ecstasy (4)

43 Bats need iodine compound (5)

44 Arsenal winger takes time for Hindu worshipper (5)

45 Begs for food after rent reforms (8)

Down

  1 Part of Cuba's trapped port city (5)

  2 Windows OS causes topsy-turvy lesson (6)

  3 A-list lout in evening dress (5)

  4 Keyboards people try, defective in sufficient quantity (7)

  5 Fuels occasionally jellied at bottom of tanks (6)

  6 Stroke pup on street in spring (5)

  7 Blast from producing dried fruit (6)

  8 Judge clouts son (6)

  9 Assume over clocked up more bouncers (6)

11 Wan's positive, but beginning to expect charge (6)

12 Hang aide and stay at sea for a week (11, 3 words)

19 Arab’s suave king corrupted master in East London (4)

22 Once returned with sufficient for elders (4)

23 Prime suspect held in confines of emptiest compounds (7)

25 Twin lied about abode (7)

26 Wino, drunk, stops to kick citizen (6)

28 One son turned helper for feast (6)

29 Mountain-dwelling Greek priest carried by deer climbing height (6)

30 Strap-like halter to learn when shortened (6)

32 Fails to support Adele with high notes (6)

34 Sheath, original cover, mostly black (5)

35 Little sheep in Perth that is hiding end of cry mournfully (5)

36 Offend at least seven users (5)

Entries
To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th June 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 April 2025

 Crossword News April 2025

The March Prize Puzzle was RR XVII = Round Up. Extra letters produced by wordplay in the clues give SEARCH WITH FOUR SYM ENTRIES – TITLE OF BOOK – THE FEAT. The four symmetrical entries are FRANK HEATH GYPSY MOTH. Solvers had to change five entries to provide the title of Heath’s book FORTY MILLION HOOFBEATS and the feat FORTY-EIGHT STATES. The title cryptically suggests going round on horseback.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

An ingenious puzzle with a theme previously unknown to us - very entertaining. Though not requested, we felt the need to highlight relevant entries.....We found the clues to be generally challenging with each contributor submitting a 'prize-winning' clue. The variety of clueing styles added to the trickiness, but all were fair and we think we've sorted them correctly.  Thanks to the setter and all contributors - good fun.

As usual with the Round Robin puzzles, this was a real mixture of clues which does make for an entertaining solve. I found a few of the extra letters difficult to tease out, making the end message a bit difficult to decipher but I got there in the end. The 4 most likely candidates for the book title soon leapt out and a bit of internet research provided the rest of the information. This was a totally new subject and interesting to read up on. The grid construction is impressive with the changed lights retaining real words which helps to confirm a correct solution.

Another great challenge, I completed the grid a fortnight ago but the final step eluded me until yesterday. I have to admit to a scientific approach of taking all the symmetrical quads then testing them with a google search, as I had never come across this pioneering story before! I'm glad I have now, because it's intrinsically interesting.

 

There were 41 entries, of which 15 were marked incorrect. 11 of the 15 errors involved ARIES for ARIEL...probably overlooking the wordplay - "bunch of letters" - that led to ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) - not just a random bunch of letters.

The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Andrew Varney, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by the publishers.

Solvers were asked to vote for their favourite clues. The clear winner, with 20 points, was the clue to DOWNBEATS by Jugular, Tim Coates.

Two bad ones, surprisingly they are the opposite of arses

2^nd SECRETA 15 points Geri Cashell
3^rd FRISKAS 14 points David Whyte
4^th TESLA 14 points Terrence Brennan
5^th MOORISH 11 points Colin Thomas

I will be sending Tim a prize copy of Armchair Crosswords by Afrit. Thanks are due to Wan for designing the grid and to all the volunteer clue-writers who make the Round Robin such a unique puzzle. The next Round Robin is already accepted for next year. This was the final puzzle for marker Robert Teuton and I am sure we would all like to thank him for his sterling work.

As usual, we welcome submissions of puzzles.
There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/04/solution-to-round-robin-xvii-round-up.html

You still have time to solve our April puzzle, Tan Goes so Stripey by Vismut. The new entry system is working well and we have 27 entries so far. For anyone having problems entering a solution on a phone or tablet, you can now enter the answers and there is a box where you can describe the final grid.

https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/03/april-2025-prize-puzzle-tan-goes-so.html

The May Prize Puzzle will be Gig Economy by Wan.
***
The 47^th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament took place on the first weekend in April. The winner of the event was the 2024 champion, Paolo Pasco, who completed the final grid in 3 minutes 40 seconds. All the results are here https://www.crosswordtournament.com/2025/index.htm

A more personal account is from Adam Roberts.
https://amateurgourmet.substack.com/p/i-went-to-the-american-crossword
***
The Azed 2750 lunch will be held in Oxford on Saturday 3rd May. If you are unable to be there, Dave Tilley has volunteered to stream the event on Zoom.

Viewers should be able to tune in to see Azed and the guest speakers from around 15:45 using the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6528014392?pwd=aTF4ZnY1R0RsNkp3NmFocjltOSttQT09&omn=82029835893

Meeting ID: 652 801 4392

Passcode: 9673
***
Jane Teather has now put the Table Quiz from the Listener Dinner on her website.
https://www.jetdoc.co.uk/crossword-and-quiz-links
Shirley Curran has allowed us to see all her photos from the Dinner and in the pub on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194321761@N03/albums/72177720324458416/
***
LISTENER STATISTICS, plus a personal solving record, for last year may be requested by email to marker@listenercrossword.com, or by sending a stamped addressed envelope measuring at least 230mm×160mm (overseas stamp exempt) to N Aspland, 19 Fairfax Drive, Pontefract, WF8 1NU,
***
And finally, was there an April fool crossword this year?
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2025/apr/07/the-guardians-april-fool-crossword-explained-plus-the-other-papers-fooling

Best wishes
Derek Harrison

Solution to Round Robin XVII - Round Up

 RR XVII Round Up - Solution

Extra letters produced by wordplay in the clues give SEARCH WITH FOUR SYM ENTRIES – TITLE OF BOOK – THE FEAT. The four symmetrical entries are FRANK HEATH GYPSY MOTH. Solvers had to change five entries to provide the title of Heath’s book FORTY MILLION HOOFBEATS and the feat FORTY-EIGHT STATES. The title cryptically suggests going round on horseback. 

April 2025 Prize Puzzle Tan Goes So stripey by Vismut

 Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut

Every across clue has a redundant word to be removed before solving. Read in normal clue order the first and last letters are merged titles and a brand, all of which feature a character of the same heritage. Every down clue yields an extra letter from the wordplay not to be entered in the grid. Read in normal clue order these identify how and which cells to fill.

PDF copy

Across   

    4    Swallow frightful humour in posh pub (6, 2 words)

    13    Dressing mad billionaire inventor leaving Berlin in disarray (5)

    14    Currency seen in Frisco off in a gents (7)

    15    Coarse Egyptians belonging to sect? (6)

    16    Scale and slow viol putting first tango couple in last place (6)

    17    Grass, heroin and ecstasy - Fibonacci with space for whiskey (7)

    18    Dad and Georgia eavesdrop daughter called for (5)

    21    Cut mix of Yes and INXS cd to include cover of Touch (7)

    23    Peterborough’s widest wingers run about and have a shot in social division (7)

    24    German songs and Heidi story from the right socialist (6)

    27    Nuisance pochard caused terrible kerfuffle initially (7, two words)

    30    John tense after brothers brought back disease (6, two words)

    32    Supporters swap sides in impromptu runs (7)

    33    Most like chicken product nibble with longest limbs trimmed (7)

    37    Light tackling rule dropped for university match (5)

    39    Flying attack from Lindbergh frightened Irish hiding fighter plane (7)

    40    Estimate half of Orkney Island inside The Old Terrier (6)

    41    Bishop larked about, as light lowers for writer (6)

    43    Ask briefly inside Ocado about emergency room restorer  (7)

    44    Colder, more risqué Othello not without issue (5)

    45    Overlooking last of homework photos, dusk across Norway not posted (6)

Down

    1    Texture without note in African music (3)

    2    Idiotic Chile porn in cards (8)

    3    Giving up last month in failed drug administered (8)

    5    Era after lots crowned (7)

    6    Rodents spinning marble and rolling up lead eggs (9, two words)

    7    Something old-fashioned in Iceland’s images (5)

    8    Children decapitated mustelids (4)

    9    Access to north of the border gentian flowers (6)

    10    Noise from the tickled prisoner, that’s disgusting! (5)

    11    Round’s two under, score finally awry at St Andrews (5)

    12    Oddly overlooked shifted location’s old lock arrangement (9)

    19    Another open heart surgery, but not raging hunger for this! (9, two words)

    20    Raised amount to get a house in Provence (3)

    22    Below clue about priest I read about family of swimmers (9)

    25    Uncharitable grasping granny putting up old penny lavatory outside (8)

    26    Teases terribly hosting Aussie news for curvy stars (8)

    28    College god leading vibrant bands (7)

    29    Adolescent slid downhill, not the first (3)

    31    North American cocktail puts out 50% of lights (6)

    34    Turn lad protecting Earth sentimental (5)

    35    Parochial makes faces splurging out pig shed (5)

    36    Upside down lid over prince and wild goats (5)

    38    Razor found in Vandyke central (4)

    42    Rook’s piercing peck topped fluff (3)

Entries
To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th May 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 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.
***
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

***
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. 
***
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!

***
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
***
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/
***
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