Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle October 2022

 Nemesis by Chalicea

PDF version

A rather cocky little fellow who appears in the first row of the grid speaks the words that circle the remainder of the perimeter. He tempts a number of characters who appear as entries in the grid. Solvers must highlight his nemesis.

Across

9 Will's equally conforming to law with Latin dropped at the start (6)

10 Drink beer regularly - excellent! (5)

11 Turned over germ cell, beginning of meal for bee-eater genus (6)

12 In Reunion, white ordinary soldier primarily treats military uniform (7)

13 Draught animal to weed round edges of rows (5)

14 Ingredient of varnish that is put back around spacecraft (5)

15 King accepted wine essentially: tribute in the past (4)

17 Conclusion of hostilities' constant peace following rage (9)

19 In Holyrood push Ethiopia's money (4)

22 Registers US resorts (not Cuba) (6)

24 Is my halo slipping ignoring start of your jokey way of describing addiction? (7)

25 Dilapidated almond shrub of wormwood genus (6, two words)

27 Subdue spirit of Perth's rather objectionable person (3)

28 Talk of queen, say, going round hospital (4)

29 Pale greenish part of shrubbery leaves (5)

30 Provide with equipment, also almost completely draw back (6, two words)

33 Nice friends to be objected to endlessly (4)

34 Some cynic advertised a rechargeable battery (5)

36 In Perth strips from time to time at library - ultimately shameless! (5)

37 Maybe sow potatoes in garden for starters (3)

38 Persistently follow mean scoundrel (3)

39 Wellington's soup of shellfish, cooked hare too (7)

Down

1 Brand of clingfilm used up wrapping Rand fruit (6)

2 Superficial appearance of German defeat (5)

3 Records elevated church tower losing time (6)

4 Binomial ABC I sorted out for book-lover (12)

5 Sovereign found in child's schoolbag? (5)

6 Critical study of former associate workers (6)

7 Briefly submerge amphibious vehicle (4)

8 Deities arise in tumult (5)

10 Curiously listen absorbing essentially merry snicker in Glamis (7)

16 Get discussion going about elevated river valley (3)

18 Angle to strengthen with an iron plate (4)

20 Shoe, we're told, fashionable sure-winner in Kentucky Derby (6))

21 Wife, might be one who swallowed a fly (7, two words)

22 Wrong pursuing former partner to obtain by coercion (6)

23 Salt coating in good, oddly edible Chinese tuber (7)

26 Covers spread around (6)

29 In Glasgow we polish up local job centre (5)

31 Japanese food you'd only sample (4)

32 Pale when hot and extremely dry (4)

35 Not completely acceptable to speak fondly (3)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the shaded nemesis,  to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th November 2022. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Crossword News September 2022

Crossword News September 2022

The August Prize Puzzle was Side by Side by eXternal. This was published at the time that the last episode of the Australian soap, Neighbours, was aired.

Letters omitted in wordplay give KYLIE MINOGUE (leftmost letters) and JASON DONOVAN (rightmost letters) reading down the grid; letter pairs deleted from clues give ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, a song by the pair; AUSTRALIAN is changed to NEIGHBOURS, the programme in which the pair starred.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Being a regular Listener Crossword solver, I’ve learned not to panic when faced with a somewhat impenetrable preamble. Indeed, the theme unexpectedly fell after just ten clues solved in the top left of the grid, as the names were recognisable from the first few letters. After this disappointment, however, there was so much more to winkle out of this puzzle. I guessed the first title from a single pair, then was able to weed this out of the down clues to accelerate the finish.  I’m left with awe at the quality of eXternal’s clues. Despite all the complex treatments, every one was not only scrupulously fair, but had an excellent surface reading. A great achievement - many thanks!

Another illusion bites the dust.  I have always thought crossword setters to be a little on the high-brow side and certainly not watchers of Australian soap operas.  This was a good puzzle with some unusual words and at first, I had little idea of the theme.  However, AUSTRALIAN, in the only row without letters missing from the wordplay, was a generous and welcome hint.  It was very clever how the substitution of NEIGHBOURS made new words. It was most enjoyable, as the offerings from eXternal always are.  Thank you.

I consider myself to be a big fan of low-brow themes, and they don't get much lower than this! I'm sure Kylie and Jason would be delighted by the puzzle, and how thoughtful of them to have names of the same length.  Solving was a pleasure - nothing was absurdly difficult, and all the surfaces made good sense, which is always a big plus (I enjoyed 'Tory place above joint oddly overlooked by tax officer' and 'Rancid ragged undies not completely destroyed' in particular, both cleverly hiding their double letters). Thanks eXternal.

There were 49 entries, of which only 2 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Geoff Telfer from Shipley. Geoff will soon receive his prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary donated by the publishers.

There is a solution and notes available at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2022/09/solution-to-side-by-side-by-external.html 

There is still time to solve our September challenge, Postcard from Hedge-sparrow.

The October Prize Puzzle will be Nemesis by Chalicea.

***
I was saddened to learn of the death of Peter Cargill. He was a long-standing crossword solver, a regular in our monthly puzzles and a clue-writer in the Azed competitions. He was my friend on FaceBook and I always enjoyed his photos of family gatherings, his latest on the recent Father’s Day. Peter passed away after a short bout of pneumonia at the age of 86. He will be sadly missed.

***
Five years ago, Simon Anthony and Mark Goodliffe started making an occasional sudoku video on Cracking The Cryptic.  At the end of August, they ticked over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube. This is a remarkable success. You can view the amazing statistics here - https://socialblade.com/youtube/c/crackingthecryptic

***
The Azed Slip continues to be published on the Crossword Centre. The latest one is for the clues to HECATOMB. Tim Moorey won with this lovely clue.

Bach motet endlessly remixed is what pleased the gods but emptied the stalls? (anag. less t).

You can also see the Annual Honours list for 2021 – 22. Don Manley is the winner, closely followed by Richard Heald. http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html

***
On FaceBook, Roger Phillips explained why the publication of Mira’s Listener crossword, Bleak Expectations, was delayed.

“The Listener crossword scheduled for the week when Sean Connery died ,was based on Connery's Goldfinger laser scene and included the line "No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die". I had to edit a replacement puzzle very quickly.

I decided to reschedule the Goldfinger one to coincide with the release of No Time to Die, which turned out to be difficult because they kept changing the date (because of Covid).”

***
In the Times Puzzles newsletter, Mick Hodgkin considered the relationship between jokes and puzzles, rewriting five of the top ten jokes of the Fringe as cryptic clues:

1. Italian nosh got by that woman, some might say (5)

2. Amazon's promise of an imminent end to child labour? (4-3, 8)

3. Effect of nitrous oxide with Oxo cubes the object of mockery (8,5)

7. Courier brought meal for former partner (3-2)

8. Parlous lifestyle of those lacking cutlery? (4-2-5)

I thought these were brilliant clues. If you didn’t see the top ten jokes from Edinburgh, you can check them here. https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/the-top-ten-funniest-jokes-of-the-edinburgh-fringe-2022-3814340

***
Paul Pridmore has written to tell me about these early crossword books.

“This summer the world's first three Simon & Schuster crossword books from 1924 have silently appeared on Project Gutenberg.

My usual search for "crossword", always fruitless, now shows:
The cross word puzzle book
The cross word puzzle book: Second series
The cross word puzzle book: Third series

The third includes a summary of sales figures by the happy publishers for their publications of the series - all in 1924:
Total Third Series To-date     65,000 copies
Total Second Series To-date  135,000 copies
Total First Series To-date       148,200 copies
TOTAL TO-DATE     348,200 copies”

***
Anyone looking for a useful list of abbreviations to use in writing clues or solving them could take a look at this section of the Unscramblerer site.

https://www.unscramblerer.com/crossword-abbreviations/

***
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, crossword editors are checking to make sure that ER referring to the Queen does not appear in the clues. Setters who have a puzzle in our pipe-line should also check.

Best wishes
Derek

SOLUTION to Side by Side by eXternal

 Side by Side by eXternal - SOLUTION

Letters omitted in wordplay give KYLIE MINOGUE (leftmost letters) and JASON DONOVAN (rightmost letters) reading down the grid; letter pairs deleted from clues give ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, a song by the pair; AUSTRALIAN is changed to NEIGHBOURS, the programme in which the pair starred and which will have its final episode aired in August.

Letters are highlighted for reference.

Across

1 Female slave is following old boy around (7) O,LAD<,IS with K omitted

6 Pierre’s article on middle of your work unit (5) OU,LE with J omitted

10 Like thread of fiction involving knight (5) LI(N)E with Y omitted

11 Unknown one returned claw of prehistoric times (7) Z,I,NAIL< with A omitted

12 A love for indigo (4) A,NIL

13 Errant first daughter lives aimlessly (6) (FIRST,D)*

14 Once determined when well directed (8) AS,SO,LED with I omitted

16 River swimmer systematically crosses (6) hidden swimMER Systematically with E omitted

18 Express contempt about vacuous EastEnders retrospective (5) RE,ES< with N omitted

19 Islander at urinal’s a drunk (10) ATURINALSA*

21 Peers in Ayrshire pigpens (6) STIES with M omitted

23 That’s foul, rear of obscene yokel’s itched (6) YUCK,E with D omitted

25 Trump and English rogue not related (10) TRUMPANDE* with I omitted

27 Cockney has confidence and begins (5) ‘OPES with N omitted

28 Revolutionary is turning more malicious (6) RED,IS< with N omitted

31 Opposing another player alone, no netballer 

tackles (8) hidden alONE NO NEtballer with O omitted

33 Forming into circle, soldiers stand in wine cellar (6) OR,BIN with G omitted

34 A guide regularly used for Swiss canton (4) AgUiDe with V omitted

35 Strange item on Canadian rider (7) ITEMON* with U omitted

36 No longer adjudge money not British (5) BREAD-B with A omitted

37 Heartless wombat took apart caterpillar (5) WOAT* with E omitted

38 An earl too diminished becomes tougher (7) AN,E,ALS{o} with N omitted

Down

1 Band of light encircling head of most elevated learned man (6) H(M)ALO< with L omitted

2 Deserted, is swallow to move from perch? (7) D,IS,EAT with S omitted

3 Guests in land wash collections of possessions (4) {l}AN{d} {w}AS{h} with ES extra

4 Transparent material covering over fabrics (5) LEN(O)S

5 Tricky to hide large excursion (5) S(L)LY with A omitted

6 Rodent removing wings of feathered beasts (4) {b}IRD{s} with J omitted

7 Month encasing this mixture would make pillar (4) MONTH around OLI would make MONOLITH with O omitted

8 Behold! Thug’s leaped on layer made of wooden strips (6) LA,T,HEN with PE extra

9 Base carer raising son is guaranteed (7) E,NURSE with S raised with D omitted

13 Long-forgotten disorder in Midlands city that’s had fourth upgrade? (5) DERBY with B becoming A

15 Reached highest point looking sickly (6) double def

17 Rancid ragged undies not completely destroyed (6) R,UNDIE{s}* with CI extra

18 Slight luminance on Alsatian coats (4) S(L)UR

20 Lifted special metal sieve (4) S,MET< with AL extra

21 Costly clumsily crossing old mother’s blind spot (7) COST* around O,MA with LY extra

22 Stretch ancient clasp (5) SPAN with G omitted

24 Study dissecting slow climbing of sloths, maybe (7) DEN in LATE<

25 Mature women supporting forum group (6) GROUP*,W with FO extra

26 Studies mountain nymphs (6) READS with O omitted

28 Number of close encounters (5) hidden cloSE ENcounters with V omitted

29 That is interrupted by upcoming race season (5) I(RUN<)E

30 Lubricant’s cool temperature (4) IN,T with O omitted

31 Tory place above joint oddly overlooked by tax officer (4) jOiNt,TO with RY extra

32 Ancient buildings erode, appearing hideous (4) hidden erODE Appearing with OU extra

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle September 2022

 Postcard from Hedge-sparrow

 Whilst on holiday, Hedge-sparrow has sent a postcard to Crossword Centre solvers showing several features of interest of four different types – A, B, C and D.  Each clue includes either: (i) an extra consecutive letter sequence, always extending over more than one word (4 clues); (ii) an extra single letter (35 clues); (iii) an extra single word (18 clues).  All “extras” must be removed before solving.  In the final grid, no cell contains more than one letter.
A: Unscrambling the extra consecutive letter sequences gives four thematic names.  In the final grid, the initial letter of each of these names must be circled where it occurs in the corresponding entry.
B: These features are located in nine cells where crossing entries clash.  In clue order, extra single letters from 35 clues indicate how to derive these features’ names, whose (first) initial must be inserted as the contents of the corresponding clash cell.
C: A thematic feature, starting at cell 14, comprising 23 contiguous cells (5 words, including repeats).
D: Three further thematic names (30 cells in total).

The pairs of letters discarded from clash cells are to be separated (on a clash-by-clash basis) into two groups.  Unscrambling these groups gives (i) the name of Hedge-sparrow’s holiday location (two words), and (ii) what he’s up to (three words), both of which must be written below the grid.
In the entry grid, only cells forming part of the thematic features A, B, C and D are to be filled (63 cells in total), all others being left blank.  Solvers are encouraged to beautify their postcard with colour as they deem appropriate.  A map might prove helpful.   

Location ..........................................   Activity .............................

PDF version

Across

1 Lacking inclination, Sian’s undressed at private hospital (7)

9 Instrument converting bit of sludge into tritium in Brent reservoir (7)

14 Female feeding king his slice of ham hock? (7)

15 Ruing getting caught in informer’s snare (5)

16 I face team checks in plant (4)

17 Unorthodox view for Max who raged “Get a spouse” (4)

18 Flash from flickering light displaying name for hospital block (5)

19 Quiet rambler nigh on made confession (6)

20 Feast for saints in hell to atone for the past (4)

21 Hero’s initial repugnance after lion escapes keepers (6)

22 Tragic overture not finished – use organ (6)

25 How American swimmer emits power in secret rite (4)

27 Owing Ed money, hide rent surreptitiously (8, three words)

29 Turning pale, son dresses for fishing (4)

30 In New Year, gathering breed of dairy cattle together (8)

33 Split entrance to dorms IV and XI (4)

34 Certainty over becoming blued, essentially, in paint (8)

37 Crape cut from stretchy fabric for stars (4)

38 Louse translating an East Ghanaian language (6)

39 Reveal all to impress guards (6)

42 Send gold removed from cutter (4)

44 Fat infused with seasoning rejected in the end (6, two words)

45 Shock demolishes institute in course heading South (5)

46 Single black thorn, nothing further to the left (4)

47 Lacking pedal, Rover and Ford being stripped (4)

48 Cars court has not sequestered from traders (5)

49 Spotted second mouse tucking into ground grain (7)

50 Camp causes injury to scrub wallabies (7)

51 Old-fashioned French stockade cutting off British Celts, originally (7)

 Down
2 Long pipes from hot oven heated hobs quick, no question (8)
3 Feel Victor needs to get into line (4)
4 In Scotland, buy up hotel close to Dunbar? (4)
5 Island estate surrounding loch – it’s in the Hebrides (5)
6 Cursorily purge knife (4)
7 Coy champion losing weight - the bit around the middle (5)
8 Share cycling tour in outskirts of French quarter (6)
9 Sticks used in game: bit of harmless fun from a bygone age, in short (4)
10 Trouble arises over university publisher (6)
11 Island base covered by taxi (5)
12 Introductory parts of discourse initially rejected by radio broadcast (7)
13 In retirement, slowly save money?  Certainly not on Mull (3)
14 Country’s rod of authority captured in mounted art (6)
23 Agreement to doff hat for threepence (4)
24 One revealing war horn tends to unman evil rampaging monarch (8)
25 Groucho Marx ultimately smothered with balsam playing Biblical character (7)
26 Secured by a belt, fool crosses River Avon (4)
28 Halt carouser’s terrible slurring when skinned (6)
31 Last year, ash trees flourished (6)
32 Haunt burning church (6)
35 Take e.g. trifle from one local branch (5)
36 Scot appearing after sun’s half-melted snow (5)
37 One trapped in liner following evacuation, possibly anchorless (5)
39 Contests will and arising settlements to begin with (4)
40 Codeword for opening of slushy e-mail (encrypted without header) (4)
41 Alter ship’s course to pass coot (4)
43 Having power enough, curtail bleak war (4)
44 Inclined, winding path (3)

 To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the final entries, plus the location and activity to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th October 2022. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

  

Crossword News August 2022

 Crossword News August 2022

The July Prize Puzzle was That Moment by Chiffchaff. In That Moment pennies (p in RIPS and d in CARDCASE) drop in two clues so that the dIAGONAL(D), as given by the dropped letters in eight across clues, reads THE PENNY DROPS. PENNYPINCH is changed to PINCHPENNY to complete the grid which contains no other ps or ds.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

I found the clash between 41a and 34d quite early, and then briefly wondered if all of the clashes would be on this diagonal before realising that the other three clashes had to appear in one entry and, in any case, most of the blank cells remaining on the diagonal were unchecked. It took me quite a bit longer to work out 14d, but once I did the penny dropped.  I liked the thematic way the across clues were altered, and such clues seem to be easier to solve than if some clues need to have a letter added or removed because once you've solved one you know how to alter one of the adjacent clues. Having said that, I originally changed 'Spin' to 'Spine' in 35a, but suspected this was wrong as soon as I read the next clue and couldn't find an E that could be removed and leave a real word.  I liked that resolving all of the clashes the other way would have made real words, and that the final change also made real words. I also liked that all of the Ds and Ps in the grid are involved in penny-drops and contribute to the phrase on the diagonal either before or after the final step.

Many thanks for a very enjoyable puzzle – the letters dropping from clue to clue mechanic was new to me and very satisfying. The endgame eluded me for a while but I think I've dropped the right pennies!

Until I discovered the Crossword Centre a year or so ago, I don't think I had met the term "penny drop moment". It provided a most ingenious and enjoyable theme! Fortunately three of the clashes were in one answer (14 down), so the main effect of the clashes was simply to prevent me from solving that clue until the penny had indeed dropped. And I enjoyed the final change (17 down). Well done, Chiffchaff!

There were 47 entries, of which 16 were marked incorrect. The majority was failing to drop the final PENNY leaving PENNYPINCH in the grid.

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

A solution is available at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2022/08/that-moment-by-chiffchaff-solution.html

You still have time to solve the August puzzle, Side by Side by eXternal.

The September challenge will be Postcard by Hedge-sparrow.
***
The following notice appears on the front page of this month's Crossword Club magazine (August 2022).

“Future Arrangements

Thank you again all those who offered suggestions and help with the future. I’m pleased to say our appeals have now come up with a distinguished cruciverbalist who has offered to take over much of the Club’s activity. “

Does anyone know who is taking over the Crossword Club? Their website is now defunct and reviving it would be a good start.
***
Although I did not attempt Sabre’s Stations of the Cross in the June edition of The Magpie, I was amazed at the solution. It seems that no theme, however abstruse, can be used by Sabre!

The message from added/omitted letters reads “Number of Type A and B give letter sums of the two words”. There are 37 Type A clues and 7 Type B. The latter, being fairly restrictive, should lead to Ababa, hence to Addis Ababa. The five unclued entries ST LIDETA, TEGBARED, MEXICO, LEGHAR, STADIUM, are the five stations common to the crossing of the blue and green light rail lines in Addis Ababa. COCACOLA is only on the green line, SARIS only on the blue line.

The Magpie is available at https://www.piemag.com/
***
While John Tozer is recovering in hospital, Robert Teuton is managing the Clue-Writing Competition. He can manage the monthly contests but has not the ability to manage membership. Prospective new members should contact the admin and as soon as he is able, Robert will enrol them.
***
Chambers has committed to sponsoring the Crossword Centre for another year with a dozen copies of Chambers Crossword Dictionary.
***
The new series of Only Connect will start on Monday 29 August.
***
There is a delay in publishing the July Azed slip. Azed had a spell of Covid and a family holiday in France. Hopefully, it will be issued soon.

Best wishes
Derek

That Moment by Chiffchaff SOLUTION

Solution to That Moment by Chiffchaff

In That Moment pennies (p in RIPS and d in CARDCASE) drop in two clues so that the dIAGONAL(D), as given by the dropped letters in eight across clues, reads THE PENNY DROPS. PENNYPINCH is changed to PINCHPENNY to complete the grid which contains no other ps or ds.

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle August 2022

 Side by Side by eXternal

PDF version

Each row, with one exception, contains two letters omitted by wordplay in their clues. Cells containing these letters always occur in pairs, horizontally or vertically. These letters spell out a pair linked by a title spelled out in clue order by pairs of consecutive letters to be removed from eight other down clues before solving, always leaving real words. Finally, solvers must change one entry to show a further title linking the pair, creating new real-word crossing entries.

Across

1 Female slave is following old boy around (7)

6 Pierre’s article on middle of your work unit (5)

10 Like thread of fiction involving knight (5)

11 Unknown one returned claw of prehistoric times (7)

12 A love for indigo (4)

13 Errant first daughter lives aimlessly (6)

14 Once determined when well directed (8)

16 River swimmer systematically crosses (6)

18 Express contempt about vacuous EastEnders retrospective (5)

19 Islander at urinal’s a drunk (10)

21 Peers in Ayrshire pigpens (6)

23 That’s foul, rear of obscene yokel’s itched (6)

25 Trump and English rogue not related (10)

27 Cockney has confidence and begins (5)

28 Revolutionary is turning more malicious (6)

31 Opposing another player alone, no netballer tackles (8)

33 Forming into circle, soldiers stand in wine cellar (6)

34 A guide regularly used for Swiss canton (4)

35 Strange item on Canadian rider (7)

36 No longer adjudge money not British (5)

37 Heartless wombat took apart caterpillar (5)

38 An earl too diminished becomes tougher (7)

Down

1 Band of light encircling head of most elevated learned man (6)

2 Deserted, is swallow to move from perch? (7)

3 Guests in land wash collections of possessions (4)

4 Transparent material covering over fabrics (5)

5 Tricky to hide large excursion (5)

6 Rodent removing wings of feathered beasts (4)

7 Month encasing this mixture could make pillar (4)

8 Behold! Thug’s leaped on layer made of wooden strips (6)

9 Base carer raising son is guaranteed (7)

13 Long-forgotten disorder in Midlands city that’s had fourth upgrade? (5)

15 Reached highest point looking sickly (6)

17 Rancid ragged undies not completely destroyed (6)

18 Slight luminance on Alsatian coats (4)

20 Lifted special metal sieve for local person (4)

21 Costly clumsily crossing old mother’s blind spot (7)

22 Stretch ancient clasp (5)

24 Study dissecting slow climbing of sloths, maybe (7)

25 Mature women supporting forum group (6)

26 Studies mountain nymphs (6)

28 Number of close encounters (5)

29 That is interrupted by upcoming race season (5)

30 Lubricant’s cool temperature (4)

31 Tory place above joint oddly overlooked by tax officer (4)

32 Ancient buildings erode, appearing hideous (4)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th September 2022. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.