Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle July 2020

What's Here? by Vismut

What's Here by Vismut PDF

14 across clues have an extra letter generated by the wordplay, not to be entered. 2 across clues have an extra three letters generated by the wordplay making a word, not to be entered. When read together in clue order these give a location. The circled cells, read in the normal way, and the letter to be deduced and entered at the centre of the grid, provide an insertion to the location’s name. This all hints at the 13 cells to be shaded in to show the answer.

Across

   

    1    Terrible deceit about very black recession in the main (7)

    6    Film East European (4)

    10    Garlic mayonnaise tipped over bones (4)

    11    Perhaps ginger root found in areas with no hint of agriculture (5)

    13    Naughty dogs lost in informal spot kept for religion (7, two words)

    15    Brood leader will find river insect in what location briefly? (11)

    17    Thus, bishop gets fat sadly (7)

    18    Could be sound of bouncer hitting short eager Indian perhaps (5)

    20    Country bumpkin to sing high and low when tackling lots of bits (5)

    21    Indulgers clutching cash in East London will get shopping locally (7)

    25    Patchy labour ashore for seaside resident (11, two words)

    28    Reading the first of euros exchanged for pound is increasing in value (7)

    29    S-shaped curves of hills near Cambridge catching Ian’s eye (5)

    30    River valley with even bits of dirt-road ideal going west (4)

    31    German court entertained by safe humour (4)

    32    Allow to take part in display ground metal working (7, three words)

Down

    1    Frequently taken from cargo. Two by two by two (5)

    2    Over to classify vintage claret’s leading fruit (11, two words)

    3    Artificially raise cost of lots of big items – designer utility pieces primarily (5, two words)

    4    It’s surrounded by water that is filled with silt now and then (4)

    5    Fluctuating moods make one cross (5)

    7    Recast top three characters in Olivia’s Grease (3)

    8    Maybe 12 contracted to work with increasing speed (11)

    9    Sample of dynamite – try lighting detonator (6)

    12    Fuel tantrum over reduced part (6)

    14    From the right hill over yonder initially (4)   

    16    Help nurse lead regardless of start (6)

    18    Live, informal dance benefit (6)

    19    Former boss sends back poor wine left out (4)

    22    Dutch check salesman’s cut seaweed (5)

    23    I ate bananas North of ancient Greek city (5)

    24    Nearly every Australian woman wins seaweed product (5)

    26    Get dull and commit. Not the first (4)   

    27    Ingredient for bread missing variable hot salty crust (3)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the shaded cells and central letter to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8th August 2020. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

75th Anniversary of the First Ximenes Crossword

The First Ximenes Crossword.

On 24 June 1945 the first Ximenes crossword was published in the Observer. What was remarkable was the symmetrical "Ximenean" grid. In his notes Ximenes says, "A new series begins today, in which a very small proportion per word of unchecked letters will be used in 'plain' puzzles and a slightly larger proportion in puzzles where some special feature affects composition: at the same time it is intended that the search for a start may be, if anything, easier. With the full checking given hitherto, though the start may happen to be arduous, the finish is apt to be reached with a rush, some clues becoming redundant. Ximenes hopes that the new method will provide a better balance and wishes his solvers good hunting."

Crossword News June 2020

Crossword News June 2020

The May Prize Puzzle was Free Hit by Rebus. This tough puzzle from the Aussie duo was resolved when the letter L (what is left) was changed to R. The title referred to the pop group Free and their 1973 hit All Right Now, which had to be written below the grid.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

What a lovely bit of misdirection - I realised what had to be done to the entries fairly early on, but spent hours and hours thinking about runs and legs, before finally getting a truly resounding clunk as the penny hit the floor.  In fact, I can remember seeing Free performing this number live, at a ball at Wadham College in summer 1970. The ball committee had booked the band months earlier for a pittance, so they were pleased as punch! Also performing live at the same event were Savoy Brown, and Pentangle. Those were the days…

I was baffled as to what was going on until quite near the end - and then it suddenly all made sense. Impressive construction to include 19 entries that could all be changed and still keep real words. I thought the clues were good as well - very precise & concise with the extra words in a lot of cases quite hard to spot. Really like the title (I’ve never heard of ‘Free’ before although the song is very familiar) and the inclusion of the singer’s name - nice touch. And now the preamble makes sense -

‘What’s left is to be treated…’ - of course! Thanks Rebus.

There were 45 entries with an unusual number of errors. Ten entries were marked wrong and none of the errors were the same. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Philip Wood who will be receiving a prize of a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary which has been donated by Chambers.

A solution is available at http://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2020/06/free-hit-by-rebus-solution.html

You still have time to solve the May Prize Puzzle, That’s Life by Flowerman. The July challenge will be What’s Here by Vismut.
***
In the midst of our Coronavirus situation it became public that the Prime Minister’s special advisor, Dominic Cummings, had breached the rules by making a trip to Barnard Castle. The government slogan was “Stay alert: control the virus: save lives”. Crossword setter, Tim King, (Encota) came up with an apt anagram – Easily survives travel north to castle!

You can read how Tim created the anagram in his interview on the Guardian blog. https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2020/jun/15/meet-the-setter-encota-crossword-blog

That advisor was on many people’s minds when they were writing clues to IMPACT for the Guardian’s clue-writing contest. I particularly liked – Starts to investigate Machiavellian political advisor caught travelling. You can see the others on the Guardian blog. https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2020/jun/08/crossword-blog-many-many-clues-about-dominic-cummings
***
The continuing success of Cracking the Cryptic has to make Mark Goodliffe and Simon Anthony international stars.

The BBC published a video https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-gloucestershire-52868820/people-use-us-to-go-to-sleep-to-sudoku-solvers-become-internet-sensation

An article in the Guardian commented on their success.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/22/cracking-the-cryptic-puzzled-uk-men-become-internet-sensation-with-sudoku-channel

Also on the BBC programme Have I Got News for You, in the Missing Words section the panel were asked to guess the missing words in this Headline – Man in Surrey who Mutters to Himself while _____________________ becomes big Internet Hit. Of course, the missing words were ‘solving sudokus’.

If, like me, you struggle with the Listener mathematical crosswords I can certainly recommend Neil Talbott’s masterclass in explaining how to solve one.
https://twitter.com/crypticcracking/status/1272232395895451648
***
I have heard that the Enigma Variations puzzles in the Sunday Telegraph will cease after this August. I am saddened by this end to a long-running series of thematic crosswords. EV editor, Steve Bartlett, only recently took the role of EV editor when Chris Lancaster was promoted to be Telegraph crossword editor.
***
A new book which will interest all those new solvers who have taken up crosswords during the lockdown is How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords by Chris Lancaster. This clear guide with lots of examples, explanations of clue-types and practice crosswords is going to be the standard handbook. I have made it Book of the Month on the Crossword Centre. https://amzn.to/3hrALnp
***
Our Crossword Clue-writing Competition has a new task for June. After the "oldies" last month, time to give youth a chance – your challenge for June is a STANDARD CRYPTIC clue to THE YOUNG ONES (3,5,4) by the closing date of MIDNIGHT BST TUESDAY 30th JUNE.

Best wishes
Derek

Free Hit by Rebus - Solution

Free Hit by Rebus - Solution

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle May 2020

All Right Now

Clashes are resolved by changing L to R.
The title referred to the pop group Free and their 1973 hit song.

Words in brackets are the hidden definitions.

Across

1, rocket,(carpet) 4, rashed (dragged) 10, chantage 12, dore (gilded) 13, ponca 15, gorgoneion 16, emery 17, crans (measures) 18,race riots.21, mia 23, sit, 24, tectonics 25 ,crock (decrepit) 28 ,roses (bloomers) 30 ,damp course 32, ad inf 33, tear (eye drop)34 ,rustiest (least practised) 35 ,samoed 

36 ,hordes (gatherings)

down

1, Rodgers (theme singer) 2, correct (mark) 3, echo  4,rate notices (bills) 5, stoor (stubborn) 6, hanna 7, dears (pets) 8, room (space) 9, regret (be sorry for) 11, handicapped 14 conic 19, aired (broadcast) 20, snouts 21, misread (got their words muddled) 22,asserts  25,chars,(odd jobs) 26, odism 27, canto 29, esau 31,o tto

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle June 2020

That's Life by Flowerman

That's Life PDF

In most clues, the wordplay leads to the answer with an extra letter (or in one clue three letters) that is not entered in the grid. In clue order, these letters spell out a word followed by hints pointing to two thematic examples, the names of which can be found in the grid. A third thematic example, of the same type as one of the other two, is also to be found in the grid. The three items occupy 13 cells in total. Initial letters of normal clues in order identify the nature of two non-word elements (see final paragraph).

Part (12, 2 words) of a phrase coined in 1957 to emphasise the significance of the items’ functional relationship must be revealed by changing letters in five cells of one row. The person who coined this phrase and the colleague who later presented it as a two-step process must be revealed by changing letters in two more cells. Two arrows must be drawn on the grid and the items highlighted to represent this process.

Three further elements (two non-words and one abbreviated word; nine cells in total) aligned with the highlighted items represent a specific example of the process operating at the level of the smallest functional units. These may also be highlighted; however, it is not essential to do so for a correct submission. All entries in the final grid are real words. The Chambers dictionary (2016) is the primary reference for answers. Wikipedia is recommended as a search term. 

Across

1 Charge officer eating smoked, salted mutton with trustee (7)

6 Homer acting to protect brown snake (5)

10 Dash into water in Cancun in a leather thong (4)

13 India plugging state’s fruits (6)

15 Bird lovers regularly rejected a cage for hawks (6, 2 words)

16 Father and daughter missing good mate (4)

17 School bag no longer used (3)

18 Indian shot, for example, an historical piece (4)

19 Fish mostly shunning cake meal (3)

20 Loose garment turned heads (4)

22 Travel aids support your visits to Sweden (5)

23 Synthesiser randomly providing codeword (6)

24 Convent on edge after Franciscan nun finds old blood (6)

26 Outrageous pair of rectors calling a skipping girl fabulously erotic (6)

28 Dead water in channel surrounding fellow briefly (6)

30 It has pronounced ability to afflict aged (5)

33 Manufacturer of pianos snubbed Hindu God (4)

36 15’s relative needing a week in Perth (3)

38 Religious instructor making one tense in study (4)

40 Joke about Morag’s grandchild (3)

41 Encourage removing second stringed instrument (4)

42 Introduce cool series of dance movements to entertain Royal Highness (6)

43 Ropes are trimmed after adjusting blades maybe (6)

44 Bean of leguminous shrub moving about (4)

45 East wind wiping out railway close to Jock (5)

46 Oyster-wife on vacation sorted out bivalves (7)

 

Down

1 Pot and cocaine on monk’s clothing (5)

2 Want character to pass note for sharp manufacturer (7)

3 Opening remarks indicate much heartache ahead at the summit (4)

4 Old Italian preserving pieces of peritoneum (7)

5 Work regularly in American cities describing parks possibly (5)

7 Native American on floor (5)

8 Buy extremely small island for Harry (4)

9 Goddess mostly white after metamorphosing (7)

11 Appeal for help to support prime filming facilities (4)

12 Property pundit in US state ultimately overlooked as an alternative (5)

14 Girl in Spain welcoming Green’s focus (5)

16 Oprah disregarding odds to take place bet (6)

21 New priest acting without Troy’s approval (6)

23 School paper deviously omitting Rex’s material (7)

24 Fine English comedian penning article (7)

25 Charlotte’s reported strange beast to department (7)

27 Amphibians in Nauru mostly assembled on volcanic rock (5)

29 Insects covering eastern entrances (5)

31 Actors saying nothing after upsetting visit by corporation (5)

32 Rick duplicates transcript finally (5)

34 Ungulate from South Africa heading northward regularly (4)

35 Jansky intends to deliver Mike’s clothes (5)

37 Archaic Greek statue from Macedonia with gold base (4) 

39 Rest up after hosting one in authority (4) 

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the highlighted entries to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8th July 2020. 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 2020

Crossword News May 2020

The April Prize Puzzle was the twelfth in our series of Round Robin crosswords. The unusual theme was discovered by Scotsman Ian Simpson. Extra letters rendered from wordplay spell ROBERT PATERSON DAVID LLOYD GEORGE SEVEN POUNDS. The two names lead to the Wikipedia entry for THE TURRA COO (the unclued down entry), sold at auction for £7 following a protest over unpaid National Insurance contributions. The answers to eight normal clues had to be entered without NI (National Insurance), and the message LENDRUM TO LEEKS had to be highlighted.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

I thought this was a remarkable creation which held on to its secrets to the last moment of solving, and prompted a fascinating Wikipedia read about an incident of which I’d never heard before.

Hats off to those involved in the concept and grid design, those were really the hallmarks of this puzzle.  Some nice clues too, with the extra letter allowing for some creative wordplay.  Could identify David Lloyd George early on (even with some intervening blanks) but the father/son combo associated with Robert proved elusive for quite some time, so the theme yielded perhaps at the very end, after which it was mostly plain sailing for the end game.  The thematic adjustment for entries was good fun, it did require some reflection to sink IN!  Thanks for the entertainment.

No single setter-wavelength to tune in to and a theme that was completely unknown to me.  Thank you for the advice on searching.This has kept me enthralled for days and when, at last, the theme became apparent I laughed out loud.  I had been thinking it was linked to DLG and his problems in Ireland. A really good challenge for me and I send my thanks to all setters and everyone else involved in its production.

This was something of a tour de force with so many clueing styles, an unusual theme and a great sense of satisfaction having solved it.  This was a difficult solve. Acquiring knowledge about the theme was worth the effort in itself!

There were 51 entries, of which 3 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Tony Harker, who will be receiving shortly a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by Chambers.

Solvers were asked to vote for their favourite clues. The top three clues were.

2 down - NOSOLOGIST - Steve Bartlett - 12 points

16 down - FREQUENTER - Keith Williams - 12 points

10 down - MATZAH - Rod Bell - 10 points

The results gave a tie for first place but as Steve gained more first place votes we have decided to award him the prize. Many thanks to John Nicholson and Ian Simpson for conceiving tis fascinating puzzle and to all the volunteers who contributed to the clue-writing. A full record of the voting is attached at the end of the newsletter.

A solution is available at http://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2020/05/round-robin-xii-solution.html

There is still time to complete and enter the May competition, Free Hit by Rebus.

The June Prize Puzzle will be That’s Life by Flowerman.
***
Congratulations to Azed who has published his 2,500^th Observer Crossword. This is a remarkable achievement. Jonathan Crowther took over the post after the death of Ximenes in 1972 and has continued to produce weekly puzzles of the highest standard. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the celebratory lunch in Oxford has had to be cancelled but, provisionally, will now take place on 26 September.

You can read a nice interview with Azed from the Oxford Mail at https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18455041.observer-crossword-compiler-azed-reveals-identity/
***
Martin Woods, who compiles crosswords for the Big Issue, has produced a guide to solving cryptic crosswords. The guide includes mini-grids to help learners in the solving process. I am sure that it will be helpful to the growing number of new solvers.
https://www.indigoextra.com/how-to-solve-cryptic-crosswords
***
The long-running crossword in the New York Times may be due some changes after a mini-revolt from solvers and setters. Hundreds of crossword constructors and enthusiasts co-signed a letter to the man in charge of the New York Times puzzles, voicing concerns about implicit bias in a system that they believe favours old, straight, white men and erases the voices of minority crossword constructors and solvers.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qjd7kx/new-york-times-crossword-constructors-are-fighting-against-its-systemic-bias
***
Paul Pridmore has informed me of a rare crossword book which is available to download on-line. Torquemada’s Crosswords in Rhyme for Those of Riper Years was published in 1925.It consisted of twelve puzzles with the clues written in rhyming couplets. The blocks in the grid are arranged to represent a picture; for example, in the puzzle with the title The Bat the blocks are arranged to give the silhouette of a bat. There are some worrying unchecked letters but most of the entries are double checked in the manner of an American crossword grid.

Here are the first two clues in the book.

1. Though not with Pope’s economy defined
I am the proper study of mankind (12)

8. Ben Gunn was one of us: and we exploded
To warn you that the other guns were loaded (7)

You can access this gem at https://archive.org/details/TorquemadaCrosswordsRiper/page/n1/mode/2up
***
John Halpern, better known as the setter Paul, has recently celebrated 25 years of setting puzzles for the Guardian. In an interview he reminds us of his famous puzzle where he sneaked a lot of rude words into the grid.
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2020/apr/20/crossword-blog-25-years-of-pauls-puzzles
***
With the increased interest in crosswords, The Magpie have released still more puzzles to the public. You can download issue 18 for free at this link.
https://www.piemag.com/category/public/sample-puzzles/
***
Mark Goodliffe and Simon Anthony have continued to have huge success with their Cracking the Cryptic YouTube channel. A recent video had over 3 million views and the site now has over 184.000 subscribers. You can watch that 3 million video at https://youtu.be/hAyZ9K2EBF0
The success has now meant that there is a YouTube video about them. It is worth watching at https://youtu.be/m5J9TkpBZf4
***
The clue-writing competition is continuing to be the best on-line focus for smart clues. Your challenge for May is a STANDARD CRYPTIC clue to ELDERS (6) by the closing date of MIDNIGHT BST FRIDAY 29th MAY. http://www.andlit.org.uk/cccwc/main.php
***
You may have noticed that I am using a new blog. It seems to work quite well at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/ The previous one is still available at https://crosswordcentre.wordpress.com/ but I am now unable to edit it.

 

Best wishes
Stay safe

Derek

Answers to the Torquemada clues 1. Anthropology 8. Maroons

All clues receiving points in Round Robin XII

Across
1. 6pts

12. 3pts

13. 6pts

14. 4pts

15. 1pt

17. 7 pts

18. 4pts

19. 5pts

21. 3pts

26. 7pts

28. 6pts

31. 1pt

33. 8pts

35. 2pts

36. 8pts

37. 2pts

Down

1. 3pts

2. 12pts

3. 6pts

7. 3pts

9. 8pts

10. 10pts
11. 8pts

16. 12pts

22. 2pts

23. 3pts

25. 2pts

26. 2pts

32. 6pts

Round Robin XII - Solution

Round Robin XII - Solution

Extra letters rendered from wordplay spell ROBERT PATERSON DAVID LLOYD GEORGE SEVEN POUNDS. The two names lead to the Wikipedia entry for THE TURRA COO (the unclued down entry), sold at auction for £7 following a protest over unpaid National Insurance contributions. The answers to eight normal clues had to be entered without NI (National Insurance), and the message LENDRUM TO LEEKS had to be highlighted.