Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle March 2023

 High Bar by Hawk

PDF version

6 Down gives wordplay for a linked pair of words written side by side; the answer must be jumbled before entry and highlighted. Other wordplay-only clues lead to six similar pairings. Solvers must highlight whole, symmetrically positioned rows or columns of the completed grid which are jumbles of these. 20 other clues contain an extra word to be removed before solving. Paired in clue order, extra words provide 10 further thematic jumbles. Highlighted cells on the perimeter contain a final jumble, to be solved and written below the grid (two words). The Chambers Dictionary (2016) is the default source. 37A is in Brewer’s Dictionary. 23D is in the Oxford Dictionary of English.

Wordplay-only

6 Bakers left upset with negative press

a Against feeding spinach to half-cut kid

b Fashion designer's entertaining press: "Are gloves making a comeback?"

c Letter from India, say, in magazine

d Pancakes scoffed by last people

e Rubber device that amplifies first language

f Stumble on capsized inflatable in rocky bay

Across

1 Clumsy Aunt Lisa overturned can of spit (7)

7 Spider monkey grabbing skimpy thong retreats (6)

11 Lobes of net capturing, in inverted commas, fish (8)

13 Runaways returning only by secured cargo (7)

14 Good reason to retire slaves (5)

15 Simple man's piety criticised, as unruly youth is ripped off (4)

16 Will's father tolerated medieval salt (7)

17 Make glittering review of stimulant at back of magazine (7)

20 Hall's through, after second grand slam goes off (5)

21 Flies circling tent anchors (7)

22 Coral Cup amateur trial's finisher whinnied in the ring, maybe (7)

26 Recipe leaving ailed angler dashing for early doctor (5)

30 Linnean Society audience first administers holy rite (7)

31 Old supplement outlines leaf identifications (7)

33 Saw wide despatched by, finally, Joe Root's inspiring upward drive (4)

35 Highly moody characters in final tour (5, two words)

36 Remembers checks you shouldn't have stopped (7)

37 Old cartoon dog in submersible craft (8, two words)

38 Festive event not hollow, like some 18th-century music (6)

39 Novelty lugs displayed by assorted bridge players (7)

Down

1 Local fixes railways by Princes Street (6)

2 Goddess's slave girl regularly accompanying nursemaid (6)

3 Look from afar dismissing father's indistinct appearance (4)

4 English vessel welcomes Orkney’s sounds (4)

5 Fifty balancing item from right to left, say (6)

7 Like a royal sword being destroyed (6)

8 Every so often legal speed's reduced (5)

9 Speaker is avoiding shorter composition (6)

10 Swedish bank leases properties (6)

12 Paints label in agreeable letters (7)

17 Banned Peg from dissecting sick birds (7)

18 Heading off to bind part of foot (4)

19 Trim regressive gene in leg defect (4)

22 Keeping a teacher's course notes, old man splits after college (6)

23 Dutch replaces English in seven laterally-inscribed aboriginal languages (6)

24 Fine piece of music in the post (6)

25 Ancient Jewish brother being born (6)

27 Corrects English maître d' following new season's starter (6)

28 More than one voter is wallowing in apprehension (6)

29 Limes, French garlic & greens served up (5)

32 Scouse's junk email sent with name removed (4)

34 Island state queuing up, to some extent (4

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image,  or in list format, giving the highlighted entries and the solution below the grid  to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th April 2023. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Crossword News February 2023

 Crossword News February 2023

The January Prize Puzzle was Leading Character by Vismut. Incorrect letters from the wordplay gave Amy, Meg, Jo, Beth. Correct letters gave a jumble of Louisa Alcott. Three letter abbreviations are for ten months of the year missing March and May. The March sisters were the heroines of Louisa May Alcott’s book Little Women which appears when you turn over the M that is the leading character of March and May in the grid.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

A very interesting puzzle.  Wasn't too difficult to figure out the three letter abbreviations once the first one was confirmed, but that was about the only give away.  The interesting theme, clever clues, and the beautifully worded final instruction to achieve the intended effect made this most enjoyable.  Even the deliberate (I believe) avoidance of MAR and MAY from the abbreviations has a logic and subtle connection that is well thought out, even if not elaborated on in the puzzle.  Many thanks.

When the preamble said three letter abbreviations and then referred to twelve across clues I mentally combined the two and came up with the months of the year, so off to a good start, if for no valid reason. Rather a novel experience to have 4 letter answers where the wordplay for only a single letter is given. At times I found the wordplay harder to unravel than to come up with the definition. My favourite clue was the heavy metal one, blacksmiths or ear bones. I do have a lingering doubt, were we only required to invert the M to a W to complete Little Women, as it did remove from the final grid May and the March family. Many thanks to Vismut.

I'll have a go at this puzzle.  I can't understand the final sentence of the preamble.  I can only assume that MAY must turn up between LOUISA and ALCOTT to yield LITTLE WOMEN.  Excellent clues.  The first missing triplet I found made it obvious what the others would be.  It was helpful that they were all at the start of entries.  The omission of MAY and MARCH was a delightful touch.  The device to yield the names was original, good fun and very tricky in a few cases.

There were 52 entries of which 15 were marked incorrect. The puzzle proved very popular and attracted a lot of praise.  A high error count, mainly (11 of the 15) through a failure to identify the 'leading character' that had to be inverted to reveal 'Little Women'.

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

There is a full solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2023/02/solution-to-leading-character-by-vismut.html

The February Prize Puzzle is Cross Contamination by Coot. We are hoping for a record entry, so do give it a try. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2023/01/february-prize-puzzle.html

The March challenge will be High Bar by Hawk.
***
In the i-paper John Henderson reported on the death of Geoff Moss, “Gaufrid”, the keystone of the Fifteen Squared website.

Requiescat in Pace
This week we mark with sadness the recent death of Geoff Moss, from April 2009 to June 2022 the dedicated steward of the crossword resource Fifteen Squared. Within 36 hours of last week’s announcement on the site that is his legacy, “Gaufrid” had racked up a century of fond tributes from solvers old and new, fellow bloggers and many setters. For further insights, follow Monk’s link (comment 88) to a 2013 “Crossword Unclued” interview. FifteenSquared’s equivalent of Just a Minute’s Nicholas Parsons or Countdown’s Richard Whiteley (comment 100)? I’m not sure what Geoff would have made of that. John Henderson (Nimrod)
https://www.fifteensquared.net/2023/01/23/gaufrid-rip/
***
The Inquisitor review of 2022 puzzles has now been published. Many congratulations to first-time winner Artix, coming up on the rails to edge out previous Shield-holders Pointer and eXternal in a blanket finish

https://www.fifteensquared.net/2023/02/04/inquisitor-review-of-the-year-2021-2-the-results/
***
As I promised last month, I have posted another vintage crossword on the Crossword Centre blog. The Gift Car by Torquemada is one of his narrative puzzles. Once popular, this sort of puzzle used to pop up in the Listener. I haven’t had time to solve it yet, so I would be appreciative if anyone spots an error in my transcription.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/p/the-gift-car-by-torquemada.html
***
Following the huge success of the republication of Torquemada’s mystery novel, Cain’s Jawbone, there is news of another one. The comedian and writer, John Finnemore, was the first to solve the 21^st century edition and now he has written his own mystery novel which will also be published as a box of 100 postcards. You can find out more and pre-order a copy at this link - http://johnfinnemore.blogspot.com/2023/02/untitled-mystery-untitled-mystery.html
***
The Listener Crossword Setters’ Dinner will be taking place on the 4^th March at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. On the Saturday afternoon, guests are welcome to meet at the Cornubia pub. I am sorry that I won’t be able to attend this year, but hope to be there next year. To celebrate the golden anniversary of the event, you can now order the special gold ties and brooches.
***
You will be amused to read the article by Chris Lancaster, Telegraph crossword editor. The title gives it away – My husband does the crossword every night in bed – and it’s causing us problems. Click here
***
After the republication of Torquemada’s mystery novel, Cain’s Jawbone, was a success, now a French edition joins Italian and Portuguese (Brazil) translations in publication. La Mâchoire de Caïn, sauriez-vous résoudre l’énigme la plus diabolique du monde?

 Can you solve the world's most diabolical mystery? https://livredepoche.com/livre/la-machoire-de-cain-9782253940265
***
Congratulations to our marker, Robert Teuton, whose first Mephisto puzzle was published in The Sunday Times on 12 February. The 19 February saw the debut of John Grimshaw, the second new setter in the rotating team of four for the Mephisto crossword.
***
We have received details of a competition which solvers in search of an extended challenge may like to try: it is composed by a Crossword Centre and Azed participant and is intended as a rewarding sort of fund-raiser for two charities from his local area. A prize is offered. If interested, send a request to this address: komornik1cryptics@gmail.com
***
Thanks to Jon Delfin for pointing this out.
Quote of the day, from actress Felicity Kendal:

I never eat breakfast but I get my brain into gear by doing the Times [of London cryptic] crossword. When Michael comes downstairs, he looks over my shoulder and says, “My dear, you do realise that none of those answers are correct.” Like Eric Morecambe, I tell him that they’re the right answers, but not necessarily in the right order.
***
Best wishes
Derek

Solution to Leading Character by Vismut

 Leading Character by Vismut - Solution

Incorrect letters from the wordplay give Amy, Meg, Jo, Beth. Correct letters give a jumble of Louisa Alcott. Three letter abbreviations are for ten months of the year missing March and May. The March sisters were the heroines of Louisa May Alcott’s book Little Women which appears when you turn over the M that is the leading character of March and May in the grid.

  Leading Character

Across right wrong

1 Jacent c a Ja a(g)ent

5 Febrile double def

10 Ulna u m (s)m(a)l(l)n(e)a(t)

11 Visional l y vi s[I on]ay

13 Lairds a m l mrsid*

15 Juno o

16 Aprons on s

17 Aught T(he)H(obbit)<

18 Acrolein o e acre nile*

20 Let         t  g         leg

21 Idle          s(idle)s

25 Stateside t j st[a]je side

27 Acta a o coat inside out

28 Ram mar(e)<

33 Strobila o b lrabbits*

35 Oorie e i roo<

36 Sepoys (env)oys

38 Even (s)even

39 Elaeis l e (d)e(l)e(g)a(t)e (k)is(s)

40 Novatian a tian

41 Jane        (ag)e

42 Seeress s t tee (d)ress

43 Fridge i h f(o)r h(o)dge

Down

1 Julian (t)i(t)an

2 Alarum a mural<

3 Earths hearts (h moving towards back)

4 Nada n ad a

5 Fierce (p=f)ierce

6 Escorts corsets*

7 Bignonia ainongib<

8 Inure (man=in)ure

9 Eloiner role*[in e]

12 Anvils 😊

14 Ingest in “jest”

19 Barbette bar be[t(urre)t]e

22 Decree re e

23 Fastens f as[net<]s

24 Octavo a(sh) v(iolet) o(ak)

26 Tripsis trip sis

29 Alohas lhasa*(apsos)[o]

30 Romaji major* i

31 Hiking h[kin]ig(h)

32 Lessee less ee

34 Reeve re(d) eve

37 Slur         rul(e)s<

February Prize Puzzle

 Cross Contamination by Coot

________________________________

PDF version

Clashes appear in ten cells. A one-word description of the theme can be made using one set of letters, and a two-word description using the other set. Solvers should fill the grid using the former and write the latter under the grid.

Across

1. E. Truss is bonkers, most likely (6)

4. Old funnymen's self-esteem wearing skimpy underwear? Not good (3,5)

9. Favourite in garden? "Varied aster bed", admits King (9)

11. Spirit level finally located behind a trailer, oddly (5)

12. Short video recalled enclosure from Epsom or Pontefract (5)

13. Two-thirds of fish in pan sparkle, done very quickly (5-4)

14. Principal artist lost without it (4)

15. Tense about working this evening (7)

19. Old squeeze, say (7)

21. Spam maybe bit of meat to cause distress (4)

24. After international match, approach gets automatic evaluation? (4,5)

26. Stuck setting, Coot's disappeared! (5)

27. What cuts cow having gut extracted with probes? (5)

28. Recent reported madness includes love for a nasty illness (9)

29. Quality stock (8)

30. Poor taste uniform required by school (6)

Down

1. Fight boy at wedding in process of getting wasted? (9)

2. Directed a war video - it's fast-paced but unwatchable! (5,4)

3. Close match... dismissal... runs... edge... over (6)

5. Top 40: where you might appear if your number's up! (3,4)

6. Keeper of poorly iguana backed medic to intervene (8)

7. Doubting marks of former student discovered lying about files (5)

8. Your task: take sample from aerosol ventilator (5)

10. Fresh milk found here, unopened (4)

16. Irritates one of the French retained doctors, perhaps (9)

17. Fleet, initially failing to depart, tortuously trace signal (9)

18. Quoted by awkward journalist (8)

20. Cushion for footballer's quiet, stylish home (4,3)

22. Egg on meat often served in bread, crusts removed (4)

23. Shellfish in small river starts to paddle intensely (6)

24. Cat's tail semi-upright by... (5)

25. ...sleepy Imam, periodically finding shade (5)

Crossword News January 2023

 

Crossword News January 2023

The December Prize Puzzle was Seasons Greetings by Eclogue. On a carte blanche grid, solvers had to enter blocks symmetrically to form a cross. A large X had to be drawn through the four X’s to form a CROSS word.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

That was a great challenge. First having to cold solve a majority of clues without initially knowing the enumerations, then the clashing letters which made constructing the grid more involved. The ingenuity of setters like Eclogue who put things like this together is impressive. Thanks for some great entertainment.

Many thanks to the CC team and setters for these interesting challenges provided year round, year after year.  I always look forward to these puzzles, and once solved, eagerly waiting for the next.  Do appreciate the efforts that go into this.  Advance wishes for the festive season, wishing all of you a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.

A very enjoyable challenge. It required a bit of thought to identify the shape required, with confirmation of it delayed by the many clashes, but once this was nailed down the rest of the puzzle fell quickly. Many thanks, Eclogue!

This proved to be a tough challenge. There were 38 entries, of which 8 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat was Dave Howell from Ilkley, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which is donated by the publishers.

There is a full solution and notes at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2023/01/solution-to-seasons-greetings-xiv-by.html

You still have plenty time to solve the January challenge, Leading Character by Vismut.

The February Prize Puzzle will be Cross Contamination by Coot.
Coot took up setting crosswords as a lockdown hobby. He has published many puzzles on mycrossword.co.uk and has recently been ‘promoted’ from Big Dave’s Rookie Corner. Professionally, Coot is an independent consultant in the energy industry, currently working on projects aiming to replace natural gas in homes and businesses with environmentally-friendly hydrogen.
***
We now have all the results of our monthly competitions for 2022 and can announce the winner of the prestigious Crowther Cup. Many thanks to Robert Teuton for collating the results.

The Crowther Cup 2022

The All-correct List has grown to a total of 9 people this year.  In order of last time since an error/omission they are:

• Matthew Auger
• Brian Betker
• Andie Johnson
• Philip Wood
• Gerry Murtagh
• Keith Williams
• Ronan Cullinane
• Adam Vellender
• Bhalchandra Pasupathy

The list of previous winners now stretches down through the top 6!  So the next in line is someone whose last error was in July 2021...

...congratulations to Ronan Cullinane!

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

• Rod Bell
• Craig Fothergill
• Julian Stradling
• Clive Walker
• Glyn Watkins

After this:

• 10 correct - 6 people
• 9 correct - 7 people
• 8 correct - 8 people
• 7 correct - 4 people

Many thanks to all entrants for their continued support!

Robert can supply details of anybody's individual record for 2022 if they so wish. If you would like your record, you can email him at toots@tinyworld.co.uk.

A fascinating article in the Guardian lists all their crossword setters and gives a comprehensive history of their puzzles.
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2023/jan/10/a-timeline-of-guardian-crossword-puzzles
They still need more information on these, Nimrod, (not John Henderson), Hippo, Trumper, Robespierre, Grumbuskin, Keri, Chaucer and Kookaburra..
***
Last month I published an old puzzle by Torquemada. I enjoyed solving his ‘Knock-Knock’ puzzle and it did make me laugh. I was amazed at the interest in the crossword.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/p/knock-knock-by-torquemada.html

If you had a go at solving it, I have, as promised, now posted a solution with some explanatory notes.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/p/solution-to-knock-knock-by-torquemada.html

If anyone can help with more explanations, I would be grateful. I hope to publish another vintage crossword next month.
***
In case you have missed it, the Financial Times have started to present their setters.
https://www.ft.com/content/e612088c-d6e3-454d-a065-257fce1d6281

***
The latest Azed Slip, for the ‘Christmas Cards’ competition are now available on the Crossword Centre.
http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
***
On the CCCWC, the winner of the competition for PAPILLON was John Doylend with this clue.

Quivering lip on lap dog

This month’s competition is to write a clue to METROPOLIS.
***
I still use the Chambers CD-ROM on my PC and I find it very useful. The problem might be that on modern laptops there is no way to load a CD. I have got round this by copying the Chambers from my old PC onto a memory card and loading it onto my new one. As long as you have the code, it works fine on Windows 10.
***
Radio and TV presenter, Colin Murray, will be the next host of the TV show Countdown.
***
On a personal note, our trip to see family in Portugal for Christmas did not go to plan. When we set off the temperature was -7º. On our second day in Portugal, I received a phone call from our neighbour to tell me that water was gushing from our house. A frozen pipe in the garage had burst. Fortunately, our neighbour has our keys and was able to turn off the water. Unfortunately, the water had soaked our fuse-box, which had to be replaced. On the next day, my wife and I tested positive for Covid, which put a damper on our festivities. Now home and well, we hope for a better new year. Happy New Year to all!

Best wishes
Derek

Solution to Seasons Greetings XIV by Eclogue

 Seasons Greetings XIV by Eclogue - SOLUTION

The large X is drawn through the five symmetrically placed X’s to form the CROSSword

Across
Entry	Answer	Explanation
epic	ERIC	ciré<
mare	WARE	war + e
linos	LINTS	lin + (st<)
saver	RAVER	hidden; extRAVERts
MACAWS		ca in maws
MORASS		moss around ra
ANAXIAL		(ax + i) in anal
BAUXITE		(a + ux) in bIte
overripe	OVERRIDE	(rio verde)*
SLILY		silly*
IRENE		ne after ire
LLAMAS		a in small<
SPIGELIAN		(i spin a leg)*
RE-EXIST		re + (s)exist
MISLUCKED		(liked scum)*
FACTOR		fact + or
oasis	OASES	os around sea*
PINKY		Two meanings
RESINATA		Erastian*
wraxled	WRAXLES	w + r + axles
ELIXIRS		eli + xi + rs
RANCED		e for i in rancid
storey	STORMY	rots< + my
ETNAS		teas* around n
snuck	SNACK	N in sack
neat	NEAR	initials; n e a r
spae	SPAS	hidden; timeS PASt
Down
Entry	Answer	Explanation
Elma	ELMS	el + ms; Ref Nine Elms
PIANO		pi + a no
incavi	INCAVO	in + cav(e) + o
COAXERS		co + axe + r + s
MARXIAN		mar + xian
AVAILS		vail in as
resty	RESTS	initials; r e s t s
Erse	ERIE	(e)erie
swire	SHIRE	she around IR
SOUL MATE		soul + mate
SARNIE		arisen*
MASAI		as in mai
LIEGE-LORD		lie + gel + ord
BELLICOSE		bell + ie around cos
PLEXURE		lex in pure
prickles	TRICKLES	stickler*
skails	SCAILS	sails around c
MANX CAT		x between man and cat
STYED		st(a)yed
DIAXONS		(i + ax(e)) in dons
FIANNA		hidden; rufFIAN NAtives
snits	SNOTS	not in ss
STIR UP		stir(r)up
prate	CRATE	c + rate
ARECA		rec in aa
wren	WHEN	w + hen
SYKE		(k + yes)*