ordStats| Clues in archive | First Prizes | Other Prizes | VHCs | HCs | Hons points | First mention | Latest mention | Career span |
Also listed as | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr I. S. Fletcher | 213 | 16 | 21 | 176 | 195 | 250 | Jan 1978 | May 2022 | 44y 4m | Dr I. Fletcher |
| Clue word | Award | Clue | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | ||||
| 2603 | TERAS def. PRATT (Wrong Number) | VHC | Being that’s disfigured at centre and rear of uterus? | rear; anag. incl. er, s, & lit. |
| 2599 | DESIDERATA | VHC | Environmentalist’s no. 1 dread is failing to contain temperature one wants | e in anag. + t + a |
| 2595 | FIFTY YEARS | VHC | Spanning run, one ends in worthy anniversary puzzle, stiff to crack | r in anag. incl. a, y, y, e, & lit. |
| 2586 | BALDERDASH | VHC | Embodying Edward Lear primarily, rising poet has composed nonsense | Ed L (rev.) in bard + anag. |
| 2582 | ACHITOPHEL | VHC | Plot hatched, I concealed signs of treachery David missed | anag. less t, D, & lit.; ref. 2 Sam. |
| 2578 | VARIORU(M) (Letters Latent) | VHC | Sequence of changes? A coronavirus after that can so spread out | anag. less anag. |
| 2573 | HANDS-ON | VHC | Manual? What’s needed for clutch, perhaps, is one’s left leg | hand + (I)s + on |
| 2020-2021 | ||||
| 2556 | TOERAG | VHC | Catching tip of stiletto grate ruined heel | o in anag. |
| 2547 | FILATORY | VHC | At heart of mill source of yarn for weaving? | anag. incl. il, y, & lit. |
| 2543 | CABRETTA | VHC | Material for upper chamber regularly irritated about amendment finally being overturned | alternate letters + t in ate (rev.) |
| 2539 | TORSE (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Environmentalist’s concerned about jet’s ammoni/a pollution | |
| 2534 | BOTTLE-WASHER | VHC | Could be the belowstairs scrubbing is for me | anag. less is & lit. |
| 2532 | POTLA(TSUGA)TCH (Presents Round the Tree) | VHC | Turkey for some stuffed with a lot wasted, number absent in time celebrated | anag. + t + su(n)g in patch2; turkey = fool |
| 2530 | STUDENTY | First | This life requires working yet it’s led with fun | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 2525 | PLACITUM | Second | Taking in minimum of calories almost flat stomach conclusion of diet, perhaps | c in plai(n) + tum |
| 2019-2020 | ||||
| 2512 | OSCITATE | VHC | Intimacy in kiss, heart going to signify need for bed? | it in osc(ul)ate |
| 2508 | CHARACTER (Misprints) | Third | Duality shown by pied rat-catcher after payment ultimately denied | quality; anag. less t |
| 2504 | UPBEAT | VHC | Small pieces of uncooked potato done in chipper? | u, p + beat |
| 2495 | BUNG | VHC | Roger, perhaps, around middle of court striking a back-hander | u in b(a)ng; ref. R. Federer |
| 2486 | BRUHAHA | VHC | Could be one about HRH shifting focus of devotion | anag. incl. a less ot, & lit. |
| 2469 | GUDDLE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Pocketing two pennies, heartless cunning dip lands in hock perhaps | hands in loch; d, d in gu(i)le |
| 2464 | BRAINPOWER | Third | What’s weak in bear with head in pot or floating? | anag. incl. w, p, & lit.; ref. Winnie the Pooh |
| 2018-2019 | ||||
| 2447 | CONGENER | VHC | Enhanced gin or rum could be had with this in | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 2428 | SHEPHERDS | VHC | Female leads in pop show entertaining crowd – Pan’s People? | herd in she p, s; ref. TOTP 60s/70s dancers |
| 2425 | EPILIMNION | VHC | Where ultimately less cold temperature implicit, no end of phytoplankton floating? | e + anag. incl. n less c, t, & lit. |
| 2421 | SPASMODICAL | Second | Sips do calm a burst of hiccups, maybe | anag. |
| 2417 | ALTARAGE / PROPOSAL (Right and Left) | VHC | Trouble at large following a ministerial collection for soft line with a so flexible plan | a + anag.; pro p + anag. incl. l |
| 2412 | UBIQUARIAN | VHC | University brain – one involved with quiz mostly experienced in all areas | U + anag. incl. a, less z; ref. ‘University Challenge’ |
| 2017-2018 | ||||
| 2408 | LUNCHEONETTE | Third | Front of neck with the count Lee played, place for bites? | anag. incl. n; ref. Dracula films, Christopher L. |
| 2403 | SWALE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | You found buyer affording this bungalow finally in Manchester suburb | find bower; w in Sale |
| 2399 | CHARMEUSE | First | Wanting soft weave purchase me, perhaps | anag. less p, & lit. |
| 2390 | POISSON D’AVRIL | VHC | Rig no Paris gull ultimately avoids with one being exposed | anag. incl. l less a, & lit.; rig2 |
| 2386 | PENNY-A-LINER | Third | Fitting name for a hack in general with pay not good | anag. with n for a less g, & lit. |
| 2378 | PROPOSAL | VHC | Stays single keeping ring with one rejected? | O in props + al(one), & lit. |
| 2364 | COMPOST HEAP | VHC | Common tip for garden leaves rotting happens to | com. + anag. less n, & lit. |
| 2360 | VIDENDA | VHC | Evil divined? Imperator initially ignored one such to be seen | anag. less I + a; ref. J. Caesar |
| 2016-2017 | ||||
| 2347 | ASLEEP | Second | Suffering poor circulation? Daily Express regularly could be | anag. of alternate letters |
| 2338 | TRUMP | VHC | Paramount regularly reduced to Twitter | anag. of alternate letters, & lit.; twitter = palpitate |
| 2334 | ALLELUIAH | VHC | Religious response quite universal in reflecting praise with ecstasy | all + u in hail + E (rev.) |
| 2325 | MASON | First | Murray’s first since old number one Perry associated with court | M + as + o + n; ref. Fred P., Perry Mason |
| 2322 | VENTRICOSE | VHC | See one in centre so having gone pear-shaped | v + I in anag., & lit. |
| 2015-2016 | ||||
| 2300 | MISHMASH | VHC | Confused assemblage? Maybe duff referendum’s conclusion has done for it | mishit with m + anag. for it |
| 2296 | IMPROPERLY | VHC | Signify catching one with lasso, perhaps, ‘cowboy-style’? | roper in imply |
| 2291 | AVESTA (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Tasting wine, experts consider so/me in comparison to Chablis | |
| 2287 | VALET | Third | Torte without filling can upset Bunter, perhaps | t, e lav (rev.); ref. Mervyn B.; Lord Peter Wimsey’s valet |
| 2279 | CLEMENTINE | VHC | Need vitamin C else scurvy – advise this, perhaps | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 2270 | FENESTRA | Second | Football Association has seen corrupt transactions within coming to light | anag. + tr. in FA; ref. Fifa scandals |
| 2261 | GANGSTERLAND | VHC | Disquiet in German plant that’s responsible for many jobs | Angst in Ger. land; ref. VW scandal |
| 2014-2015 | ||||
| 2244 | AVANT-GARDISTE | VHC | One’s very daring with taste for change | a + v + anag., & lit. |
| 2235 | CHOCK-A-BLOCK | VHC | Centre’s first to stop back running forward of scrum | c ho + anag. + lock; see scrum |
| 2220 | A twelve-letter ‘Christmas cracker’ (Christmas Cracker) | VHC | Christmas scene one can back? Crucially not all uphold mother missing last vacancy | MAINTAIN/NATIVITY; MAINANITVITY; a + tin (rev.) + vit(all)y; ma + inanit(y) |
| 2213 | SOLECISM | VHC | As learner heading up M6, perhaps, it’s not what’s expected | so L + M sice (rev.) |
| 2013-2014 | ||||
| 2191 | PLUG | Second | End in trap with pull or hook, perhaps | p + lug; ref. golf; hook = punch |
| 2183 | SANGRAIL | VHC | Scattering contents of jigsaw right and left one lost piece? | anag. incl. l, r, an; piece = wine cup |
| 2170 | SAYONARA | VHC | Is this waved from a ryokan as one at end of break leaves? | anag. less k, & lit. |
| 2161 | FARRAGO | Second | What contents of garage or contents of loft could be, discarding nothing? | anag. less outer letters incl. (0)r, & lit. |
| 2152 | STUFFED SHIRT | Third | Finicky duffer? His trait’s putting out affected air | anag. less anag., & lit. |
| 2148 | ZOLLVEREIN | VHC | League that’s arranged delivery without terms in region, not English | l + anag. less d, y in zon(E), & lit. |
| 2012-2013 | ||||
| 2135 | LOB | First | You might see this used in mixed doubles | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 2131 | DIVES / MALIK (Right and Left) | VHC | Indian boss exhausted marijuana crop suiting US joints one’s rolling | m, a lik(e); 2 meanings |
| 2126 | DESPERATE | VHC | About person, wild with nothing left to lose? | per. in des(0 l)ate, & lit. |
| 2118 | BLOKEISH | First | Like mixing with the boys, rugged yet outgoing | anag. less anag., & lit. |
| 2109 | THICKETY | VHC | Having ground so —— you could make it OK with scythe | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 2105 | TITANIC / ICEBERG (Overlaps) | VHC | Cold leaving intact woolly mammoth calf around middle of Siberia, for example | anag. less c; ber in e.g. |
| 2011-2012 | ||||
| 2091 | SNIFTER | VHC | What’s blowing isn’t far short of one close to gale | anag. less a, & lit.; on Beaufort scale strong breeze precedes near gale |
| 2087 | ROCKET | VHC | See my upthrust prevented without source of propellant | cor (rev.) + ke(p)t, & lit. |
| 2074 | BENNET | VHC | Name borne by any of Five Sisters, central characters of great fiction | n in ben1 + e, t, & lit.; ref. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and F. S. of Kintail in Scottish Highlands |
| 2065 | DERMESTIDAE | VHC | Dread ’em creeping around woolly site | anag. in anag., & lit. |
| 2062 | APPLE-KNOCKER | VHC | Turkey on Broadway – result of cutting article from local critic? | (the) Apple knocker |
| 2053 | PERISHER def. ESTIMATE (Wrong Number) | VHC | Endless menace to society primarily – try to get shot of one? | peri(l) + s + he(a)r, & lit.; shot |
| 2045 | CATENATE | VHC | Like Albert, say, such as lion has eaten after provocation | cat + anag.; ref. Marriott Edgar poem/monologue |
| 2010-2011 | ||||
| 2031 | EMBROIDERY | VHC | Errant, I embody not an element of truth elaborately | anag. less an, t, & lit. |
| 2023 | CHAMBRANLE | VHC | See above either side of hearth one in marble sculptured? | c + h + an in anag., & lit. |
| 2019 | OVERAWE / HENOTIC (Right and Left) | VHC | Ere a vow broken, beset with dread of marriage on the rocks? One on verge of counselling | anag.; anag. + I c |
| 2010 | A COMING OF AGE | VHC | Start of franchise, adult cinema and go-go dancing? | anag. incl f, A, & lit. |
| 2000 | TWO THOUSAND | VHC | Number of a classic, Azed’s latest, now out – hats off to that | anag. incl. d, & lit.; ref. 2,000 Guineas |
| 2009-2010 | ||||
| 1971 | WATERMANSHIP | First | Craft apt when aim’s Head of the River | anag. incl. R, & lit. |
| 1960 | NGANA (3 defs + letter mixture) (Parcels) | Second | Missing team on sleigh Santa curses illness of Prancer et al | LOSING ANATHEMAS |
| 1958 | HANGDOG | VHC | Rats? Just one alternative to damn and bother | hang + dog; rats adj., dog = worry |
| 1953 | TRAUMA (misprint of T) (Misprints) | VHC | Result of shocking incident by Capone, not ending with one inside | Capote; a in Truma(n); ref. St Valentine’s Day massacre and T. Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood’ |
| 1940 | SCANT def. SNEAP (Wrong Number) | VHC | Low sun – one making for nip round Norway | nip; S + N in cat |
| 2008-2009 | ||||
| 1893 | EARTHY | VHC | Hard year with limit of credit, failing of some banks | H + anag. incl. t |
| 1888 | RASTER (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | See hospital hand simple men text/ile cleaning to counter MRSA | |
| 2007-2008 | ||||
| 1875 | GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left) | VHC | Sky hit behind wicket getting out for a blob? | up + rear; gate with out for a; up n. = success |
| 1871 | FAIRY GOLD | VHC | This root of evil, dry foliage after transformation? | comp. anag. incl. e, & lit. |
| 1858 | HUMONGOUS | First | Whacking no good for Greyfriars’ most seen character in comic? | humorous with ng for r; ref. Billy Bunter in ‘The Magnet’ |
| 1849 | AUXESIS | First | A change from six EU’s shown? | a + anag., & lit.; ref. enlargement of EU/EEC from original number |
| 1845 | UPBRAID | VHC | Top form dreads results in school no more | up + braid; dreads = dreadlocks; school (obs.) = admonish |
| 1836 | POSTHASTE | VHC | As those working with time pressure? | anag. incl. t P, & lit. |
| 2006-2007 | ||||
| 1831 | MARGINALIA | VHC | Result of editing à la main – pieces of red ink, generally? | anag. incl. r i g, & lit. |
| 1814 | HIPSTER | VHC | Former bohemian No.1 in pop hits put out by Queen | anag. incl. p + ER; ref. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ |
| 1797 | HEART | VHC | Is that of smoker ok? | position of ok, & lit. |
| 1792 | APPALOOSA / ESTAMINET (Right and Left) | First | Alarm raised when those packing food spotted grey mould in meat set for café | appal + as (f)oo(d) (rev.); anag. |
| 1784 | TEARAWAY | VHC | Drop to get out of rough? | tear away (interj.) |
| 2005-2006 | ||||
| 1775 | ROUGH-AND-READY | VHC | Hash or ecstasy a handy drug providing quick fix? | anag. incl E |
| 1766 | GEST (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Those administering mass a/re at one using hands | |
| 1758 | BIMBETTE | VHC | Eat snags mate’s first put on Barbie | m bet in bite |
| 1746 | ENTOMIC | Third | Dell computer screens are cleared of bugs | tom in eniac less a; see dell2 |
| 2004-2005 | ||||
| 1702 | WORDSMITHERY | VHC | With it do rhymers elaborate? | w + anag., & lit. |
| 1680 | PILLOW-CUP | Second | Oil plc revised holding with top one for the sack? | w in anag. + up; ref. Shell overstating its reserves; one = a drink |
| 2003-2004 | ||||
| 1667 | CLARINI | VHC | Bands in coal industry initially are gone? Those of brass used to flourish | clar(a)in + i |
| 1659 | SCAREDY-CAT | Second | Child without guts, say, re act that’s dodgy | anag. incl. c(hil)d, & lit. |
| 1650 | SAPHENA | VHC | Element of network calf protects? That’s draining extremity of blood | n in saphea(d), & lit.; calf = stupid person |
| 1646 | BLACK | Second | Bachelor: miss dated one seeking mate | B + lack; ref. chess |
| 1641 | GADGETEER | First | I, with love for a bit of gismology, could be eccentric to a degree | anag. with g for O, & lit. |
| 1633 | EMPATRON / WINTERLY (Right and Left) | VHC | Dull women in reality? Ones coming out loosely involved romp at heart of calendar the old support | w in + anag. less a, i; anag. incl. en; ref. WI calendar |
| 1628 | ENCOMION | VHC | One in slips written about compiler’s first three? | com in anag., & lit.; ref. AZ slip |
| 1624 | BELAY | VHC | Secure on hard pitch? Bat safely cracked fast over delivered | anag. less fast (rev.); pitch = section of climb |
| 2002-2003 | ||||
| 1611 | LEISLER | VHC | Re spell brewed, one for bit of pelt? | anag. with I for p; ref. Macbeth 4, i, 15 |
| 1606 | TEOSINTE / INTELSAT (Overlaps) | VHC | Dish needed initially to see it? | anag. incl. n, & lit. |
| 1602 | FENESTRA | First | Hole in one’s after playing shot of round | anag. less O |
| 1596 | GENISTA (Definition of Anagram) | VHC | Itinerant isn’t out of place in New Age | tsigane; anag. in anag. |
| 2001-2002 | ||||
| 1559 | THEOLOGASTER | VHC | Logos he’d treat badly lacking depth? | anag. less d, & lit. |
| 2000-2001 | ||||
| 1494 | MARATHON | VHC | Train on tarmac mostly pounding hard for this | H in anag. less c, & lit. |
| 1480 | SAMARITAN | VHC | At end of blower I’m involved with mostly sad one | anag. of at r I’m sa(d) + an, & lit. |
| 1467 | CANAPÉ | VHC | Might this come with cocktail of champagne and it? | comp. anag. & lit.; it = Italian vermouth |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| 1433 | NEANDERTHAL | VHC | One in number ten heard exploding over left not backing new order | a in n + anag. + l; ref. New Labour |
| 1419 | SPLODGE | VHC | Quelch long constrained by Greyfriars’ ultimate fatso? | l in s podge; ref. Billy Bunter |
| 1998-1999 | ||||
| 1406 | CHASSEPOT | VHC | One on way to Winchester not repeating train cost (heaps) | anag.; ref. repeating rifle |
| 1394 | BERGAMOT | VHC | Output of weaving to e.g. large centre of Lombardy? | anag. incl. (Lo)mbar(dy), & lit. |
| 1389 | ALL-OVERISH | VHC | One up in hills going astray inexplicably far from A1 | a + over in anag. |
| 1380 | RAPPORT (Misprints) | VHC | Basis of betting on Gunners – power in air? | getting; RA + p in port |
| 1997-1998 | ||||
| 1342 | ALIENS / RAPINE (Right and Left) | VHC | Maybe such as greener work entails removing bit of trash by filling refuse sack | anag., less t; greener = newly-arrived immigrant; in in rape4 |
| 1338 | SMART ALEC | VHC | Clever me, a star not ever wrong! | anag. less ever, & lit. |
| 1336 | STOCKING | VHC | Conk’s disguised with it – good for doing job in shop? | anag. + g; ref. stocking mask |
| 1322 | CARPET | VHC | Short stretch limousine a ‘Rover’? | car pet |
| 1996-1997 | ||||
| 1294 | TRANSENNA | VHC | Queen’s new craft coming up for monumental screening? | Anne’s n art (all rev.); ref. Royal Yacht |
| 1264 | TREDRILLE / FERVOROUS (Right and Left) | VHC | Orrell, after losing first, tied cracking game with pack enthusiastic over four converted tries finally | anag. less O; anag. + s; ref. RU side |
| 1995-1996 | ||||
| 1255 | CATAFALCO | VHC | See one at front of line of cars not half creeping | c a + anag. incl. l ca(rs), & lit. |
| 1250 | SONEOCARDIA (STENOCARDIA) (Ten to One) | VHC | I do lead to coronary – reason exercising accepted in reduced form? | anag. incl. c + a, & lit. |
| 1247 | PREDICANT | First | See me spouting from Corner? | predica(me)nt & lit.; ref. Speakers’ Corner |
| 1225 | CURRY | VHC | Scrabble champion associated with triples? | 2 mngs.; ref. John C., former skating star |
| 1216 | CHAPERON | VHC | See her assigned to protecting one with flapper’s heart? | a + p in C her on, & lit. |
| 1212 | HILDING | VHC | Low on dash, lacking heart of old? | hil(l) + ding, & lit. |
| 1994-1995 | ||||
| 1186 | GRISELDA | First | Job as woman? Work lies in form of drag | anag. in anag. |
| 1180 | COLD TURKEY | VHC | Beginning of convalescence having abandoned dope? | c + old turkey, & lit. |
| 1156 | TERPSICHOREAN | VHC | Re art with hips once twisting? | anag. & lit. |
| 1993-1994 | ||||
| 1147 | MAYDAY | VHC | First of month indeed associated with a Robin | m ay Day, & lit.; ref. R. Hood’s association with Mayday, and TV presenter R. Day |
| 1143 | DEATH (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | There, soften protest or stir a/unt | |
| 1130 | AGRESTAL | VHC | Set about in stalag running of escape? | re in anag.; escape = garden plant growing wild |
| 1126 | CHEATERY | VHC | Empty rhyme with, hey, cat involved fiddling? | anag. incl. r, e; ref. nursery rhyme |
| 1117 | STAMNOS (3 Consecutive Letters) | VHC | Crock not the first to make SAS? | anag. incl. m, & lit.; make = arrive in sight of; SAS = Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries |
| 1992-1993 | ||||
| 1091 | SAPSAGO (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Is knackering a life satisfying knackers’ creed | cracker’s need; saps a go |
| 1076 | PARLOUR GAMES | VHC | What, with millions involved, regular soap’s done for? | m in anag., & lit. |
| 1056 | ENTRAIN def. ASTHORE (Wrong Number) | VHC | To leave Victoria possibly in tears almost breaks one’s heart | heart; anag. less s + n |
| 1052 | AGANIPPE | VHC | What’s replaced gap in English poet’s head | anag. incl. E, p, & lit. |
| 1991-1992 | ||||
| 1030 | PASTILLE | VHC | Via this, form of palliative’s provided | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1026 | LET-OFF | VHC | Felt shaky round by hole and missed sitter, perhaps | of in anag., 2 mngs. |
| 1024 | PRESENT (3 defs + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels) | VHC | Yeomen of the Guard? Stage musical always set around verge of moat? | SEM(PRE SENT)RIES; m in series |
| 1008 | SPORTSCASTER (Misprints) | VHC | Brick’s thrower, a conveyor of action in Derry? | Derby; sport’s caster |
| 1004 | OIL PAINTINGS | VHC | Works on canvas setting top in sailing | anag. |
| 1990-1991 | ||||
| 982 | ALMANAC | VHC | Dig this annual up for Campanula? | comp. anag. |
| 978 | DOUBLE-CENTURY | VHC | Feat by such as Fletcher made cruel Bounty master quit at sea | anag. less MA; ref. F. Christian and Keith F., cricketer |
| 969 | BUNTER | VHC | Mean woman men ousted from Number Ten in turmoil | anag. less men; mean = lowly; ref. M. Thatcher |
| 961 | WAVESON | VHC | Refuse in sound? See that bob about | ‘waive’ + s on, & lit. |
| 956 | SPEAR-SIDE | VHC | Successors to title S. Edberg’s first round despair abandoned | anag. in S E; ref. S. E.’s No. 1 ranking before defeat in first round of US Open |
| 952 | STAR (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Jazz art’s groovy mate? | movie great; anag. |
| 1989-1990 | ||||
| 934 | LACE-UPS | VHC | More than one Oxford work in CUP sale? | anag. |
| 930 | SABULOSE | Second | Resort suitable when it is so? | anag. with so for it, & lit. |
| 917 | HOOLIGANISM | VHC | Product of bad schooling am I? See truant there? | anag. less c, & lit. |
| 913 | ARCHIBALD | VHC | Circling about Heathrow initially is a common means of bringing down aircraft | c. H in a ribald |
| 904 | VOETGANGER | Second | You’ll see me evolving go at green bit of veld | anag. incl. v, & lit.; evolve = unravel |
| 895 | TONE DEAF | VHC | End of diet – one in need of changes at odds with scales? | t + a in anag. |
| 891 | CAT | VHC | I may be wild about a spot of trad | c. a t, & lit. |
| 1988-1989 | ||||
| 882 | DOSSIER | VHC | This on Crowther’s working could expose the crossword senior | comp. anag. & lit.; ref. AZ! |
| 869 | HOLD-UPS | VHC | Results of smashes for such as King? | 2 mngs.; ref. Billie Jean K. and Tom K., highwayman |
| 868 | ROLAND (2 clues + def. of contents) (Parcels) | First | Letters? Arranging all I’d end as champion for a Scrabble game | landladies, faro; anag.; anag. |
| 853 | DEBACLE | VHC | Crash? EC bedlam with millions lost in panic | anag. less m |
| 1987-1988 | ||||
| 831 | COOLABAH (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Moderate – one given push? Maggie’s camp was swayed by such | swaggy’s … made; cool a bah; push2 |
| 818 | EMBUSQUÉ | VHC | Doctor beset by queues after surgery – he’ll not be private | MB in anag. |
| 814 | SPOUSAGE | VHC | For example, since being split up so, is this over? | e.g. + as + anag. (all rev.), & lit. |
| 809 | DOLCE VITA | VHC | Style to live, c.-à-d.? | anag. & lit.; live = enjoy life |
| 1986-1987 | ||||
| 779 | MISSING LINK | VHC | Is one almost complete within motorway network’s confines? | is singl(e) in M1 + n, k, & lit. |
| 774 | VICTORINE | VHC | Foxy cover? Nit possessing one? | I in anag., & lit.; ref. animal rights campaign |
| 753 | SHEEPDOG | VHC | Escort driver? | 2 mngs.; ref. car model |
| 750 | SALMAGUNDY (THLMAGUY/OULMAGUY) (750 themed clue) | VHC | Botham the man dropped being mixed up with ugly hash | anag. less bo |
| 744 | SKIRL-IN-THE-PAN / COFFEE-DISEASE (Right and Left) | VHC | Edinburgh’s sizzling plan – rethink is involved in event where foe defies changes that’ll affect blacks and whites alike? | anag.; anag. in case; ref. Commonwealth Games, S. Africa |
| 1985-1986 | ||||
| 727 | WELL-TO-DO | VHC | I could be so with dust | well + to-do, & lit.; dust = money, disturbance |
| 714 | MOTE | VHC | What could do for heap, vintage in the extreme? | MOT + e, & lit. |
| 712 | PANTOMIME HORSE | VHC | I’m, in performing art, some one hp? | I’m in anag., & lit.; hp = horsepower |
| 709 | GINGER | VHC | Buck Rogers? | 2 mngs.; G. Rogers |
| 705 | MUSICOTHERAPY | VHC | This may cure – op involved? | anag. & lit. |
| 701 | BALUSTRADE | Third | Bar ale – dust otherwise a feature of terrace | anag.; ref. alcohol ban at football matches |
| 688 | CUCURBITAL | VHC | Such as squash could be crucial – tubby by not participating otherwise? | anag. less by |
| 683 | BANISH | VHC | Slip catches one out | an in bish; out vt |
| 1984-1985 | ||||
| 675 | CONSTERNATE | First | Cannot steer when sick render low | anag. |
| 670 | TURNIP-FLEA | VHC | Fault in rep’s cast – Savoy’s undoing? | anag.; S. cabbage and theatre |
| 649 | AUSTRALORP | VHC | Victim of dingo, maybe, created stir in a rural spot | anag.; ref. celebrated Australian trial |
| 640 | MACHETE | VHC | Solution for cheat wandering within confines of maze? | anag. in m, e, & lit. |
| 1983-1984 | ||||
| 615 | HISTORIETTE | VHC | Riot with test bats going in haste – a summary of momentous event? | anag. in hie; ref. Christchurch test |
| 607 | CARNEY | VHC | Transport and pet without moderation, perhaps | car + (ho)ney, & lit. |
| 600 | Into the jaws of Death / Into the mouth of Hell (Anagram) | VHC | Jonah not the food to suit, the whale left him | |
| 581 | SPADROON def. MAVERICK (Wrong Number) | VHC | Is taking spoil of pandoors fencing? | spoil; anag.; taking = executing |
| 1982-1983 | ||||
| 572 | SNAKE-OIL | VHC | Quack’s root? Maybe one’s ail deteriorates swallowing it | k in anag., & lit. |
| 564 | PARAMENT | First | Forerunner of paper, one for the church, perhaps | a for ch in parchment, & lit. |
| 559 | EMBASE | VHC | British Airways seem in trouble – make private again, perhaps | anag. incl. BA |
| 547 | GLEEMAN | VHC | Slippery elm, e.g. one put on scald | anag. + an; scald2 |
| 1981-1982 | ||||
| 525 | PABOUCHE | VHC | Foot’s requirement around the House? See he’s after power with party rid of extreme elements | P + (L)abou(r) + C he; ref. Michael F. |
| 521 | ATTITUDINISE | VHC | Institute aid after being attacked to make out-of-the-way stand, perhaps | anag.; ref. Falklands crisis |
| 517 | IMMORTELLE | VHC | To me, Miller’s spinning gets one out always | anag.; ref. Geoff M., England bowler |
| 513 | ETYMOLOGICON | VHC | Could be I’m to undergo revision with neology about to be included | anag. incl. c, & lit. |
| 504 | SIMMENTHALER | VHC | Neat, Alpine strain – Hammerstein involved with lyrics initially | anag. incl. l; ref. Oscar H., ‘The Sound of Music’ |
| 495 | CACOETHES | VHC | Conservative has to work with EEC – is this characteristic of antisocialist? | C + anag. |
| 491 | SEVENTY-EIGHT | Third | A record by Miller, perhaps, holing a great deal with hole in view | vent in eye in sight; Glenn M. and Johnny M., golfer |
| 486 | JUMPED-UP | VHC | Completely hidden, not right, in coat needing to be cut down in size | pe(r)du in jump2 |
| 1980-1981 | ||||
| 469 | APLUSTRE | VHC | Addition in form of art to barque’s stern, perhaps | plus in anag. + e, & lit. |
| 434 | JARDINIÈRE | VHC | Pot that’s served in diner on the move, perhaps | jar + i.e. in anag., & lit. |
| 426 | MISL(E)ADING (Letters Latent) | VHC | Is pulse rising at the bat in sports car causing distraction? | is dal (rev.) in in MG; bat = speed |
| 1979-1980 | ||||
| 414 | UNBOSOMER | VHC | I’ve no reserve playing sub no more | anag. |
| 393 | INTRACARDIAC | VHC | Such operations can be made by a certain Parisian doctor | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 371 | GRADIN | VHC | Scottish work put up in a gallery, for example | darg (rev.) + in |
| 1978-1979 | ||||
| 354 | SHEER-HULK | VHC | Bowling, for example, that’s been taken apart | 2 mngs.; ref. song ‘Tom Bowling’ |
| 327 | HEMLOCK | VHC | Is it the end of one with small drop in pop | e ml in hock3, & lit. |
2021-2022
2569 BILBO
2020-2021
2564 CLEARING
2551 SPAVIN (Spoonerisms)
2521 CHAMBERS
2019-2020
2500 ESPAGN(OLETTE STRENG)THENER (Half and Half)
2482 VOX POP
2480 STOCKING FILLERS
2477 SPRAT-WEATHER
2473 INTERPLAY
2018-2019
2443 ERATHEM (Printer’s Devilry)
2438 MONTE DI PIETÀ
2434 STONKERED
2430 CLERIHEW
2017-2018
2395 PURITANISM
2382 STRIPE def. HARLOT (Wrong Number)
2376 SOW(PIASTRE)ENS (Christmas Pudding)
2016-2017
2351 RHAGADES
2330 BRAZEN / MOPISH (Right and Left)
2324 CELEBRATIONS
2318 TIMENOPENNY (TIMENOGUY) (Penny for the Guy)
2015-2016
2305 AGREE def. PATCH (Wrong Number)
2274 SIMPATICO
2272 SNOWMOBILE
2265 ESPRIT FORT
2250 MILESTONE (with missing O) (Missing Letter)
2014-2015
2248 WAISTLINE
2239 ERADIATE (Spoonerisms)
2230 GATES OF DEATH
2226 DOUBLE-PARKING
2222 OBJECT LESSON
2218 FOREIGNER
2013-2014
2196 SEMANTRA / TRABEATE (Overlaps)
2187 WEST
2174 CHARET (Printer’s Devilry)
2168 CENTURY (with missing C) (Missing Letter)
2165 OUT OF ORDER
2012-2013
2122 NICETY
2116 YULETIDE (with jumble of COMEDO) (Christmas Devilry)
2100 A STITCH IN TIME
2011-2012
2078 RÉCOLLET
2064 COLD TURKEY
2049 PARTY-POOPER
2010-2011
2036 AL CONTO
2027 THRENETICAL
1992 FOULARD
2009-2010
1988 PERIQUE
1984 ORWEL(L)IAN (Doublethink)
1975 SEPTENTRIONAL
1967 SUBORDINATELY
1949 PALFRENIER
1945 PRISON
2008-2009
1918 PALAMPORE
1910 BARPERSON
1908 WE THREE KINGS
1906 MORSE
1897 WASH-OUT
2007-2008
1884 FREELOADER
1879 LITTER BASKET
1866 BINGE
1862 UNALIKE (Spoonerisms)
1856 LITAS (Printer’s Devilry)
2006-2007
1827 AMAKOSI def. DENUDED (Wrong Number)
1823 KISS
1818 POISSO(N) D’AVRIL (Letters Latent)
1810 HARE / POSEUR / SERINETTE (DLM)
1804 CLOTHES SENSE (Spoonerisms)
1788 ETHEREAL OILS
2005-2006
1779 NEWIE (misprint of U) (Misprints)
1771 PARTERRE
1762 DUDDERY
1753 DIAGONAL
1752 MIDWINTER
1750 PLOUGHMAN
1741 LORD NELSON
1733 PALESTRA
2004-2005
1724 MONEYBAGS
1719 ANHELATION
1715 RELEASE / RASPING (Right and Left)
1711 MINUS
1707 GALENA (Definition of Anagram)
1700 FIVE-O’CLOCK SHADOW
1698 CROSSTIE
1694 MISINTERPRET
1689 SYNOD
1685 MINO (Printer’s Devilry)
2003-2004
1637 AMNESIC
2002-2003
1619 GISMO (Printer’s Devilry)
1615 RUGATE
1598 PHRASEMONGER
1593 MANSUETE
1589 JOKESMITH
2000-2001
1492 The year that Columbus discovered America (Anagram)
1999-2000
1439 JOHN CANOE
1437 MISTLETOE
1998-1999
1411 LOOK-SEE
1398 PERMETHRIN
1372 MASTERSTROKE
1367 SANBENITOS
1997-1998
1360 BOG-ASPHODEL
1351 NEATEN (Printer’s Devilry)
1334 CATACHRESTIC
1316 FINGERLICKIN’
1996-1997
1303 PONIARD
1290 NITERIE
1281 ABLUTOMANE
1277 NOVE(M)BER (Letters Latent)
1268 ARGIE-BARGIE
1260 OUT-AND-OUT
1995-1996
1234 AVANT-PROPOS
1232 The world is too much with us; late and soon (Anagram)
1220 CASSANDRA
1203 CLERICALISM
1994-1995
1200 Nine letter word (C and T latent) (Letters Latent)
1194 DONET
1190 DENARIUS
1165 YAPSTER
1161 ADIAPHORON
1152 PARACETAMOL
1993-1994
1134 TOVARICH
1128 CHRISTMAS PRESENT
1122 BASILIAN
1113 EMPLASTRUM
1108 GREEN
1104 BURYING-PLACES
1100 CONCORDANCE
1992-1993
1095 STINK
1084 PIERCEABLE / SALESGIRL (DLM)
1078 KIRBEH
1991-1992
1043 PESTO (Printer’s Devilry)
1039 TOLERABLE
1017 SCHAPSKA / PEARMAIN (Right and Left)
1013 ALVEARY
1000 ONE THOUSAND
995 STASIMA (Printer’s Devilry)
1990-1991
991 BRASH (or BRUSH)
987 IRON CURTAIN
974 AVANT-PROPOS
972 Anagram of 28 letters (Anagram)
947 SHOULDER-SLIP
943 BARAGOUIN
1989-1990
939 A-PER-SE / ESCROC (Right and Left)
926 NERD
922 REFORMADO
908 INDIGO (Printer’s Devilry)
1988-1989
887 MONSTER
878 MOUSEPIECE
874 BLUESTOCKING
866 NECTAREOUS
857 REDCAP / NICETY (Right and Left)
844 THEOLOGASTER (Misprints)
1987-1988
835 PROSAICAL
805 LITOTES
801 LINCHET
1986-1987
783 CAMPESINO
764 CHILDERMAS
762 OBELISE
757 ETHEROMANIAC (Misprints)
735 MALIGN
1985-1986
722 SUPERNACULUM
1984-1985
679 ESTOVER (Printer’s Devilry)
666 Any word; subsidiary indication omits an animal (Beasts)
662 BARGE-COUPLE
635 ROSEMARY
631 INTERLOCK
1983-1984
627 AMBIENT
603 FIGULINE
594 DOINGS
1982-1983
576 TOP-NOTCH
558 MINCEMEAT (with one extra R) (Extra Letter)
552 NOURICE-FEE
538 INGRAIN
534 DODGEM
530 PROMETAL
1981-1982
508 POSTURE-MAKER
506 ELANET (Printer’s Devilry)
500 BEFOOL (two extra Ds) (Extra Letter)
478 BIBLIOPEGIST
473 HERRING-BONE
1980-1981
460 SWOOP
454 CHRISTMAS BOX
452 DISSENTERISM
443 STEEPLECROWN
430 TEGULA
423 ACCOUTRE
1979-1980
419 RAMILLIES
406 BOIL
404 CANDLE-HOLDER (Spoonerisms)
401 GO-AHEAD
388 ALEXIPHARMIC
379 SCYTHEMAN
1978-1979
352 FAIRY LIGHTS
319 PODESTA
1977-1978
310 STERNFAST
306 DICKENS
301 TROLLOPISH
| Year | Prizes (1, 2, 3) | VHCs | HCs | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 2019-2020 | 2 (0, 0, 2) | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| 2018-2019 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 2017-2018 | 3 (1, 0, 2) | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 2016-2017 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 2015-2016 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 2014-2015 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 25 |
| 2013-2014 | 3 (0, 2, 1) | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 2012-2013 | 2 (2, 0, 0) | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 2011-2012 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
| 2010-2011 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 2009-2010 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| 2008-2009 | 0 | 2 | 5 | – |
| 2007-2008 | 2 (2, 0, 0) | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| 2006-2007 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 4 | 6 | 11 |
| 2005-2006 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 3 | 8 | 13 |
| 2004-2005 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 1 | 10 | – |
| 2003-2004 | 3 (1, 2, 0) | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2002-2003 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| 2001-2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2000-2001 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 1999-2000 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – |
| 1998-1999 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 18 |
| 1997-1998 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 22 |
| 1996-1997 | 0 | 2 | 6 | – |
| 1995-1996 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 5 | 3 | 9 |
| 1994-1995 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 2 | 6 | 18 |
| 1993-1994 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 19 |
| 1992-1993 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 20 |
| 1991-1992 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 15 |
| 1990-1991 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 1989-1990 | 2 (0, 2, 0) | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 1988-1989 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 3 | 6 | 15 |
| 1987-1988 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 17 |
| 1986-1987 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
| 1985-1986 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 1984-1985 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| 1983-1984 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 22 |
| 1982-1983 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| 1981-1982 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1980-1981 | 0 | 3 | 6 | – |
| 1979-1980 | 0 | 3 | 6 | – |
| 1978-1979 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – |
| 1977-1978 | 0 | 0 | 3 | – |