ordStats| Clues in archive | First Prizes | Other Prizes | VHCs | HCs | Hons points | First mention | Latest mention | Career span |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. J. Moorey | 205 | 15 | 26 | 164 | 172 | 246 | Jun 1977 | May 2013 | 35y 11m |
| Clue word | Award | Clue | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | ||||
| 2135 | LOB | VHC | Term for ball over Boris’s head | l o B, & lit.; ref. B. Becker |
| 2126 | DESPERATE | VHC | No ordinary love poems work – must be ‘hopeless’ or ‘dying’! | (o)des (o)perate |
| 2116 | YULETIDE (with jumble of COMEDO) (Christmas Devilry) | Third | Christmas puzzle I do comes clued yet bits of some corkers must be eschewed | anag. less s, c |
| 2109 | THICKETY | VHC | As growth concentrated in small area, King in the City worked hard to spread credit, yet failed | K in anag.; h in tick + anag.; ref. Mervyn K. |
| 2096 | TRICK | VHC | Tip Mo to retain primacy in Rio | R in tick; tip3; next O. Games |
| 2011-2012 | ||||
| 2091 | SNIFTER | VHC | Fantastic Spain first again, ultimately a breeze! | anag. incl. E, n; ref. European Cup etc |
| 2087 | ROCKET | First | Term for ‘soar’ etc, OK in salad | anag. incl. r, & lit. |
| 2078 | RÉCOLLET | VHC | State of Chancellor of the Exchequer meeting resistance in recession? He’s friendless, for God’s sake! | tell o’ CE r (all rev.) |
| 2070 | MISTREATMENT | VHC | Boycott firm in commentaries, time and again bats getting abuse | anag. less co, incl. t, t; ref. England’s batting failures in test series v Pakistan |
| 2065 | DERMESTIDAE | VHC | Nasty things swept under the carpet unwisely, police deemed racist caught out | anag. less c; ref. Stephen Lawrence case |
| 2064 | COLD TURKEY | VHC | Tory lucky mostly in clash with Ed, the dope’s quickly dropped in it | anag. less y; ref. PMQs |
| 2058 | ROBUST | VHC | In cast iron, knockers should be this | (i)ro(n) + bust, & lit. |
| 2053 | PERISHER def. ESTIMATE (Wrong Number) | VHC | Terror strike here is inspired by heartless preacher? | anag. in p, r; strike |
| 2049 | PARTY-POOPER | VHC | Person’s spent leaving minimum of debt, Micawber’s conclusion: misery | party poope(d) + r |
| 2010-2011 | ||||
| 2031 | EMBROIDERY | First | Aida’s embellishment by Verdi more relaxing with volume turned down | anag. less v; see aida; turn down = reject |
| 2023 | CHAMBRANLE | Second | Casement’s embellishment a spymaster in Special Branch linked with case of eventual uprising | a M in anag. + e, l (rev.); ref. Roger C., James Bond stories |
| 2019 | OVERAWE / HENOTIC (Right and Left) | First | Dismay with cuts across A&E tending to make one notice hospital needing repair | w in over A E; anag. incl. H |
| 2014 | HACKETTE | VHC | Job for which Rook’s no longer first in the running | (r)acket in anag., & lit.; ref. Jean R., former ‘first lady of Fleet Street’ |
| 2012 | BLOATING | VHC | Money in endless global supply can lead to inflation | tin in anag. |
| 2010 | A COMING OF AGE | VHC | An accomplished majority go with initials in clues from one Across and enigma’s cracked | anag. incl. c, f, o, A; ref. puzzle theme |
| 2000 | TWO THOUSAND | VHC | Dozens at our do and then what fine torture for the Azed number —— | comp. anag. incl. f, n, & lit. |
| 1997 | FADO | VHC | Primarily fun-free song and dance? | f + ado, & lit. |
| 2009-2010 | ||||
| 1988 | PERIQUE | Second | Spain take cracking game sealing final that’ll make a quid or two | E r in pique(t); seal = set apart; ref. World Cup semi-final |
| 1979 | FAR-OUT | VHC | Mostly true of a freak | anag. less e, & lit. |
| 1975 | SEPTENTRIONAL | VHC | Northern Rock new line at present netting one next to nothing | I 0 in anag. incl. n l; ISA 2010 offered by NR at 0.8% |
| 1971 | WATERMANSHIP | VHC | What men as pair on the rocks are lacking? | anag. less a, & lit. |
| 1958 | HANGDOG | VHC | Toad, selfish beast landing term in prison with a case of driving recklessly | anag. incl. n, dg in hog; toad = contemptible person |
| 1953 | TRAUMA (misprint of T) (Misprints) | VHC | Are millions in a reduced state as backed banks make a packet? | take; r in a m in Ut. (all rev.) + a |
| 1940 | SCANT def. SNEAP (Wrong Number) | VHC | A pinch of salt is needed by gents, given Harriet’s latest slight | s + can + t; pinch; ref. H. Harman’s recent remarks about male incompetence |
| 2008-2009 | ||||
| 1932 | NINE-TO-FIVE | VHC | Indeed in ‘flipping’ houses to suit, tons emerging about what’s routine in office | to fi(t) in even in (rev.); ref. MPs’ switching of homes |
| 1927 | TONSURE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Leaving the crown exposed, Lear shocks many on completely ceding power | tons + (p)ure; shear locks |
| 1918 | PALAMPORE | VHC | Lap up more pay mostly having failed and get top-level cover | lap (rev.) + anag. less y; ref. senior bank executives |
| 1914 | VE(S)TAL (Letters Latent) | VHC | I’m first and last for virtue, having rejected gents | v, e + lat (rev.), & lit. |
| 1910 | BARPERSON | VHC | Who’s replaced wench serving Bass for clubs, knockers only half concealed? | b for c in carpers + on(ly), & lit. |
| 1908 | WE THREE KINGS | VHC | Carol turned heads on Richard’s enduring gameshow, and she knew it | anag. incl. R, e, g; ref. C. Vorderman & R. Whiteley on ‘Countdown’ |
| 1906 | MORSE | Third | Master of entries of rare subtlety and elegance, some right crackers | M o’ r, s, e; anag. incl. r; & lit. |
| 1901 | SANITISE | VHC | Government wanting gains in crunch note banks of ‘shame’ clean up | anag. less g + ti + s, e |
| 1897 | WASH-OUT | VHC | What’s sour, peeled and juiced? The answer’s a lemon | anag. incl. ou; juiced = drunk |
| 2007-2008 | ||||
| 1884 | FREELOADER | VHC | For leader on a spree introducing end to waste is a bummer | e in anag.; ref. G. Brown’s food initiative just before G8 banquet |
| 1879 | LITTER BASKET | VHC | After constant leaks, plastic sack inside left it better ordered? | anag. less c in l it + anag.; & lit. |
| 1871 | FAIRY GOLD | Third | Sugar in withering form does love firing lady in cast | anag. incl. 0 less in; ref. Alan S. in TV show ‘The Apprentice’ |
| 1866 | BINGE | Second | Government nationalise finally, propping up northern bank nearly bust | bin(k) + G + e; ref. Northern Rock |
| 1862 | UNALIKE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Spot the dead nit in lad’s cap and quake after scratching head madly | not the dead spit; anag. incl. l less q |
| 1858 | HUMONGOUS | VHC | Whaling time and again excused ought … no, must get punished | anag. less t, t |
| 1856 | LITAS (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | The novel lo/o out of order with a loose minor coupling caused a stink | |
| 1853 | ANTIQUITARIAN | First | Fan of The Good Old Days on once, can put across Desert Song | quit aria in an3 tin |
| 1849 | AUXESIS | VHC | Enlargement or unchanged encapsulates EU binding vote coming up | X in EU (rev.) in as is; ref. e.g. Croatia entry |
| 1845 | UPBRAID | VHC | United, with lead over Gunners, one did rate | U + Pb RA I ’d |
| 1840 | W(I)NN(I)E-THE-POOH (Letters Latent) | VHC | No end of joy when honeypot licked, I’m animated for all to see | anag. less y; ref. Disney films |
| 1836 | POSTHASTE | Third | Express time after time has boring puzzle not up with the Times | t after t has all in pose2 |
| 2006-2007 | ||||
| 1823 | KISS | VHC | Deception with Lord finally outed, leads to supremo seeming a plonker? | ki(D) + s, s; ref. Lord Browne scandal |
| 1804 | CLOTHES SENSE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | The closeness in gay relationship is shown by adopting two sprogs | spruce togs; anag. |
| 1792 | APPALOOSA / ESTAMINET (Right and Left) | Third | Equine circles in dismay say endlessly horse’s rump isn’t meat to he butchered for a bistro | OO in appal sa(y); anag. incl. e |
| 2005-2006 | ||||
| 1779 | NEWIE (misprint of U) (Misprints) | VHC | What’s recently oft associated with US President? Thousands sacrificed | out; (k)new I(k)e |
| 1771 | PARTERRE | VHC | The Prince of Wales’s lowest point? Order given to a flower-bed! | 2 meanings; ref. PoW Theatre |
| 1762 | DUDDERY | VHC | Tidying up needed for cabinet’s chump in tax habits looking shabby! | redd (rev.) for t in duty; chump = end; ref. J. Prescott’s failure to pay council tax |
| 1753 | DIAGONAL | VHC | See New Orleans given little Government help, reflecting North/South’s divide? | la NO G aid (all rev.); solidus; ref. Hurricane Katrina |
| 1746 | ENTOMIC | VHC | Upshot of Ashes not half gripping for millions of cricket (& other) types | to m in cine(rary) (rev.) |
| 1741 | LORD NELSON | VHC | England hero in special London revelry, drunk but not very disorderly! | anag. incl. s less anag.; ref A. Flintoff after Ashes victory |
| 1733 | PALESTRA | Third | A Latin to get established in prize ring applied to one? | a L est in PR + a, & lit. |
| 2004-2005 | ||||
| 1728 | EIDOLA def. NULLAH (Wrong Number) | VHC | Australian lead in Lord’s one-day international reversed by English heroes | E + A L ODI (all rev.); lead |
| 1724 | MONEYBAGS | First | I enjoy lots of mint sauce on my rump of lamb cooked with sage | anag. incl. b: mint sauce = money |
| 1715 | RELEASE / RASPING (Right and Left) | VHC | Catch loose iron grating and trip catching rib | 2 meanings; spin in rag2 & 2 meanings |
| 1711 | MINUS | VHC | What shows reduced mark, one applied to students? | m I NUS, & lit. |
| 1700 | FIVE-O’CLOCK SHADOW | VHC | Time for a sound PM and Howard’s not right, somehow bristles with genial darkness? | five o ‘clock + anag. less r; ref Radio 4 programme, Michael H. |
| 1698 | CROSSTIE | First | Son admitted, see Tories falsely express tears over it | C + anag. inc. S; ref. David Blunkett |
| 1694 | MISINTERPRET | VHC | Change isn’t associated with the Queen and Prince, set in well-oiled time warp | anag. incl. ER, Pr in anag. |
| 1689 | SYNOD | First | Setting date for ending in government, our PM’s overturned ministerial convention | d for t in Tony’s, rev. |
| 2003-2004 | ||||
| 1667 | CLARINI | VHC | Top brass in Iraq struggling with terms for strategic withdrawal, no question | anag. incl. c, l, less q |
| 1663 | ARMAMENTARIA | Third | American Marines strain to contain combatants getting little thanks for everything provided in ops | men ta in A RM aria; ref Iraq |
| 1659 | SCAREDY-CAT | VHC | Street shopping arcade loaded with latest in Arabic jewellery is a sook | anag. incl. c, y; shop = imprison |
| 1650 | SAPHENA | VHC | American navy heaps adrift, bloody large carrier going into groin | anag. incl. A, n; US spelling of groyne |
| 1628 | ENCOMION | VHC | Marks once in middle of floor gone, a tribute to Ajax? | anag. incl m, o; ref. Greek hero and cleaning fluid |
| 1624 | BELAY | VHC | Labour absolutely alienating us lot with spin – enough! | anag. less anag. |
| 2002-2003 | ||||
| 1619 | GISMO (Printer’s Devilry) | First | Devastating Kournikova bu/st regrettably getting floppy! | …bug is most…; K., name of serious computer virus |
| 1615 | RUGATE | VHC | Wrinkly’s great turn going pear-shaped, tips of many toes not visible! | anag. les m, t |
| 1585 | SHIATSU | VHC | Has Matsui shedding a thousand reduced pressure on Japanese corporation | anag. less a M |
| 1580 | MARGENT def. BEETLES (Wrong Number) | VHC | Married man squeezes inside of cars for old- fashioned bit on the side | cars; ar in m gent |
| 1572 | SHIELD-MAY | VHC | No sort for knitting, this lady’s more for hitting | anag. less anag., & lit. |
| 2001-2002 | ||||
| 1567 | QUEEN | VHC | Switzerland unsettled, cool winds backing on Lake Constance? | e in quen(CH); ref. Queen C. of Castile or France; wind2 = encircle |
| 1559 | THEOLOGASTER | VHC | An apology for a minister is altogether so difficult | anag. |
| 1554 | PEARL | VHC | A character connected with Q, Spike left one regularly in stitches | P ear l; ref. S. Milligan, knitting |
| 1537 | CAFTAN | VHC | Name piece of clothing from the East, wherein you conceal a fat bum! | anag. in n, c (rev.) |
| 1524 | INGRATITUDE | VHC | Cause of pain inflicted by a viper wound intrigued a leader in toxicology | anag.; viper = ungrateful person |
| 1519 | CARRY-ON | VHC | Dreadful with her man gets composed Mary Archer no end of admiration | comp. anag., & lit. |
| 2000-2001 | ||||
| 1515 | SNIDE | VHC | Rattle is English knight enthralling Germany and Brummagem | D in anag. incl E n; ref. Sir Simon R. |
| 1506 | BARE(-)BONES | VHC | What’s borne beans up the wall and new shed? Could be old beanpoles | anag. less n |
| 1500 | GIT (on board ship) (Ship of Fools) | Second | Circumnavigating globe, young woman’s on TV news | GALLEOGITN; O in gal leg ITN; ref. Ellen MacArthur |
| 1492 | The year that Columbus discovered America (Anagram) | VHC | Dreary outcome: ‘charismatic’ Bush elevated. | |
| 1480 | SAMARITAN | VHC | Expressing a conclusion from Thatcher, this could be a saint with money | anag. incl. m, less a, r; ref. Margaret T. quote from 1986 in ODQ |
| 1476 | LIGNIPERDOUS | Second | Is Unionist deploring reforms ruining a good deal? | anag. incl. U |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| 1441 | Word containing MM displaced by a bug (Millennium Bug) | VHC | Excellent start to January indeed, including spectacular on the river | jammy/hornet; anag. incl r in J + ay; ref London celebrations. |
| 1439 | JOHN CANOE | VHC | One’s exhausted after more than one office party at Christmas | john, can + o(n)e |
| 1437 | MISTLETOE | VHC | Labour most elite: bussing’s sometimes beneath it | anag.; ref J. Prescott |
| 1428 | CRICETID | VHC | Knight off his game told to forget South Africa – rotten perhaps | cric(k)et + (SA)id; rotten2 |
| 1424 | HEIST | VHC | The mobile ringing is getting one steaming on trains for example | is in anag.; steaming, recent coinage for robbery, esp. on trains by gangs of youths |
| 1415 | MANATI (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Philosophically an eon is an e/on, by God! | |
| 1998-1999 | ||||
| 1411 | LOOK-SEE | VHC | Express review has nothing else theatrically overshadowing Oklahoma | OK in anag. |
| 1406 | CHASSEPOT | VHC | Petit left out of top clashes lacking discipline, issue for Gunners in Europe | anag. less l; ref Emmanuel P. |
| 1402 | PENTOSE (Definition of Anagram) | Second | Short Christian festival touches Milosevic’s heart? Moonshine! | poteens; Pent(ecost) + (Mil)ose(vic) |
| 1389 | ALL-OVERISH | Third | Off-colour comic Hill raves about bimbo’s derrière | o in anag.; ref Benny H. |
| 1385 | PANTRIES | VHC | Potential traps in latest from Europe? Cook could walk right into them! | anag. incl. e; ref Robin C. |
| 1372 | MASTERSTROKE | VHC | For instance, the disheartened mother’s final flourish in Madam Butterfly? | as t(h)e (mothe)r in ’m stroke, & lit.; ref MB’s suicide by sword |
| 1363 | MAVIN def. THONG (Wrong Number) | VHC | ‘Flip-flop’ in Vietnam and French surrendered authority (that’s familiar to Americans) | anag. less et; flip-flop |
| 1997-1998 | ||||
| 1360 | BOG-ASPHODEL | VHC | Colourful Lily Savage blasphemed ‘O God! Strike me dead!’ | anag. less me a |
| 1342 | ALIENS / RAPINE (Right and Left) | VHC | Devastating pitch cracks are distressing Jamaicans? Answer as before, lay new square | oin in anag.; a lie n s |
| 1329 | PITHOS | VHC | Old crock starts slipping, both hips needing replacement | (b)oth (h)ips anag. |
| 1325 | UPROOTAL | Second | Remedy for twitch perhaps comes from putting a lot differently under proper golf expert | U pro + anag.; twitch = troublesome weed and the yips |
| 1322 | CARPET | VHC | Surface to dishearten and defeat tap-dancer! | anag. less dan, & lit. |
| 1312 | REST-CURE | VHC | Shunning exercise, invalid recuperates? Could be a —— | comp. anag. incl. PE, & lit. |
| 1996-1997 | ||||
| 1300 | OXFORD (extra O) (Extra Letter) | VHC | Where there’s many a student boy about the start of Xmas, right into overdraft | by; X in of + r in o/d |
| 1290 | NITERIE | VHC | Club with tiddly peer in it quietly dropping off | anag. less p |
| 1277 | NOVE(M)BER (Letters Latent) | VHC | Certain communication between Juliet and Romeo must be over Nurse’s head | anag. incl. N; must adj.; ref. NA TO phonetic alphabet |
| 1268 | ARGIE-BARGIE | VHC | Damn with ‘trouble and strife’ can be settled in a good marriage-bed | comp. anag. & lit.; g = good |
| 1264 | TREDRILLE / FERVOROUS (Right and Left) | VHC | Devoted following’s ‘mucked about’ over reduced square, our indoor pastime’s well-tried recipe changed without a bit of warning | f + anag. incl. s; anag. less w; ref. AZ diagram size |
| 1260 | OUT-AND-OUT | VHC | Love aroused naturally passes muster, but Scotch makes it perfect! | 0 + anag. less rally + dout; see but2 |
| 1995-1996 | ||||
| 1255 | CATAFALCO | VHC | See the Italian head of Family in one, after a ‘setback’ lying in state! | c la F at (all rev.) in Co(lorado); ref Mafia |
| 1250 | SONEOCARDIA (STENOCARDIA) (Ten to One) | VHC | Sore Diana’s in distress about ‘love’ with Charlie – it pains the heart | 0 + c in anag.; see Charlie in C. |
| 1234 | AVANT-PROPOS | VHC | With piece from Schwarz up front, this is accomplished for Chambers | (s)avant pro pos, & lit. |
| 1225 | CURRY | VHC | Your Rugby captain initially up to scratch, no longer Diana’s prize | yr RU c (all rev.); 2 meanings; ref Will Carling, Princess Diana |
| 1220 | CASSANDRA | VHC | Labour acting darn crass with recipe for unemployment: I predict more dole | anag. incl. a, less r |
| 1207 | EPOCH-MARKING | VHC | Famously weighty tenor might pack up (after cancelling time and time again) | anag. less t, t up = in an excited state; ref. Pavarotti |
| 1203 | CLERICALISM | VHC | All crime is flourishing under Tory rule with ministers doing more than enough! | C + anag. |
| 1994-1995 | ||||
| 1200 | Nine letter word (C and T latent) (Letters Latent) | Second | So Imran gets hitched – influence of white lady or LSD? | NARCOTISM; anag.; ref. Imran Khan’s recent marriage to Goldsmith heiress |
| 1194 | DONET | First | Latin title one favoured after breaking Priscian’s head? | don-(p)et, & lit. |
| 1190 | DENARIUS | VHC | Some asses carrying Independent, covertly read Sun! | i in anag. |
| 1186 | GRISELDA | VHC | Di’s regal bust: she sticks it out fabulously | anag. |
| 1181 | SLADE | VHC | Hope, Bob: English lad made good | s + anag. |
| 1180 | COLD TURKEY | Third | Depression having abruptly deserted dope? | col d turkey, & lit. |
| 1178 | BOOTLEG | VHC | —— wallop got bloke with King’s Head nicked? | anag. less K |
| 1174 | DINGLE-DANGLE | VHC | Bob’s movement found gladdening hearts in all men | anag. +. l, e; bob =pendulum weight; ref. B. Geldof |
| 1993-1994 | ||||
| 1147 | MAYDAY | VHC | Such as flying Amy called finally, alas? | anag. + d, ay, & lit. |
| 1143 | DEATH (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Overworked stud may trot out a n/ay! | |
| 1139 | BENJAMIN | VHC | He’s opening with Bishop? Panic in men touring Jamaica | b + Ja in anag. |
| 1134 | TOVARICH | VHC | Latest bits coming out, Tory vice has involved Russian fellow! | anag. less last letters; ref Profumo scandal |
| 1130 | AGRESTAL | VHC | Clary may be thus described: excess in a girl’s clothing! | rest in a g(ir)l; ref Julian C. |
| 1128 | CHRISTMAS PRESENT | VHC | A box potentially protects man’s heirs with the ball flying? | anag. less O |
| 1126 | CHEATERY | VHC | Nadir’s game? Pop into Cyprus and see the year out | heater in CY, c + anag.; ref Asil N. |
| 1108 | GREEN | VHC | Ignoring mad reversing, gendarme whistled – gives Paris colour! | anag. less mad (rev.); Paris g. |
| 1100 | CONCORDANCE | VHC | See alphabetically reconstructed Conrad chapter in one? | c + anag. incl. c in one, & lit. |
| 1992-1993 | ||||
| 1095 | STINK | Second | Sun and tell-tale Kelvin can create one! | S tin K; ref K. Mackenzie, editor |
| 1091 | SAPSAGO (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Few dons could have such a success with plodding students | saps a go; fondues |
| 1061 | MAGIC | First | Skilful deception practised by Nixon – and Johnson? | 2 defs., ref. US Presidents, David N., TV magician, M. Johnson, basketball star |
| 1056 | ENTRAIN def. ASTHORE (Wrong Number) | Second | Pop on the tube comes from blasted trannie | pop; anag. |
| 1052 | AGANIPPE | VHC | Systems started from this spring must gain a PEP | anag.; must adj; system = group of Greek verses |
| 1991-1992 | ||||
| 1043 | PESTO (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | An ice co/ne topping enhances plain brick (Walls) | |
| 1030 | PASTILLE | VHC | This word alternatively? Well, it’s ‘a drop’ | comp. anag. & lit |
| 1024 | PRESENT (3 defs + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels) | VHC | Puzzle time immense – always thought one should show generosity at Christmas! | SEM(PRE SENT)IMENT; anag. incl. t |
| 1017 | SCHAPSKA / PEARMAIN (Right and Left) | VHC | Right away repair-man stressed Apple PC has faults: must ask what’s topping service polls | anag. less r; anag. + anag.; must = frenzied |
| 1013 | ALVEARY | First | Australian’s really fiery 5 for 50 – depression in the pavilion | anag. with V for L, pavilion = outer ear |
| 1004 | OIL PAINTINGS | VHC | Initials PG on works, they could be Paul Gauguin’s | anag. |
| 1000 | ONE THOUSAND | VHC | A number just honoured with zest could be our Jonathan’s first ——! | comp. anag., & lit. |
| 1990-1991 | ||||
| 982 | ALMANAC | VHC | What’s composed first to last about one new year? | a n a in calm with c at end, & lit. |
| 978 | DOUBLE-CENTURY | Second | Name cleared, Ben could yet run shattering 200 | anag. less n; ref. Ben Johnson, Canadian sprinter |
| 974 | AVANT-PROPOS | VHC | Forward in Aston Villa ground conceding foul – that’s too often put before play | prop in anag. less ill |
| 965 | EARBASH def. NECKLET (Wrong Number) | VHC | Run on lace bras, eh? Samantha’s last to be involved | lace; a in anag.; ref S. Fox |
| 961 | WAVESON | VHC | Beethoven’s last quartet was relaxed after say ‘Tempest’, lightish stuff in the main | anag.; ref. B.’s Piano Sonata No. 17 |
| 956 | SPEAR-SIDE | VHC | Press aide twisted Maggie’s line? Never! | anag. |
| 952 | STAR (Spoonerisms) | VHC | One’s burly chassis is telling from behind | Shirley Bassey; rats (rev.) |
| 1989-1990 | ||||
| 939 | A-PER-SE / ESCROC (Right and Left) | VHC | Soccer fans leg it, a spree afoot | anag.; anag.; leg = swindler, it = ne plus ultra, afoot = astir |
| 930 | SABULOSE | VHC | Brothers finally getting censure all round look like fakes | s + lo in abuse; ref. Fayed brothers |
| 922 | REFORMADO | Second | Man sent packing, sort of a ‘male’ order! | anag. incl. m; sort vb |
| 917 | HOOLIGANISM | VHC | Ted’s game? Working on his one goal, Maggie’s scalp! | anag. incl. I + M |
| 900 | (C)HARLATANIS(M) (Letters Latent) | VHC | Endless great cheer all round, but second 900 perhaps is promising the impossible! | tal(l) rah (rev.) + (s)an + is; ref. AZ series |
| 891 | CAT | VHC | Penthouse pet? | 2 meanings |
| 1988-1989 | ||||
| 878 | MOUSEPIECE | Second | Cut close to buttock, ‘Come Dancing’ skirts exploit rule-book? | use pie in anag. |
| 862 | OFF-AND-ON | VHC | Constant’s opposite where Bird stands, intermittently | 2 meanings; ref. cricket umpires |
| 844 | THEOLOGASTER (Misprints) | VHC | Bust altogether outsize, Parton needing firmer foundation? | Parson; anag. incl. OS |
| 1987-1988 | ||||
| 835 | PROSAICAL | Third | Mill or Pascal, I like works without rhyme (but with reason) | anag. ; mill = grind |
| 827 | MICKEY-TAKING | VHC | Pulling leg free from end of tights, one may get knicks in a twist | anag. incl. I less s |
| 818 | EMBUSQUÉ | VHC | No stomach for crowd in jostling queues, I’m avoiding the Army & Navy | m(o)b in anag. |
| 814 | SPOUSAGE | VHC | Combination often arranged in Pakistan? Gripping appeal, finger goes up! | SA in anag.; finger vt; ref. arranged marriages/umpiring rumpus |
| 801 | LINCHET | VHC | Long ethnic revelling raised cultural division locally | l + anag. ref. Notting Hill Carnival |
| 796 | UPHOLSTERY | VHC | Our spy let loose without bit of honour material normally sat on | h in anag.;without = outside |
| 1986-1987 | ||||
| 774 | VICTORINE | VHC | A fruit split has one smothered in jam? | I in torn in vice |
| 766 | GUBBINS | VHC | Small bowled big ’uns out – that’s the stuff! | anag.; ref. Gladstone S. |
| 757 | ETHEROMANIAC (Misprints) | VHC | Guy ruined by a gal? I’m at one with Archer exercising right to resign | anag. less r ; gas |
| 753 | SHEEPDOG | VHC | With time I could become Hodge’s pet | anag. less t & lit. |
| 744 | SKIRL-IN-THE-PAN / COFFEE-DISEASE (Right and Left) | VHC | If Defoe ceases to stir, I’ll check output of Brazil, Fry, then Spark, even bits of O’Neill I fancy | anag., ref. Angela Brazil; anag. incl. alternate letters |
| 740 | ESCADRILLE | First | Fleet Street I’d call chaotic – slipping time and time again | anag. less t, t; ref. printing of solution with puzzle, due to error ‘at the Observer end’ |
| 735 | MALIGN | VHC | Wrong start in Mexico, nought-one upset’s about ultimate in bungling | M + g in nil-a (rev.) ref. World Cup |
| 1985-1986 | ||||
| 705 | MUSICOTHERAPY | VHC | Ravel may cure extremes of psycho with this | anag. incl. p,o & lit. |
| 696 | ANTIMNEMONIC | Second | Nice man Tom’s excited about Northern Ireland – reducing chances of rapid recall! | NI in anag., ref. Tom King |
| 692 | FIDIBUS def. PRICKET (Wrong Number) | VHC | Stick one into ends of firewood – leads to its burning up slowly | stick; I in f,d + first letters & lit. |
| 1984-1985 | ||||
| 679 | ESTOVER (Printer’s Devilry) | First | ‘Dry’ minister organizing party left-win/ger | …left wines to verger |
| 670 | TURNIP-FLEA | VHC | I often feel like a cabbage early on, waking up a trifle about noon | n in anag. |
| 666 | Any word; subsidiary indicators to omit an animal (Beasts) | VHC | I’m no man to reject Silver Cloud | m(ammon)ist |
| 653 | INTERNUNCIO | VHC | Do I run notice about latest in Vatican? | anag. incl. n & lit. |
| 1983-1984 | ||||
| 622 | SIMP (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | ‘Diner’s car – d/ress according’ – Toad | |
| 610 | DOUBLETHINK | VHC | Capacity to embrace opposing arguments, possibly both unliked! | anag. |
| 607 | CARNEY | First | Jenkins, unfulfilled minister longing to make comeback | car(e) + yen rev.; ref Roy J. |
| 581 | SPADROON def. MAVERICK (Wrong Number) | Third | Steel to dash with disheartened SDP, deviant road ahead? | S(D)P + anag. + on |
| 1982-1983 | ||||
| 576 | TOP-NOTCH | VHC | Henry Cotton’s playing with poise of a champion | anag. incl. H(= henry), P(= poise) |
| 564 | PARAMENT | VHC | Some circles approve hanging | amen in part |
| 530 | PROMETAL | VHC | Trampoline could be framed in this | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1981-1982 | ||||
| 521 | ATTITUDINISE | VHC | Redress is due, ain’t it about time to make a show? | anag. incl. t |
| 508 | POSTURE-MAKER | VHC | Rod’s clutching unruly star Emu, one with flexible body | anag. in poker |
| 1980-1981 | ||||
| 469 | APLUSTRE | VHC | One’s put on ship’s stern with ornate result | a, p, lustre, & lit. |
| 464 | SIMKIN | VHC | Bubbly I am in pigeon | I’m in skin; pigeon, skin = fleece, cheat |
| 452 | DISSENTERISM | VHC | Time mini-dresses got revived for unorthodox views! | anag. incl. t |
| 423 | ACCOUTRE | First | Carter coup tails off in disarray – prepare for war? | Carte(r) cou(p) anag.; ref. Iran hostages fiasco |
| 1979-1980 | ||||
| 419 | RAMILLIES | VHC | Armies switching right to left take heart from brilliant victory | (bri)lli(ant) in armies with r moved to front |
| 397 | BIJOUTERIE (Misprints) | VHC | Maybe leads wild jubilee riot, having left fifty behind | beads; anag. less L |
| 384 | OUTSPREADING | VHC | Growing adipose grunt horridly | anag. |
| 1978-1979 | ||||
| 323 | (C)U(C)KOO (Letters Latent) | Second | Cup licking for Scots – midfield selection daft | middle letters, ref. World Cup |
2012-2013
2131 DIVES / MALIK (Right and Left)
2122 NICETY
2118 BLOKEISH
2113 PICAROON
2105 TITANIC / ICEBERG (Overlaps)
2100 A STITCH IN TIME
2011-2012
2083 BEWITCH
2074 BENNET
2062 APPLE-KNOCKER
2045 CATENATE
2010-2011
2036 AL CONTO
2027 THRENETICAL
1992 FOULARD
2009-2010
1967 SUBORDINATELY
1962 ANADEM
1960 NGANA (3 defs + letter mixture) (Parcels)
1949 PALFRENIER
1945 PRISON
2008-2009
1936 LITMUS TEST
1923 ELLIPTIC
1893 EARTHY
2007-2008
1875 GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left)
2006-2007
1831 MARGINALIA
1827 AMAKOSI def. DENUDED (Wrong Number)
1818 POISSO(N) D’AVRIL (Letters Latent)
1810 HARE / POSEUR / SERINETTE (DLM)
1806 INEBRIANT
1801 RUSE DE GUERRE
1797 HEART
1788 ETHEREAL OILS
1784 TEARAWAY
2005-2006
1775 ROUGH-AND-READY
1766 GEST (Printer’s Devilry)
1752 MIDWINTER
1750 PLOUGHMAN
1737 ANIMUS
2004-2005
1719 ANHELATION
1707 GALENA (Definition of Anagram)
1702 WORDSMITHERY
1685 MINO (Printer’s Devilry)
1680 PILLOW-CUP
2003-2004
1676 CRINGE-MAKING
1672 IMPASTOS (Spoonerisms)
1654 CRESCENT / ENTHRALS (Overlaps)
1641 GADGETEER
1637 AMNESIC
1633 EMPATRON / WINTERLY (Right and Left)
2002-2003
1611 LEISLER
1606 TEOSINTE / INTELSAT (Overlaps)
1602 FENESTRA
1598 PHRASEMONGER
1593 MANSUETE
1589 JOKESMITH
1576 FACADE
2001-2002
1546 TRANSPARENT
1544 PATROL (with jumble of RAPTORES) (Christmas Devilry)
1541 CHUPRASSY
1533 MASTER-MARINER
2000-2001
1511 DEEP-SEATED
1502 RAPPEL
1494 MARATHON
1485 BOURSE / TIFOSO (Right and Left)
1472 TORAN (Printer’s Devilry)
1467 CANAPÉ
1999-2000
1463 REVERSIONAL
1459 GREATEST (Spoonerisms)
1450 PRETENDANT
1446 NEWSPAPERDOM
1433 NEANDERTHAL
1998-1999
1398 PERMETHRIN
1380 RAPPORT (Misprints)
1376 LOGO
1997-1998
1334 CATACHRESTIC
1996-1997
1307 AGILE (Spoonerisms)
1303 PONIARD
1294 TRANSENNA
1286 CHALET
1284 STALE (3 defs. + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels)
1273 SIPOREX
1995-1996
1247 PREDICANT
1242 KNOCKERS
1238 ELASTIN (Printer’s Devilry)
1232 The world is too much with us; late and soon (Anagram)
1229 GRUPPETTO
1216 CHAPERON
1212 HILDING
1994-1995
1169 BLITHE / URSINE (Right and Left)
1165 YAPSTER
1161 ADIAPHORON
1156 TERPSICHOREAN
1152 PARACETAMOL
1993-1994
1117 STAMNOS (3 Consecutive Letters)
1113 EMPLASTRUM
1104 BURYING-PLACES
1992-1993
1087 OLD SOLDIER
1078 KIRBEH
1076 PARLOUR GAMES
1074 DEMIREP
1069 (P)OSTICHE (Headpieces)
1065 TANDOORI
1048 GALLOPADE
1991-1992
1039 TOLERABLE
1021 BEARD
995 STASIMA (Printer’s Devilry)
1990-1991
991 BRASH (or BRUSH)
987 IRON CURTAIN
969 BUNTER
947 SHOULDER-SLIP
943 BARAGOUIN
1989-1990
934 LACE-UPS
920 CHRIST-CROSS-ROW
913 ARCHIBALD
908 INDIGO (Printer’s Devilry)
904 VOETGANGER
895 TONE DEAF
1988-1989
887 MONSTER
882 DOSSIER
874 BLUESTOCKING
869 HOLD-UPS
866 NECTAREOUS
857 REDCAP / NICETY (Right and Left)
853 DEBACLE
849 VISITE
840 SONDE
1987-1988
823 SARBACANE
805 LITOTES
1986-1987
783 CAMPESINO
779 MISSING LINK
770 HERMITS
764 CHILDERMAS
750 SALMAGUNDY (750 themed clue)
1985-1986
731 STRING
727 WELL-TO-DO
722 SUPERNACULUM
718 FLO(GG)IN(G) (Letters Latent)
714 MOTE
712 PANTOMIME HORSE
701 BALUSTRADE
688 CUCURBITAL
1984-1985
675 CONSTERNATE
662 BARGE-COUPLE
657 SILLY-BILLY
644 EASY STREET (or STAPELIA)
635 ROSEMARY
631 INTERLOCK
1983-1984
627 AMBIENT
615 HISTORIETTE
594 DOINGS
585 FLABELLIFORM
1982-1983
572 SNAKE-OIL
568 TETHER (Printer’s Devilry)
558 MINCEMEAT (with one extra R) (Extra Letter)
556 SWEAL (Misprints)
547 GLEEMAN
538 INGRAIN
1981-1982
504 SIMMENTHALER
500 BEFOOL (two extra Ds) (Extra Letter)
495 CACOETHES
486 JUMPED-UP
1980-1981
460 SWOOP
454 CHRISTMAS BOX
443 STEEPLECROWN
434 JARDINIÈRE
430 TEGULA
1979-1980
410 CUL-DE-SAC
401 GO-AHEAD
388 ALEXIPHARMIC
1978-1979
366 MONKEY-SHINE
362 SEA-SOLDIER
349 ODDCOMESHORT
332 NUT-CASE
1977-1978
272 MALAGUETTA
| Year | Prizes (1, 2, 3) | VHCs | HCs | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| 2010-2011 | 3 (2, 1, 0) | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 2009-2010 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 2008-2009 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| 2007-2008 | 4 (1, 1, 2) | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006-2007 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 2 | 9 | 26 |
| 2005-2006 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 2004-2005 | 3 (3, 0, 0) | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2003-2004 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 20 |
| 2002-2003 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| 2001-2002 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 14 |
| 2000-2001 | 2 (0, 2, 0) | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 1999-2000 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 12 |
| 1998-1999 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 1997-1998 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| 1996-1997 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 1995-1996 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 1994-1995 | 3 (1, 1, 1) | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 1993-1994 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| 1992-1993 | 3 (1, 2, 0) | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| 1991-1992 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| 1990-1991 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 1989-1990 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| 1988-1989 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 2 | 9 | 22 |
| 1987-1988 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| 1986-1987 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 1985-1986 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 2 | 8 | 20 |
| 1984-1985 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| 1983-1984 | 2 (1, 0, 1) | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 1982-1983 | 0 | 3 | 6 | – |
| 1981-1982 | 0 | 2 | 4 | – |
| 1980-1981 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 3 | 5 | 14 |
| 1979-1980 | 0 | 3 | 3 | – |
| 1978-1979 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 0 | 4 | – |
| 1977-1978 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |