ordStats| Clues in archive | First Prizes | Other Prizes | VHCs | HCs | Hons points | First mention | Latest mention | Career span |
Also listed as | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Barley | 227 | 13 | 25 | 189 | 126 | 265 | Dec 1981 | Apr 2013 | 31y 4m | M. A. Barley |
| Clue word | Award | Clue | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | ||||
| 2126 | DESPERATE | VHC | Padres might console the terminally ill in extremis | anag. incl. t, e, e |
| 2122 | NICETY | VHC | City establishment’s starting afresh under new discerning management | n + anag. incl. e; ref. new governor of Bank of England |
| 2116 | YULETIDE (with jumble of COMEDO) (Christmas Devilry) | VHC | The seasoned Como you’d get round tree with uplifting old words to sing | ule + dit (rev.) in ye |
| 2113 | PICAROON | VHC | Picture one lifting gold having boarded ship, perhaps? | pic + a + or (rev.) + on, & lit. |
| 2109 | THICKETY | VHC | Bristling public condemnation leaves bank in the City reeling | (ban)k in anag. |
| 2105 | TITANIC / ICEBERG (Overlaps) | First | It being knocked back with curry, extra-large beer is dashed good – cold one required | it (rev.) + tan; anag. + g |
| 2100 | A STITCH IN TIME | VHC | Titchiest bit of needlework am I, cannily deployed | anag. incl. n, & lit. |
| 2096 | TRICK | Third | Watch as cricketer disconsolately leaves crease when out | comp. anag. |
| 2011-2012 | ||||
| 2091 | SNIFTER | VHC | Tin provided drinker leaving work with a quick tipple | Sn if t(op)er |
| 2087 | ROCKET | VHC | Fireworks feature in Diamond Jubilee concert (at the end) | rock + last letters |
| 2083 | BEWITCH | VHC | Spell one had in the W.C., ill after onset of bellyache | b + I in anag. |
| 2078 | RÉCOLLET | VHC | Term for frère in Catholic order, one primarily reflective | e in RC + tell o(ne) (rev.), & lit. |
| 2070 | MISTREATMENT | Second | Matter Amnesty is agitated about might be this, say | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 2065 | DERMESTIDAE | Third | You might find such munching contents of larder, it’d seem | anag. incl. (l)arde(r), & lit. |
| 2064 | COLD TURKEY | VHC | The plain fact is a large number found cracking code truly tricky | K in anag. |
| 2062 | APPLE-KNOCKER | VHC | Close to fine hundred, plonker KP is out after a yahoo | a + anag. incl. e, C; ref. Kevin Pietersen |
| 2058 | ROBUST | VHC | EU must avoid euro collapse and staunch decline surrounding business | (EU)ro bust; bus in rot |
| 2049 | PARTY-POOPER | VHC | Front page in daily contains print error spoiling type | typo in ro in paper |
| 2010-2011 | ||||
| 2040 | EASTER (Printer’s Devilry) | First | Sailor lengthens stay as hor/rible wind hits port | |
| 2036 | AL CONTO | VHC | Available as per trat menus: slice of veal con tortellini | hidden |
| 2027 | THRENETICAL | VHC | Before retiring, Latin teacher is given new version of elegiacs | anag. less a |
| 2019 | OVERAWE / HENOTIC (Right and Left) | VHC | After eve-of-war jitters, force deserts to leave shocked CO in the lurch, minded to make peace | anag. less f; anag. |
| 2012 | BLOATING | VHC | Source of bellyache, it, along with distension | anag. incl. b, & lit. |
| 2006 | GROAN (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Faces of generation reaching old age naturally grow lined | low grind; first letters |
| 2000 | TWO THOUSAND | VHC | Cruciverbalist’s latest number (what O.U. do’s organised around) | t + n in anag., & lit.; .ref. Oxford University |
| 1997 | FADO | First | Following difficulty striking new driver, golfer displays dejected air | f ado; fa(L)do |
| 1992 | FOULARD | VHC | Square worn around la dame’s head? | la in four (2 x 2) + d, & lit. |
| 2009-2010 | ||||
| 1984 | ORWEL(L)IAN (Doublethink) | VHC | Novel with ‘E. A. Blair’ on could be such a book | comp. anag. incl. w and b; & lit. |
| 1979 | FAR-OUT | VHC | Of art done with element of unconventionality? | anag. incl. u, & lit. |
| 1975 | SEPTENTRIONAL | VHC | Set in the polar North, possibly (obscure term for such) | anag. incl. N less h, & lit. |
| 1967 | SUBORDINATELY | VHC | Qulelch boys endlessly endure Latin as a subject, so daily Bunter squirms | anag. less e, n; anag. |
| 1962 | ANADEM | VHC | Head of athlete (one coming first) had me placed round? | an + a + ’d + me (rev.), & lit. |
| 1958 | HANGDOG | VHC | Going with head bowed, i.e. abject | anag. less i.e., & lit.; abject = cast aside |
| 1953 | TRAUMA (misprint of T) (Misprints) | VHC | Market in recession: it’s for everyone involved a painful stage | state; U in mart (rev.) + a |
| 1949 | PALFRENIER | Second | See one accustomed to curry eschewing a variety of plainer fare | anag. less a |
| 1945 | PRISON | Third | Place one’s in for term of incarceration | I’s in pro + n, & lit. |
| 1940 | SCANT def. SNEAP (Wrong Number) | VHC | Nip of Scotch – see Scots merry after such short? | s + cant; nip |
| 2008-2009 | ||||
| 1936 | LITMUS TEST | VHC | Character of liquid’s established – with it an essential part therein? | it must in l est., & lit. |
| 1932 | NINE-TO-FIVE | VHC | See one’s office routine unfold in course of such working | comp. anag. incl. v, & lit. |
| 1927 | TONSURE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Waste of time and no use, right called Brown | anag. incl. t, r; bald crown |
| 1923 | ELLIPTIC | Third | Oval et al, are rejected – IPL heads for Capetown instead to play | anag. less a, incl. C, I; ref. recent IPL decision to play in SA, not England |
| 1910 | BARPERSON | VHC | What I provide is reason regulars in pub are sozzled | anag. incl. alternate letters, & lit. |
| 1908 | WE THREE KINGS | VHC | Lay about hiking west ere snatching glimpse of Infant | I in anag., & lit. |
| 1906 | MORSE | VHC | Here’s a set of firsts from me, outstanding regular soon eighty | first letters & lit. |
| 1901 | SANITISE | VHC | Deploy antiseptics: put another way, —— with TCP | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1897 | WASH-OUT | VHC | What leads to unhappy Oval spectators, possibly? | anag. incl. u, O, s, & lit. |
| 2007-2008 | ||||
| 1884 | FREELOADER | VHC | Federer falters, with maestro Rafa Nadal ultimately the one taking advantage | anag. incl. o, a l |
| 1879 | LITTER BASKET | First | See best & lit. take first place in results slip … and worst end here? | anag. incl. r; slip vb |
| 1871 | FAIRY GOLD | VHC | Money changing ultimately into what’s dry and wrinkly (i.e. leaves) | y, g in fair + old(i.e.), & lit. |
| 1866 | BINGE | VHC | See Jag, being faulty, have blow-out and crash, killing rookie driver | anag.; bing(L)e |
| 1856 | LITAS (Printer’s Devilry) | Third | The public’s found lo/o offensive – there was a huge stink! | |
| 1853 | ANTIQUITARIAN | VHC | Being old-fashioned, aren’t I left with a bewildered air by what’s new? | an’t I quit + a + anag. + n, & lit. |
| 1845 | UPBRAID | VHC | Censure is universal, with Brown under pressure having declared poll off | U + P + br. + (s)aid |
| 1840 | W(I)NN(I)E-THE-POOH (Letters Latent) | VHC | Bear, happy when with honeypot containing no end of honey? | anag. less y |
| 2006-2007 | ||||
| 1831 | MARGINALIA | Second | Anagram & lit. unfinished, one needs solution and notes beside | anag. less t, incl. I |
| 1827 | AMAKOSI def. DENUDED (Wrong Number) | VHC | Big fish amongst African indigenes (their leaders being here exposed) | exposed; makos in first letters, & lit. |
| 1814 | HIPSTER | VHC | Member of a generation now gone, this person espouses unconventionality | anag. less son, & lit. |
| 1810 | HARE / POSEUR / SERINETTE (DLM) | VHC | Extend further a winning streak that’ll ensure I’ll be showing off again the Azed salver; so, up to me to keep pleasing the setter in Sunday’s most instructive organ. | |
| 1806 | INEBRIANT | Third | Is abuse of such big in ‘Binge Britain’? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1804 | CLOTHES SENSE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Behold the special Son in happy scene – it’s displayed in site of stall | sort of style; lo + the + s s all in anag. |
| 1801 | RUSE DE GUERRE | VHC | Ashes’ end augured: twice English err, sadly lacking a plan for victory | anag. incl. s EE, less a |
| 1797 | HEART | VHC | Earth moves when passion engulfs that of amoroso? | anag.; r in heat; & lit. |
| 1792 | APPALOOSA / ESTAMINET (Right and Left) | VHC | Apparent as one heads inside the Spotted Horse bar is its name, quirky and a little alien | app. + loo in as a; anag. + ET |
| 1788 | ETHEREAL OILS | VHC | Aerosol and the like dispense such, and KO stinking | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1784 | TEARAWAY | VHC | No end of mayhem for gang of juveniles I’ll follow? | tea(m) + raw + ay, & lit. |
| 2005-2006 | ||||
| 1775 | ROUGH-AND-READY | VHC | What you regard as handy, if crude, could be … this, say? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1771 | PARTERRE | VHC | What actor performs before, when playing to an audience? | part + ‘ere’, & lit. |
| 1766 | GEST (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | After having some UN official stop pa/rade, Unionists call for formal talks | |
| 1762 | DUDDERY | VHC | Shop snappy dresser after clothing would enter only in extremis? | ’d in dude + last letters |
| 1758 | BIMBETTE | First | Vacuous blonde bit, me, feature of tabloid spread? | anag. inc. b(lond)e, t, &lit. |
| 1753 | DIAGONAL | VHC | Angling: contest between twisting fish and one with line | agon between id (rev.) and a l |
| 1752 | MIDWINTER | VHC | Christmas day sees me and mine round tree, endlessly excited | d in mi win + anag. less e |
| 1750 | PLOUGHMAN | Second | See one galumph after labouring? Not how elegy begins | anag. less e, & lit |
| 1746 | ENTOMIC | Second | Characteristic of bug – it’s for hiding in small space with microphone | to in en mic |
| 1741 | LORD NELSON | VHC | Peer achieving famous victory over French left Londoners thrilled | l + anag.; ref Lord Coe and Olympic bid |
| 1733 | PALESTRA | VHC | Prominent feature of Lyceum area PT’s done in | anag. incl. L, & lit. |
| 2004-2005 | ||||
| 1724 | MONEYBAGS | VHC | Obscure gnome, say, with billion banked? | anag. incl. b, & lit. |
| 1719 | ANHELATION | VHC | Rugged Latino he-man leaves maiden in a state of breathlessness | anag. less m |
| 1698 | CROSSTIE | VHC | Corset is tight: it provides support and prevents bulging | anag. |
| 1689 | SYNOD | VHC | Here heresy’s rejected and God carries the vote | (here)sy + no + D, & lit. |
| 2003-2004 | ||||
| 1676 | CRINGE-MAKING | VHC | Mega unseemly – for example, grandad being into music’s latest band? | anag. + kin in c ring, & lit. |
| 1667 | CLARINI | VHC | Corps left in Iraq not fully equipped embarrassed top brass | C l + anag. less q |
| 1663 | ARMAMENTARIA | VHC | Apparatus used by the Doctor could rematerialise in a Martian mare | anag.; ref Dr Who |
| 1654 | CRESCENT / ENTHRALS (Overlaps) | First | Growing concerns are expressed about conclusions of the Hutton report, and with Blair et al.’s intrigues | c(a)res + c; last letters + al.’s, ref. Lord Hutton’s inquiry into the death of Dr Kelly |
| 1650 | SAPHENA | Third | Open has obscure American lifting old claret vessel | anag. + A less o; ref. Ben Curtis, little-known winner of US Open golf tournament |
| 1646 | BLACK | VHC | Football ultimately overshadowed by position of rugby? It’s hard to see | l in back |
| 1637 | AMNESIC | VHC | What nice drop of scrumpy could make you following morning? | am + anag. incl. s, & lit. |
| 1633 | EMPATRON / WINTERLY (Right and Left) | First | In vintage form, champion English tramp gleefully upon dismal Welsh and cross tryline | E + anag. + on; W + anag. |
| 2002-2003 | ||||
| 1619 | GISMO (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Who considers aggressive approach to china bu/st appropriate | WHO; ref. SARS |
| 1611 | LEISLER | VHC | With me, you could be playing leisurely round – Belfry’s where I hang out | comp. anag. incl. 0; ref ‘bats in the belfry |
| 1602 | FENESTRA | VHC | Source of light: gloomy, without it, you’ll find home inside | nest in fera(l)2, & lit. |
| 1598 | PHRASEMONGER | VHC | Anemographs are not adapted to register this source of wind | anag. less first letters; not2 |
| 1589 | JOKESMITH | VHC | Jestbook involves him in composition (not a familiar term for the fellow) | anag. less bo, & lit. |
| 1585 | SHIATSU | VHC | Manipulation shown by Iraq’s leader has finally got US mobilizing | anag. incl t |
| 1580 | MARGENT def. BEETLES (Wrong Number) | VHC | Marks and Agnew endlessly waffling about runs – feature of test commentary | runs; M + r in anag. less w + t; see OED for def |
| 2001-2002 | ||||
| 1567 | QUEEN | VHC | Abdicate? No question of it yet, in short, for me | qu(it) + e’en, & lit. |
| 1563 | SLYBOOTS | VHC | ‘Artful Dodger’ fits into story about abandoned boy | anag. in slots; ref. ‘Oliver Twist’ |
| 1559 | THEOLOGASTER | VHC | You’ll find my version of OT lore full of empty words | the (qv) + gas in anag., & lit. |
| 1554 | PEARL | Third | Feature of pretty decoration suspended from earlobe | p + earl(OBE), & lit. |
| 1550 | MEMORITER | VHC | Exam-notes should be known thus, or merit more revising | anag. |
| 1546 | TRANSPARENT | First | After ‘Devilry’, entrants must tackle standard ‘Plain’ | par in anag.; ref AZ comp. puzzles |
| 1541 | CHUPRASSY | VHC | See helper that carries baggage around, pocketing rupees | C + r in PA in hussy, & lit. |
| 1537 | CAFTAN | Second | See one worn around Ankara, covering all but head and feet | A, ft in c an, & lit. |
| 1533 | MASTER-MARINER | VHC | Possibly I run a steamer (MN), right | anag. incl r + r, & lit. |
| 2000-2001 | ||||
| 1515 | SNIDE | VHC | One involved in circulating this could end up inside | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1506 | BARE(-)BONES | VHC | Staying in B & B, a person’s getting no more than the basics | are in B, B + one’s |
| 1502 | RAPPEL | VHC | The end for mountaineer false move in descent of rockface | r + appel |
| 1500 | GIT (on board ship) (Ship of Fools) | VHC | Regulars amongst cluers can’t wait to gather in celebration at university | CURRAGITCH; rag in c, u, r itch |
| 1489 | FRONT-BENCHER | VHC | Top politician Bush’s inauguration – you’ll find CNN there for broadcast covering it | B in anag. |
| 1480 | SAMARITAN | VHC | If breakdown occurs, AA man’s first to reach it, providing roadside help | anag. incl. r |
| 1476 | LIGNIPERDOUS | VHC | Breaking up log inside with onset of rot | anag. incl. r, & lit. |
| 1472 | TORAN (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | It’s the paisley ran/ge men want when March wind’s up | |
| 1467 | CANAPÉ | VHC | Where one spends afternoon taking a siesta? | a nap in (a)ce, & lit. |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| 1463 | REVERSIONAL | VHC | Dorsal nerve damaged, one’s in for a bit of discomfort bending back | anag. with I for d |
| 1459 | GREATEST (Spoonerisms) | Third | Stars teem, twinkling endlessly, following evening’s last ray over the west | way…rest; g + anag. less m |
| 1454 | GET-UP | VHC | Rustic viol’s a little alien in piano ensemble | ET in gu + p |
| 1450 | PRETENDANT | Second | Capturing dearest’s heart is cherished goal one takes time pursuing | r in pet + end an t, & lit. |
| 1446 | NEWSPAPERDOM | Second | It’s within the hurly-burly of me PA pen words | anag. & lit.; Press Association |
| 1439 | JOHN CANOE | First | Celebrations Antiguan-style, whose origins lie in gospel story a long time back | C A in John + eon (rev) |
| 1433 | NEANDERTHAL | VHC | End near at HL following purge of anti-reformers? | anag.; ref House of Lords |
| 1428 | CRICETID | VHC | Sprinkle rodenticide about to have done with this? | comp. anag. incl. c, & lit. |
| 1998-1999 | ||||
| 1402 | PENTOSE (Definition of Anagram) | VHC | Dance exercises lead to Nureyev-like twinkling toes | one-step; PE + N + anag. |
| 1398 | PERMETHRIN | VHC | After an onset of nits I’m the right spray | per + anag. incl. n, r, & lit. |
| 1394 | BERGAMOT | VHC | What makes taste from tea bag more exotic? | anag. incl. t, & lit.; ref Earl Grey tea |
| 1389 | ALL-OVERISH | VHC | Heart of sentimental lover is hopelessly afflicted with strange malaise | hidden |
| 1385 | PANTRIES | VHC | Where cooks will store what’s not fully eaten | trie(d) in pans, & lit. |
| 1367 | SANBENITOS | VHC | Fateful dress with stains on leads to Bill’s eventual undoing? | anag. incl. B, e |
| 1997-1998 | ||||
| 1355 | DIACATHOLICON | VHC | Would one with a tummy-ache swallow a couple of drops of this, of old? | a th(is) in ’d l a colic + on, & lit. |
| 1351 | NEATEN (Printer’s Devilry) | Second | Guys, being fi/t, shouldn’t go downing ale! | |
| 1342 | ALIENS / RAPINE (Right and Left) | VHC | See vintage transport take a long while tackling slope close to Brighton – any here’ll have travelled far | a pine; lie n in s |
| 1336 | STOCKING | VHC | It starts off kid’s Christmas, noisily getting one such undone | anag. incl. it and first letters, & lit. |
| 1329 | PITHOS | VHC | Jar served up by mine host – provided it’s not time! | pit hos(t) |
| 1316 | FINGERLICKIN’ | VHC | Might such cooking make one linger in KFC? | anag. incl. I, & lit.; ref Kentucky Fried Chicken |
| 1312 | REST-CURE | Second | Winter cruise in WI this could take the form of | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1996-1997 | ||||
| 1307 | AGILE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Core elements of Blair dogma “I see left dimmed” | deft-limbed; middle letters |
| 1294 | TRANSENNA | VHC | If one’s missing engine driver, try the station’s bar, perhaps | tra(I)n Senna; station holy place, bar = barrier |
| 1286 | CHALET | VHC | With old pine you might build this shelter from the Alpine cold? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1284 | STALE (3 defs. + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels) | VHC | Long ago, noble trio of stargazers left East in wonder to behold the Lord | STA(RE GENT)LE; anag. incl. l |
| 1268 | ARGIE-BARGIE | Third | Rowing gives dismal GB a rare glimpse of gold (i.e. one) | anag. incl. g, I; ref Olympics |
| 1260 | OUT-AND-OUT | VHC | Absolutely nothing to do – common feature of life on the dole | 0+ ut + ’andout |
| 1995-1996 | ||||
| 1242 | KNOCKERS | VHC | Innings ends in collapse; thereafter Athers boobs – more ammunition for us, perhaps? | knock + e, r, s: 2 defs. |
| 1238 | ELASTIN (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | In the wood you’ll often find redwin/g forages | |
| 1234 | AVANT-PROPOS | VHC | ‘Could consist of five paras on top’ – words seen before? | anag. incl. v; ref AZ Comp. 974 |
| 1232 | The world is too much with us; late and soon (Anagram) | VHC | Son – out in some low hut to which star’d lead? | |
| 1225 | CURRY | VHC | You’ll find this is meat cooked with (say) turmeric | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1216 | CHAPERON | VHC | Escort – see busy rep inside talking endlessly on mobile carphone? | anag. in cha(t) on; anag. |
| 1212 | HILDING | VHC | What’s harbouring trace of listeria within – chicken past its sell-by date? | l in hiding |
| 1207 | EPOCH-MARKING | Third | Changeover for HK – with start of Peking era coming – is seen as this? | anag. incl. P & lit. |
| 1203 | CLERICALISM | VHC | This a laic claims RE could constitute? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1994-1995 | ||||
| 1194 | DONET | VHC | For Latinists, I give numerous expressions and translations (beginners only) | do + first letters, & lit. |
| 1190 | DENARIUS | VHC | Fancy closure of Observer (i.e. Sunday without X’s successor) – I’d be a bit lost! | r i.e. Sunda(y) anag. |
| 1181 | SLADE | VHC | Alders would flourish in this, right? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1180 | COLD TURKEY | VHC | Piece of cake, getting on horse? The reverse – coming straight off it is! | c + old + turk + ye (rev.); horse = heroin |
| 1178 | BOOTLEG | First | A bottle of gin would not normally be this, if an item from Threshers | comp. anag., & lit. |
| 1993-1994 | ||||
| 1143 | DEATH (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Guzzling mars bar’s ma/in tot, stout. | |
| 1139 | BENJAMIN | VHC | England’s opening pair have difficulty batting against what’s bowled short – which I provide? | b + En(gland) + jam + in, & lit.; ref W.I. bowlers |
| 1134 | TOVARICH | VHC | Party type: see one cavort wildly to No. 1 in hit-parade? | anag. + h |
| 1128 | CHRISTMAS PRESENT | VHC | Is version of this given by the princes star leads to Savour’s manger? | anag. incl. S, m & lit. |
| 1122 | BASILIAN | VHC | I believe Arianism mistaken: I’m ever this? | comp. anag., & lit. |
| 1117 | STAMNOS (3 Consecutive Letters) | Third | Broken shards of this: might such not show Odysseus and Agamemnon? | anag. of first letters |
| 1100 | CONCORDANCE | VHC | Concentration on yellow ball – two points tally as a result of which? | conc. or dance; ref. snooker |
| 1992-1993 | ||||
| 1095 | STINK | VHC | What’d make someone’s nose wrinkle up? | s + knit (rev.) & lit. |
| 1091 | SAPSAGO (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Mousetrap’s been great hit – time it’s packed in? | SA in sap go; green bait |
| 1076 | PARLOUR GAMES | VHC | Play us (e.g. morra) – no end of party fun? | anag. less y & lit. |
| 1069 | (P)OSTICHE (Headpieces) | VHC | Going over the top is characterized by line charging enemy | stich in foe |
| 1061 | MAGIC | VHC | Tricky little touches from Gascoigne Motson inevitably characterises as ——? | anag. of first letters, & lit. ; football cliché |
| 1052 | AGANIPPE | VHC | For this one’s forlornly appealing, if a bit of lyricism’s lacking | anag. less l& lit. |
| 1991-1992 | ||||
| 1026 | LET-OFF | VHC | What sees wallet of fisherman filled – catch landing on the deck, perhaps? | hidden; ref. cricket |
| 1024 | PRESENT (3 defs + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels) | VHC | Kings, after offering Son small tokens of adoration, return home East another way | A(PRES ENT)HRONES; anag. incl. ar, h E; king vb |
| 1021 | BEARD | Second | Damaging this thing could make breathing start to deteriorate – oyster’s end in sight? | comp. anag. & lit. ; r in bead |
| 1017 | SCHAPSKA / PEARMAIN (Right and Left) | VHC | What might grow red and swollen? Part of prop’s ear might, as packs play without hard head-protection | p + ear main; H in anag. |
| 1000 | ONE THOUSAND | VHC | Hick, outshone by England’s three tailenders – score in fifties required | anag. + a, n, d; 20 × 50 |
| 995 | STASIMA (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Do P.E. along with music, be fit – the ra/ge nowadays | |
| 1990-1991 | ||||
| 991 | BRASH (or BRUSH) | VHC | Bits of broken rock and shorn hedgerow | first letters & lit. |
| 987 | IRON CURTAIN | VHC | The result of dismantling this barrier with US is … ruction in Russia? | comp anag. & lit. |
| 982 | ALMANAC | VHC | Annual: lunar months and noteworthy anniversaries could provide entries for it | first letters & lit. |
| 969 | BUNTER | VHC | One tubby character from Richards novel – this boy? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 965 | EARBASH def. NECKLET (Wrong Number) | VHC | Share a drop of Bundaberg rum – that’ll generate chatter at the barbie! | drop; anag. inc. B |
| 956 | SPEAR-SIDE | VHC | Line of men is deployed in readiness, with President wanting end of Hussein | anag. + P less n |
| 952 | STAR (Spoonerisms) | VHC | It’s hot in Devon: rush for the seaside! | dot in heaven; star2 |
| 947 | SHOULDER-SLIP | VHC | Upper arm injury: horse spill leads to decidedly unprincely fracture | anag. incl. d, u; ref. Prince Charles |
| 943 | BARAGOUIN | VHC | Unintelligible speech: go in a bar and at the close you might produce it! | anag. incl. u |
| 1989-1990 | ||||
| 939 | A-PER-SE / ESCROC (Right and Left) | VHC | Outstanding individual (No. 10 in Argentinian blue) cheat playing soccer | a perse; anag., ref. Maradona |
| 920 | CHRIST-CROSS-ROW | VHC | Out of this Crowther crossword come the word and its letters | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 917 | HOOLIGANISM | First | Trouble Italy has looming? | anag. inc. I & lit; ref. forthcoming World Cup in Italy 1990. |
| 913 | ARCHIBALD | VHC | Striker (tricky one) exposed defence with powerful rising shot | arch I bald; ref. Steve A., footballer |
| 904 | VOETGANGER | VHC | Grain and vegetation destroyed? There could be a —— in it! | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 891 | CAT | VHC | See rat run off – here’s why! | c (r)at & lit. |
| 1988-1989 | ||||
| 869 | HOLD-UPS | VHC | See us set about a spot of plunder and be off? | p in (be)hold us & lit. |
| 868 | ROLAND (2 clues + def. of contents) (Parcels) | VHC | Trio that’s gone west for baby Messiah arrives in Israel, and Saviour is found | tiro, lands; anag.; hidden |
| 853 | DEBACLE | VHC | Entries to Competition Azed being held up in strike – disaster! | c, a, b (rev.) in dele |
| 844 | THEOLOGASTER (Misprints) | VHC | A deficient SDP set right – the Owenites’ no 1 goal after regrouping | STP; anag. incl. r, O |
| 1987-1988 | ||||
| 835 | PROSAICAL | Second | For shortened form of it in Chambers, look up ‘workaday’ | pro SA i’ C. + la (rev. ), & lit. |
| 823 | SARBACANE | VHC | Means of supporting society over a shoot: a shooting stick? | bra s (rev,) + a cane |
| 818 | EMBUSQUÉ | VHC | Could you style me as ‘bum-esque’?! | anag., & lit. |
| 816 | POTLACH (with extra O in word) (Extra letter) | First | Trio of potentates behold a child; now gifts are given | pot + lo + a ch |
| 814 | SPOUSAGE | VHC | You’d lay short odds on a ring being used here | SP 0 usage &r. |
| 801 | LINCHET | VHC | The bit of country ground on which nothing’s raised | nil (rev.) + anag., & lit. |
| 792 | DISTHENE (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | A fast pro’s o/vers can scare, fully! | |
| 788 | CROW | VHC | Unwelcome noise after drinking-bout (arousal not required)? | c(arousal) + row & lit. |
| 1986-1987 | ||||
| 783 | CAMPESINO | VHC | It’s the peasant farmer for whom CAP monies are distributed | anag. |
| 779 | MISSING LINK | VHC | It’s me slinking abominably round foot of Himalayas? | mi + s in anag. & lit. |
| 770 | HERMITS | VHC | In the RM, it seems, their life’s not for one in the public eye | hidden; ref. Prince Edward |
| 764 | CHILDERMAS | VHC | A doleful time after Christmas extravagantly rich meals’d give you | anag. |
| 744 | SKIRL-IN-THE-PAN / COFFEE-DISEASE (Right and Left) | VHC | Oatmeal over a fire? Could it be a thin sprinkle of meal is effective in stopping blight? | anag.; of feed is in cease |
| 740 | ESCADRILLE | VHC | French flight l’escalier’d inaccurately render | anag.; ref. ambiguity of ‘flight’ |
| 735 | MALIGN | VHC | With reference to flying, could a gremlin appear as such? | anag. less re, & lit. |
| 1985-1986 | ||||
| 731 | STRING | VHC | Common cheat’ll get run in, perhaps for fiddling | r in sting; s. adj. |
| 722 | SUPERNACULUM | VHC | Bumper product of muscle and a run-up? | anag. |
| 718 | FLO(GG)IN(G) (Letters Latent) | VHC | Wapping: where info’s processed with minimum of labour | anag. incl. l |
| 714 | MOTE | VHC | In me you turn to must and some dust | to( rev.) in me; mote1,2 & lit. |
| 712 | PANTOMIME HORSE | VHC | Part in some burlesque involving a couple of men with a pair of hooves? | me, ho in anag. & lit. |
| 705 | MUSICOTHERAPY | VHC | Involve Beethoven’s 7th in this, and it might be ‘symphonicurative’! | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 701 | BALUSTRADE | First | Bears cope? | balus trade, & lit; cope1,2 |
| 1984-1985 | ||||
| 662 | BARGE-COUPLE | VHC | Could this set in badly make gable top insecure? | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 660 | Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (Anagram) | VHC | C. Moore verse one utters, awaiting Santa run? | |
| 653 | INTERNUNCIO | VHC | Roughly expressed in ‘I recount latest from Vatican’? | anag. incl. n & lit. |
| 644 | EASY STREET (or STAPELIA) | VHC | ‘Affluent circumstances’ here required – yet see star, misplaced … Aye, setter’s bungled! | 2 anags.; ref. error in competition |
| 1983-1984 | ||||
| 627 | AMBIENT | VHC | It, with BA, men cross | anag. & lit.; cross = interchanged; BA = British Airways |
| 622 | SIMP (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | ‘A squa/re (“T” one) might describe a ruler in appearance only’ | quasi-mpret |
| 618 | CRETISM | VHC | England’s game lacks heart; how team’s finished off is sorry story | cr(ick)et + m is anag. |
| 615 | HISTORIETTE | VHC | Short title, i.e. no long novel | anag. less L |
| 610 | DOUBLETHINK | Second | Apparently TT, hard drinker at heart: a novel form of split personality! | double T + H + (dr)ink(er) |
| 1982-1983 | ||||
| 558 | MINCEMEAT (with one extra R) (Extra Letter) | VHC | You’d find me nicer in a pie, with frost about | nice ; anag. in mat2 |
| 552 | NOURICE-FEE | VHC | Terms of the nurse – no cure if not settled? | anag. incl. e,e; terms = ends |
| 543 | STAYING POWER | VHC | What could make you stop wearying? | anag. & lit. |
| 1981-1982 | ||||
| 521 | ATTITUDINISE | VHC | Pose is not entirely chaste, having nudities flaunted | Atti(c) + anag. |
2012-2013
2131 DIVES / MALIK (Right and Left)
2011-2012
2074 BENNET
2045 CATENATE
2010-2011
2031 EMBROIDERY
2014 HACKETTE
2010 A COMING OF AGE
2009-2010
1988 PERIQUE
1971 WATERMANSHIP
1960 NGANA (3 defs + letter mixture) (Parcels)
2008-2009
1918 PALAMPORE
1914 VE(S)TAL (Letters Latent)
1893 EARTHY
1888 RASTER (Printer’s Devilry)
2007-2008
1875 GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left)
1862 UNALIKE (Spoonerisms)
1858 HUMONGOUS
1849 AUXESIS
1836 POSTHASTE
2006-2007
1823 KISS
2005-2006
1779 NEWIE (misprint of U) (Misprints)
2004-2005
1728 EIDOLA def. NULLAH (Wrong Number)
1711 MINUS
1702 WORDSMITHERY
1700 FIVE-O’CLOCK SHADOW
1685 MINO (Printer’s Devilry)
1680 PILLOW-CUP
2003-2004
1672 IMPASTOS (Spoonerisms)
1659 SCAREDY-CAT
1648 MAGIC LANTERN
1641 GADGETEER
1624 BELAY
2002-2003
1606 TEOSINTE / INTELSAT (Overlaps)
1596 GENISTA (Definition of Anagram)
1576 FACADE
1572 SHIELD-MAY
2001-2002
1544 PATROL (with jumble of RAPTORES) (Christmas Devilry)
1528 STROP (Spoonerisms)
1524 INGRATITUDE
2000-2001
1494 MARATHON
1492 The year that Columbus discovered America (Anagram)
1485 BOURSE / TIFOSO (Right and Left)
1999-2000
1441 Word containing MM displaced by a bug (Millennium Bug)
1437 MISTLETOE
1415 MANATI (Printer’s Devilry)
1998-1999
1411 LOOK-SEE
1406 CHASSEPOT
1380 RAPPORT (Misprints)
1376 LOGO
1363 MAVIN def. THONG (Wrong Number)
1997-1998
1360 BOG-ASPHODEL
1346 PHARISEE
1338 SMART ALEC
1334 CATACHRESTIC
1996-1997
1300 OXFORD (extra O) (Extra Letter)
1290 NITERIE
1281 ABLUTOMANE
1277 NOVE(M)BER (Letters Latent)
1273 SIPOREX
1995-1996
1255 CATAFALCO
1250 SONEOCARDIA (STENOCARDIA) (Ten to One)
1247 PREDICANT
1229 GRUPPETTO
1994-1995
1200 Nine letter word (C and T latent) (Letters Latent)
1186 GRISELDA
1169 BLITHE / URSINE (Right and Left)
1161 ADIAPHORON
1156 TERPSICHOREAN
1152 PARACETAMOL
1993-1994
1147 MAYDAY
1130 AGRESTAL
1126 CHEATERY
1113 EMPLASTRUM
1108 GREEN
1992-1993
1087 OLD SOLDIER
1078 KIRBEH
1074 DEMIREP
1065 TANDOORI
1056 ENTRAIN def. ASTHORE (Wrong Number)
1048 GALLOPADE
1991-1992
1039 TOLERABLE
1034 BURLAP
1030 PASTILLE
1013 ALVEARY
1004 OIL PAINTINGS
1990-1991
978 DOUBLE-CENTURY
974 AVANT-PROPOS
961 WAVESON
1989-1990
934 LACE-UPS
930 SABULOSE
926 NERD
922 REFORMADO
908 INDIGO (Printer’s Devilry)
900 (C)HARLATANIS(M) (Letters Latent)
895 TONE DEAF
1988-1989
887 MONSTER
874 BLUESTOCKING
866 NECTAREOUS
862 OFF-AND-ON
857 REDCAP / NICETY (Right and Left)
849 VISITE
840 SONDE
1987-1988
831 COOLABAH (Spoonerisms)
827 MICKEY-TAKING
809 DOLCE VITA
805 LITOTES
796 UPHOLSTERY
1986-1987
766 GUBBINS
1985-1986
727 WELL-TO-DO
692 FIDIBUS def. PRICKET (Wrong Number)
688 CUCURBITAL
683 BANISH
1984-1985
675 CONSTERNATE
670 TURNIP-FLEA
666 Any word; subsidiary indicators to omit an animal (Beasts)
657 SILLY-BILLY
631 INTERLOCK
1983-1984
609 LUCKY-BAG
607 CARNEY
585 FLABELLIFORM
581 SPADROON def. MAVERICK (Wrong Number)
1982-1983
572 SNAKE-OIL
568 TETHER (Printer’s Devilry)
559 EMBASE
538 INGRAIN
1981-1982
513 ETYMOLOGICON
504 SIMMENTHALER
| Year | Prizes (1, 2, 3) | VHCs | HCs | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010-2011 | 2 (2, 0, 0) | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| 2009-2010 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 8 | 3 | 3 |
| 2008-2009 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| 2007-2008 | 2 (1, 0, 1) | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 2006-2007 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005-2006 | 3 (1, 2, 0) | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004-2005 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 22 |
| 2003-2004 | 3 (2, 0, 1) | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2002-2003 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| 2001-2002 | 3 (1, 1, 1) | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 2000-2001 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 8 |
| 1999-2000 | 4 (1, 2, 1) | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1998-1999 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
| 1997-1998 | 2 (0, 2, 0) | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 1996-1997 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| 1995-1996 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| 1994-1995 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 1993-1994 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| 1992-1993 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 13 |
| 1991-1992 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| 1990-1991 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 1989-1990 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 1988-1989 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 22 |
| 1987-1988 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1986-1987 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| 1985-1986 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| 1984-1985 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
| 1983-1984 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 1982-1983 | 0 | 3 | 4 | – |
| 1981-1982 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – |