AZED CROSSWORD 1095

STINK

1.  J. F. Grimshaw: What sulphur can make with no. 1 element in kipp (s tin k, & lit.; ref. hydrogen sulphide H₂S).

2.  T. J. Moorey: Sun and tell-tale Kelvin can create one! (S tin K, & lit.; ref K. Mackenzie, editor).

3.  R. S. Morse: Smelt it is rank, emitting foul air (comp. anag. & lit.).

VHC

M. Barley: What’d make someone’s nose wrinkle up? (s + knit (rev.), & lit.).

E. A. Beaulah: Have a bad name, as one involved in the setting up of minor fiddles (i.e. n in kits (rev.)).

E. J. Burge: The fuss produced by science master when eclipse of sun occurs! (stinks less S).

B. Burton: Head of seamstresses has to patch up what’s produced by inefficient sewers (s + tink).

I. Carr: What Richard did best in Ken’s series (hidden; ref. R. ‘Stinker’ Murdoch, Kenneth Horne).

V. Dixon: Hum to provoke opposition to funk (S. Potter) (S + tink, 3 defs.; ref. ‘One-Upmanship’).

C. M. Edmunds: What can come from skunk’s rump and isn’t engaging? (anag. incl. k, & lit.).

S. Goldie: What came from witches’ stirring? Brought up pieces of information… ‘King hereafter’ (nits (rev.) + K; ref. Macbeth).

P. F. Henderson: Term for noxious tang? (s + tink, & lit.).

R. E. Kimmons: Isn’t King murdered? Ay, ’tis most foul. (anag. incl. K).

D. F. Manley: Garments needing to be taken up – a sewer’s problem? (knits (rev.)).

C. J. Morse: Karadzic’s initial footing isn’t working: it’s the end of his high-level ping pong (anag. incl. K, s + tink; ref. Radovan K., Balkan conflict).

R. F. Naish: —— can, in case of skunk, be offensive (tin in s, k, & lit.).

J. Phillipson: Scent? This is not Klein for starters! (initial letters & lit.).

D. Price Jones: To raise one is to create tangles (knits (rev.), & lit.).

W. K. M. Slimmings: Scandal broke on bandying of knight’s letters (skint with Kt exchanged).

G. H. Willett: What bees can produce endlessly, a constant hum (stin(g)+ k).

HC

M. J. Bath, J. R. Beresford, S. J. Best, Mrs K. Bissett, C. Boyd, C. J. Brougham, Rev Canon C. M. Broun, D. A. Campbell, E. Chalkley, M. Coates, Ms S. C. Cockburn, Mrs D. M. Colley, Mrs J. M. Critchley, D. B. Cross, D. J. Dare-Plumpton, E. Dawid, R. Dean, R. V. Dearden, A. L. Dennis, C. J. Feetenby, Dr I. S. Fletcher, H. Freeman, M. Freeman, R. G. Gray, C. R. Gumbrell, I. F. & L. M. Haines, P. Harrison, A. W. Hill, P. D. Hinchliffe, A. Hodgson, J. Horwood, Mrs D. B. Jenkinson, M. D. Jones, J. D. Lockett, E. Looby, C. J. Lowe, R. K. Lumsdon, R. M. Luty, Mrs J. Mackie, W. F. Main, P. W. Marlow, H. W. Massingham, Dr E. J. Miller, C. G. Millin, W. L. Miron, R. J. Palmer, R. Phillips, T. G. Powell, D. Riley, M. Sanderson, W. J. M. Scotland, D. J. Short, P. A. Stephenson, R. Stocks, P. L. Stone, R. C. Teuton, P. W. Thacker, D. H. Tompsett, A. A. Vinson, A. J. Wardrop, P. H. Watkin, Mrs M. P. Webber, J. F. N. Wedge, D. Williamson, Dr E. Young.
 

ANNUAL HONOURS LIST (13 COMPETITIONS)
1 D. F. Manley (3 prizes, 5 VHCs); 2 (equal) P. F. Henderson (2, 6), C. J. Morse (1, 8); 4 (equal) E. J. Burge (1, 7), R. J. Hooper (3, 3), H. W. Massingham (1, 7), R. S. Morse (2, 5); 8 (equal) T. J. Moorey (3, 2), F. R. Palmer (3, 2); 10 (equal) C. R. Gumbrell (1, 5), F. P. N. Lake, (0, 7), R. F. Naish (1, 5); 13 (equal) M. Barley (0, 6), J. R. Beresford (2, 2), C. A. Clarke (1, 4), N. C. Dexter (1, 4), V. Dixon (0, 6), D. Price Jones (0, 6); 19 C. G. Millin (1, 3); 20 (equal) D. Ashcroft (1, 2), C. J. Brougham (1, 2), C. M. Edmunds (1, 2), R. A. England (1, 2), Dr I. S. Fletcher (0, 4), B. Greer (1, 2), J. F. Grimshaw (1, 2), R. K. Lumsdon (0, 4), Mrs J. Mackie (0, 4), Mrs M. P. Webber (1, 2), G. H. Willett (1, 2), Dr E. Young (1, 2).
 
CONSOLATION PRIZES
 
F. P. N. Lake, M. Barley, V. Dixon, D. Price Jones, Dr I. S. Fletcher. R. K. Lumsdon, Mrs J. Mackie.
 

 
COMMENTS
 
470 entries, no mistakes. No special problems with the puzzle either, I think, though STINK was a stinker. Variations on the ‘time in cesspool’ theme were just too numerous, and the challenge was to find an original treatment. Mr Grimshaw adopted a tack that others chose but found a uniquely clever way of handling it. Very nice. It’s certainly true that short words can be tricky to deal with satisfactorily. I am sometimes criticised for being too tortuous in cluing the 4- and 5-letter words, and I can’t deny that I try hard – perhaps too hard – to create something interesting. You appreciate the problem, no doubt. Anyway, congratulations to the authors of clues quoted above..
 
A couple of points arising from last month’s slip. In the second paragraph of my comments a line or two was clearly lost at the correction stage. It should have read like this: ‘Others spoiled their chances by either including a Spoonerism of the cryptic indication of SAPSAGO (e.g. POOL’S FAST/FOOLS PAST) or redefining the Spoonerism (e.g. MEN DAMAGED BY FIRE = CHARRED HES).’ As to the kind of cheese sapsago is, my attention is drawn to the helpful etymological note in Collins English Dictionary, viz. ‘C19: changed from German Schabziger, from schaben to grate + dialect Ziger a kind of cheese’.
 
Another year completed, and Mr Manley has retained his position on top of the leader board, though the pack is baying at his heels. My congratulations to him and to all those on the honours list. As always I am indebted to Mr Ron Dearden for keeping the tally of points scored – the Bill Frindall of the Azed series. The quoted list contains everyone with a score of 4 or more points in the year (2 for a prize, 1 for a VHC). For your information there were 12 people with 3 points and 15 with 2 points.
 
I have also to report, with sadness, that another old friend, Abba Rivlin, has passed away. Though only an occasional competitor in recent years, he had been a regular solver since the days of Ximenes and was always enthusiastic and full of humour in his comments on the puzzles he solved. He also kindly supplied me with a full photocopied set of Ximenes slips, which I still have. With his wife Zena he came to the Azed 1,000 lunch, the last time I saw him. I know that many, like me, will remember him with affection and will join me in sending sincere condolences to his widow.