The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

Competition clues by Barry Solomons

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Barry Solomons has 37 clues

CompClue wordClueExplanationPosPoints Merits  
2023 Annual Competition271.5  
July 2023SATISFACTIONDrunken fiasco taints one's joy.fiasco taints (anag)5262 
February 2023DIMPLESIdle MPs can create hollow impressions?Idle MPs (anag)8254  2 
 
2022 Annual Competition341  
Christmas Special 2022BULGE/HOMER (Right & Left)I'm leaving Belgium sadly, it was outstanding…Hungary with Rome trip to follow, that's my Odyssey?BELG(i)U(m)..Bulge (anag) = outstanding…H = Hungary + Rome (anag)9201  3 
June 2022WOODWARDCourt to behead one who confessed? Old journalist getting scoop.Woo/Court + (E)dward the Confessor..,(Woodward & Bernstein, Watergate)10201 
 
2020 Annual Competition390.5  
September 2020SEVEN (Printer’s Devilry)For elderly one sailing lots of masts aren't suitable.For elderly ones ailing lots of mass events aren't suitable.10173  1 
 
2019 Annual Competition213  
October 2019GULESSeeing red after glue ruined shirt front.Glue (anag) + (S)hirt front.10161  1 
September 2019ASTER (Printer’s Devilry)Going to polls again will only be papering over the cracks?Going to paste rolls again, will only be papering over the cracks.6240  2 
August 2019STERNUMUnrest over money found in chest?unrest (anag) + m = money.8230  4 
March 2019NARCISSUSLeading communist in Russian Revolution, Stalin initially was really self-obsessed.Nar(c)issu..(s)…Russian (anag) c/communist..S/talin.5281  3 
February 2019RAINBOWBishop gets in a row waving around flag supporting Gay Pride?rain(B)ow..B=Bishop..in a row (anag)…Rainbow Flag symbol of Gay Pride.7241  1 
 
2018 Annual Competition185.5  
October 2018OPAL (Printer’s Devilry)Steak with lots of dripping? It sounds really awful.Stop a leak – with lots of dripping it sounds really awful.6250  2 
August 2018FAIRY / POINT (Right & Left)Female and sprightly she's often seen on Christmas tree, set out in top position.F/female..airy/sprightly…(anag) in top…point = position.2352  3 
May 2018IRELANDCountry I learn about, with the capital of Dublin?I + learn (anag) + D(ublin)5290  3 
 
2017 Annual Competition193.5  
Christmas Special 2017ARCHER (Printer’s Devilry)What troubles us is Russia's bitter cold, wishing warmer times to come soon.What troubles U.S. is Russia's bitter cold war, cherishing warmer times to come soon………(w/ar cher/ishing)10202  3 
November 2017FATHER-LASHERGirl occupying fashionable flatshare – found it after trawling the net?GIRL = HER…occupying FLATSHARE (anag)5310  5 
October 2017EQUIPOISEProvide leaders of opposition increased support, ensuring parity on both sides?Provide/Equip + Leaders of (O)pp..(I)nc..(S)up..(E)ns..918.51 
September 2017MAIDENName I'd changed after getting married?maiden name…name I'd (anag)523.57  3 
March 2017TRUMPETERThis bird's a slut, after removing top starts entertaining regulars?S/trumpet…starts (E)ntertaining (R)egulars.9211  4 
 
2016 Annual Competition79  
November 2016TURNOVERRerun vote after European exit in order to reverse result?Rerun vote (anag)… after (E)uropean exit.3352  6 
September 2016GREASEPAINTFancy pants I agree, is what a traditional clown would wear?(anag) pants I agree.428.54  4 
August 2016LAUGHTERA leg hurt badly may have you in stitches?A leg hurt (anag)336.52  2 
March 2016IMARI (Printer’s Devilry)Is intending to ask if rifle's faulty.Is intending to aim a risk, if rifle's faulty?8191  1 
January 2016PLAIN-JANEAn Alpine trip over Jungfrau's peak may not appeal to some guys?(anag) an Alpine…over (J)ungfrau's peak.9202  5 
 
2015 Annual Competition144.5  
August 2015CHESTERFIELDYou could wear this when cold, if sheltered poorly.c = cold + (anag) if sheltered… ref: overcoat8243  2 
July 2015POUNCEConverting upon joining the Church, maybe a big leap?(anag) upon + CE = Church of England437.50  4 
May 2015MARKET (SPONGE) (Wrong Number)Sign at centre of fete – 'cake stalls here'.sign/mark..f(et)e…sponge cake…market stalls430.50  4 
 
2014 Annual Competition145  
October 2014CLOSEFor those starting college, lots of serious exams aren't far away.those starting..(C)ollege..(L)ots..(O)f..(S)erious..(E)xams429.50  2 
World Cup Special 2014Any 8-letter “PEN” word (Penalty Shoot-out)Kids wandering about waste land, they're often seen hanging around?PENDANTS = GOAL/DANTS……..GOA(LDAN)TS……Kids/Goats (anag)Land323.51  2 
 
2013 Annual Competition154.5  
November 2013PROLIXKept running on for some laps, we hear?Pro = For… Lix / Licks = Laps726.53  4 
July 2013PEAR (Printer’s Devilry)Toners will leave skin richer.Top earner's will, leaves kin richer.………………(To/P EAR/ner)261.51  6 
 
2012 Annual Competition301.5  
July 2012JUSQU'AUBOUTISTEDid Jesus quit, about to embrace universal suffering?…He carried on to the bitter end.(anag) 'Jesus quit about' + u = universal926.52  2 
May 2012ROSBIFTo whom Frog's bile is directed after having leg pulled?Frog = French……(anag) Frog's bile – 'leg' pulled.7260  4 
March 2012A “GMT” word (Letters Latent)Being out of work without a penny, it can be boring! (6)GIMLET..a tool for boring….GMT / ILE…..…out of work..I(d)LE…..d = penny.1020.52  3 
 
2011 Annual Competition242.5  
Christmas Special 2011PARTRIDGE in a PEAR TREE (2 defs. + letter mixture)Fearsome brute in a rage broke nose.oak/grebe..o(grebe)ak…ogre (f.brute) beak (nose)..r/age broke7190  1 
November 2011DEGRINGOLADEGinger ale spiked with odd rum going down rapidly!anag: ginger ale / odd7244  2 
June 2011FAULTArrange lunch at cafe…no chance! Really poor service, apparently.Anag.(lunch at cafe) minus (chance) = FAULT = Illegal serve at tennis.10213 
April 2011Anagram of 38 letters (Anagram)Windsor alliance? Break away Middleton..leg it!548.52  4