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The winning clue was just about my ideal for Printer's Devilry – a devilled version that you could imagine the impish Ralph sniggering at – quirky and a little risqué – and then undevilling reveals a more "sensible" statement! Great stuff and hearty congratulations to Andy Smith – his first win for a couple of years.
 
Just behind in second place is Steve Randall – who won't let the deviation away from standard cryptic cluing prevent him from maintaining his amazingly consistent year. Another excellent (and topical?) clue.
 
Dave Williams podiums for the second month in a row with what I thought was a very neat, concise PD clue. Well done Dave!
 
A new name next – Charlie Oakley bags fourth place with a first ever entry! Impressive – and again the quirky devilled version I like, that unravels to become just a little more sensible; congratulations Charlie and welcome!
 
Finally, Don sneaks onto the podium in fifth with another neat, concise clue – a fine example of the genre!
 
Thanks to everyone for the devilish entertainment and good luck for glorious October!

Voting Information

Voting is open until Midnight UK time on Saturday 17th October.
 
Please award FIVE points maximum to the clue you judge best: FOUR points for second, THREE for third, TWO for fourth, down to ONE point for fifth; but otherwise you may distribute your votes as you see fit including ½ marks for split voting – as long as you award no more than 15 points IN TOTAL and no more than 5 points to any one clue…
 
…and of course you may NOT VOTE for your own clue!
 
COMMENTS:
 
Your comments in general and on individual clues, however much or little you write, are always most welcome! Please remember that if any particular clue or clues do not find favour with you, it is more helpful to offer constructive criticism – many of our members are keen to learn and hone their clue writing skills through our competition – feedback may be useful for their future efforts!

Entry Information

It's time again for…Printer's Devilry! – your challenge for September is a Printer's Devilry (PD) clue to SEVEN (5) by the closing date of MIDNIGHT GMT WEDNESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER.
 
A Printer's Devilry clue is a passage from which the printer has removed a hidden answer, closing the gap and sometimes taking liberties with the punctuation and spacing, but not disturbing the order of the remaining letters. There is no need to include a definition of SEVEN in your clue, but there is nothing to stop you if you so wish. However, from past experience, few judges give any extra merit for this unnecessary hard work!

The winner of our last PD competition will provide as an example:

Greens are happy to see we cycled
Answer: ASTER.
Undevilled version: Greens are happy to see waste recycled

Every passage, when complete, should make sense. NB Most, if not all "judges" will normally give preference to PD clues in which the breaks before and after the word omitted (before and after omission) do not occur at the ends or beginnings of words in the clue.

Please give the full undevilled version of your clue as the EXPLANATION – plus any additional notes required.