The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC Christmas Special 2015 competition results

More information   |   Comments   |   All results   |   < Previous   |  Next >   |  Annual competition

45 clues entered. 41 votes cast (34 competitors, 7 others).


A “FIVE GOLD RINGS” word

Congratulations to Steve Randall. After numerous podium finishes, including two earlier this year, he finally makes it to the top of the pile! It must be a brilliant feeling!
 
Tim Moorey snatches 2nd spot – also choosing BRAVURA – with some neatly constructed wordplay.
 
Simon Shaw takes 3rd place with a cleverly simple &lit. for FAVUS.
 
Two entrants tied for 4th – Tom Borland chose DEJA VU (the first thing that came to my mind when setting the competition) and constructed a convincing surface. David Harry unearthed one of the more obscure options with A VUESTRA SALUD and managed a very short and snappy clue to it!
 
Well done to everyone and thank you for the wonderful range of words you chose to clue!
>
>
>
2016 ANNUAL COMPETITION
 
Luciano Ward already had the Annual Prize sewn up before the final competition of the year, and with his 3 wins and 2 other podium finishes ended up 6 points clear of the field – very well done indeed Luciano!
 
Dave Parfitt was in 2nd place with what was an amazing record. No wins, but 6 podium placings and only once in the whole year did he finish outside the top 10! Fantastic consistency!
 
Tom Borland just pipped John Tozer for 3rd spot and Margaret Irvine took 5th place. All three had 1 win and 3 podiums so it was no surprise that they were so close together for 3rd-5th.
 
Many thanks to all entrants for your support throughout 2015 – and the very best of luck to everyone for 2016 – Luciano's there for you to aim at now!

PosNo.NameClueExplanationPoints Merits 
17Steve RandallBrilliant feeling after Britain secures victoryBRAVURA(adj) – (AURA after BR) secures V473  6  
240Tim MooreyTop of the bill: Gunners v United with Gunners giving a brilliant displayBRAVURA: b RA v U RA Gunners = Arsenal, United = Man U401  6  
322Simon ShawFungal affliction visible upon scalp primarily (5)Initial letters, & lit. (FAVUS)381  4  
44David HarryA US star, valued after transforming “Cheers” (1,7,5)A VUESTRA SALUD ('to your health' in C.): anag.362  6  
45Tom BorlandAfflicted Judea is the setting for very familiar story?DEJA-VU; V=very in *JUDEA; def. familiar story?361  6  
635Dave ParfittSomewhat impromptu, van unwisely reverses in icy locationNUNAVUT (Canadian territory); hidden rev. in (impromp)TUVANUN(wisely)240  4  
71Philip SantA familiar feeling when looking back – it sounds like you've aged?DEJA VU, being a feeling of familiarity. It is UVAJED, when looking back, which perhaps could be pronounced: "You've aged"210  5  
841Paul CoulterTravelling south to have a very merry holidaySH(A+V)UOT south* Shavuot is traditionally marked by merriment.203  3  
930Don ManleyPhotographic image of destruction round ancient Middle Eastern cityGRAVURE: Ur in grave182  5  
1015Luciano WardDistended at one end, copper cladding can start to look corrodedCLAVULATE: [CU around LAV (can = toilet)] + L(ook) + ATE (corroded)164  4  
1114 Digital growth leads to computerised libraries acquiring virtually unlimited storage (6)CLAVUS, i.e. a corn (see Collins) = Digital growth; acrostic15.55  4  
1219 Forcefully remove criminal valuesAVULSE; VALUES*150  4  
1323 Fungal affliction viewed upon scalp, chieflyFAVUS: first letters (chiefly) and &lit14.52  5  
1333 Relatively nice?AVUNCULAR Cryptic Definition14.50  2  
1510 Contents of boat yard swept away by river Plate (7)GRAVURE; grav(y) + Ure; gravy boat; printing plate13.53  4  
163 A quick break off of 50 from an in form O'Sullivan.AVULSION: A quick break off = def, 50 (L) from (deletion ind.) in form ( anagrind ) O'SULLIVAN – L = AVULSION. Ref: Ronnie O' Sullivan.12.52  6  
169 Conflicting values cause break up (6)AVLUSE; VALUES*12.51  4  
1639 The Northwest Territories bear the beginnings of unfrozen northern Arctic – vastly uninhabited land.NT holds (unavu) + land = NUNAVUT. (In Canada in 1999 Nunavut, pop. 32,000 and slightly larger in area than Mexico pop. 124 million, was separated from the Northwest Territories pop. 64,000 + a mention in clue of global warming.)12.52  2  
1916 E.g. Holst's wind section involves a very unusual openingAnswer: GUSTAVUS – (A V U)nusual inside GUST S102  3  
1937 Spirited supporter describing a very topsy-turvy game (7)BRAVURA; a v <RU in bra (down clue)101  4  
2136 'Special value' crackers take a hard pull to snapClued Word: AVULSE. Def: take a hard pull to snap. Wordplay: anag[s + value]9.50  5  
2244 Virginia's half rude, naughty underwear showing at the front in daring displayBRAVURA BRA/{VA/RU(de)}*90  3  
2343 Vigour healer applied – picture the relief this achieves?(12)HELIOGRAVURE – Anag – method of photo engraving using relief plates8.52  3  
242 A foreign premier cut Dave out coarsely, getting endless stick.Chosen word: [Ahmet] DAVUTOGLU (Prime Minister of Turkey): Def/Dav(e) + out (anag)+ glu(e)= stick.6.52  3  
2518 Forced it out in lav used straining (7)AVULSED; anagram61  5  
2527 Maybe Santa has a very common problem brought on by pressure?CLAVUS=corn on the foot=common problem brought on by pressure. Maybe Santa = CLAUS; has a very = contains a V. Ref stress or drinking problem for Santa?!62  4  
2717 Five gold rings in bowl for Jewish festivalFive gold rings [A(V)U] in bowl (SHOT) gives SHAVUOT, the Jewish festival5.51  3  
286 After 96 hours of delivering various birds, my sweetheart despatched a handful of Heavy Metal bandsAfter 96 hours (4 days) of delivering (sending) various birds (1 partridge, 2 turtle doves, 3 french hens, 4 calling birds) my sweetheart (my true love) despatched (sent to me) a handful (five) of Heavy Metal (gold) bands (rings); clue to FIVE GOLD RINGS50  7  
2813 Czech story about five golden rings seems awfully familiar to me, like I've heard it before! (6, 2 words)DEJA VU; DEJ (CZECH WORD FOR "STORY") + AVU (GOLD (AU) AROUND FIVE (V)), DEFINITION "SEEMS AWFULLY FAMILIAR TO ME, LIKE I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE".51  8  
308 Bush, perhaps, set back by average rating — have we seen this before?DEJA VU; JED (Bush) rev, AV(erage) U (film rating).4.51  5  
3021 Frog is delving dementedly to find glittering seasonal gifts(Frog is delving) – fodder, dementedly – anagrind, glittering seasonal gifts – def.; clue to FIVE GOLD RINGS4.50  6  
3026 Massage by foot won't eventually hurt much; avail it to be cured (8,8)CHAVUTTI THIRUMAL – Anagram of T+HURT+MUCH+AVAIL+IT; Anagram indicator – to be cured4.51  4  
3042 Unoriginal material derived from King James Bible found in new reading of JudeDEJA VU (= “unoriginal material” – see Chambers). AV inside JUDE*.4.50  2  
3411 Corn boil (6)clued word: CLAVUS. Double definition: corns on toes also known as boils. (surface: corn boil as with corn roast!)40  5  
3420 Friendly, just like Uncle Remus (9)AVUNCULAR; Double definition41  3  
3425 Light gets a Jedi (missing one) to return: haven't we seen that somewhere before? (4,2)DEJA VU: UV (light) + A JED(I) all reversed. Reference to Star Wars films and (spoiler alert) the latest episode – The Force Awakens41  3  
3428 Northern Territory sister picking up Australian television broadcastNUNAVUT (Canadian territory, partially in Arctic Circle); NUN + (AU TV)*40  3  
3429 Perverted, I'll lay 16 year old?LAGAVULIN; Perverted I'll lay = Islay; A famous Islay 16 year old (malt whisky) is Lagavulin, the 16 year old being the standard malt from the distillery. ('Slàinte mhath' to all at CCCWC)41  6  
3912 Cunningly enter scrubbed surprisingly rejuvenated old stuffDéja vu = Old stuff/ REJUVENATED* less ENTER*30  5  
3924 Gloved by mistake, caught! Dismissals are a Christmas Day giftAnagram of gloved (vegold) inside syn of dismissals (firings); clue to FIVE GOLD RINGS30  5  
3934 Somewhat club-shaped veal cut with the French broth.def of CLAVULATE + anag(broth) of vealcutla30  4  
4232 Present five gold rings in payment for holiday in Israel (7)SHAVUOT; Present …. in = inclusion indicator, five gold rings a(v)u inside shot= payment + definition = holiday in Israel.2.51  4  
4345 You may see a couple in Tel Aviv shout and dance around on this occasion?SHAVUOT = Jewish Festival……SHOUT(anag)..…Tel(AV)iv20  4  
4431 Pluck off perfidious values (6)Definition: pluck off Word play: values* anagram indicator – perfidious Five gold rings word: AVULSE0.50  3  
4438 Teachers bag posh guide of northern territoryNUNAVUT – a very big area. NUT (teachers) around u (posh) and nav. (short for navigator).0.50  3