The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC June 2021 competition results

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

61 clues entered. 45 votes cast (43 competitors, 2 others).


NELSON / PRINCE (Right & Left)

A very clear winner this month. Tom executes a wonderful example of the double clue. Beautifully concise, a seamless join, combining to create a credible surface. Worthy winner.
 
Second place and a first podium placing goes to Simon Griew. Some similarities to the winner with a little bit of added cheekiness. Congratulations on the debut podium, Simon.
 
Another debut in third place. Not only a first podium, but also a debut entry from Phil Stephenson, who rather cleverly clued the PRINCE element to line up nicely with NELSON. Well done and welcome, Phil.
 
Mr Tozer bags 4th place with an intricate tale of an inept thespian, using a rather cheeky definition for NELSON!
 
Charlie Oakley takes 5th spot, first podium since a debut 4th placing last year.
 
Thanks to everyone for your extra efforts in this special challenge…on to July!

PosNo.NameClueExplanationPoints Merits 
123Tom BorlandHold lens trained on Royal pair, finding nice shotNelson: *LENS + ON, def. Hold; Prince: PR (pair) + *NICE; def. Royal780  5  
236Simon GriewMan perched high directed lens towards royal figure pinching woman’s bottomNELSON: def = man perched high, (lens)* + on; PRINCE: def = royal (as noun), n in price (figure) – down clue. No particular royal in my mind of course!42.53  3  
312Phil StephensonEpic struggles with Royal Navy, historic leader who made Napoleon's sides lose at sea?PRINCE/NELSON. anag. inc. RN/anag. inc. N,n & lit.39.53  5  
432John TozerLeader of company in rep playing Hamlet maybe fluffed lines, missing one, just after he did it with Hamiltonanag. of c(ompany) in rep; anag. of l(i)nes + on (just after); refs. Prince of Denmark, Emma Hamilton; did it, i.e. had sex342  5  
554Charlie OakleyRoyal Navy splits fee it deducted from insolent disorganised AdmiralRoyal – Definition, N(avy) splits – insertion indicator, fee – PRICE / INSOLENT – IT = NSOLEN* – fodder, disorganised = anagrind, Admiral = definition. Nelson was never an actual Admiral but a vice-admiral, however using that as the definition would seem obscure.31.55  5  
620Dhirendra TripathiHold different lens on royal's nice PR spinningNelson – Hold different lens on (lens as something that facilitates and influences perception, Merriam-Webster) – Definition: hold. Wordplay: [lens]* indicated by different + on. Prince – royal's nice PR spinning – Definition: royal. Wordplay: [nice PR]* indicated by spinning.29.53  4  
751Don ManleyRoyal Navy – in charge, one's admiral, slain finally at seaN in price; anag incl.l,n & lit.263  3  
834Chris SpathisLock limits of noise levels on guitarist's audio tracks (6/6)N/E + L/S + on == prints homophone244  6  
911Vinit WankhedeCrown's deceitfully nice PR turns lens on an unlucky figureCrown~def, deceitfully nice PR = NICEPR* / turns lens on= LENSON*, an unlucky figure~def201  6  
1016John AppletonHamlet maybe drunk nice port, wanting to hold Horatio?PRINCE: Def = "Hamlet maybe"; (NICEPORT)* -TO NELSON: Double def.19.54  5  
1142 One’s left shot at end of action, noble leader worth embracing(*ONES+L ind by shot)+N; N in PRICE(worth)&lit; noble leader=Prince; ref dying Nelson attended to by Hardy at end of battle193  7  
127 Breaking news – sadly lose ship's captain, Bounty has new man in chargeLOSE* in NN (def: ship's captain) PRICE installs N (def: man in charge)182  6  
139 Colonel’s onsite guards hold singer in church after psalter ends (6/6)1) NELSON. Definition: Hold Wordplay: Hidden Indicator: Guards 2) PRINCE: Def: Singer, Wordplay: Charade PsalteR ends IN CE (Church of England)160  5  
1339 Monarch's pincer movement crushed guts of insolent admiralPINCER*; (-i)NSOLEN(-t)*165  4  
1348 Root strikes IPL big shot in flannels on 111 (6, 6)Principle less IPL; ref. England cricket captain Joe Root, Indian Premier League. (flan)NELS + ON; ref cricket score of 111, known as Nelson163  6  
1628 How much is it to adopt new royal name? Finally, palace reveal it's on holdnew = N, inside how much is it = PRICE; royal = def. | name = N, finally palace reveal it's = last letters: …E …L …S, on = ON (given); hold = def.13.52  4  
1735 London columnist's gas about extremely luckless Harry, say's, cost maintaining Meghan ultimatelyNEON around L(uckles)S + PRICE around (Megha)N132  4  
1814 Gas about extremely lecherous Admiral Vincent possibly guarding new member of Royal FamilyNEON around L(echerou)S / PRICE around N(ew)111  1  
1849 Royal charge had new admiral lose badly in nation's bordersRoyal: Definition for PRINCE, charge=PRICE, new=N admiral: Definition for NELSON, lose badly=LOSE*, nation's borders=NN111  4  
1860 Will possibly new cost-cutting title hold London's top columnist?Will possibly = prince; new cost-cutting=N inside PRICE=prince; title=prince; hold=Nelson; London's top columnist?=Nelson112  4  
2125 Hold train in tunnel so nasty brick damage gets probed by technician conclusivelyNELSON: hidden (train = sequence); def = hold / PRINCE: N in PRICE (damage, cost); def = brick (prince, good guy)10.51  5  
2219 Hold back some casinos lending monetary value without new head of state in MonacoHold – def for Nelson, back – reversal indicator, some – containment indicator, casiNOS LENding, monetary value (PRICE) without N(ew), head of state in Monaco – def for Prince. Casinos and Monaco go well together101  3  
2347 Public relations during ‘Catholic’ furore ultimately may create issue for leader occupying No.10, extremely licentious man famous for his column (6,6)Public Relation (PR) + during (IN) + Catholic (C) + last letter of furorE. Issue for leader (def Prince). External letters of LicentiouS in NEON (element no. 10) . Man famous for his column (def Nelson) Surface allusions to Boris Johnson (incl. wedding in Westminster Cathedral and Telegraph column).91  4  
2361 Willie for one statue, being elevated, almost audibly impresses lad at palaceNELSON: DBE/D (singer/bloke on column) // PRINCE: "~prints". 'Almost' for the loose homophone.90  5  
254 Admiral Halsey essentially captured by noble royal. Ransom demanded? No.Definition is "admiral": _LS_ captured by NEON (a noble gas). Definition is "royal": PRICE demanded N.8.50  3  
2543 Pincer movement by Royal Naval Officer channels onlookers inwardsAnagram (movement) of PINCER. Definition = royal. Definition = Naval Officer, hidden (inwards) chaNELS ONlookers8.51  5  
2755 Royal nipper making right move in wrestling match? Hold on – lens is blurred!Royal = def (R); nipper = pincer, R moves in Wrestling match hold = def (L) ; (on lens)*7.52  2  
2858 Springfield Elementary student turned lens on public relations firm acquiring drugs for R&B starSpringfield Elementary student = NELSON, [LENS ON]*; PR + INC + E, R&B star = PRINCE62  2  
2937 Mandela, maybe, appears in panels on a royal who's a royal without a ship (6/6)Mandela, maybe, = NELSON (definition by example for Nelson Mandela); APPEARS IN = telescopic indicator for paNELS ON; A royal = PRINCE (definition); A royal without a ship = PRINCESS – SS5.50  6  
3013 For example, ‘Hamlet’ creates an impression for the audience in Newcastle by layering severed heads about Horatio’s conclusionFor example, ‘Hamlet’ – def of Prince / creates an impression for the audience – homophone of ‘prints’ / in Newcastle – NE / by – link / layering severed heads – L[ayering] S[evered] / about – ON / Horatio’s conclusion – def of Nelson50  3  
3022 Hold in ring on lens developing photos for dictator and queen’s sonHold in ring – definition of NELSON; on lens developing- anagram of “on lens”; photos for dictator- homophone of prints; queen’s son – definition of PRINCE52  4  
3029 In kennels only hold something outstanding: a pinscher mongrel has gone astray.NELSON: kenNELS ONly, definition "hold". PRINCE: Anag APINSCHER – HAS, definition "something outstanding".50  3  
3038 Member of royal family’s new charge about hold of channels online (6,6)Left is Prince . Def: Member of royal family. PRICE (charge) about N(ew). Right is NELSON. Def: Hold. Hidden word (telescopic) in chan(NELS ON)line. Indicator “of”50  2  
345 An admiral called 111, worried apprentice had lost tape a senior royal madeAn admiral = def. exemplar; called 111 = NELSON (cricket slang). (APPRENTICE-TAPE)*, a senior royal = def..40  5  
3457 Sounds like death toll is concerning for Admiral Newton , overwhelmed by damage for future monarch (6 :6)Sounds like= homophone ind , Knell = Nel , is concerning = 's on….. + definition, Newton = n , overwhelmed by = containment indicator, damage = price + definition41  4  
3618 He may rule out pincer strike in favour of facing down large numbers about fallen officer"He may rule"=PRINCE / PINCER* // "strike in favour of facing down"=delete PRO of PRONE ('pro'='in favour' as adverb, Chambers) "large"=L "numbers about"=NOS reversed proNE+L+SON / "fallen officer"=NELSON3.52  4  
3621 Hold Horatio, Harry… CharmingDD & DD3.51  5  
3656 Royal photographs, reportedly ones shot with night lens, primarily in Lancashire townRoyal = def (noun); photographs reportedly = homophone indicator + prints (for 'prince'); ones shot with night lens primarily = ones + n + l (anag fodder) + shot (anagrind); in = linkword to def; Lancashire town = def (Nelson)3.52  3  
396 As new line's put on hold Harry's only a symbolic person now (6,6)Nelson is a wrestling hold; EL – railway line in Chicago; Prince Harry – the artist formerly known as Prince changed his name to a love symbol. Line = line of succession to the throne.30  2  
3924 Hold sign about extremely lawless entitled son of man ultimately in chargeNELSON: def: hold ("nelson" is a wrestling hold); NEON (sign) around (about) LawlesS (extremely …). PRINCE: def: entitled son; maN (… ultimately) in PRICE (charge).33  2  
3941 One topping column has nice PR about Charles.Nelson's column…Nice PR (anag) / Prince Charles.32  5  
3946 Prominence of warning sign ignored by him, sacked through personnel mismanagement.Warning sign ignored by prince: prOMinENce. Sacked “through” (or “per” leaves) “sonnel”, (mismanagement*)30  7  
4326 Hold up lesson, half-heartedly spar, ignoring the odds, with nice bendy rulerNELSON [hold]/PRINCE [ruler]: LES(s)ON* [up anagrind] + [(s)P(a)R/NICE]* [bendy anagrind]2.50  6  
4331 Leader in newspaper's picked up famous columnist’s points about keeping editorial limitsLeader=PRINCE, newspaper's picked up=PRINT'S homophone / famous columnist=NELSON (pun def: column in Trafalgar Sq), points=N&S, about=ON, editorial limits=EL.2.53  4  
4344 Pincer movement gave this old leader hold colonels once heldAnagram of pincer, Chambers gives prince as a leader (obsolete). Nelson, a wrestling hold, contained by coloNELS ONce.2.52  5  
4350 Royal in church following public relations disaster for lesson requiring change of direction and getting a gripPRINCE: Royal (definition) in CE following pr / NELSON: disaster for (anagrind) lesson* with n for s, getting "a grip" i.e. wrestling hold2.52  1  
4359 Victorious admiral destroyed French salt (no great man) in pincer movement"Victorious" is cryptic too, just for fun. French for "salt no" is "sel non", then *. Prince=great man. pincer*. Join is between "no" and "great"2.50  6  
488 Camera found on island with no lens by nice PR agent of royal bearing…Nelson: anag. "no lens" – {Nelson Island } Prince: anag. "nice PR" – {Royal bearing- prince }20  6  
4845 Pincer movement makes sovereign hold on after lines cut island off (6,6)Anagram of PINCER makes prince. Nelson (hold): anagram of LINES -I + ON25  4  
502 A singer makes sound impression on a columnist: ELO's involved in two numbersPrince = a singer/makes sound impression = prints (homophone)/Nelson = "a columnist" (ie Nelson's column)/Electric Light Orchestra's (= ELO + s) + n + n (= two numbers) anag.1.50  5  
5040 Non-smoker pens letter to hold pulmonologist responsible primarily – spoiling nice Hamlet, sayNelson – NS around EL (letter) + ON (=to in Chambers) Definition "hold". Prince – PR = PR (first letters of: pulmonologist responsible) + NICE* (anagrind spoiling) Definition "Hamlet, say" Reference: Hamlet cigars1.51  1  
521 A royal knight in charge marches from Lourdes, besieged by none running amok in a strongholdknight (N) in charge (PRICE) / anagram of NONE* containing L(-ourde)S (marches – borders)10  6  
523 Accomplished leader trained lens on tracks, rumoured to be of outstanding specimenNelson is the accomplished leader; trained is the anagrind for 'lens on'; 'rumoured to be' indicates a homophone, of tracks = 'prints'; an outstanding specimen is one definition of prince (Macquarie dict 'someone or something that is chief or pre-eminent in any class) group')10  6  
5215 Hamlet in Copenhagen battle was an armed strong hold leading to victoryHamlet (PRINCE of Denmark)/ in Copenhagen battle was an armed strong hold (NELSON – a strong arm hold in wrestling) leading to victory. Ref. Vice-Admiral Nelson's involvement in the Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April, 180111  7  
5230 King's son, a very popular musician and Emma Hamilton's lover, is featured in "Tunnel SongsDouble definition for PRINCE – King's son and legendary musician; NELSON was Emma Hamilton's lover and the word "is featured" in "TunNEL SONgs"; "and" is the join10  5  
5233 Learn about a king's missing son and hold press conference, pouring out heart, when running out of time to find him?A) NELSON (Learn … hold): def. 'hold' (wrestling); wordplay (LEARN – A R) reversed + SON // B) PRINCE (press … him?): def. 'him?' (referring back to 'king's … son') ; wordplay: PRINT + C(onferenc)E – T10  3  
5252 Royal Navy in cost cutting refusal, letter primarily says, heading from newly decorated admiral (6;6)Royal (PRINCE) = Navy (N) in cost (PRICE). Cutting refusal (NO), {letter (EL) primarily says (S)}, heading from newly (N) = decorated admiral (NELSON)11  4  
5853 Royal Navy probing charge acting silent without placing it on holdPRINCE: N(navy) inside PRICE(charge), def:Royal; NELSON: anag of SILENT-IT + ON, def:hold0.50  2  
5910 "Could be rainier!" spin in Conservative East Lancashire town, wrestling control from former captain (6&6)Def (Prince) =rainier (as in Prince Rainier of Monaco) spin =PR IN Conservative = C East = E Triple def (Nelson) = Lancashire town, wrestling control. Former caotain00  5  
5917 Harry’s reward: holding Megan’s foot whilst Lionel’s on the box entertaining RockefellerHarry = Pri(n)ce and container Lio(nel's+on) = Rockefeller00  5  
5927 Horatio was left in the wild endless poem by Shakespeare, and was neither the first nor last character in the stirring epic, 'Hamlet'."wild endless poem by Shakespeare" = anagram of SONNE(T) plus L ("left") which gives NELSON ("Horatio"). N is the first character of "neither", and R is the last character of "nor" which, stirred with "epic", gives PRINCE (which is what "Hamlet" was).00  7