The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC Christmas Special 2021 competition results

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

46 clues entered. 47 votes cast (39 competitors, 8 others).


A Christmas Boxed Set (Anagram)

I expected some inventive anagrams for this challenge – what I was not expecting? – anagrams themed to the festive season. But there were some and those were the ones favoured by the judges!
 
So hearty congratulations to John Tozer who romped to victory with his suitably festive triplet! That's John's second win of the year and as we shall see shortly, stood him in good stead in the overall standings.
 
Charlie Oakley in second – and a second podium of the year…
Good to see Luciano back on the podium after an unduly long absence – 3rd place with the most concise effort…
Another return to the top 5 after a long absence – Paul Coulter in 4th spot…
Finally, Nathan Townsend bags a 3rd podium of the year in 5th spot…
 
Thanks to all for the festive frolics!
 
2021 ANNUAL COMPETITION RESULT
 
John Tozer's Christmas success means he sneaks up on the rail to snatch victory in the last few strides! Well done John on regaining the crown!
 
Very hard luck and commiserations to Tom Borland – leading right till the end only to lose out by a single point…but a great effort!
 
Richard Saunders and Simon Griew tied for third place, just a half point behind – again, well done sirs, and better luck next year!
 
Finally, in fifth place was Steve Hicks – a mere point further back.
 
Our closest competition yet for the overall standings, so good luck to all for 2022!

PosNo.NameClueExplanationPoints Merits 
145John TozerCue: Bring Presents / Demand Santa Hat / Turkey Dead, Chablis On HandBruce Springsteen / Adam and the Ants / Ian Dury and the Blockheads643  3  
246Charlie OakleyGod is in a manger, Magi ride by, Cue: Bring presents!Imagine Dragons, Marie Digby, Bruce Springsteen… possibly representing an excerpt from a Nativity script!502  5  
314Luciano Ward1. I SEND 2. PRESENTS 3. 2 USNIDE (punk rock music, it seems), SERPENTS (deathcore music, it seems), U2 (a rock and roll music ensemble, it seems)442  3  
416Paul Coulter1. I'm a Jerk, but Listen 2. Rated Worst 3. Creep Brings Tunes1. Justin Timberlake 2. Rod Stewart 3. Bruce Springsteen39.52  2  
512Nathan Townshend1: He (and a band) held your stick 2: It's food man! 3: Their tempers can scare1: Ian Dury and the Blockheads 2: Fats Domino 3: Manic Street Preachers320  1  
61Myrtilus1. A Banal Duets LP, 2. Recent Pub Singers, 3. Hear Little Boys CrySpandau Ballet, Bruce Springsteen, The Bay City Rollers304  2  
69mark webberley1. Fatten Yer Arse. 2. Morning Sick. 3. Total Wrecks.1. Ten Years After. 2. King Crimson. 3. Scott Walker. Festive overindulgence summarised in three surface clues!302  2  
640AJEESH1.Indian Model 2.Nude Dragons 3.Just a spiderNeil Diamond, Soundgarden, Judas Priest302  1  
917Mark Jordan1. I'm a jerk, but listen! 2. Sticky romance 3. Perturbing scenes1. Justin Timberlake 2. Arctic Monkeys 3. Bruce Springsteen27.50 
926Simon Griew1. Nearby priests… 2. …deny lover… 3. …more noisy bonksBritney Spears, Don Everly, Smokey Robinson27.51  3  
117 1. Deserve to win 2. I like 'em young 3. Call me at 1Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, Metallica261  3  
123 (1) A teen oaf's girl (2) tries odd gin (3) only after rehab(1) Gloria Estefan (2) Otis Redding (3) Harry Belafonte21.53  1  
1211 (1) GP bent, cries nurse… (2) NHS weed potent… ….…(3) 'Dr..my piles?'(1) Bruce Springsteen…(2) Pete Townshend… …. ……(3) Simply Red..21.51 
1413 1. Hemp Noir 2. Celebrate This Life 3. Forge of Hits1. Morphine 2. The Celibate Rifles 3. Foo Fighters191  1  
1530 1. Tale of a Singer 2. 'Rot in Hell' Song Set 3. A Bimbo Will Rise1. Gloria Estefan 2. The Rolling Stones 3. Robbie Williams18.51  1  
166 1. Cute Once, A Burly Old Bugger 2. Seen! Got No Thrills 3. Let Hates BeBoy George And Culture Club, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles161  1  
175 1. Blandest Paula 2. I'm a jerk, but listen 3. O fat male1. Spandau Ballet 2. Justin Timberlake 3. Meat Loaf14.55  1  
1822 1. Laudable pants 2. Sweaty Ken 3. Grim showtunesSpandau Ballet, Kanye West, Throwing Muses142 
1927 1) Phi: so rated 2) I suit a girl: Arachne? 3) GM Azed: anagrams flow outArtists disclosing their favourite compilers and why: Portishead, Christina Aguilera, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart13.51  1  
1937 1.Damn Hated Santa 2.Carols? Meh, Tripe! 3.I Jerk Tinsel at BumAdam and the Ants, The Proclaimers, Justin Timberlake13.53  3  
2129 1. Santa’s car loan. 2. I ride strats. 3. Song by cribCarlos Santana, Dire Straits, Bing Crosby12.51 
2131 1) Thankful Asian Heart 2) Crude Monk 3) Maid to Love1) Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 2) Rod McKuen 3) Demi Lovato12.51  1  
2134 1. Use my lyric (5,5) 2. Noted reviews (6,6) 3. Plectra icon (4,7)1. Miley Cyrus 2. Stevie Wonder 3. Eric Clapton12.54  1  
2419 1. It's Food Man! 2. Reenabled 3. Deserve to WinFats Domino, Brenda Lee, Stevie Wonder101  1  
2543 1.Use my lyric; 2. They boss pop; 3. PestsMiley Cyrus; Pet Shop Boys; Steps8.51 
2641 1.Loud Divas 2. Recent pub singers 3. Get me a deal Sir!David Soul, Bruce Springsteen, Altered Images.82  1  
2736 1. Woke food really soothing 2. Six hundred stringy men 3. Extra doorstep helpedFrankie Goes To Hollywood, Dexy's Midnight Runners, The Teardrop Explodes7.51 
2818 1. IRON MAIDEN’S GAG 2. WITH YOU THEN, SON 3. INDIAN MODEL1. IMAGINE DRAGONS * 2. WHITNEY HOUSTON* 3. NEIL DIAMOND*6.52 
292 1 A Flirty Swot, 2 Grand Folk Men in USA, 3 Demiurge1 Taylor Swift, 2 Simon and Garfunkel, 3 Midge Ure51  3  
2928 1. Rocks anytime 2. Rain Demon (1) , 3.Undo dangers1. ARTIC MONKEYS 2. IRON MAIDEN 3. SOUNDGARDEN51  3  
2938 1.Elon Musk's Fight 2.Some Redesign 3.His Better LineKing of the Slums; Sergio Mendes; The Libertines51 
3233 1. Two-faced mole 2. Fruity Johnson cheated 3. Musical carpentryFleetwood Mac / Country Joe and the Fish / Sir Paul McCartney4.53 
3242 1.Lucy can tamper 2.Lego magic here 3. How many use IE?PAUL MCCARTNEY / GEORGE MICHAEL / AMY WINEHOUSE4.51 
3424 1. Mercurial Ave! 2. A Drawler's Dirge 3. Girded GraveMaurice Ravel. Sir Edward Elgar. Edvard Grieg41  2  
354 1. Antic yelps 2. Play Inducer 3. Why not shine out?1. Patsy Cline, celebrating her signature yodel. 2. Cyndi Lauper, always upbeat. 3. Whitney Houston, known for full-bodied vocals.3.51 
3544 A trio of solo projects… 1. Ding, Baby! | 2. Big Ribbon | 3. I Care, Big Bum1. Andy Gibb | 2. Robin Gibb | 3. Maurice Gibb3.50 
3720 1. Jab, as maths very clear 2. Lads agree time 3. Ogle apple? Evil!1. Barclay James Harvest 2. Altered Images 3. Village People31  3  
3810 1. Go Bore Us! Prepacked Melody 2. Harmonious Green Leftie Ploy 3. Choral? No need1. Godspeed You! Black Emperor 2. Neil Young + Promise of the Real (that's how they're billed) 3. Leonard Cohen2.51 
3821 1. LA Climate, 2. Aged Meth, 3. Men AttestWe're going classic 80s thrash metal this Christmas. 1. Metallica, 2. Megadeth, 3. Testament2.52 
4035 1. Wet H2O 2. Bum, lech, 'King' pretender 3. 1 LP1. The Who 2. Engelbert Humperdinck 3. PiL (AKA Public Image Ltd)1.51  1  
4132 1 Trapped fresh: Thank Amazon; 2 Pantie Breath Cafe; 3 Hitless Pox Set1 Frank Zappa and the Mothers; 2 Captain Beefheart; 3 The Sex Pistols12 
4139 1.Had Seen ‘er 2. I Go Viral, Or Do I? 3. Me In A Play1. Ed Sheeran. 2. Olivia Rodrigo. 3. Liam Payne12 
438 1. Ed Nevis wrote. 2. My, a rich area! 3. Yah! O muse wine!Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Amy Winehouse01 
4315 1. I'll be bum ache (7,5) 2. Skint ra-ra fan (5,7) 3. Crib song by … (5,6)1. Michael Buble 2. Frank Sinatra 3. Bing Crosby02 
4323 1. ME MINE 2. I DO HEAR AD 3. SAME JAR HURTEminem, Radiohead, James Arthur01 
4325 1. Neanderthal's Lamb Broth 2. An East Germanic High Tea 3. Do Others?1. The Allman Brothers Band 2. Rage Against the Machine 3. The Doors02