The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC April 2022 competition results

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60 clues entered. 56 votes cast (48 competitors, 8 others).


REMOTE CONTROL

Congratulations this month go to Sanket Anurag Shrivastava who has achieved a maiden victory with a very nice cryptic definition – and that is also Sanket's second podium finish for this year.
 
Not too far back in second spot it's John Tozer – his first top 5 finish of this year – whose clue incorporated a clever definition.
 
Sawbill came next in third place – a deceptive definition that worked in well with the wordplay, some nice anagram fodder too (who doesn't like a Cornetto?)
 
Fourth place went to Vinod Raman who conjured up another deceptive definition.
 
Finally, Nathan Townsend grabs his second podium of the year taking 5th place and once again a nicely deceptive definition.
 
Thanks as always to everyone for taking part – good luck with your Printer's Deveilry!

PosNo.NameClueExplanationPoints Merits 
12Sanket Anurag ShrivastavaA station manager for the Tube?Cryptic definition (puns on station/channel, the Tube/TV)62.52  5  
210John TozerCut off direct source of cross-channel migrations?remote (cut off) + control (direct, vb.)56.52  2  
335sawbillNeeded to change stations in Rome, left with Cornetto meltingNeeded to change stations = def in = link from clue to answer ROME + L + CORNETTO melting = anagram indicator45.52  3  
460Vinod RamanWithout a role, no actor met troubled TV director (6,7)Def:"TV director", anagram indicator:"troubled", ROLENOACTORMET* without A402 
522Nathan TownshendForeign power with influence over the ChannelD1: Foreign power D2: Influence over the (TV) Channel Ref Possible Russian interference in the French election?32.54  1  
632Joe ReesLong-distance running? (6,7)cryptic definition28.50  3  
729Tom BorlandIn this state Stormont electorate suffers: rule from afar*STORMONT ELECTORATE = REMOTE CONTROL STATE; def. rule from afar27.50  1  
81Pete MilneA commanding set pieceCryptic definition. Set = TV etc.245  3  
97Vinit WankhedeCool tormenter's kinky gadget (6-7)COOLTORMENTER*23.52  1  
959S.SreeniWireless operator turned on electric motor after removing chip (6,7)Anagram (turned) of (ONELECTRICMOTOR-IC)* (chip for integrated circuit . Ref Chambers).. Def: Wireless Operator23.52  1  
1126 How to operate a drone motor with electron wavesAnagram: 'motor' waving with 'electron'19.51 
1127 Icy discipline might be a turn-on for some (6,7)Icy = remote; discipline = control19.52  2  
1314 Device to switch from Clone to Tom and Jerry, essentially? (6,7)CLONETOTOM+(j)ERR(y)* Clone, BBC Three comedy series.172  1  
148 Cornet played with tremolo effect, picked up from afarDefinition is "effect picked up from afar". Anagram of "cornet" with "tremolo".16.54  3  
1444 Small knob maybe a source of marital disharmony? (6,7)Small = remote (as in chance); knob maybe = control; rest = def. Sorry – couldn’t resist the risqué surface!16.52  3  
1618 Electronic device played cornet, breaking into a sort of tremoloCORNET* (anagrind=played) inside TREMOLO* (anagrind=a sort of)162 
1628 Imperialism?dbe161  2  
1830 Is often pressed to change one's views on Gogglebox?153  2  
1936 New starter in redesigned electromotor device for model planeN in ELECTROMOTOR*; def = device for model plane14.50  2  
1940 One may adjust set's volume playing cornet with tremolo(cornet, tremolo)*14.53 
2158 When it's misplaced, cool…? Er, torment!(cool er torment)*13.51 
2223 Gush with power after river channel changes with this?Gush = EMOTE, power = CONTROL after R… channel changes with this? – definition132  2  
2239 One lying on couch in morn with tool erect, arousedAnagram (aroused) of MORN TOOL ERECT132  3  
2416 Does spinning electron motor cause spooky action at a distance? (6,7)Anag (spinning) ELECTRONMOTOR Cause(s) spooky action at a distance = CD12.53 
2450 Unlikely to be in charge of this device?REMOTE (unlikely) and CONTROL (to be in charge of) in a charade defining REMOTE CONTROL (device)12.52 
2453 What a couch potato has to change?Cryptic definition12.53 
2743 Set regulating device on electric motor eliminating internal combustion jitters(ON ELECTRIC MOTOR – IC)*; def: set regulating device (set=tv)122  2  
2749 Unfriendly check for channel hopper ?2 synonyms + for = resulting in + definition122  2  
2954 What could loosely be seen as 'electro-monitor', one for zappinganag less I & lit.11.51  1  
3046 Tool for distance working is more about the external oversightDefinition='Tool for distance working'. Anagram of MORE (about) + TE (the external) + CONTROL (oversight).101 
3119 Entertaining device has electronic motor broken with leads to induction coil missingELECTRON(ic)MOTOR anagram; Entertaining device definition9.52  2  
3248 Unconcerned with mastery of telekinesis?Def = "telekinesis?"; Unconcerned = remote, mastery = control (both Chambers Thesaurus)7.50 
3315 Distant management might call up the office on-screenDistant = remote, management = control; def: might call up (bring up for display) The Office (UK/US TV show) on-screen; surface alludes to current environment of teleworking73 
3352 Wayward meteor lands on cool Waldo(meteor)* on control (cool), definition: Waldo71 
3547 Unapproachable government directs from a distanceUnapproachable = Remote, government = Control. Remote control directs from a distance6.52  1  
366 Commuting to Luton regularly or more 'eco' working from home?Anag(T_ L_T_N OR MORE ECO), anagrind=COMMUTING. Def: working (=operation) from home?61  2  
3637 Off the beaten track? Keep a tight rein. It'll let you see the next station.Off the beaten track = remote; keep a tight rein = control; def: it'll let you see the next station60 
383 Aloof, and with self-restraint, the Mothers of Invention’s principal broadcast with this instrument, informally (6,7)Aloof (REMOTE), and with self-restraint (CONTROL) [Def.], the Mothers of Invention’s (late 1960s rock band’s) principal (leader – Frank Zappa) broadcast (homophone – zapper) with this instrument (device), informally. (Chambers: zapper; Informal – A remote-control device for TV, etc.) [Wordplay]50  1  
3911 Cut off knob could make Dave "History".Cut off = remote; knob = control; could make Dave "History" = definition (Dave and History both being TV channels).4.53  1  
409 Couch potato’s magic wand?CD41  1  
4038 One can whizz fan to large concert more easily without coming in the vanTO + L + CONCERT + MORE * (easily) – C40 
424 Clermont inhabitants provide drone operation? (6,7)'inhabitants provide' = letter bank indicator; 'Clermont' = letter bank fodder; 'drone operation' = definition by example3.50  2  
4231 Little monster on Metro once given a surprise encouragement to stay seatedTROL(l) on METROONCE* (given a surprise)3.50  3  
4442 Rector devastated by tool men broke instigates programme changeAnagram RECTOR (anagrind devastated) + anagram TOOL MEN (anagrind broke)2.50  1  
4451 Way of operating from a distance troublesome electron motor{electron motor}*2.50 
4455 What's activated electronic motor I see unconnected?Anagram of ELECTRONICMOTOR without I+C (‘see’ = C, see Chambers); &lit.2.50  1  
475 Clumsy Rector Tom Noel uses device to start tv from far(6,7) Anagram of "Rector Tom Noel" introduced by "clumsy"… definition for remote control="device to start tv from far"21  1  
4713 Device that might make motor and electron work.Anag MOTORELECTRON: work = ferment as anagram indicator.20 
4721 Flipper torment — needs cooler swimmingFlipper (def. referring to TV dolphin) torment cooler *21 
4724 Hand-held device's motor and electron transferMOTOR + ELECTRON anag20 
5112 Device for audience prone to let crooner start mouthing offanagrind – off, fodder – to let crooner + [m], definition – device for audience prone11 
5117 Electomotor neurons principally designed for regulation at a distance(ELECTROMOTOR + N)*. Defn = the function, not the device12  2  
5120 Far, far away, rehashed 80s sci-fi movie to be screened by army officer—he might need this to watch itREMOTE ("Far, far away") + anagram of TRON ("80s sci-fi movie") inside COL ("army officer")11  1  
5125 Hi-tech pointed tool?Cryptic definition12  1  
5141 Radio device engineers using cool torment (6,6)RADIO DEVICE = definition; ENGINEERS = RE (Royal Engineers); USING = anagram indicator; (COOL TORMENT)* = anagram fodder10  1  
5145 The art of puppetry is something we lost during the digital ageDef 1 = The art of puppetry / Def 2 = something we lost during the digital age13  1  
5733 Means of navigating channels in travelling River Trent made so cool when bad adviser leavesDefinition- means of navigating channels; anagram of RIVER TRENT MADE SO COOL minus anagram of ADVISER01  1  
5734 More recent tool, after spending Euros, used for activation from afar (6,7)Anagram of (more recent tool-e). ‘Used’ is anagrind. ‘Spending’ is deletion indicator01  1  
5756 What’s manoeuvring down-sized electronic motor? (6,7)Anagram of ELECTRON (ELECTRONIC reduced in size) + MOTOR Manoeuvring (intr.) = anagram indicator. &lit (remote control car)00 
5757 What's right electronic device to get finishing touches to set (far too dull, having volume receding)?R + E + CON (device = swindle, hoax) +T + R +O + L (ends of SET FAR TOO & DULL) all around TOME (volume) reversed. set = TV. &Lit00