The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC July 2010 competition results

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56 clues entered. 48 votes cast (41 competitors, 7 others).


PUG

Another close fought contest this month, between quite a number of clues! As mentioned in some of the COMMENTS this is probably due to the restrictions in cluing a short word. I do try and set you a wide variety of tasks from month to month, but I think it will be some time before returning to another 3-letter word!
 
Nevertheless it seems the cream still rose to the top, so many congratulations to Les on his fine win – his first top place!
 
Commiserations to the chasing pack, Luciano regaining his form and John once again finding a podium finish. Finally to Dave and Robin for completing the top 5.

PosNo.NameClueExplanationPoints  
113Les TaylorBoxer turned inside swinging uppercut (3)Hidden reverse swinginG UPpercut42.5  4  
243Luciano WardPooch thrusting against part of one's leg gets carried awayPUSHING ('thrusting against') with SHIN 'carried away'37.5  4  
32John TozerAssertive – that's me nipping shin?pu(shin)g & lit.35.5  3  
423Dave WilliamsDog track2 defs34.5  4  
521Robin GilbertClay, the old pro – a boxer to beat!Quadruple definition31.5  4  
617Andrew VarneyClay – a boxer regularly posturingpug2, pug4; PostUrinG30.5  3  
730Kieron CallaghanI lean away from boxer dogILIST from PUGILIST27  1  
828A.R.DEVANATHANFirst prize usually goes to this breedPrize Usually Goes *initialism26.5  2  
832Kevin ArmesIs the mattress she works on evenly sprung?Def. Pug = prostitute. Even letters of sPrUnG.26.5  3  
103Richard SaundersBlind character, not hard to beatChambers: PUG (2) "to beat". Blind Pugh from Treasure Island.24  2  
1140 Papa's not half ugly, his face is all wrinkly!P (phonetic alphabet) + UG21.5  3  
1220 Clay or Muhammad Ali?pug (2) & (4)19.5  3  
1338 Old pro retiring from golf at St Andrews?Def. 'Old pro'(prostitute); rev. G = golf + UP = 'at St Andrews?'18.5  2  
1350 Spin doctor admits volte-face? He's barking!U in GP, reversed18.5  3  
1537 Old hooker gets clean away from Pirates' captain.Def. (pug = prostitute [obs.] = hooker)/Pug(wash) – as in "Captain Pugwash" – & ref. Cornish Pirates Rugby FC.17  1  
1631 I may sport repugnant featuresHidden, &lit16  1  
1710 Boxer lacking left to connect with powerplug – l15  3  
1818 Clay, epitome of a boxer, was a devilish fellow to beatFour meanings of PUG; clay=pug(2), epitome=shortened version/personification of boxer=pug(4), ref to Cassius C., devilish fellow=goblin=pug(1), to beat=pug(2)12.5  3  
1919 Clay (old pro boxer) beat dogFive definitions. pro = prostitute. All in Chambers. Ref Cassius Clay11  3  
2054 What Ali was in the beginning – Clay.Muhammad Ali was a PUGilist.10.5  2  
217 Boxer dogDouble definition10  6  
218 Boxer dog?Chambers under "Pug" gives "pug-dog". Under "Pugilist" an abbreviation is also "Pug"10  5  
2139 One needs to punch, putting out left?p(l)ug & lit10  2  
2448 Some pup! Ugly doghidden9.5  3  
2514 Boxer? Yes and noAs in pugilist, but a different dog9  5  
261 Anglo-indian: track originally from Punjabi, Urdu, Gujeratiinitial letters8.5  2  
275 Boxer back in "Ring Update" (3)Direct = boxer ; reverse container (back in) rinG UPdate7.5 
2733 Little boxer dogDouble def, PUG being short for pugilist.7.5  1  
2744 Popular boxer, formerly ClayPUG (2 defs.) Pug once was slang for boxer7.5  3  
306 Boxer back in the ring upholding his title.Pug (boxer) found backwards in "ring upholding".7  2  
3024 Ethel's Willy's driven Dr Legg back round the bend!GP reversed round U (bend). References to Eastenders, Ethel's Willy (Pug) and Dr Legg (G.P.)7  1  
3035 Man's best friend, possibly, but certainly one of Rupert's.Reference to dog and to Algy Pug (Rupert the Bear stories).7  1  
3036 Old architect's not popular with dog (3)Def = DOG, old architect = PUGIN, popular = IN. Augustus Pugin (1812-1852) designed the Palace of Westminster, and was my 4-times-great-grandfather!7  2  
3445 Punk turns up to take on Elgar's Third! (3)pug = punk = prostitute (obs), Chambers; turns UP = PU; Elgar's third = G.6  2  
3546 Pup. Ugly, essentially (3)central letters puP UGly5.5  1  
3629 Forty percent reduction in architect's footprint (3)Architect (Pugin). Def. PUG: An animal's footprint4.5  3  
379 Boxer DogDouble Meaning4  5  
3726 Fighter with feet of clay?triple def.(A reference to American boxer Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali]).4  2  
3734 Little dog gets wash to become children's cartoon favouritePUG + WASH = PUGWASH (Captain Pugwash of children's cartoons)4  3  
4027 Fill with clay when stopper's left out (3)Fill with clay = definition; Stopper = PLUG; Stopper's left out = P(-L)UG3.5  2  
4051 Swinger going round in thong – uplifting? (3)Def: swinger (as in one who swings punches) thonGUPlifting contains the answer, reversed3.5  1  
4249 Someone who fights like a small dogTwo definitions3  2  
4256 Would this old boxer make a good lap dog? (3)Pug was a 19th century name for a boxer as well as ref. to boxer dog.A pug is a lap dog.3  1  
4453 This Lady Montagu penned, versed therein (3)Hidden (rev); lady12 (OED) (= a female hound), not in C. – compare verse1 (vb,pa.t./pa.p.=versified) with versed2(=reversed) – Ref An Answer to a Love-Letter, in Verse, esp. lines 7-8; Author: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, otherwise referred as Lady Montagu, or Montagu2.5  3  
4516 Breed a short Boxer?PUG is a breed of dog. PUG is also an abbreviation for pugilist. Boxer with a capital "P" is another breed of dog, hence the "?".2  1  
4547 Shunter backs head of goods to a standstillPug = shunting-engine. G up rev.2  1  
4555 With prohibition not a choice, imprison contrary old prostitute'imprison' = 'bang up'; bang up minus ban, reversed; def 'old prostitute'.2  1  
4812 Boxer taken off I-list: what a dogpugilist minus i list1.5 
4915 Boxer's stopping, not having leftp(l)ug, plug=stopping as in tooth, see C1 
504 Boffins' conference ended early, the central feature being far from outstandingPUGwash conference0  1  
5011 Boxer not on No.1 list is still a top toy-dogPUGilist(Boxer)less(not on)i-list(No.1 list) gives PUG, which is still a top toy-dog(def)0  1  
5022 Clay was yank boxer3 meanings – ref Cassius Clay – see Chambers pug (2)(5) and (4) respectively0  2  
5025 Even dressed, is this creature really repugnant?pug is 'dressed' as rePUGnant.0  1  
5041 pedigree unkempt group, small with thickset body?Initial letters of pedigree unkempt and group…0  1  
5042 Pick-up for German boxerPU (pick-up) G (German) boxer – definition0  1  
5052 Term for something tracking small dog that's slipped Punjabi's leadpu(p) + g; term = end; & lit; pug30  1