The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC Christmas Special competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 20: Period of lament when losing a vet who sadly died before treating escaped deer

Back to competitor’s clues  |   All the comments  |   Other competitions

A clue to TWELVEMONTH / A thematic word of your choice (Right & Left).
4 comments refer to this clue (from 3 competitors, 0 others)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the clue
1.The "when" has no purpose in the cryptic reading.
2.Reasonable surface story, fair cluing, and the two clues nicely integrated
3.Period is rather vague.
 
Comments on the competition
1.
I'm not sure any of us really managed to achieve all of 1) accurate cluing, 2) a well-disguised run-on between the two parts, and 3) an excellent overall surface. 4 leaps out, but surely the apostrophe in '16 invalidates the definition of HEXADECIMAL. I did try to overlook it (as I expect many will). I enjoyed 19 and 22 for their cluing and excellent surfaces (especially 22), although neither managed to string the two parts together smoothly, and in 22 they are separate sentences. Perhaps the best clue in that respect, while also being sound and plausible, was 20. I found half a dozen other clues good in parts. Happy New Year to organisers and fellow participants.