The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC January competition voters’ comments

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A clue to PINK.
29 comments were received for this competition (from 9 competitors, 2 others)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
Many clues failed (as they so often do, alas!) through unconvincing surfaces and/or imprecise constructions (beware clues that need an essay to explain them). I contrived a simple hidden clue and found some others that did the same rather nicely, and so they got my top votes.
2.
A very uninspired list and with a lot ofunsoundness – I struggled to award many points at all. Long explanations automatically turn me off.
3.
To me this was a difficult one to judge given the number of definitions available for 'pink' and the large number of perfectly good clues submitted. I therefore let particularly good surface stories influence my selection for shortlisting purposes.

I liked the ingenuity of many of the hidden clue entries and was initially taken (and amused) by clue 20 but concluded that'tucking' in its context and positioning in the clue did not do enough to indicate a hidden answer. Clues 40 and 50 both had a good story to tell but 49, despite its length, appealed to me most and I gave it 4 points.

With only 4 letters to play with, there was a still quite a range of word play offerings. Of the anagrams, I liked clue 9 but was not convinced that 'will' by itself was acceptable as a link word.

Double (or more) definitions also featured strongly and I liked clue5 and clue 10- 4 definitions in 8 words is quite a feat.

Of the remaining clues, I liked 14 21 22 24 33 and 34. I concluded that clue 14 had the edge on 21 in the surface story but also liked the way 22 disguised Pink Floyd and Floyd Patterson in 5 words and 33 was nicely disguised in 6 words. Clue 34, at 2 words, was the shortest clue but perhaps could benefit from having a '?'. In the end, I gave 3 points each to clues 14 22 and 33 with the remaining 2 points to clue 21.

Finally, I did like clue 13 which is certainly topical, but could not find a justification for 'extreme' as a definition for 'pink'. I apologise now to this and any other entrant if, in judging these clues, I have overlooked a vital element.
 
Comments on the clues
1. 22 ÷ 7 + n + 1,000 = height.
1.I don't get the 'height=definition'. Better without this
2.22/7 is not pi!!
3.22/7 isn't pi.
4.22 ÷ 7 is NOT pi!
4. American singer from 70s music scene got number one after leaving university
1.The cryptic reading isn’t grammatical – needs to be ‘getting’ not ‘got’
8. Chess tactic near kingside is somewhat rare (4)
1.Would be better with 'king' and 'side' as separate words
11. Drop of purple writing fluid? No, somewhat blue
1.I like the idea, but not keen on ‘no’ as a joining word.
13. Extreme furore when prince kills good man
1.‘Suppresses’ maybe, but ‘kills’ doesn’t indicate ‘replaces’
20. It's a bit risqué tucking gymslip in knickers
1.My favourite of the hidden clues this month
21. Knock back a little drink, getting drunk at last
1.Definition is well disguised
22. Maybe Floyd Patterson's first tattoo?
1.Clever deception here; maybe ink is a stretch for tattoo.
2.Succinct, precise, nicely misdirecting. 5 points.
23. Neighbours of Ohm,Kelvin and Rose
1.Whilst the alphabet rotation appealed to the puzzler in me, I thought this was a bit obscure in this setting
24. Nip back to see Kew's premier flower
1.A good solid charade. Kew provides a nice surface context.
30. Pot in snooker, frequently pocketed
1.Elegant happenstance!
34. Rare colour
1.I would argue it is a double definition rather than cryptic, but nevertheless nicely succinct
2.Clue has the beauty of good surface as well as startling simplicity.
36. Rose quietly as wife dropped an amorous hint (4)
1.I don't think the word order works but do like the randy clue
37. Rose smiles in Rupert's bed (4)
1.A sophisticated and intellectual clue a la Torquemada himself; could be too much so!
40. Scallop stocked by shop in Knightsbridge
1.Nice surface, rather easy
46. The sound of a chaffinch at home in park
1.Simple but lovely surface
48. What provides middle of lapel with colour?
1.Nice combination of surface reading and construction
2.The best & lit. in this comp
49. What's hidden by chap in kilt gets one looking slightly embarrassed maybe!
1.A bit long but amusing surface. Not sure why one would be embarrassed if whatever it is is hidden.
50. What's pocketed by Trump, in Kochi?
1.Nice idea, but a quick google suggests that Trump doesn't do this in Kochi.
51. What's seen to bloom fills suntrap in Kew.
1.Nice surface, rather easy