CCCWC October competition voters’ comments

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A clue to GLORIA.
53 comments were received for this competition (from 12 competitors, 1 other)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
“Without” means “outside” in the sense of “not inside” but not in the sense of “enclosing” so is not a valid containment indicator, but it indicates exclusion. “On” means “about” in the sense of “regarding” but not in the sense of “around/all over the place.” So this doesn’t justify using “on” as an anagram indicator, though there are arguably justifications such as when taking “on” to mean “drunk.”
2.
Anagrams of A GIRL with an added O were common (I used the idea myself) == but the idea wsa not always as well exploited as it might have been. The writer of 57 clearly has no idea about solvability, a common fault with those who write long essays to justify their over-complicated clues.
3.
44 – nice def.
4.
Another bumper crop of entertaining entries, although many shared similar wordplay and approaches. Some entries seemed unnecessarily lengthy and complex in construction or relied on less than fair (general) knowledge. In awarding points I was influenced by originality, good wordplay and a sound surface story – not the easiest criteria to deliver with such a short word and its limited range of definitions.

Comments on the clues

1. 80s pop song from original 'in/out shake it all about'

1.	Clever and brought a smile to my face!

6. A girl on the run without love

1.	The best example of this type of clue, in my opinion, with proper respect showed for Branigan!

8. A girl upset without love? (6)

1.	My favourite of the “girl” clues for its simplicity

17. De Janeiro gal mixed-up woman

1.	Crossword convention would advise againt having an anagram of letters not actually in your clue.

18. Ecclesiastical praise from church is shunned by unorthodox oligarch

1.	I feel the 'is' is unnecessary, hence no points awarded.
2.	Good anagram, but the cryptic reading spoilt by ‘is’

19. Even bigger length of a woven material

1.	Even does not mean evenly

20. Extraordinary girl with halo seen ocasionally (6)

1.	I like the fact this works on two levels. However, the surface isn't amazing, hence no points.

21. Famous song a girl composed about love

1.	Simple and straightforward but best of the song and a girl + o anagram entries.

22. Fashionable cut from original woven fabric

1.	Neat and concise surface – very nice.
2.	Lovely smooth surface
3.	Smooth surface
4.	Not the only 'original' anagram but excellent wordplay and surface story make it stand out.

24. Flying Loganair, one essentially is masked for Corona

1.	The 'essentially' could have been totally avoided for a much better surface
2.	Clever and topical
3.	Clue elements cleverly combined.
4.	Good attempt . Didn’t see the relevance of “one”
5.	Essentially doesn't fit neatly into the surface

25. Girl with a ring, perhaps?

1.	I thought this was the neatest girl/ring clue. I personally feel there's probably even a more subtle/satisfying way of indicating the anagra

30. I may interrupt examination when bottom lifted by Gynaecology's head woman

1.	Thanks for making me chuckle!
2.	Original and challenging wordplay with original surface story.

31. Inside the ice house hot air is a blessing (6)

1.	This is a nice idea. I personally feel it would have been OK to say 'igloo' outright. I also wonder whether there's a better anagram indicat
2.	Like the idea but not entirely convinced by “inside the ice house” for GLO
3.	Would prefer "inside of the ice house" for the cryptic reading

32. Largo Ibert first composed for part of Mass

1.	Would have been a good clue if written "Ibert's first largo composed for part of mass". "Ibert first" is not an acceptable indication of I.

33. Latin original lost in translation.

1.	If there was a more specific definition, I think this would be wonderful. Unless I'm missing something, 'latin' is too vague a def for me.

34. Log tossed into turbulent air in this hurricane

1.	It’s not ‘into’ but next to

36. Mass number of unstable atom is large, team's worked out (6)

1.	Clever misleading def, strong surface and impeccable grammar – everything I look for in a clue. A clear standout for me!
2.	Great deception and clever wordplay – my favourite clue
3.	Nice surface reading.

37. Matt Hancock's trackers all starting to abandon faulty algorithm – Hallelujah!

1.	Not quite convinced by ‘all starting’, but a great topical surface.

39. Object of philosophical musing while passing noisy ailing van (6)

1.	A bit too indirect! Needs a ? at least.

40. Oil and rag needed for restoring part of saintly image

1.	Well spotted anagram

43. Rain galore might be scattered near this.

1.	Clever! Only reservation is the obscure definition but very good
2.	Good comp. anag.

44. Revolutionary broadcast on Labour's goals starts mass movement

1.	It took a while for me to appreciate this one but when I did it felt satisfying rather than over-wrought. And what a great surface!

50. Song – often lauding God’s advents – in crescendo (6)

1.	I feel like there could be a better word than 'advents'. Still a nice clue though.
2.	Liked this clue for originality. But advent is just an arrival, for a 'first coming' (of Christ really) it would also need capitalisation

51. Sorting marigold borders out forms part of the service

1.	Good surface and the only use of marigold
2.	Excellent anagram idea
3.	Well-disguised, original wordplay and surface story.

52. Suppression of church by oligarch disrupted Christian praise

1.	My favourite of the “oligarch”s but not sure that “by” works in the wordplay

55. This song starts to ostensibly laud God heavenwards

1.	I think the clue might be better without 'this' at the start – I'm not sure though – great clue either way.
2.	Cleverly constructed
3.	The ‘this’ doesn’t quite work here. Maybe ‘Song … heavenwards – this one?’

56. Two-thirds of algorithm revised as it goes over one's head

1.	A dash or other punctuation would be better than ‘as’

57. Van originally delivered this in pieces. It was something out of the ordinary (6)

1.	I really like the first sentence – not so much the second.
2.	As the long explanation shows, the clue needs rather detailed knowledge to solve

59. What goes with the power? Sounds like a halo!

1.	Another clue that needs a tweak to the wording, e.g. ‘Sounds like what goes …: a halo?’