The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC May competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 11: Enemy captured with hesitation gets shelter. Explosive act? (10)

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A clue to POWERHOUSE.
1 comment refers to this clue (from 1 competitor, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
What I noticed this month were several clues with bizarre or highly implausible surface readings, where the clue writer had forced unrelated elements together, perhaps in the hope of producing something amusing. Examples are 5, 13, 24, 36 and 11, whose long explanation was unconvincing. 3 on the other hand has a great surface, but I thought it marginally too difficult. Not many misleading definitions, but a few decent puns, the best of which is 23's "the one with the drive?". This is the one clue that made me chuckle, and I gave it top marks. 27 is concise and misleading, 39 has a good topical surface, and 9, 14 and 19 all read well. 37 and 43 contain original ideas, but neither works very well cryptically. Another good turn-out, and rather easier than last month to choose the best clues.