The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC September competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 28: McCoy initially scorned 'Enterprise' nurse; one boldly going back

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A clue to BONES.
1 comment refers to this clue (from 1 competitor, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
Clues awarded marks;

Clues 33 and 39, (5 & 4 points) are both excellent & lits. and hard to separate. I awarded top marks to 33 only because I think the origin of ‘bones’ lies in the field of surgery, rather than general practice. The clue could, however, have done without the exclamation mark. I think 2 (1 point), would be better as ‘A large number’ and perhaps ‘core’ instead of ‘heart’. 28,1 point) could have been improved with a ? and full stop after McCoy, and a dash between nurse and one. 32 ( 1 point), is a competent enough hidden & lit, but a little pedestrian. 46, (3 points), is an excellent clue, but relies on specialist knowledge which is not generally available.

Clues to which I nearly gave marks are as follows;
24 ‘I may come’ isn’t quite right. It does come. Suggest a better wording would be ‘One included in designation etc….?’ or ‘One defined by “Bachelor of Surgery ?” 27 ‘bunk beds’ is a great ruse, but I don’t think ‘one’ = ‘married’ is justified. 36 ‘a’ is redundant and ‘Remains’ does not indicate hidden – ‘bits’ would have put this clue in the scoring range..
47 Nearly very good, but the solver is left asking what is being defined. Suggest the following wording would have improved; “ These, incorporating calcium primarily, can form skulls”. 48 I’m not quite convinced that ‘bonuses’ equate to ‘tips’. 51 The clue started well but lost its way. It would have been better expressed as “ You may find a number in rubbish”.

There are several clues which rely solely on multiple definitions without wordplay. These are okay for a compiler to include in a puzzle as fillers, but they are rarely going to win clue competitions, where something special is required. A couple of competitors have described 'bones' as 'essentials'. They are taking liberties with 'bare bones' – definitions should not be stretched to suit wordplay.

As a first time entrant to this competition, I’m very impressed by the hidden voting system, which makes absolutely sure that there’s no elitism.