CCCWC November competition voters’ comments
Clue no. 31: Right, Leeds' Number One Sprake is in trouble! Don't pick it up! (8)
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A clue to Any Firework.
4 comments refer to this clue (from 4 competitors, 0 others)
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| Comments on the competition |
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| 1. |
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| "Any firework". Does that mean we should discount clues such as 34, where the definition refers to an alternative meaning? I think not, especially as these were among the best entries: 8 had the cleverest definition, I admired 34's misdirection, and 31 brought back memories, although I think Sprake's claim to fame lay more in throwing the ball into his own net. Also I wonder how typical my experience was. I spent a long time trying to extract a relevant anagram from the very user-friendly letters of GIRANDOLE, only to give up (unlike others, who managed something meaningful) and choose another from the box. These open-ended tasks are sometimes infuriating – there's always the thought that a much better opportunity resides in a different target word. |
| 2. |
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| When I entered the competition I had to decide which firework would make the most interesting clue, and then how to clue it and in particular how to define it. I enjoyed seeing how other competitors addressed these choices. In the end I decided the strongest clue would be one that defined the solution as a firework, and preferably a specific firework, rather than one of its alternative meanings ('banger','rocket', etc), but which avoided 'firework(s)' or anything too obvious as the definition. This was also the basis on which I judged the clues, and several otherwise OK ones (19,23,29,30,34,37,45) missed out on points for that reason. Happily there were enough clues that met my criteria, of which 8 was the outstanding example – good anagram indicator, excellent misleading definition, and coherent surface – and got top marks. I also liked 42 for tackling 'jumping jack' successfully and 43 for its topical-ish and misleading reference to the occasion. 35 got points on the strength of the definition (I guess it was the Tate Britain saloon), as did 7. And 11, 13 and 18 also worked well. 16 would have been a contender but for the spelling error ('firey' isn't in Chambers anyway and doesn't get past my spellchecker). 31 was nicely worded, but chose precisely the wrong firework for the definition 'don't pick it up'. |
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| Quite a good mix, maybe because people had freer rein than usual. I liked 5th November for M in 25 & 13. I must specifically salute 31 for managing to incorporate Gary Sprake in true context (having frequented the terraces for years watching him punch / throw / backflick through his own legs / explore every possible chance to dunk the ball into his own net). Those were the days! |
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| For a Liverpool fan, 31 was a happy reminder of the day the Kop sang 'Careless Hands'. |
