The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC November competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 46: Step aboard transport – it's just the ticket!

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A clue to PASTEBOARD.
1 comment refers to this clue (from 1 competitor, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
Much scope for anagrams in this clue-word and a good variety of solutions offered to this approach. Quite a large number of clues deserving of points, but none truly outstanding, I felt.

3.5 points:

50 A nicely crafted clue with an unusual, but convincing, surface. Not, I think, a composite anagram, however. Since Chambers, unlike the OED, does not indicate that this is an obsolete or U.S. meaning of the word “card”, it clearly has to be allowable unqualified as a definition of PASTEBOARD.

2.5 points:

25 A good surface and a well constructed clue. It is clear that, although the meaning “flimsy” for PASTEBOARD is supported by neither Chambers nor the OED, it is current in other sources and should be accepted.

2 points:

26 A well-chosen a.i. making the three words to be anagrammed appropriate to the surface created by the definition.

33 A bit hard on traffic wardens (!), but deftly put together and quite amusing

1.5 points each:

47 Slightly artificial as a supposed sequence of staccato instructions plus observation, but sound and quite neatly done.

49 A nice definition and sound s.i., but the two don’t quite cohere into a fully convincing surface.

1 point each:

22 Imperative anagram indicators that follow rather than precede the letters to be anagrammed are a slight weakness in a clue, it seems to me, but otherwise this is admirably economical and offers a reasonable surface.

36 A coherent surface and well managed wordplay, but, strictly speaking, P should be “Pizza’s topping”, not “Pizza topping”.

Prox. ac.:

3 Neat and seasonal, but weakened by “the”, where “board” is strictly “a table” or just “table”.

51 Very economical, but both the fact that the second half of the anagram is identical to the second half of the clue-word (cf 45 & 46) and the slightly obtrusive question-mark between the a.i. and the letters to be anagrammed are weaknesses in my book.