CCCWC May competition voters’ comments

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A clue to IRONSIDE.
72 comments were received for this competition (from 11 competitors, 1 other)
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Comments on the competition
1.
The 'derision' anagram was a bit too popular, and only used well in a couple of clues, 12 and 41. It was difficult to do much with the TV detective, partly because the definition needed to be quite specific to work. The final clue 46 stood out from its predecessors for its originality and fluent surface.
2.
I thought that we would have some great clues this month but it wasn't to be. So many opted to use derision as an anagram which is so obvious it hardly needs an anagrind!
3.
Some acceptable clues, but none that stand out
4.
The rather obvious 'derision' anagram and/or the link to Cromwell were always going to dominate the entries, but what impressed me about 5 was its parsimony

Comments on the clues

1. A sort of Christian Talib, I was undisturbed about sin, surprisingly.

1.	"Talib" doesn't seem to fit the Chambers definition, nor seems necessary.

4. Cavalry to press on?

1.	Great idea, but I think 'cavalry' gives the plural (Ironsides) rather than the singular.

5. Cavalryman bent tin soldier after angry Lieutenant quit (8)

1.	Why the "angry"?
2.	I like this clue although can't see the need for 'angry'
3.	Not sure if "angry" is necessary.

7. Chief of Detectives travelling in wheelchair, on sidewalk (8)

1.	A very nicely composed hidden.
2.	Well written clue but would be a little too easy to solve for this level.

8. Club team produces man of great strength

1.	Works but lacks spark.
2.	The definition could have been a bit more imaginative.

9. Cromwell: I'd Erin so destroyed.

1.	Slightly artificial wording, but Erin is good in the context of the definition.

10. De Niro is disguised as old English king

1.	The best of the anagrams – and fits in very well with the surface.

11. De Niro starts to spar in 'Raging Bull'…

1.	Like it!
2.	I don’t see how “Bull” can possibly be a valid definition of IRONSIDE. A shame because the s.i. and surface are excellent.

14. Derision erupts for Scunthorpe United team

1.	Seems to me there's two cryptic defs here, and no straight def.

19. Edmund Blackadder finally dies in first offensive manoeuvre

1.	Shouldn't this be 'first of offensive' and then maybe 'manoeuvres'?
2.	I think if Edmund is the straight def, it needs qualification.
3.	Surface superb, but Edmund as def. needs a “possibly” or equiv., and, for me, “first [as opp. to first of] offensive” does not = O.
4.	Excellent surface.

20. Edmund, the product of cruel derision.

1.	Best of the "derision" anagram clues.

21. Feline? He's no pussycat!

1.	This works for me, particularly with the ? which doesn't jar at all in the surface. Very clever.
2.	Clue-writer might have got away with 'Fe-line', but not this, unfortunately
3.	Nice def, but 'Feline' is a bit too cheeky for me!
4.	Very ingenious, but a bit too cheeky for me.
5.	Good idea, but line=side isn't very obvious in itself.
6.	Nice surface, but yes, cheeky!

22. F-fearless leader?

1.	Might be me, but I can't see how this is supposed to work!

23. Gun lobby stalwart

1.	Nicely concise, but I don't see lobby as a sufficient indicator for SIDE

24. I rode around busting sin

1.	Needs a question mark, I think, but otherwise very good
2.	Great idea though 'busting' doesn't quite work. Needs a QM also.
3.	Just about my favourite. Well done.
4.	An admirably economical &lit.

25. I rode in Sheffield's first troop, perhaps

1.	I think either 'troop' or 'perhaps' is redundant and means it's not quite an &lit. Nice idea though.
2.	Confusing. The word 'troop' appears redundant to me. The anagrind (perhaps?) seems to be in the wrong place.
3.	Which is the anagrind? If it's perhaps, then what is 'troop' doing in the wordplay?
4.	Very good if it were not for “troop”, surely not acceptable as an a.i. If “perhaps” is a.i., then “troop” has no valid part to play

28. Man-made of steel from ore cast by hand

1.	Won't do. A hyphen joins words, not separates them.
2.	Dodgy hyphen!
3.	I don't see "hand" as an indicator for SIDE. Am I missing something?

30. Maybe Jeremy Kyle's latest screening: "I date a man determined to have his way!"

1.	Almost very good, but let down by the punctuation
2.	Not quite sure about 'latest' as end indicator, but the rest is great
3.	Took me a looong time to get it. Clever though.
4.	Neat s.i. seamlessly melded with a sound definition, but the second half of the surface is slightly weak.

31. Old battler found by West Ham – a team without a leader

1.	An apt and timely football reference. 'Old battler' is a very nice definition.
2.	West Ham’s nickname may be well known to football fans, but to rely on it in a non-specialist puzzle seems unfair.

32. Old trooper, inside or out.

1.	Lovely surface.

33. One charged against flank protecting King

1.	Like it! Doesn't it need a QM as an &lit?

34. One joined up to serve in cavalry guards against head of state

1.	Neat wordplay and a satisfying &lit.

35. One name received by soldier, contrived to express 'flank of metal'

1.	Great! Doesn't it need a QM as an &lit?

36. One part of the team following Roundheads' leader?

1.	A valiant attempt at an &lit. from unpromising material.
2.	I guess this is debatable, but I'm not a fan of Roundhead=R.

37. Puritan club team

1.	'Puritan' seems a little vague as a definition.

38. "Puritan" = desiring no grand love affair?

1.	I see no justification for 'affair' as an anagram indicator

39. Puritan in prison pens first parts of religious opus

1.	Very nicely constructed, although ideally there would also have been a reference to the military aspect of an Ironside.
2.	Liked the use of 'in prison' for 'inside'
3.	An excellent surface – the best of the bunch – and a very neat s.i.

40. Puritan initially, is Ryan in a position to score?

1.	Onside=in a position to score? Not for me. One can be onside and over on the wing, well away from a scoring position. Like the topicality th
2.	Delightfully topical, as well as being an excellent clue.

41. Stir up derision for one of Cromwell's men.

1.	Best of the 'derision' offerings

43. Strong brave out derision (8)

1.	Surface makes no sense.

44. This Cromwellian's order is "Ride on!"

1.	Cryptic reading doesn't work gramatically.
2.	Not a full &lit. as 'This Cromwellian' is not part of the wordplay.
3.	Liked this one. Second favourite.
4.	Good one, though is not very Ximenean, given the way the anagrind 'order' appears in the clue.
5.	Not an &lit as claimed: "This Cromwellian" plays no part in the s.i. and is there solely to produce a valid definition.

45. West Ham's identity? English Republican

1.	Not sure about this. 'English' is doing double duty in the cryptic and straight and the straight def is too much of a jump to Ironside.

46. Wrongly imprisoned MP comes out fighting Parliamentarian

1.	Original idea, clever def.
2.	A slightly artificial surface, but a neatly executed s.i.
3.	Great surface.