CCCWC January competition voters’ comments

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A clue to PERCH.
71 comments were received for this competition (from 9 competitors, 1 other)
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Comments on the competition
1.
I'm going cross-eyed here I'll get the voting out of the way as quick as I can by just giving the merits without saying why. They are: 10,16,17,18,19,26,29,35,36 and 38 It was difficult awarding the lower points as there wasn't much between them, so I awarded 0.5 to the following: 6,20 and 21 1.0 point goes to 3,11,23 and 28 as these were, I thought, better/different/more fun. Personally I would have left out 'is' but for the clever way it introduces us to an unlikely combination, and the image it evokes, I award 1.5 to clue 28 Like my own here I much prefer clues that read like a normal sentence or statement rather than an obvious (often too convoluted) cryptic clue. In the competition I also like the clues that are different to the rest, even if not particularly difficult to come up with (so why didn't I think of using Switzerland for CH when I often use it? Probably because had hidden-word clue in my mind from the start I guess!) So, Agent 007 gets 2.0 A couple of clues however, whilst similar, were also similarly brilliant so, for 'chilling situation' if nothing else, I give clue 12 3.0 But on the hightest perch of all (I'll get me coat) sits clue 43 which was perfect right down to the question mark and to which I award 4.0 As a PS, I found A = PER either lazy, unfair (even if it is allowed) or both. But that's just my opinion of course.
2.
There were a lot of clues using 'per'='a' as an indicator. This synonym is a real gift to the clue-writer, and I think it needs to be used judiciously, not just grabbed at the first opportunity. It's probably better suited to longer words than PERCH, and no one used it very effectively or originally in this competition, so my marks went elsewhere.

Comments on the clues

1. A church pew?

1.	I don't like A = PER even if it is allowed
2.	Several competitors have used per(1)which is a preposition as the indefinite article. Unacceptable IMHO

2. A church seat (5)

1.	I don't like A = PER even if it is allowed

3. A peg for hanging some paper chains?

1.	I like 'hanging' here

5. A place to sit when not airborne? (5)

1.	I don't like A = PER even if it is allowed, especially in a clue like this!

6. A pole dancing stripper such purists ignore?

1.	Def. well disguised but I'd prefer an indication that a mixture of 'purists' is to be removed
2.	Whilst others may disagree, I'd say PURISTS needs its own anagram indicator. Amusing surface though.
3.	Nice clue this!

7. Agent returned to Switzerland for elevated position

1.	Definitely in my top 3
2.	'To' as a linkword looks obtrusive.

8. Bad diet helper, chips? Altogether criminal, with this passing the lips!

1.	The definition is not very clear here, but nice attempt at twisting a 'hidden' into something more clever
2.	er… what?
3.	I can see where perch is hiding, but the rest makes no sense at all!

10. Century relieves tension, setting Test venue alight

1.	May be harsh, but I think PERTH is too vague for 'Test Venue', whereas WACA or LORDS would not be, for example.

11. Cheap trick to replace top athlete with second-grade swimmer

1.	The single letter indicators are a bit clumsy here – 'second-grade' is not the same as 'second letter in grade'
2.	This is the sort of 'clever' I like!
3.	Second-grade does not fairly indicate the second letter in grade.

12. Chilling situation for those that fly-fish (5)

1.	I'm not keen on splitting a word to separate the clue's parts
2.	I can't convince myself 'chilling situation' quite works in the definition, but nice idea
3.	Nearly threw this one out until I got 'Chilling situation' and then the more I read it the more I liked it!

13. Chirper flapping over this one, right?

1.	zzzzzz
2.	For this clue to work a perch would need to be a bird as well as a fish, which, surely, it isn't.

14. Exercise to scour ocean in quest for fish

1.	scour 1 = "purge", which is not quite the same as "replace"

15. Fish a pole, settle on rod rest

1.	Slightly weakened by the similarity in meaning between 'pole' and 'rod', and 'settle on' and 'rest'. Otherwise, well orchestrated
2.	No, a nope, never over my dead body

16. Fish supper – chips essential

1.	There were many hidden-word clues; I considered this the best of them.
2.	I'm not convinced that "essential" is sufficient to indicate "hidden", but otherwise a very nice, concise clue and a good surface.

17. Fish supper with chip sandwiches

1.	The best and least obvious of the 'hiddens'
2.	Not strictly hidden

18. Four in every chain?

1.	I think it would be four 'perches', not four 'perch'
2.	Would have scored a couple of points if only it had been worded: "In every chain? There are four of these"
3.	Hmmm, let me think about it
4.	Does depend on the solver knowing these old measurements, but my favourite in terms of wordplay.
5.	Ingenious and satisfying.

19. Furious Cleese's parrot (ex-) rested here at first.

1.	Excellent idea.
2.	I find "at first" to indicate all the preceding five letters a bit iffy, but a nice surface.

20. One often in flower before end of March through mid Oct

1.	Ah, the good old 'flower', but nicely used
2.	Crafty!
3.	Nicely deceptive, but "mid Oct" for 'c' is dubious, while the surface arguably requires a hyphen.

21. Pole dancing preacher cuts ear

1.	Whilst some might disagree, I'd say 'ear' needs its own anagram indicator – REA is cut from preacher
2.	Simple, clever and fun. A clue after my own heart!
3.	There is a crucial difference between "Pole dancing" needed to make the clue work cryptically and "Pole-dancing" required by the surface

23. Pole's caught in timeless city down under

Nice

24. Pole's high seat in upper chamber.

1.	Why Pole and high seat? Just confuses

25. Pope, as an example, maybe should repudiate "a new Church of England"

1.	A little long, but a clever idea

26. Regular poetry champion's high seat

Classy

27. Rod and Roger, a couple of champions to put alongside Pete? Not half

1.	Too convoluted for me, sorry
2.	I almost gave this points, but decided that Roger for 'r' (rather than OK) won't quite do.

28. Rod on piano; Cher is dancing

1.	I like this but why include 'is'?
2.	On is an unnecessary link word, added for surface reading only.

29. Rod,or what it catches perhaps?

Clever

30. Seat in upper chamber (5)

1.	Number 24 should have been like this one
2.	May be simple, but more pleasing than many entries.

31. Settle a child

1.	Best of the 'per = a' clues
2.	I don't like A = PER even if it is allowed

32. Settle back in House of Commons on opening of parliament

1.	I'm umming and ahing over this one

34. Sit through church

1.	Prefer 35 to this

35. Sit uncomfortably through church

1.	Prefer this to 34

36. Sniper chose concealed, centrally-located, high, narrow place to sit.

1.	I'd much prefer this if it simply read 'Sniper chose concealed place to sit'.
2.	Spoilt by the unnecessary 'centrally located'

38. Switching temperature to Celsius in fair maid's home is a perk

1.	'Perk' was a good spot. The surface reading is a little strange though.
2.	Another clever clue this

39. Tell besieged king to abdicate Austria's high seat.

1.	Don't really get the explanation

40. Test players' rival captain opens for their debut in Oz venue

1.	Too convoluted for me

41. This fish's not usually ordered fresh with chips

1.	Don't get the explanation

42. To reach perchance an elevated position without warped cane…

1.	It's a pity the definition is stuck in th emiddle of the wordplay. 'To reach' appear to be superfluous.
2.	Don't like the fact that PERCH is clearly visible

43. Where kingfisher might drop off fish?

1.	A lovely cryptic double definition
2.	A likely winner, this