CCCWC March competition voters’ comments

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A clue to A “GMT” word (Letters Latent).
140 comments were received for this competition (from 13 competitors, 2 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
Hmmm… when I rashly entered this competition, I forgot the obligation to vote but it has been interesting and entertaining to look at all the other efforts. Of course it is, to an extent, personal, but I don't like answers like GORMENGHAST particularly without good indication – they demand knowledge rather than offering up self-contained clues (most clues do this a bit – it's a question of where you draw the line, I guess). I have made notes (mostly for my own benefit) on all the clues – now comes decision time! Running through my comments I find too many clues I like! Somewhat arbitrarily reducing the list gives a winner and some runners up – inevitably some will have been misjudged, but time is limited!
2.
There were too many clues using a link word between the definition and the subsidiary indication — something frowned on in Letters Latent clues. There were also a lot of clues that failed to conjure up an interesting context. With only five clues given a tick first time around, judging proved rather easier than usual!
3.
The rules of this one confused me and I ended up not entering – the competition was headed A "GMT" word (Letters Latent) The inclusion of those last two words suggested that (per common understanding) all occurrences of certain letters were to be omitted. The instructions however seem to suggest that maybe only one occurrence of each letter be excluded – as many have chosen to do. I therefore had problems choosing a word as in my view it needed to have only one of each letter to avaoid infringing the unwritten rule suggested by (Letters Latent) – so in the end I did not bother. I will not therefore judge this as I would begin by excluding any clues which do not remove all occurrences of GM&T

Comments on the clues

1. 18th Century Irish playwright managed his own production (9)

1.	Assuming "own" should read "old" there seems to be too much anagram indication – "managed" seems superfluous but for surface sense
2.	Should it be saying 'old' instead of 'own' in the clue?
3.	Looks like a typo in the clue – should have been "his old".
4.	Shouldn't 'own' read 'old'? Managed seems to be superfluous if the anagram indicator is production
5.	anagram error?

2. A mate twitching, spotted bird rarely seen (8)

1.	Not an anagram as posted

3. A ring – expression of love from a boyfriend? (7)

1.	The question mark implies all is not as it seems – even so I can't imagine ever solving this
2.	Nice surface, good use of 'expression'.
3.	Best of the grommets – a clever idea
4.	Superb clue

4. Argon, helium and uranium refined here? No, oil is! (11)

1.	Good but requires knowledge of Grangemouth (which I have!)

5. Aries on calendar not the Fish containing – this? Not entirely! (11)

1.	Seems awfully complicated
2.	I don't quite get how the wordplay indicates that ai is inside ramcal.
3.	Very confusing, no clear indication to insert AI and definition doesn't work for me, sorry
4.	Rather too convoluted and complicated as the explanation attests

6. Being out of work without a penny, it can be boring! (6)

1.	I prefer this indication of ILE over the variations on ELI below – but am not so happy with the definition
2.	Excellent surface.
3.	Spoiled slightly by "out" and "without" ("penniless" instead of "without a penny"?), but the most interesting of the boring clues.

7. Briefly out of the office for a meeting (5)

1.	Would be better without "the" – but I like it

8. Brilliant rock melodies on Elvis covers (8)

1.	Surface reading slightly strained
2.	Nicely misleading definition and smooth surface reading
3.	Loved this on first read, but second time around I questioned 'covers'. I think that would lead me to MS (the covers), not the contents.

9. Church washer (7)

1.	Although I like it, I feel it's a bit curt

10. Circle Italy's capital (7)

1.	Better than the earlier GROMMETs, but see some later
2.	I'm not sure 'circle' is an adequate definition for grommet
3.	Needs a more interesting definition of Rome to be a contender for points

11. Cocktail makes Eli drunk (6).

1.	In LL clues I'd prefer not to see linking words like this – the definition and wordplay are not the same
2.	One can't use a link-word such as 'makes' unless the wordplay is to the actual letters of the original word.

12. Cocktail priest knocked back (6)

1.	Better than the previous one but both seem to be missing something

13. complaining most, setter seen in Russian capital shouting first (10)

1.	Didn't get this on first reading, but now I do, it's quite good.
2.	Surface is a bit unwieldy.
3.	Perhaps 'shouting at first' would indicate an S more fairly. Surface doesn't read very smoothly.

14. Courage to charge up first. (8)

1.	Doesn't quite work – "to" is superfluous
2.	An ion isn't a charge – it carries one

15. Darkest night becomes light! (8)

1.	?
2.	Not sure this is sound, but it's a lot of fun.
3.	I don't see how "becomes" fits in here, if the intention is to show that night and light rime (rhyme)?
4.	Nice idea, I'm struggling to accept 'night becomes light' is the same as 'rimes' though
5.	Nice idea, but the definition of "rimes" doesn't quite work.
6.	I can't see how this defines 'rimes'

16. Decoration has inner defects (12)

1.	Defects doesn't really work as an anagram indicator. does it?
2.	Fine

17. Directions by higher authority (10)

1.	Slightly out of sequence
2.	Higher is not equivalent to over.

18. Drive skied, then iron leaks right (8)

1.	I'm trying to make sense of the surface reading – is this about golf, leaking boats or winter sports?
2.	"Skied" is a bit strained for UP

19. Eternity objectified in ring (7)

1.	The "eternal city" does not equal "eternity" – weak compared to other GROMMET clues
2.	Nice idea but the def. is too loose. Needs a ? at least

20. Foodie oddly using takeaway – no curries for him! (7)

1.	Nice idea that doesn't quite seem to work
2.	Nice idea to use takeaway, but "oddly using takeaway" doesn't really work for me as an indicator to remove odd letters.
3.	Nice idea, not sure 'oddly using takeaway' quite works though
4.	Definition/signpost/fodder all jumbled.
5.	Adding 'for him' made the clue unsound. OURE does not equal GOURMET. Without that it would have been a nice clue

21. Foreign Legionnaire missing! The French note development in the case. (11)

1.	Why "in the case"?
2.	Lovely surface and definition.
3.	Nice attempt at misleading definition, a pity the punctuation interrupts the wordplay

22. French king in the wrong trousers? (6)

1.	Reference to (Wallace and) Gromit obscure – and not (presumably) in Chambers
2.	Great image!
3.	Definition a bit iffy in my opinion without upper case letters for film title

23. Game tarts could be sorest (9)

1.	Another that wasn't immediately obvious but that I quite like on second reading
2.	This would never appear in any mainstream puzzle so it needs to be shown some love here!

24. Groan. He's cancelled Peake's series (11)

1.	Nice idea that doesn't work for me
2.	This might have scored points if 'cancelled' had been a suitable anagram indicator

25. Groan — he's misfit here (11)

1.	A bit light on definition
2.	What a great clue!
3.	Best of the Groans by some way
4.	The word "here" has no valid role in the s.i. Thus not a true &lit. Misfit dubious as an a.i.

26. Groan – he's playing here? (11)

1.	As above
2.	Nice, but in my opinion 'misfit' was the superior anagram indicator
3.	Not quite as good as 25 unfortunately
4.	The word "here" has no valid role in the s.i. Thus not a true &lit.

28. I shun violent characters (8)

1.	Not quite right
2.	Surely a gunsmith is actively involved with violent characters?
3.	Surely a gunsmith DOESN'T avoid violent characters?
4.	Nice idea but definition doesn't seem right to me – his clients are MORE likely to be violent I'd say
5.	Not an &lit
6.	Surely a gunsmith would welcome violent characters?
7.	Violent characters would probably be my best customers!
8.	Where is the definition to make this an &lit?

29. It could create most misery!(8)

1.	&lit is poor
2.	The clue as a whole doesn't seem to define an adjective

30. More active, young Australian surfer (7)

1.	Can't fault (without checking Chambers)

31. Most obdurate coatings (8)

1.	We need an explanation.
2.	If the definitions stack up, it's a good clue.

32. Neat "ought" I sought, primarily (7)

1.	&lit is missing an indication of the writer

33. Nerve aroused by charged matter (8)

1.	Best GUMPTION one I've seen so far

34. No more news about European sovereignty (10)

1.	Nice topical surface, impeccable wordplay.
2.	"News" for "NN" is a bit strained
3.	Very sneaky wordplay, but I like it!
4.	I like 'news' = NN

35. One dwells upon common sense (8)

1.	Sorry to say I'm tired of seeing GUMPTION and, whilst not the worst, this isn't the best either
2.	Wouldn't this have to be "one dwells in upon" in order to lead to upion – which of course wouldn't make sense.
3.	The wordplay doesn't work for me – would need to read 'one dwells in upon' which ruins the surface
4.	I think it needs 'in' or 'within' for cryptic meaning to work. Which would of course spoil the surface!

36. Ring the Pope's residence (7)

1.	Somewhat deceptive as he lives in the Vatican.
2.	Short and sweet – as good as, or better than, most of the GROMMETs.
3.	Beautifully done.However Pope's residence refers to Vatican in direct sense.

37. Ruling body in disarray? No, never. (10)

1.	Like it!
2.	Nonever word play is only insertion of ','. Creative definitely but can it be called a wordplay?
3.	The punctuation slightly spoils the wordplay for me – suggests 'ruling body' is the anagram fodder

38. Said to be a friend of Wallis, but more exotic (7)

1.	Works well
2.	I don't think I'd accept a homophone as a definition
3.	The clue has no proper def. of GROMMET

39. Severest frosts (8)

1.	Simple and efficient.
2.	Simple – and works
3.	Short and sweet.

40. She reads shadows when at their shortest. (9)

1.	Almost … but not quite. The "IS" is poorly implied
2.	Nice word, however "when shadows are at their shortest" could be NOON but not NOON IS. Not keen on the definition or the "She" either.

41. Some somersaulting thus could be athletic (9)

1.	Yes
2.	Nice idea, I'm not keen on the linking words though

42. Tactic used by English openers against India (6)

1.	"AB" could be better clued
2.	Lovely surface but "used by", or at least "by", seems like filler.
3.	English openers for AB seems very dodgy to me – presumably this is supposed to mean first two letters in alphabet

43. The timeless Groans in novel form (11)

1.	Best of the GORMENGHAST ones so far
2.	My favourite of all the clues – excellent & lit.

44. They're just made for boring French islands! (7)

1.	Why "just"?. Without it I would vote for this – maybe I will anyway.
2.	Interesting surface but, for me, the "just" detracts from the reading.
3.	It should have been 'Made for boring French Islands'

45. Tumbler's very nasty contents (7)

1.	Best one I've read for GYMNAST
2.	What a pity the T is not latent – would otherwise have been a neat clue!

46. Turner movingly depicted Shakespeare's fledgeling hawk (7)

1.	Anagram indicator a bit over the top
2.	I'm too Ximenean to do anything but tut at an indirect anagram like this.
3.	Indirect anagram (of a very obscure word) seems very unfair

47. Usain's first lane mix-up results in a bronze (8)

1.	Yes. I like this – it reads well and is nicely misleading.
2.	Excellent surface.
3.	Almost very good – let down by the linking words like several other clues
4.	Very pleasing clue.
5.	My favourite clue though he probably would have still won gold!
6.	In the context of the surface "first lane" requires a hyphen, while "gunmetal" isn't really a bronze.

48. Without it, Aramaic formerly followed the rules of language (9)

Nice try.

49. Woman likely to use stick to thrash rear – "The Dragon" (16)

1.	Quite like this

50. Yields the eucalyptus in a department in the North of France (7)

1.	Where's the anagam indicator?
2.	Surely a eucalyptus IS a gum tree (2 words) so the yields is unnecessary? This also looks like an indirect anagram with no anagrind?
3.	Indirect anagram of an obscure word seems very unfair, and there is no clear anagram indicator
4.	The surface reading is jarring.

51. Young one tumbling with two poles? (7)

1.	Indirect anagram – "one" for "A". I don't approve!
2.	Nice clue but not keen on y=young.