CCCWC Olympic/Paralympic Challenge competition voters’ comments

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A clue to DIALOGUE, MONSTER, SCHOOL (DLM).
76 comments were received for this competition (from 10 competitors, 3 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
Why my clue is not featuring? Vinit Wankhede
2.
I rejected every clue that did not refer specifically to the Olympics/Paralympics, and marked up those that referred to specific Olympic/Paralympic performers. But I marked down those clues where the mixture both began at the beginning and ended at the end of a word, and also those clues where the padding struck me as excessive. We were told that clue 17 (Lines due goliath from stern discipline: cools heavyweight) was OK in spite of the fact that the elements overlapped (lines, duegolia; goliath, omstern; school, coolsh) because the requirement not to overlap had not been specified in the instructions. But the requirement had in fact been specified 100% precisely, I think, with "Both indications of the first clue word must precede both indications of the second, etc". PS When you have your next DLM competition (and I must confess I hate DLMs!) may I suggest that you instruct your contestants to explain their clues as above, viz (lines, duegolia; goliath, omstern; school, coolsh), and no italic rubbish!
3.
Not a bad lot for such a difficult challenge. I couldn't accept Eton as a definition for school on its own. One would need to be something like 'maybe Eton'. I shall be disappointed (but not surprised) if any Eton clue is given points.
4.
The triple DLM was a tall order and some entries are rather long and packed with foreign names that make them difficult for a non-Olympic fan. Even reading them all has proved too much for a single session! That said, some of them are very good and meet the demands of the challenge very well.
5.
I find it very difficult to judge this type of competition. However clue 8 does not conform to the rules, and clues 1 and 30 don't have an Olympic or Paralympic theme. I think one must allow a certain leeway with the definitions (LINES for DIALOGUE?) although I'm not keen on ETON in 18 and 25 or HIGH in 28 for SCHOOL: it's usual to flag DBE's somehow (see 11 15 and 23) and I don't see why that shouldn't also apply to DLM clues. My final choice is 22 13 21 23 29 in that order.
6.
Re the special comment on clue 17 being ok, was the rule not "Both indications of the first clue word must precede both indications of the second, etc." ? Generally some very (over-?) long efforts – ok so padding is allowed, but some attempt at brevity should not go amiss.
7.
Not convinced that simply adding the word 'Olympics' really satisfies the requirements.

Comments on the clues

1. A conversation guide a Londoner put out created a savage storm, enlivened by a group indulging in cool shouting.

1.	The Olympic connection is a bit tenuous
2.	No Olympic or Paralympic theme.
3.	Olympic ref?

2. "Adieu gold number two", was the talk, with Mo's entry to the Olympic pantheon on hold, until with a huge last lap, rehearsed with his coach, he, under the cosh, loped away.

1.	ok but a mass of padding

3. Aged Louis, talking of past Olympics, recalled a most renowned, mega cool show, a place to learn sportsmanship.

1.	not sure how relevant this Louis person is?

4. Agile duo arranged conversation with mentors about huge solo challenges opening up to train for.

1.	did not like mentors/monster – a bit feebly disguised and also whole word for whole word not too elegant

5. Apologia due: an exchange of views, from children most of all, indicates huge training ground dearth's loco!

1.	doesn't exactly roll off the tongue – would you say/write it?

6. Chaos on Olympic rail lines: no eulogia due – bloody great, I remonstrated, train is full, the loos chocker.

1.	A refreshing change from the sporting references
2.	I don't think "bloody" improves the clue, but a good effort – not quite in my top five.
3.	loos? or loo's?

7. Demands for interview plague idol, Mo. Ten’s really an enormous burden, so coach cools his burning desire to please.

1.	Not sure about interview as def for dialogue.
2.	Nice work. Good surface flow and enjoyed the original use of Mo and ten.
3.	This might have earned more had in not been for the otiose "burning desire to please".
4.	Ten interviews, presumably. Not quite in my top five.

8. Discussion with Zola guides mentors to huge group of stylish, cool runners who inspire a generation (8,7,6)

1.	Not a valid DLM. First mixture starts and ends mid-word
2.	For 'dialogue' the letter mixture does not start or finish at the beginning or end of a word as required
3.	didn't like mentors for monster
4.	Does not comply with rules – the sequence of letters in zOLA GUIDEs does not occur at the start or end of a word.
5.	Does not conform to the rules – the letter mixture for DIALOGUE does not start at the beginning or end at the end of a word.
6.	Liked this but it doesn't meet the requirements (begin or end mixture on a word boundary)

9. Don't be a druggie. A loud cheer will inspire you, as will a chat with Mo. Strength is of massive importance, so train hard – and avoid Soho clubs.

1.	A good effort but not quite in my top five.

10. England's agile duo, lines up men, sorting vast Olympian training ground around the Lochs of Scotland.

1.	Technically correct but doesn't make much sense to me.

13. Hard lines to that agile duo, GB diving partners Tom and Pete – a huge disappointment to come oh so close to an aquatic team medal

1.	Marked down (i) because of <agileduo>, and (ii) because of Pete not really figuring in the wordplay: I thought it brilliant otherwise.
2.	Excellent clue – I like "aquatic team" for school.
3.	Pretty short, and nice Olympic refs. Good one!

15. It could go two ways – Dougal either wins or loses to Moloch. Maybe it will rest on Moloch's style.

1.	Dougal and Moloch? Which event was this? I think the clue needs to be more rooted in reality
2.	Sorry, the Olympic reference is too obscure for me.
3.	don't like the random Dougal and Moloch
4.	"It could go two ways" seems rather weak for DIALOGUE. "Moloch's" is part of two letter mixtures: unusual but I'm sure it's valid.

16. Jamaica guaranteed a gold, i.e. Usain lines up against 'The Beast' – like these sprinters, Mo is so cool, showing he's classes above the opposition

1.	Very witty. Got my 5.
2.	The best clue by far. Loved dialogue over 4 words and the use of The Beast was inspired. The transition from sprinters to Mo was seamless.

17. Lines due goliath from stern discipline: cools heavyweight

1.	I'm afraid I don't like the overlapping. The sentence doesn't read very naturally.
2.	… but it does infringe the rules – "Both indications of the first clue word must precede both indications of the second, etc."
3.	A triple DLM in 8 words is a remarkable achievement, even with "goliath" doing double duty, but the result doesn't make much sense.
4.	Sorry, but I hate double duty

18. Lines of fans cheered agile duo Glover and Stanning, while that most renowned rowing giant Sir Steve Redgrave wept delightedly. Eton Dorney witnessed his typically British cool demeanour yielding to emotion

1.	Reads smoothly and nice description of an actual event, shame there's lots of padding though
2.	Eton could be defined by school but I don't think it works the other way around without an indication that it is an example
3.	somewhat laboured

19. Olympic athlete, the aged Louis (Zamparini) still wears his Converse sneakers for confidence and when the US Hockey Team plays a Chinese Dragon team, he is at his most nervous; but soon regains his college age composure when he looks at his cool shoe

1.	Some padding is ok, but I think this overdoes it. Interesting surface, though
2.	Bit too long for me I'm afraid.
3.	Original idea, very wordy though with lots of padding
4.	sorry, got bored part way through
5.	Should obviously end "cool shoes" but maximum length is 250 chars, so it would be unfair to penalise that. However it's rather contrived.

20. Olympics gave Ohuruogu ideal chance for chat with old prodigy, as Mo sent rivals packing – but many swimmers hated pool being so chlorinated.

1.	The best of the 'dialogue' mixtures

21. Post-race chat about agile double-medallist’s stupendous achievement proves dad’s innermost faith, but Chad's outperformed even Bret Le Clos’ hopes.

1.	I don't like 'faith' as a definition. I feel there should be an indication it is a type of school

22. Proud goalie is talk of USA! “She's a colossus,” says mentor and coach, “no one can match Solo!”

1.	Excellent clue, fluent and concise
2.	Nice to see a non – 'Team GB' reference! Liked the deceptive 'mentor and coach' looking both ways in the clue.
3.	Nice work and I learned about Hope Solo too. What a great name.
4.	I'd never heard of Hope Solo, but the clue was brilliant and I had no hesitation in rating it equal top.
5.	My favourite clue – reads very naturally.
6.	Another cracker

23. Talk about doing us proud; agile Paralympic sportsmen with colossal abilities could be finishing, perhaps, with cool shiny medals

1.	Quite a nice one
2.	In context, I like the nicely misleading 'could be finishing' as a definition for school

24. Talk about drama! Minutes ago duel in which tremendous Mo sent rivals packing saw fans flock onto track, go loco, shout and scream

1.	This was sound but not sufficiently concise.
2.	Not too original use of Mo, so predictable with MOnster to clue, but otherwise ok

25. Talking of GB being due a gold, I hear huge hopes rest on McKeever's Eton Dorney solo challenge

1.	Like it; has all the required elements, and is nicely short, but .. who or what is Eton Dorney?
2.	I almost overlooked this brilliancy. I am not quite sure why, since on reflection I ranked it easily equal and maybe superior to 22.
3.	apt and concise
4.	Eton could be defined by school but I don't think it works the other way around without an indication that it is an example
5.	Should have a 'Eton perhaps' or similar to make it kosher, but too good to nitpick really

28. Will Boudia leg it? No – he's staying to chat to medal winners Tom and Qui. This prodigy also (hoc loco) took bronze in the synchro high dive.

1.	I'm not keen on the definition 'high'. It is an example of a type of school & I feel this should be indicated
2.	Who are the random Boudia Tom and Qui?

29. With all the talk of Bolt being due a gold, I knew that giant was the runner most fancied, and though it could have been oh so close he went like a train

1.	This is well strung together
2.	Not sufficiently concise, and it should really have read "I knew that <i>the</i> giant was …".

30. With typical guile, a dodgy interview from candidate. Debacle set Romney back a ton. Huge botch cools Party support.

1.	The clue is meant to be about the Olympics
2.	Where's the Olympic/Paralympic element?
3.	Not an Olympic/Paralympic commentary or message
4.	No Olympic or Paralympic theme, unfortunately.
5.	Olympics?