The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC August competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 51: Starts to cross river unaware many boats sink ; utter dismay

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A clue to CRUMBS.
5 comments refer to this clue (from 4 competitors, 0 others)
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Here is the text

Comments on the clue
1.don't think crumbs means 'utter dismay' – it's an expression of utter disamy
2.Nice idea but def. is a too easy add-on for merit.
3.The initial letter are indicated properly (unlike several clues) but 'utter dismay' isn't quite right as a definition
4.A nice acrostic but the surface is rather disjointed.
 
Comments on the competition
1.
The most popular choice of single definition this month expressed surprise (22 of the 59), with clue 39 being the most noteworthy. Small pieces came a close second (20), with 10 of these being specific to bread or other food (9, 17*, 24, 33, 43, 48, 49, 50, 54 and 56). A further 7 defined worthless people (4, 15, 16*, 22, 28, 38 and 58), 2 remains (5 and 18) and just one clue a pittance (52). Seven clues included a double definition (8, 11, 26, 31, 32, 44 and 45) with just one failing to ensure that different senses of the word were defined.

There was a good variety of wordplay techniques in the 52 single definition clues, though two of these seemed to lack any proper wordplay altogether (37 and 48).

15 clues' wordplay comprised anagrams, with 5 of these compounded (17*, 36, 43, 53 and 59), including one ingenious &lit. SCRUM + B was the most popular theme (1, 6, 12 and 19*), with another two featuring RUM (33 and 58) and a couple of CLUBROOMS lacking facilities ! (36 and 53*).

The container clue was very popular this month (17 in total) with RUM perhaps predictably being the commonest contents (5, 6, 12, 23, 29, 30, 40*, 49, 50, 54, 55* and 57).

Just three clues offered an acrostic this month (7, 25 (reversed) and 51, upon which note thanks again to the CWC for another great CWC, whose Clues Regularly Uplift Many Budding Setters !