Crossword News 10 January 2010


The Prize Puzzle for January is Party Politics by Chalicea. This appeared on the 1st of January and has already proved to be popular, without my usual announcement. So far I have received 21 correct entries. I am absolutely over the moon to tell you that Hodder & Stoughton have offered to maintain the sponsorship this year. There will be Chambers books for prizes and for Party Politics there will two prizes! The first two names picked will receive a copy of Chambers Scrabble Puzzle Book.

Last month’s Prize Puzzle was Seasons Greetings from Eclogue. I was delighted that we had a seasonal puzzle for December. The highlighting in the diagram represented a star and the depiction as a whole, a Christmas card to all solvers, hence the title. The corrections to misprinted letters spell out “And so I’ve tried walking sideways”, a line from The GOONS’ song, “I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas”.  All of the highlighted words were written upside-down or from right to left.

Here are some of the comments.

‘Thank you for making another enjoyable puzzle available. I was surprised that Eclogue managed to construct this puzzle: once the keywords and perimeter were in place there were only 24 free letters for the 24 remaining lights.’

‘Such a lot crammed into such a small grid, and wonderful humour in the clues. Thanks, Eclogue’

‘The Christmas star producing all those other Christmas things (and the Goons) was a fine symmetrical finish. For me, this is an ideal
crossword - 10 out of 10, and great fun.’

There were 49 entries and the lucky winner, drawn from the hat, was Roddy Forman and he will soon be receiving his prize of the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.
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I have received a crossword grid that would make a fine puzzle for a future month. I would like to have it clued in our round robin style. This means that the clue for every word is written by a different person. In the end I shall put the clues together and publish the puzzle on the website. If you would like to join in this venture then do email me and let me know. I shall be sending out the words to clue next week. Obviously, if you join in you would have a slight advantage. You should be able to solve your own clue!
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I would like to point out a crossword blog which seems to concentrate on Indian puzzles but has some interesting comments. Crossword Unclued can be accessed at http://www.crosswordunclued.com/
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I have news from Eric Westbrook about the 3D crosswords that he has organised for charities. If you haven’t yet got your 3D calendar then do visit the site mentioned below.

‘Peter Cargill of Fife is the first 3D Crosswords World Champion. Mr Cargill completed successfully 14 three dimensional crosswords set by some of the best compilers in the UK in the 2009 competition. Three other solvers performed the same magnificent feat: Robbie Etherington of Coventry, Tony Roberts, Surrey, and Nora Boswell of Bradford. Fantastic, 'brain frying' solving! (The tie-breaker was to compose a clue for MISPRINT and was judged by Locum).
 
The puzzles were increasingly challenging as the year unfolded and the achievement is particularly notable given the fourteen different compilers.
 
The series of 3D puzzles continues in 2010 with the BBC Children in Need Appeal, World Championship, 3D Calendar Puzzles 2010. Solvers qualify to enter the world championship by owning a 3D calendar. The themed monthly 3D puzzles will be made available freely to all on the download page of the charitable website www.calendarpuzzles.co.uk 
Once again there will be a prize for each month of a standard refrence dictionary or reference book of choice (of similar price). The monthly competitions are open to all. However, entrance to the world championship can only be secured by ownership of the BBC Calendar or by cheque for £10 payable to BBC Children in Need Appeal.
The new set of 13 puzzles offer a very satisfying challenge.
Here's hoping for another terrific year building on the 150,000 'hits' of 2009.’
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I have heard a rumour that a notable crossworder will be appearing on the Countdown TV programme later this month. Watch this space.
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I was amused to read this letter in the Guardian, “My partner and I were so pleased with your puzzle of 15th December that we went back to bed for some 5down, 1down 22 down.” I didn’t do the puzzle but I imagine that something risqué got past the editor!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
Best wishes
Derek


Solution to Seasons Greetings from Eclogue

The highlighting in the diagram represents a star and the depiction as a whole, a Christmas card to all solvers, hence the title. The corrections to misprinted letters spell out “And so I’ve tried walking sideways”, a line from The GOONS’ song, “I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas”.  All of the highlighted words were written upside-down or from right to left.

ACROSS
A    1.  ANDESITIC (9) [Anag INDICATES; misp glossy for glassy]
N    8.  STAY (4) [STRAY (waif) less R; misp staid for stand]
D    10.  WEEL (4) [WEE + L; misp kindle for kiddle]
S    12.  INRO [Anag IRON; misp came for case] (4)
O    13.  TALE (4) [Initials; misp parky for porky]
I    14.  EKE (3) [Initials; misp Nan for Ian]
V    15.  HUMS (4) [UM in HS; misp hooter for hoover]
16.  CHRISTMAS (9) - unclued
E    19.  TOAD (4) [TO (FOR) + AD (THESE TIMES); misp bling for being]
T    22.  MOH (3) [Alt. letters; misp macron for matron]
R    23.  OWLS (4) [Anag SLOW; misp pavin for ravin]
I    24.  ROOM (4) [Rev MOOR (HEATH); misp dogs for digs]
E    25.  ELEA (4) [Hidden; misp sagas for sages]
D    26.  SOON (4) [Rev NOOSE (fank) less E; misp reamy for ready]
W    27.  SEARCHING (9) [Anag HE’S RACING; misp trailing for trawling]
 
DOWN
A    1.  ASBESTOUS (9) [Anag BEAUS TOSS; misp lusting for lasting]
L    2.  DANE (4) [Anag DEAN; ref Dixie DEAN; misp footer for looter]
K    3.  EYRA (4) [Rev A (IT) + RYE (GRASS), rev; misp stalls for stalks]
4.  CARDS / SHOWS (9) - unclued
I    5.  TEAM (4) [E (Head of entire) in TAM (cap); misp XL for XI]
N    6.  ILLS (4) [Hidden; misp tasty for nasty]
G    7.  CLENCHING (9) [C, N (LITTLE NUMBER) in LECHING (LUSTING); misp tripping for gripping]
S    9.  TIKA (4) [Rev K in AIT; misp vigil for sigil]
I    11.  ETUI (4) [Hidden; misp pen for pin]
D    17.  TASE (4) [Anag EATS; misp farts for darts]
E    18.  HOMO (4) [HO (TART) + MO (MISSOURI); misp bint for bent]
W    19.  TWEE (4) [Anag WET + E; misp sleet for sweet]
A    20.  OLLA (4) [Anag Lola; misp hush for hash]
Y    21.  NOSH (4) [Rev SON (NATIVE) + H; misp butte for butty]
S    22.  MOOI (4) [MOO (LOW) + I (CURRENT); misp dwell for swell]