Clues in archive | First Prizes | Other Prizes | VHCs | HCs | Hons points | First mention | Latest mention | Career span |
Also listed as | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R. J. Heald | 205 | 21 | 25 | 159 | 58 | 251 | Mar 1998 | May 2022 | 24y 2m | R. Heald |
Clue word | Award | Clue | Explanation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021-2022 | ||||
2603 | TERAS def. PRATT (Wrong Number) | VHC | Outrage at supermarkets when rump steak supply runs out – it’s monstrous! | rump; anag. less anag. |
2599 | DESIDERATA | VHC | What’d cause itchiness? Onset of acarids I erase with DDT sprayed liberally | anag. incl. a; itch = strong desire |
2595 | FIFTY YEARS | Second | Number passed by smart successor to X, held in awe by solvers primarily | (n)ifty Y in fear + s, & lit. |
2591 | GHAT | VHC | Passing over Indian region containing hill without difficulty, head for this | h(ill) in G(O)a + t, & lit. |
2586 | BALDERDASH | VHC | Bunk bed had rails fitted, infant originally having fallen out | anag. less i |
2584 | GIFT-WRAPPED (Cut & Paste) | VHC | Such is toy received by little lad, one covered all over with fancy paper | DGIFTWRAPPE; fig in t(a)d (all rev.) + w + anag., & lit.; toy, fig = inconsequential thing |
2582 | ACHITOPHEL | First | Devoid of principles, coach with help that’s dodgy? | anag. less first letters, & lit. |
2573 | HANDS-ON | VHC | Having manual control cuts times of Honda NSX when racing | anag. less x; ref. sports car |
2569 | BILBO | VHC | Barbie doll clothing line to replace Mattel’s original brand | bimbo with l for M; ref. US manufacturer of Barbie doll (qv) |
2020-2021 | ||||
2564 | CLEARING | VHC | Breeze in some areas bearing rain, 50% overcast, turning bright | rain with ra reversed in cleg; breeze3 |
2560 | BOMBAST | VHC | Flatulence comes from bottom after putting away too much fibre | b(OTT)om + bast |
2556 | TOERAG | VHC | Guitars come alive with rendition of stirring music for ‘Apache’ | anag. less anag.; ref. 1960 Shadows No. 1 hit |
2551 | SPAVIN (Spoonerisms) | Second | What might Hubble track? Scattered outer parts from supernova, it having exploded | trouble hack; anag. less anag.; part vi; ref. space telescope |
2547 | FILATORY | VHC | Yarn-spinner follows one boring story with another, ignoring call for hush | I in flat + (st)ory; story2 |
2543 | CABRETTA | VHC | Penthouse article about bosom passing as material suitable for chaps | bre(as)t in cat a; pass = omit |
2539 | TORSE (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | The ‘demons’ tra/duced by Trump’s rhetoric reacted furiously in Washington | ref. US Capitol riot [see comments] |
2534 | BOTTLE-WASHER | VHC | Galley slave who strikes receives lash to back | welt to (rev.) in basher |
2532 | POTLA(TSUGA)TCH (Presents Round the Tree) | VHC | Recall exuberant enjoyment receiving special gift (not half!) inside parcel | tal(ent) in gusto (all rev.) in patch |
2530 | STUDENTY | VHC | University degree course half missed amid scene of debauchery – typical of undergrads! | U d ent(rée) in sty |
2521 | CHAMBERS | Second | Scrabble’s hard for learner? This is what’s required! | clamber’s with H for L, & lit. |
2517 | LITERATIM | VHC | High rent once raised leads to irate missives to the letter | lit + tare (rev.) + first letters |
2019-2020 | ||||
2512 | OSCITATE | VHC | Ignoring the odds, big city store wants desperately to be fully open | anag. of alternate letters |
2508 | CHARACTER (Misprints) | VHC | Account penned by Miss Brontë drawing large number heading for renowned parsonage | personage; a/c in Char(lot)te + r; ref. Brontë home/museum |
2504 | UPBEAT | VHC | Arses? Here’s one overturning restriction to tour outskirts of Barnard Castle | B, e in tapu (rev.); sv arsis; ref. D. Cummings |
2500 | ESPAGN(OLETTE STRENG)THENER (Half and Half) | VHC | Sun newspaper’s original page three spread not for all to see, something to enhance a locker | anag. incl. n less U |
2495 | BUNG | VHC | Tap sealing butt of Mâcon? | n in bug, & lit.; tap = listening device |
2490 | DREAMSCAPE | VHC | Work Marcel Duchamp essayed periodically | anag. of alternate letters, & lit.; ref. French surrealist painter |
2486 | BRUHAHA | First | Baron Hardup merrily gives away daughter, Prince becoming husband by end of Cinderella pantomime | anag. incl. B less d, with h for P + a |
2482 | VOX POP | VHC | Point of view reflecting ordinary people’s principles, including how one might vote? | x in POV (rev.) + first letters, & lit. |
2480 | STOCKING FILLERS | VHC | Such presents St Nick ‘forgets’ to supply, bypassing tot imbued with wickedness? | ill in anag. less tot, & lit.; ref. Santa’s naughty list |
2477 | SPRAT-WEATHER | VHC | Time around which short aquatic creature may be caught in sea, before the end of December | t in praw(n) in sea + the r, & lit. |
2473 | INTERPLAY | VHC | Crossfire perhaps dispels initial quiet in ‘No Man’s Land’? | (P)inter play; ref. 1974 Harold P. play |
2469 | GUDDLE (Spoonerisms) | First | Sunday’s Mass beginning to grate forces Catholic to leave fold | Sandy’s muss; g for C in cuddle; fold = embrace |
2018-2019 | ||||
2460 | TWEET | VHC | Trump delivers odd bit of propaganda with little trace of truth here | T(rum p) + wee t, & lit. |
2456 | TRACTOR / TORMINAL (Overlaps) | First | Hunt losing backing might help us till normality restored, avoiding unseemly Tory griping | trac(k); till3; anag. less anag.; ref. Jeremy H., Conservative leadership race |
2443 | ERATHEM (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | For a crossword-setting pro, gramm/atically complex puzzle should be easily achievable | |
2438 | MONTE DI PIETÀ | VHC | Papa and I engaged in card game to pass time, a better alternative to tiddlywinks | p I in monte die t a; see Papa |
2434 | STONKERED | VHC | Tight place for potters clearing up is around edge of cushion | n in Stoke red; ref. snooker |
2430 | CLERIHEW | VHC | Michael Winner/In a/Shocking display/Chucks main and starter in Nobu away? | anag. less main N, & lit.; ref. former restaurant critic and top Japanese restaurant |
2428 | SHEPHERDS | Second | Fluttering seraph heralds Messiah’s debut, dispelling dreadful alarm – in us? | anag. incl. M less anag., & lit. |
2425 | EPILIMNION | VHC | Warm surface of water around edge of Pacific island is El Niño, I’m tipping | P, I in anag. |
2421 | SPASMODICAL | VHC | Twitchy face of smuggler an indicator of stress when stopped by customs | s + modi in pascal |
2417 | ALTARAGE / PROPOSAL (Right and Left) | VHC | Plan for positive deal not half lame, abandoned by hard Brexiteer rejecting initial offerings on the table | pro pos (de)al; (H)alt + (F)arage; ref. Chequers plan |
2412 | UBIQUARIAN | VHC | AC/DC, Queen and Air appear in local gig with following going global | bi Qu aria in (f)un; see gig1,2; ref. rock bands |
2017-2018 | ||||
2408 | LUNCHEONETTE | VHC | Wherein one refreshed receives check after tucking into croissant or suchlike? | ch. in anag. in lunette, & lit. |
2399 | CHARMEUSE | Third | Get headaches with rum drunk, not having had soft stuff like grenadine | anag. less had; grenadine 2 meanings |
2395 | PURITANISM | VHC | Oddball up in arms about informal sexual activity displays this? | it in anag., & lit. |
2390 | POISSON D’AVRIL | Second | This month’s goof could be reviewed on ‘SlipAdvisor’! | anag.; fanciful variant of ‘TripAdvisor’; ref. earlier appearance of clue word in AZ ‘Letters Latent’ comp. |
2382 | STRIPE def. HARLOT (Wrong Number) | Second | Sid unleashes primitive energies with punk band | punk; S(id) + tripe; ref. S. Vicious |
2378 | PROPOSAL | VHC | Prince finds love: Meg and Harry both losing their hearts leads to this | Pr. + 0 + pos(H), (H)al; posh2 = halfpenny |
2376 | SOW(PIASTRE)ENS (Christmas Pudding) | First | Among barnyard animals lies holy son whose love has become a symbol of Christmas | pia2 son with tree for 0, all in sows |
2373 | CACOGASTRIC | VHC | Suffering upset tummy? See preparation of cascara coping with it, relieving terrible pain | anag. less anag. |
2369 | FACETIAE | Second | Find early evidence of Allen’s in ‘The Front’ and ‘Sleeper’ | A in face tie, & lit.; ref. early Woody A. films |
2364 | COMPOST HEAP | VHC | Chambers’ll have the answer when entering competition – it’s a fertile source for Don et al | pos + the a in comp.; ref. Monty D., D. Manley |
2016-2017 | ||||
2356 | PUBLIC SERVANT | VHC | Quant skirts very short and basic revitalized clothing line, one contributing to nation’s prosperity? | l in anag. less y in punt; ref. Mary Q., miniskirt designer |
2351 | RHAGADES | First | Newspaper is in decline, lacking force, sealing end for sluggish old hacks | h in rag (F)ades; see hack |
2347 | ASLEEP | VHC | Brown bread left in afternoon sun turned stale | l in a S + pee (rev.); see bb (= dead), stale2 |
2343 | RESTORE (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Hydrologists maintain bo/g is terrain that’s undergone seepage | |
2338 | TRUMP | VHC | This oddball getting elected may satisfy Mr Putin! | anag. incl. in, & lit.; oddball adj |
2334 | ALLELUIAH | VHC | Rejoiceful cry acceptable when interrupting priest, being inspired by God? | U in Eli in Allah, & lit. |
2330 | BRAZEN / MOPISH (Right and Left) | VHC | Mosh pit almost goes berserk for heavy metal band’s opening number when Slash is introduced | anag. less t; raze in b, n; ref. Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist |
2325 | MASON | VHC | Among leading characters of Moore is a ‘Saint’ by name Templar? | a S in Mo(ore) + n; ref. Simon T., played by Roger M. in TV series |
2324 | CELEBRATIONS | VHC | Dissolution of Eastern bloc brought about independence and joyous festivities | i in anag. |
2322 | VENTRICOSE | VHC | Venerable Mo, after winning both finals in Rio Olympics, is puffed out | last letters in Ven. trice; ref. M. Farah |
2318 | TIMENOPENNY (TIMENOGUY) (Penny for the Guy) | VHC | Before public, such as David should wear small fig leaf | men open in tiny |
2309 | GLOBETROTTER | VHC | Richard Burton role sees Hal abandoning marriage-contract in grand plot against Queen | betrot(hal) in G lot + ER; ref. R. B., explorer and film, ‘Anne of the Thousand Days’, starring R. B., actor |
2015-2016 | ||||
2305 | AGREE def. PATCH (Wrong Number) | VHC | Greg, defying gravity, takes champion’s spot in long jump | Gre(g) for Ch. in ache; ref. G. Rutherford, Olympic long-jumper; spot |
2300 | MISHMASH | VHC | ‘Macaroni’ comprises term for such, in practice | h in ism in mash2 (= masher), & lit.; macaroni = dandy |
2296 | IMPROPERLY | VHC | Widdy and partner’s close intimate holds displaying ineptitude (Strictly it ain’t!) | rope r in imply; ref. Anne Widdecombe in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ |
2291 | AVESTA (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | On a wine tour of Italy you may find the reso/rt next to lovely Frascati | |
2283 | BARGAIN | Second | A big bust with narc taking away cocaine and whizz | anag. less C; whizz = amphetamine |
2279 | CLEMENTINE | VHC | Fruit machine: slot in pennies regularly for recreation | anag. of alternate letters |
2274 | SIMPATICO | VHC | Hand in glove manipulated most of action by muppet | simp + anag. less n |
2272 | SNOWMOBILE | VHC | Simoon blew off course vehicle highly unsuited to desert conditions | anag. |
2270 | FENESTRA | First | Pierce Brosnan feted for playing striking Bond | anag. less Bond; ref. J. Bond actor; pierce = perforation |
2265 | ESPRIT FORT | VHC | Turbulent priest receives knight’s terminal stab, having rebuffed king who opposes Church’s authority? | t for(k) in anag.; ref. Thomas à Becket |
2261 | GANGSTERLAND | VHC | Criminals collectively tip off drug lord about nark shopping leaders of smuggling trade | s, t in anger in g land3 |
2257 | BUST-UP / PIT-PAT (Right and Left) | First | Quarrel with Republican candidate shortened odds of Trump beating frontrunner for presidency spreading sanctimonious rubbish | (Jeb)Bus(h) + alternate letters; p in pi tat; ref. US politics |
2250 | MILESTONE (with missing O) (Missing Letter) | VHC | For Azed’s latest Tozer rated and uncovered Ximenes’ lost slips | orated; anag. less X, s; ref. speech by JRT at AZ 2250 lunch |
2014-2015 | ||||
2248 | WAISTLINE | VHC | A swelling eater given half portion of dinner may reduce enlarged —— | comp. anag. incl. din, & lit. |
2244 | AVANT-GARDISTE | First | Who might make devastating crack about RA retrospective, styling vintage art ‘sad’? | RA (rev.) in anag., anag., & lit. |
2239 | ERADIATE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Frightfully odd things in an Alice adventure start in a dream | dart in a stream; anag. of alternate letters |
2235 | CHOCK-A-BLOCK | VHC | Puss stuffed with ham and tail of sea bass is full to bursting | hock a B in clock; puss2 |
2222 | OBJECT LESSON | VHC | Botched nose jobs: Lancet article delivered salutary warning | anag. less an |
2220 | A twelve-letter ‘Christmas cracker’ (Christmas Cracker) | Second | Christmas can bore perhaps without constant source of fine wit as in ‘crackers’ of Jonathan’s creation | SWIFTIAN/NATIVITY; SWIFTINAVITY; anag. incl. f; tin + (c)avity |
2213 | SOLECISM | VHC | Misuse of semicolon’s not acceptable, being this? | anag. less on, & lit. |
2209 | (O)CT(O)BER (Letters Latent) | VHC | Time around which we’ll see tree that’s cast first of autumn leaves | t in c(a)ber, & lit. |
2013-2014 | ||||
2196 | SEMANTRA / TRABEATE (Overlaps) | VHC | Recalled star Stokes substitutes for Bell, ace batter century-less after decline in summer form | name S (rev.); anag. less c; ref. Ben S., Ian B. |
2191 | PLUG | First | Quid tucked inside jowl? | L in pug2, & lit.; see jowl2 |
2187 | WEST | First | How one usually leaves Bath to go round centre of Bristol? | adv.; s in wet, & lit. |
2178 | PARISON | VHC | See article blown from this in glasshouse? | i.e. p. less a = prison, & lit. |
2170 | SAYONARA | VHC | Hooray Henry falls out of carriage, squiffy on strong toddy mostly | s(H)ay + on + ara(k); hooray2 |
2165 | OUT OF ORDER | VHC | Slot machines being so, you might have lost cash in ’em! | indicating anag. & lit. |
2161 | FARRAGO | VHC | A tip for Fido: contents of marrow bone are good for a dog’s dinner | a, g in F (m)arro(w); bone = seize |
2157 | MELODRAMATIC | Third | Such flicks made actor millions, at the expense of pride? | anag. less lions, & lit. |
2152 | STUFFED SHIRT | VHC | Touch of subtle delicacy lacking in art by D. Hirst outraged pompous twit | s + t(art)uffe + anag. |
2012-2013 | ||||
2144 | INFERNO (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Leading pair of inventors Faraday and Rubik? Where’s Logie Baird? | bogy laired; in + F + Ernő; sv Rubik’s cube |
2139 | DE RIGUEUR | VHC | Fashion gurus desire to have squares turned out as style dictates | anag. less S, S |
2135 | LOB | VHC | Descending stepwise, this is sure to lead you to ore! | 3 alphabetic steps from o, r, e, & lit.; for l. = a step in a mine, see SOED |
2131 | DIVES / MALIK (Right and Left) | Third | Art? Klimt wastes time gallivanting round Austria, time spent in strip joints | A in anag. less t; dives(t); ref. Art M., actor, Gustav K., Austrian artist |
2126 | DESPERATE | Second | Hairless? Hate being without one’s wig | desp(I’s)e + rate2; wig2 |
2122 | NICETY | VHC | Shakespearean being squeamish indiscreetly excises odd parts | alternate letters; ref. Thomas Bowdler |
2118 | BLOKEISH | VHC | Comradely Bolshevik after revolution doffs cap to Vladimir | anag. less V; ref. Lenin |
2116 | YULETIDE (with jumble of COMEDO) (Christmas Devilry) | VHC | Acceptable room, decent, procured by Judaean couple finally in time for Nativity | U let in Yid e; with apologies for use of offensive term |
2113 | PICAROON | VHC | Bounder involved in piracy making spirited escape with booty? | roo in pi(racy) can, & lit.; booty2 |
2109 | THICKETY | VHC | Hurst-like hat trick Rooney fans roar on wildly getting carried away | anag. less anag.; ref. Geoff H. & Wayne R. |
2105 | TITANIC / ICEBERG (Overlaps) | VHC | Lacking ingredient central to intoxicants, Red Bull leaves beer gut not as wobbly | Tit(i)an; bull (adj.); anag. less ut2 |
2100 | A STITCH IN TIME | VHC | Riotous cinema hit containing slapstick’s foremost clown | s tit in anag., & lit.; ref. Norman Wisdom film |
2096 | TRICK | VHC | Mo Farah’s heart goes into producing a magical performance (and a fast one) | r in tick; ref. Olympic gold-medallist |
2011-2012 | ||||
2091 | SNIFTER | VHC | A spanking blow on brat’s rear with hand by school’s head? That’s retrogressive | re t fin s (all rev.) |
2087 | ROCKET | VHC | Naughty toker inhales a bit of cannabis – exotic stuff gets one very high | c in anag.; see exotic |
2083 | BEWITCH | VHC | Botham’s no. 1 hate, exhausting bowler perhaps with long spell | B + (hat)e + w itch |
2078 | RÉCOLLET | First | Resolution to contemplate our Lord makes this man drop out | comp. anag. & lit. |
2074 | BENNET | VHC | Lydia ——: a teen blindly gallivanting, losing heart to scallywag | comp. anag. less l; ref. ‘P & P’ |
2070 | MISTREATMENT | VHC | Hurt in film played man not outwardly pretty, with elephant’s head | mist + anag. incl. (p)rett(y), e; ref. John H. in ‘The Elephant Man’ |
2065 | DERMESTIDAE | VHC | Destructive beetles? I erase ’em with DDT sprayed liberally | anag. |
2064 | COLD TURKEY | VHC | Rehashed Xmas fare? New competitor tackling Azed’s latest must find original clue! | d in colt + ur-key; ref. AZ comp 1180 |
2049 | PARTY-POOPER | VHC | Stop happy rioter running amok? This —— would do | comp. anag. & lit. |
2045 | CATENATE | VHC | ’Orribly eaten by lion? Albert may be described thus | cat + anag.; ref. Marriott Edgar |
2010-2011 | ||||
2040 | EASTER (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | I hope to emulate Co/lin G, ex-champion with an amazing track record | ref. Sebastian Coe, Colin Gumbrell, 6 times AZ champion |
2036 | AL CONTO | VHC | Al Capone’s capital’s concerning tax officer – list of charges is thus drawn up | Al c on to; AC convicted of tax evasion |
2031 | EMBROIDERY | Second | Use worsted maybe in order to create an —— | comp. anag. & lit.; see worsted |
2027 | THRENETICAL | VHC | Mournful doctor in health centre rejecting closures | anag. less last letters |
2023 | CHAMBRANLE | VHC | Champion potter must sink first of reds before winning frame | r an. in Ch. amble; winning = attractive |
2019 | OVERAWE / HENOTIC (Right and Left) | VHC | Out-of-date quail eggs Queen’s tucked into lead to wind: head of erring egg supplier quickly served up as peace offering | ER in ova + w, e; quail (qv) = daunt; hen + cito (rev.) |
2014 | HACKETTE | First | Take the lead in Cinderella, playing girl who works in rags | ang. incl. C |
2012 | BLOATING | VHC | Result of endless spree in which a lot is drunk? | anag. in bing(e), & lit. |
2006 | GROAN (Spoonerisms) | Third | Response to acquired tip? Grand put on horse | a tired quip; g + roan |
2000 | TWO THOUSAND | VHC | To date, Crowther’s astounding puzzling equals —— – a setting record? | comp. anag. & lit. |
1997 | FADO | Third | What’ll have right refrain for a spot of dancing in Algarve region? | Faro with d for r, & lit.; F., chief city and district of Algarve |
1992 | FOULARD | First | Silk scarf entangled leads to Isadora’s end on road | foul + a + Rd; ref. I. Duncan’s bizarre death |
2009-2010 | ||||
1988 | PERIQUE | VHC | Weed: small person, one quite devoid of sex appeal | per. I qu(it)e |
1984 | ORWEL(L)IAN (Doublethink) | VHC | —— novel could match E. Blair’s own, with British society suppressed | anag. less B S, & lit. |
1979 | FAR-OUT | Second | Amazing safari: taking such, you’ll see exotic species of monkey | i.e. safari with far out = sai |
1971 | WATERMANSHIP | Third | Sampan owner hit rocks, showing no ——? | comp. anag. & lit. |
1967 | SUBORDINATELY | Second | Studio blarney reduced by ‘dinosaur Tel’ sadly taking lesser role | anag., anag.; ref. T. Wogan leaving Radio 2 breakfast show for Sunday slot |
1962 | ANADEM | VHC | What’s partially embloomed a napper, going round? | hidden rev., & lit. |
1958 | HANGDOG | VHC | Downcast in pit being inadequate leads to disaster of Gresford | hang(i) + first letters; ref. 1934 mining disaster caused by poor ventilation |
2008-2009 | ||||
1932 | NINE-TO-FIVE | First | Occupying such positions you’ll see memos from tiresome managers! | i.e. hidden rev. at positions 9 to 5, & lit. |
1927 | TONSURE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Amongst characters in Chesterton, surefooted priest’s called Brown | bald crown; hidden; ref. GKC’s Father Brown stories |
1923 | ELLIPTIC | First | Describing a two-dimensional shape explicitly involved axes x and y | anag. less x, y |
1918 | PALAMPORE | VHC | Starters of pakoras and curry opening elaborate Indian spread | p, a + lam + pore; curry2 |
1914 | VE(S)TAL (Letters Latent) | VHC | Taking veil, one must yield to total abstinence primarily | veil with t a for I, & lit. |
1910 | BARPERSON | VHC | Who’s seen as regulars in pub are served a round getting tipped? | anag. of alternate letters, & lit. |
1908 | WE THREE KINGS | VHC | What’s the confounded humming? Must be waits outside, out of key – performing this? | anag. + reeking in w(ait)s; key3 |
1906 | MORSE | VHC | Clue composer recalling cop? | anag. less cop, & lit. |
1901 | SANITISE | VHC | Stalin’s ire roused? Liberal resistance must be eliminated in purge | anag. less L R |
1897 | WASH-OUT | VHC | Turkey roasted with essential ingredient of nut stuffing | u in was hot |
1893 | EARTHY | VHC | Blunt, art history’s foremost character, feeding tips to enemy as a mole? | art h in e, y, 2 defs.; ref. Anthony B. |
2007-2008 | ||||
1884 | FREELOADER | First | Slippery customer seen in environs of diner or café mooching, without a cent? | eel in anag. incl. d, r less c, & lit. |
1879 | LITTER BASKET | Third | Garbo can work better with talkies, letting out a bit of emotion | anag. less e; garbo = rubbish; ref. Greta G. |
1875 | GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left) | VHC | Sky shows mug getting caught out behind wicket, out for a blob | (c)up + rear; gate with out for a; Sky Sports |
1871 | FAIRY GOLD | VHC | Faldo dropping a shot admits Open golf prize proving elusive | airy G in anag. less a; NATO alphabet |
1866 | BINGE | VHC | Jag’s big end damaged – diesel’s beginning to escape | anag. less d; jag2 |
1862 | UNALIKE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | As snakes in flow start to undulate, weakling’s guts churn | flakes in snow; u + anag. of (w)eaklin(g) |
1858 | HUMONGOUS | VHC | Extra-large sumo thong, not a little tight, looks funny around Oriental mister | U2 in anag. less t |
1856 | LITAS (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | After fighting, his opponent co-opera/ted – another sweet victory! | ref. Henry Cooper, Muhammad Ali |
1849 | AUXESIS | Third | Such a trope placed artfully could make a prosaic tale ‘sexed-up’ | comp. anag. & lit. |
1845 | UPBRAID | VHC | Reprimand hubby, regularly and abusively? | anag. of alternate letters, & lit. |
1840 | W(I)NN(I)E-THE-POOH (Letters Latent) | VHC | A pot when teeming with honey could satisfy me? Ay! | comp. anag. & lit. |
1836 | POSTHASTE | Second | Prompt a thesp lost in play, forgetting line | anag. less l |
2006-2007 | ||||
1827 | AMAKOSI def. DENUDED (Wrong Number) | VHC | African tribal leaders fell, stripped of power, overwhelmed by swarming Masai | stripped; ko(P) in anag. |
1818 | POISSO(N) D’AVRIL (Letters Latent) | VHC | Batter should primarily avoid slip or he’s sure to be caught out by a fast one | anag. incl. s |
1814 | HIPSTER | First | Chap, beatnik sort, mixing with odd characters having dropped out? | anag. of alternate letters, & lit. |
1810 | HARE / POSEUR / SERINETTE (DLM) | VHC | To abandon rather a dead-end career as a musical play-actor and turn my pure soprano to better use as teacher of song to anyone with a passionate interest. | |
1806 | INEBRIANT | VHC | Climbing mountain peak in thin air awfully hard going – and awfully exhilarating | ben (rev.) in anag. less H |
1801 | RUSE DE GUERRE | VHC | Military stratagem the French devised and employed, say, in error at Agincourt, being overthrown | used e.g. in erreur (rev.) |
1797 | HEART | VHC | In fantastic form, Atherton strikes 100 – it sure gets the blood pumping | anag. less ton; ref. Michael A. |
1792 | APPALOOSA / ESTAMINET (Right and Left) | VHC | Parisian friend following French art is enthralled by canvas put up in local café – it’s mounted before a meal, and friend loves it | es + ami in tent (rev.); ap pal 00 SA |
1788 | ETHEREAL OILS | VHC | Core ingredient of cosmetics and balmy lotion healer’s rubbing on | e + anag. less on, & lit. |
2005-2006 | ||||
1758 | BIMBETTE | VHC | One not half dumb on the inside, infinitely more appealing on the outside! | I (du)mb in bette(r), & lit. |
1750 | PLOUGHMAN | VHC | Characters foremost among puzzlers love Oxford University get-togethers with regular doses of champagne (my lunches are far less extravagant!) | first letters + alternate letters; ref. AZ lunch |
1746 | ENTOMIC | VHC | Income tax cut in US ruled out, sadly, for Wasps and suchlike | anag. less ax |
1741 | LORD NELSON | VHC | Pride of England exalted in Trafalgar Square left Londoners in state of excitement | l + anag.; ref. Ashes victory parade |
2004-2005 | ||||
1707 | GALENA (Definition of Anagram) | VHC | Hollow area around inner part of ear | lagena; a in glen a, & lit. |
1702 | WORDSMITHERY | VHC | Ace —— I’d fancy will show why Tim Rice’s adored | comp. anag. & lit.; ref. songwriter |
1698 | CROSSTIE | VHC | Train-bearer escorts one getting hitched | anag. incl. I |
1694 | MISINTERPRET | VHC | Provide Colemanesque commentary on sprinter running in ‘quite extraordinary’ time? | anag. in anag.; ref. David Coleman, BBC sports commentator famous for gaffes |
1689 | SYNOD | Second | Heresy meets with motion of approval? Not here! | (here)sy + nod, & lit. |
1685 | MINO (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | At the kosher restaurant you’ll find on the menu the repast ra/ted for its smoky taste | |
2002-2003 | ||||
1606 | TEOSINTE / INTELSAT (Overlaps) | First | What’s good if you like browsing among tat? Jumble sale for one | in + tat with anag. for a |
1602 | FENESTRA | VHC | Hole in the wall vandalized after keeping money back | sen (rev) in anag. |
1598 | PHRASEMONGER | VHC | Elite —— could be styled ‘the prime sloganeer’ | comp. anag. & lit. |
2001-2002 | ||||
1533 | MASTER-MARINER | VHC | I’d hope to command good ratings with mainstream broadcast about our old King and Queen | ER in anag. + R |
1528 | STROP (Spoonerisms) | First | Top performer starved of acting work would make Caine bleed | keen blade; st(a)r op; ref. Michael C. |
1519 | CARRY-ON | VHC | Corny novel given a plug by another’s reputation primarily | a, r in anag., & lit. |
2000-2001 | ||||
1515 | SNIDE | Second | Pseud: term of derision used to puncture pretentiousness | n in side |
1500 | GIT (on board ship) (Ship of Fools) | Third | Something capable of bolting down mast that is used to stop hooker capsizing | PIGITRATE; pig + tart (rev.) in i.e. |
1492 | The year that Columbus discovered America (Anagram) | VHC | I chartered boat – sailed very much – came to US. | |
1485 | BOURSE / TIFOSO (Right and Left) | VHC | Endless beef on the bone outcry identifies freak cattle disease limiting our market for stock in France | tif(f) + os + O!; our in BSE |
1476 | LIGNIPERDOUS | First | Devastating Woods – with fantastic round, Tiger slips clear of the leaders | anag. less first letters; ref. US golfer |
1999-2000 | ||||
1463 | REVERSIONAL | VHC | King eclipsed by rising Aussie tennis-player holding racket like a boomerang? | R in noise in Laver (all rev.); ref. Billie Jean K. and Rod L. |
1446 | NEWSPAPERDOM | VHC | Those in ‘the rag trade’, using mediocre material, must sew modern clothing | pap in anag.; must4 |
1433 | NEANDERTHAL | VHC | Underneath ground, striking head leads to awful lump. A hard hat’s the answer | anag. less u + first letters |
1428 | CRICETID | VHC | I’ll have scurried round putting away odd morsels, pouching nuts etc? | I in alternate letters round anag., & lit. |
1424 | HEIST | VHC | Whip? Fetishist grasps it tightly in fist | anag. of (f)etish(ist) |
1415 | MANATI (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Old Scrooge stubbornly refused to give: ‘Post/pone Christmas!’ | |
1998-1999 | ||||
1402 | PENTOSE (Definition of Anagram) | VHC | Feather applied to ticklish toes? This’ll get feet dancing | one-step; pen + anag. |
1380 | RAPPORT (Misprints) | VHC | Sharp blow left fellow reeling | feeling; rap port |
1376 | LOGO | VHC | Headings on leaflets organization gives out show distinctive emblem | first letters |
1367 | SANBENITOS | VHC | Running sensation Black’s packed in – see rags expressing regret | b in anag.; ref. Roger B. |
1363 | MAVIN def. THONG (Wrong Number) | VHC | The ultimate in exhibitionism: Virginia performing flip-flop in the buff! | flip-flop; m + VA (rev.) + in |
1997-1998 | ||||
1355 | DIACATHOLICON | VHC | A colonic aid, taste initially disguised with a drop of honey | anag. incl. t, h, & lit. |
1351 | NEATEN (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Distance runner was forced to retire by ti/de rising one foot | tinea |
1346 | PHARISEE | VHC | Is —— with cant represented as ‘the precisian’? | comp. anag. & lit. |
2021-2022
2578 VARIORU(M) (Letters Latent)
2020-2021
2525 PLACITUM
2019-2020
2464 BRAINPOWER
2018-2019
2451 CAPUT
2447 CONGENER
2017-2018
2403 SWALE (Spoonerisms)
2386 PENNY-A-LINER
2360 VIDENDA
2016-2017
2313 PERFECT
2015-2016
2287 VALET
2014-2015
2230 GATES OF DEATH
2218 FOREIGNER
2205 CUMBERSOME
2013-2014
2183 SANGRAIL
2174 CHARET (Printer’s Devilry)
2168 CENTURY (with missing C) (Missing Letter)
2148 ZOLLVEREIN
2011-2012
2062 APPLE-KNOCKER
2058 ROBUST
2053 PERISHER def. ESTIMATE (Wrong Number)
2010-2011
2010 A COMING OF AGE
2009-2010
1975 SEPTENTRIONAL
1949 PALFRENIER
1945 PRISON
2008-2009
1936 LITMUS TEST
1888 RASTER (Printer’s Devilry)
2007-2008
1853 ANTIQUITARIAN
2006-2007
1831 MARGINALIA
1823 KISS
1804 CLOTHES SENSE (Spoonerisms)
1784 TEARAWAY
2005-2006
1775 ROUGH-AND-READY
1766 GEST (Printer’s Devilry)
1762 DUDDERY
1752 MIDWINTER
2004-2005
1711 MINUS
2002-2003
1619 GISMO (Printer’s Devilry)
1615 RUGATE
1596 GENISTA (Definition of Anagram)
1589 JOKESMITH
1580 MARGENT def. BEETLES (Wrong Number)
1576 FACADE
1572 SHIELD-MAY
2001-2002
1541 CHUPRASSY
2000-2001
1494 MARATHON
1489 FRONT-BENCHER
1472 TORAN (Printer’s Devilry)
1467 CANAPÉ
1999-2000
1459 GREATEST (Spoonerisms)
1439 JOHN CANOE
1437 MISTLETOE
1419 SPLODGE
1998-1999
1411 LOOK-SEE
1406 CHASSEPOT
1398 PERMETHRIN
1385 PANTRIES
1372 MASTERSTROKE
1997-1998
1360 BOG-ASPHODEL
Year | Prizes (1, 2, 3) | VHCs | HCs | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020-2021 | 2 (0, 2, 0) | 10 | 1 | 1 |
2019-2020 | 2 (2, 0, 0) | 10 | 1 | 1 |
2018-2019 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 9 | 2 | 2 |
2017-2018 | 5 (1, 3, 1) | 5 | 3 | 1 |
2016-2017 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 11 | 1 | 1 |
2015-2016 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 10 | 1 | 1 |
2014-2015 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 6 | 3 | 5 |
2013-2014 | 3 (2, 0, 1) | 6 | 4 | 3 |
2012-2013 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 11 | 0 | 1 |
2011-2012 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 9 | 3 | 3 |
2010-2011 | 5 (2, 1, 2) | 7 | 1 | 1 |
2009-2010 | 3 (0, 2, 1) | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2008-2009 | 2 (2, 0, 0) | 9 | 2 | 2 |
2007-2008 | 4 (1, 1, 2) | 8 | 1 | 1 |
2006-2007 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 8 | 4 | 3 |
2005-2006 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
2004-2005 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 5 | 1 | 10 |
2002-2003 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 2 | 7 | 24 |
2001-2002 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 2 | 1 | 22 |
2000-2001 | 3 (1, 1, 1) | 2 | 4 | 10 |
1999-2000 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
1998-1999 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
1997-1998 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – |