Clues written by R. J. Heald
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R. J. Heald205212515958251Mar 1998May 202224y 2mR. Heald
 
 Clue wordAwardClueExplanation
2021-2022
2603TERAS def. PRATT (Wrong Number)VHCOutrage at supermarkets when rump steak supply runs out – it’s monstrous!rump; anag. less anag.
2599DESIDERATAVHCWhat’d cause itchiness? Onset of acarids I erase with DDT sprayed liberallyanag. incl. a; itch = strong desire
2595FIFTY YEARSSecondNumber passed by smart successor to X, held in awe by solvers primarily(n)ifty Y in fear + s, & lit.
2591GHATVHCPassing over Indian region containing hill without difficulty, head for thish(ill) in G(O)a + t, & lit.
2586BALDERDASHVHCBunk bed had rails fitted, infant originally having fallen outanag. less i
2584GIFT-WRAPPED (Cut & Paste)VHCSuch is toy received by little lad, one covered all over with fancy paperDGIFTWRAPPE; fig in t(a)d (all rev.) + w + anag., & lit.; toy, fig = inconsequential thing
2582ACHITOPHELFirstDevoid of principles, coach with help that’s dodgy?anag. less first letters, & lit.
2573HANDS-ONVHCHaving manual control cuts times of Honda NSX when racinganag. less x; ref. sports car
2569BILBOVHCBarbie doll clothing line to replace Mattel’s original brandbimbo with l for M; ref. US manufacturer of Barbie doll (qv)
2020-2021
2564CLEARINGVHCBreeze in some areas bearing rain, 50% overcast, turning brightrain with ra reversed in cleg; breeze3
2560BOMBASTVHCFlatulence comes from bottom after putting away too much fibreb(OTT)om + bast
2556TOERAGVHCGuitars come alive with rendition of stirring music for ‘Apache’anag. less anag.; ref. 1960 Shadows No. 1 hit
2551SPAVIN (Spoonerisms)SecondWhat might Hubble track? Scattered outer parts from supernova, it having explodedtrouble hack; anag. less anag.; part vi; ref. space telescope
2547FILATORYVHCYarn-spinner follows one boring story with another, ignoring call for hushI in flat + (st)ory; story2
2543CABRETTAVHCPenthouse article about bosom passing as material suitable for chapsbre(as)t in cat a; pass = omit
2539TORSE (Printer’s Devilry)VHCThe ‘demons’ tra/duced by Trump’s rhetoric reacted furiously in Washingtonref. US Capitol riot [see comments]
2534BOTTLE-WASHERVHCGalley slave who strikes receives lash to backwelt to (rev.) in basher
2532POTLA(TSUGA)TCH (Presents Round the Tree)VHCRecall exuberant enjoyment receiving special gift (not half!) inside parceltal(ent) in gusto (all rev.) in patch
2530STUDENTYVHCUniversity degree course half missed amid scene of debauchery – typical of undergrads!U d ent(rée) in sty
2521CHAMBERSSecondScrabble’s hard for learner? This is what’s required!clamber’s with H for L, & lit.
2517LITERATIMVHCHigh rent once raised leads to irate missives to the letterlit + tare (rev.) + first letters
2019-2020
2512OSCITATEVHCIgnoring the odds, big city store wants desperately to be fully openanag. of alternate letters
2508CHARACTER (Misprints)VHCAccount penned by Miss Brontë drawing large number heading for renowned parsonagepersonage; a/c in Char(lot)te + r; ref. Brontë home/museum
2504UPBEATVHCArses? Here’s one overturning restriction to tour outskirts of Barnard CastleB, e in tapu (rev.); sv arsis; ref. D. Cummings
2500ESPAGN(OLETTE STRENG)THENER (Half and Half)VHCSun newspaper’s original page three spread not for all to see, something to enhance a lockeranag. incl. n less U
2495BUNGVHCTap sealing butt of Mâcon?n in bug, & lit.; tap = listening device
2490DREAMSCAPEVHCWork Marcel Duchamp essayed periodicallyanag. of alternate letters, & lit.; ref. French surrealist painter
2486BRUHAHAFirstBaron Hardup merrily gives away daughter, Prince becoming husband by end of Cinderella pantomimeanag. incl. B less d, with h for P + a
2482VOX POPVHCPoint of view reflecting ordinary people’s principles, including how one might vote?x in POV (rev.) + first letters, & lit.
2480STOCKING FILLERSVHCSuch presents St Nick ‘forgets’ to supply, bypassing tot imbued with wickedness?ill in anag. less tot, & lit.; ref. Santa’s naughty list
2477SPRAT-WEATHERVHCTime around which short aquatic creature may be caught in sea, before the end of Decembert in praw(n) in sea + the r, & lit.
2473INTERPLAYVHCCrossfire perhaps dispels initial quiet in ‘No Man’s Land’?(P)inter play; ref. 1974 Harold P. play
2469GUDDLE (Spoonerisms)FirstSunday’s Mass beginning to grate forces Catholic to leave foldSandy’s muss; g for C in cuddle; fold = embrace
2018-2019
2460TWEETVHCTrump delivers odd bit of propaganda with little trace of truth hereT(rum p) + wee t, & lit.
2456TRACTOR / TORMINAL (Overlaps)FirstHunt losing backing might help us till normality restored, avoiding unseemly Tory gripingtrac(k); till3; anag. less anag.; ref. Jeremy H., Conservative leadership race
2443ERATHEM (Printer’s Devilry)VHCFor a crossword-setting pro, gramm/atically complex puzzle should be easily achievable 
2438MONTE DI PIETÀVHCPapa and I engaged in card game to pass time, a better alternative to tiddlywinksp I in monte die t a; see Papa
2434STONKEREDVHCTight place for potters clearing up is around edge of cushionn in Stoke red; ref. snooker
2430CLERIHEWVHCMichael 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
2428SHEPHERDSSecondFluttering seraph heralds Messiah’s debut, dispelling dreadful alarm – in us?anag. incl. M less anag., & lit.
2425EPILIMNIONVHCWarm surface of water around edge of Pacific island is El Niño, I’m tippingP, I in anag.
2421SPASMODICALVHCTwitchy face of smuggler an indicator of stress when stopped by customss + modi in pascal
2417ALTARAGE / PROPOSAL (Right and Left)VHCPlan for positive deal not half lame, abandoned by hard Brexiteer rejecting initial offerings on the tablepro pos (de)al; (H)alt + (F)arage; ref. Chequers plan
2412UBIQUARIANVHCAC/DC, Queen and Air appear in local gig with following going globalbi Qu aria in (f)un; see gig1,2; ref. rock bands
2017-2018
2408LUNCHEONETTEVHCWherein one refreshed receives check after tucking into croissant or suchlike?ch. in anag. in lunette, & lit.
2399CHARMEUSEThirdGet headaches with rum drunk, not having had soft stuff like grenadineanag. less had; grenadine 2 meanings
2395PURITANISMVHCOddball up in arms about informal sexual activity displays this?it in anag., & lit.
2390POISSON D’AVRILSecondThis month’s goof could be reviewed on ‘SlipAdvisor’!anag.; fanciful variant of ‘TripAdvisor’; ref. earlier appearance of clue word in AZ ‘Letters Latent’ comp.
2382STRIPE def. HARLOT (Wrong Number)SecondSid unleashes primitive energies with punk bandpunk; S(id) + tripe; ref. S. Vicious
2378PROPOSALVHCPrince finds love: Meg and Harry both losing their hearts leads to thisPr. + 0 + pos(H), (H)al; posh2 = halfpenny
2376SOW(PIASTRE)ENS (Christmas Pudding)FirstAmong barnyard animals lies holy son whose love has become a symbol of Christmaspia2 son with tree for 0, all in sows
2373CACOGASTRICVHCSuffering upset tummy? See preparation of cascara coping with it, relieving terrible painanag. less anag.
2369FACETIAESecondFind early evidence of Allen’s in ‘The Front’ and ‘Sleeper’A in face tie, & lit.; ref. early Woody A. films
2364COMPOST HEAPVHCChambers’ll have the answer when entering competition – it’s a fertile source for Don et alpos + the a in comp.; ref. Monty D., D. Manley
2016-2017
2356PUBLIC SERVANTVHCQuant 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
2351RHAGADESFirstNewspaper is in decline, lacking force, sealing end for sluggish old hacksh in rag (F)ades; see hack
2347ASLEEPVHCBrown bread left in afternoon sun turned stalel in a S + pee (rev.); see bb (= dead), stale2
2343RESTORE (Printer’s Devilry)VHCHydrologists maintain bo/g is terrain that’s undergone seepage 
2338TRUMPVHCThis oddball getting elected may satisfy Mr Putin!anag. incl. in, & lit.; oddball adj
2334ALLELUIAHVHCRejoiceful cry acceptable when interrupting priest, being inspired by God?U in Eli in Allah, & lit.
2330BRAZEN / MOPISH (Right and Left)VHCMosh pit almost goes berserk for heavy metal band’s opening number when Slash is introducedanag. less t; raze in b, n; ref. Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist
2325MASONVHCAmong 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
2324CELEBRATIONSVHCDissolution of Eastern bloc brought about independence and joyous festivitiesi in anag.
2322VENTRICOSEVHCVenerable Mo, after winning both finals in Rio Olympics, is puffed outlast letters in Ven. trice; ref. M. Farah
2318TIMENOPENNY (TIMENOGUY) (Penny for the Guy)VHCBefore public, such as David should wear small fig leafmen open in tiny
2309GLOBETROTTERVHCRichard Burton role sees Hal abandoning marriage-contract in grand plot against Queenbetrot(hal) in G lot + ER; ref. R. B., explorer and film, ‘Anne of the Thousand Days’, starring R. B., actor
2015-2016
2305AGREE def. PATCH (Wrong Number)VHCGreg, defying gravity, takes champion’s spot in long jumpGre(g) for Ch. in ache; ref. G. Rutherford, Olympic long-jumper; spot
2300MISHMASHVHC‘Macaroni’ comprises term for such, in practiceh in ism in mash2 (= masher), & lit.; macaroni = dandy
2296IMPROPERLYVHCWiddy and partner’s close intimate holds displaying ineptitude (Strictly it ain’t!)rope r in imply; ref. Anne Widdecombe in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’
2291AVESTA (Printer’s Devilry)VHCOn a wine tour of Italy you may find the reso/rt next to lovely Frascati 
2283BARGAINSecondA big bust with narc taking away cocaine and whizzanag. less C; whizz = amphetamine
2279CLEMENTINEVHCFruit machine: slot in pennies regularly for recreationanag. of alternate letters
2274SIMPATICOVHCHand in glove manipulated most of action by muppetsimp + anag. less n
2272SNOWMOBILEVHCSimoon blew off course vehicle highly unsuited to desert conditionsanag.
2270FENESTRAFirstPierce Brosnan feted for playing striking Bondanag. less Bond; ref. J. Bond actor; pierce = perforation
2265ESPRIT FORTVHCTurbulent priest receives knight’s terminal stab, having rebuffed king who opposes Church’s authority?t for(k) in anag.; ref. Thomas à Becket
2261GANGSTERLANDVHCCriminals collectively tip off drug lord about nark shopping leaders of smuggling trades, t in anger in g land3
2257BUST-UP / PIT-PAT (Right and Left)FirstQuarrel 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
2250MILESTONE (with missing O) (Missing Letter)VHCFor Azed’s latest Tozer rated and uncovered Ximenes’ lost slipsorated; anag. less X, s; ref. speech by JRT at AZ 2250 lunch
2014-2015
2248WAISTLINEVHCA swelling eater given half portion of dinner may reduce enlarged ——comp. anag. incl. din, & lit.
2244AVANT-GARDISTEFirstWho might make devastating crack about RA retrospective, styling vintage art ‘sad’?RA (rev.) in anag., anag., & lit.
2239ERADIATE (Spoonerisms)VHCFrightfully odd things in an Alice adventure start in a dreamdart in a stream; anag. of alternate letters
2235CHOCK-A-BLOCKVHCPuss stuffed with ham and tail of sea bass is full to burstinghock a B in clock; puss2
2222OBJECT LESSONVHCBotched nose jobs: Lancet article delivered salutary warninganag. less an
2220A twelve-letter ‘Christmas cracker’ (Christmas Cracker)SecondChristmas can bore perhaps without constant source of fine wit as in ‘crackers’ of Jonathan’s creationSWIFTIAN/NATIVITY; SWIFTINAVITY; anag. incl. f; tin + (c)avity
2213SOLECISMVHCMisuse of semicolon’s not acceptable, being this?anag. less on, & lit.
2209(O)CT(O)BER (Letters Latent)VHCTime around which we’ll see tree that’s cast first of autumn leavest in c(a)ber, & lit.
2013-2014
2196SEMANTRA / TRABEATE (Overlaps)VHCRecalled star Stokes substitutes for Bell, ace batter century-less after decline in summer formname S (rev.); anag. less c; ref. Ben S., Ian B.
2191PLUGFirstQuid tucked inside jowl?L in pug2, & lit.; see jowl2
2187WESTFirstHow one usually leaves Bath to go round centre of Bristol?adv.; s in wet, & lit.
2178PARISONVHCSee article blown from this in glasshouse?i.e. p. less a = prison, & lit.
2170SAYONARAVHCHooray Henry falls out of carriage, squiffy on strong toddy mostlys(H)ay + on + ara(k); hooray2
2165OUT OF ORDERVHCSlot machines being so, you might have lost cash in ’em!indicating anag. & lit.
2161FARRAGOVHCA tip for Fido: contents of marrow bone are good for a dog’s dinnera, g in F (m)arro(w); bone = seize
2157MELODRAMATICThirdSuch flicks made actor millions, at the expense of pride?anag. less lions, & lit.
2152STUFFED SHIRTVHCTouch of subtle delicacy lacking in art by D. Hirst outraged pompous twits + t(art)uffe + anag.
2012-2013
2144INFERNO (Spoonerisms)VHCLeading pair of inventors Faraday and Rubik? Where’s Logie Baird?bogy laired; in + F + Ernő; sv Rubik’s cube
2139DE RIGUEURVHCFashion gurus desire to have squares turned out as style dictatesanag. less S, S
2135LOBVHCDescending 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
2131DIVES / MALIK (Right and Left)ThirdArt? Klimt wastes time gallivanting round Austria, time spent in strip jointsA in anag. less t; dives(t); ref. Art M., actor, Gustav K., Austrian artist
2126DESPERATESecondHairless? Hate being without one’s wigdesp(I’s)e + rate2; wig2
2122NICETYVHCShakespearean being squeamish indiscreetly excises odd partsalternate letters; ref. Thomas Bowdler
2118BLOKEISHVHCComradely Bolshevik after revolution doffs cap to Vladimiranag. less V; ref. Lenin
2116YULETIDE (with jumble of COMEDO) (Christmas Devilry)VHCAcceptable room, decent, procured by Judaean couple finally in time for NativityU let in Yid e; with apologies for use of offensive term
2113PICAROONVHCBounder involved in piracy making spirited escape with booty?roo in pi(racy) can, & lit.; booty2
2109THICKETYVHCHurst-like hat trick Rooney fans roar on wildly getting carried awayanag. less anag.; ref. Geoff H. & Wayne R.
2105TITANIC / ICEBERG (Overlaps)VHCLacking ingredient central to intoxicants, Red Bull leaves beer gut not as wobblyTit(i)an; bull (adj.); anag. less ut2
2100A STITCH IN TIMEVHCRiotous cinema hit containing slapstick’s foremost clowns tit in anag., & lit.; ref. Norman Wisdom film
2096TRICKVHCMo Farah’s heart goes into producing a magical performance (and a fast one)r in tick; ref. Olympic gold-medallist
2011-2012
2091SNIFTERVHCA spanking blow on brat’s rear with hand by school’s head? That’s retrogressivere t fin s (all rev.)
2087ROCKETVHCNaughty toker inhales a bit of cannabis – exotic stuff gets one very highc in anag.; see exotic
2083BEWITCHVHCBotham’s no. 1 hate, exhausting bowler perhaps with long spellB + (hat)e + w itch
2078RÉCOLLETFirstResolution to contemplate our Lord makes this man drop outcomp. anag. & lit.
2074BENNETVHCLydia ——: a teen blindly gallivanting, losing heart to scallywagcomp. anag. less l; ref. ‘P & P’
2070MISTREATMENTVHCHurt in film played man not outwardly pretty, with elephant’s headmist + anag. incl. (p)rett(y), e; ref. John H. in ‘The Elephant Man’
2065DERMESTIDAEVHCDestructive beetles? I erase ’em with DDT sprayed liberallyanag.
2064COLD TURKEYVHCRehashed Xmas fare? New competitor tackling Azed’s latest must find original clue!d in colt + ur-key; ref. AZ comp 1180
2049PARTY-POOPERVHCStop happy rioter running amok? This —— would docomp. anag. & lit.
2045CATENATEVHC’Orribly eaten by lion? Albert may be described thuscat + anag.; ref. Marriott Edgar
2010-2011
2040EASTER (Printer’s Devilry)VHCI hope to emulate Co/lin G, ex-champion with an amazing track recordref. Sebastian Coe, Colin Gumbrell, 6 times AZ champion
2036AL CONTOVHCAl Capone’s capital’s concerning tax officer – list of charges is thus drawn upAl c on to; AC convicted of tax evasion
2031EMBROIDERYSecondUse worsted maybe in order to create an ——comp. anag. & lit.; see worsted
2027THRENETICALVHCMournful doctor in health centre rejecting closuresanag. less last letters
2023CHAMBRANLEVHCChampion potter must sink first of reds before winning framer an. in Ch. amble; winning = attractive
2019OVERAWE / HENOTIC (Right and Left)VHCOut-of-date quail eggs Queen’s tucked into lead to wind: head of erring egg supplier quickly served up as peace offeringER in ova + w, e; quail (qv) = daunt; hen + cito (rev.)
2014HACKETTEFirstTake the lead in Cinderella, playing girl who works in ragsang. incl. C
2012BLOATINGVHCResult of endless spree in which a lot is drunk?anag. in bing(e), & lit.
2006GROAN (Spoonerisms)ThirdResponse to acquired tip? Grand put on horsea tired quip; g + roan
2000TWO THOUSANDVHCTo date, Crowther’s astounding puzzling equals —— – a setting record?comp. anag. & lit.
1997FADOThirdWhat’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
1992FOULARDFirstSilk scarf entangled leads to Isadora’s end on roadfoul + a + Rd; ref. I. Duncan’s bizarre death
2009-2010
1988PERIQUEVHCWeed: small person, one quite devoid of sex appealper. I qu(it)e
1984ORWEL(L)IAN (Doublethink)VHC—— novel could match E. Blair’s own, with British society suppressedanag. less B S, & lit.
1979FAR-OUTSecondAmazing safari: taking such, you’ll see exotic species of monkeyi.e. safari with far out = sai
1971WATERMANSHIPThirdSampan owner hit rocks, showing no ——?comp. anag. & lit.
1967SUBORDINATELYSecondStudio blarney reduced by ‘dinosaur Tel’ sadly taking lesser roleanag., anag.; ref. T. Wogan leaving Radio 2 breakfast show for Sunday slot
1962ANADEMVHCWhat’s partially embloomed a napper, going round?hidden rev., & lit.
1958HANGDOGVHCDowncast in pit being inadequate leads to disaster of Gresfordhang(i) + first letters; ref. 1934 mining disaster caused by poor ventilation
2008-2009
1932NINE-TO-FIVEFirstOccupying such positions you’ll see memos from tiresome managers!i.e. hidden rev. at positions 9 to 5, & lit.
1927TONSURE (Spoonerisms)VHCAmongst characters in Chesterton, surefooted priest’s called Brownbald crown; hidden; ref. GKC’s Father Brown stories
1923ELLIPTICFirstDescribing a two-dimensional shape explicitly involved axes x and yanag. less x, y
1918PALAMPOREVHCStarters of pakoras and curry opening elaborate Indian spreadp, a + lam + pore; curry2
1914VE(S)TAL (Letters Latent)VHCTaking veil, one must yield to total abstinence primarilyveil with t a for I, & lit.
1910BARPERSONVHCWho’s seen as regulars in pub are served a round getting tipped?anag. of alternate letters, & lit.
1908WE THREE KINGSVHCWhat’s the confounded humming? Must be waits outside, out of key – performing this?anag. + reeking in w(ait)s; key3
1906MORSEVHCClue composer recalling cop?anag. less cop, & lit.
1901SANITISEVHCStalin’s ire roused? Liberal resistance must be eliminated in purgeanag. less L R
1897WASH-OUTVHCTurkey roasted with essential ingredient of nut stuffingu in was hot
1893EARTHYVHCBlunt, art history’s foremost character, feeding tips to enemy as a mole?art h in e, y, 2 defs.; ref. Anthony B.
2007-2008
1884FREELOADERFirstSlippery customer seen in environs of diner or café mooching, without a cent?eel in anag. incl. d, r less c, & lit.
1879LITTER BASKETThirdGarbo can work better with talkies, letting out a bit of emotionanag. less e; garbo = rubbish; ref. Greta G.
1875GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left)VHCSky shows mug getting caught out behind wicket, out for a blob(c)up + rear; gate with out for a; Sky Sports
1871FAIRY GOLDVHCFaldo dropping a shot admits Open golf prize proving elusiveairy G in anag. less a; NATO alphabet
1866BINGEVHCJag’s big end damaged – diesel’s beginning to escapeanag. less d; jag2
1862UNALIKE (Spoonerisms)VHCAs snakes in flow start to undulate, weakling’s guts churnflakes in snow; u + anag. of (w)eaklin(g)
1858HUMONGOUSVHCExtra-large sumo thong, not a little tight, looks funny around Oriental misterU2 in anag. less t
1856LITAS (Printer’s Devilry)VHCAfter fighting, his opponent co-opera/ted – another sweet victory!ref. Henry Cooper, Muhammad Ali
1849AUXESISThirdSuch a trope placed artfully could make a prosaic tale ‘sexed-up’comp. anag. & lit.
1845UPBRAIDVHCReprimand hubby, regularly and abusively?anag. of alternate letters, & lit.
1840W(I)NN(I)E-THE-POOH (Letters Latent)VHCA pot when teeming with honey could satisfy me? Ay!comp. anag. & lit.
1836POSTHASTESecondPrompt a thesp lost in play, forgetting lineanag. less l
2006-2007
1827AMAKOSI def. DENUDED (Wrong Number)VHCAfrican tribal leaders fell, stripped of power, overwhelmed by swarming Masaistripped; ko(P) in anag.
1818POISSO(N) D’AVRIL (Letters Latent)VHCBatter should primarily avoid slip or he’s sure to be caught out by a fast oneanag. incl. s
1814HIPSTERFirstChap, beatnik sort, mixing with odd characters having dropped out?anag. of alternate letters, & lit.
1810HARE / POSEUR / SERINETTE (DLM)VHCTo 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. 
1806INEBRIANTVHCClimbing mountain peak in thin air awfully hard going – and awfully exhilaratingben (rev.) in anag. less H
1801RUSE DE GUERREVHCMilitary stratagem the French devised and employed, say, in error at Agincourt, being overthrownused e.g. in erreur (rev.)
1797HEARTVHCIn fantastic form, Atherton strikes 100 – it sure gets the blood pumpinganag. less ton; ref. Michael A.
1792APPALOOSA / ESTAMINET (Right and Left)VHCParisian friend following French art is enthralled by canvas put up in local café – it’s mounted before a meal, and friend loves ites + ami in tent (rev.); ap pal 00 SA
1788ETHEREAL OILSVHCCore ingredient of cosmetics and balmy lotion healer’s rubbing one + anag. less on, & lit.
2005-2006
1758BIMBETTEVHCOne not half dumb on the inside, infinitely more appealing on the outside!I (du)mb in bette(r), & lit.
1750PLOUGHMANVHCCharacters 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
1746ENTOMICVHCIncome tax cut in US ruled out, sadly, for Wasps and suchlikeanag. less ax
1741LORD NELSONVHCPride of England exalted in Trafalgar Square left Londoners in state of excitementl + anag.; ref. Ashes victory parade
2004-2005
1707GALENA (Definition of Anagram)VHCHollow area around inner part of earlagena; a in glen a, & lit.
1702WORDSMITHERYVHCAce —— I’d fancy will show why Tim Rice’s adoredcomp. anag. & lit.; ref. songwriter
1698CROSSTIEVHCTrain-bearer escorts one getting hitchedanag. incl. I
1694MISINTERPRETVHCProvide Colemanesque commentary on sprinter running in ‘quite extraordinary’ time?anag. in anag.; ref. David Coleman, BBC sports commentator famous for gaffes
1689SYNODSecondHeresy meets with motion of approval? Not here!(here)sy + nod, & lit.
1685MINO (Printer’s Devilry)VHCAt the kosher restaurant you’ll find on the menu the repast ra/ted for its smoky taste 
2002-2003
1606TEOSINTE / INTELSAT (Overlaps)FirstWhat’s good if you like browsing among tat? Jumble sale for onein + tat with anag. for a
1602FENESTRAVHCHole in the wall vandalized after keeping money backsen (rev) in anag.
1598PHRASEMONGERVHCElite —— could be styled ‘the prime sloganeer’comp. anag. & lit.
2001-2002
1533MASTER-MARINERVHCI’d hope to command good ratings with mainstream broadcast about our old King and QueenER in anag. + R
1528STROP (Spoonerisms)FirstTop performer starved of acting work would make Caine bleedkeen blade; st(a)r op; ref. Michael C.
1519CARRY-ONVHCCorny novel given a plug by another’s reputation primarilya, r in anag., & lit.
2000-2001
1515SNIDESecondPseud: term of derision used to puncture pretentiousnessn in side
1500GIT (on board ship) (Ship of Fools)ThirdSomething capable of bolting down mast that is used to stop hooker capsizingPIGITRATE; pig + tart (rev.) in i.e.
1492The year that Columbus discovered America (Anagram)VHCI chartered boat – sailed very much – came to US. 
1485BOURSE / TIFOSO (Right and Left)VHCEndless beef on the bone outcry identifies freak cattle disease limiting our market for stock in Francetif(f) + os + O!; our in BSE
1476LIGNIPERDOUSFirstDevastating Woods – with fantastic round, Tiger slips clear of the leadersanag. less first letters; ref. US golfer
1999-2000
1463REVERSIONALVHCKing 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.
1446NEWSPAPERDOMVHCThose in ‘the rag trade’, using mediocre material, must sew modern clothingpap in anag.; must4
1433NEANDERTHALVHCUnderneath ground, striking head leads to awful lump. A hard hat’s the answeranag. less u + first letters
1428CRICETIDVHCI’ll have scurried round putting away odd morsels, pouching nuts etc?I in alternate letters round anag., & lit.
1424HEISTVHCWhip? Fetishist grasps it tightly in fistanag. of (f)etish(ist)
1415MANATI (Printer’s Devilry)VHCOld Scrooge stubbornly refused to give: ‘Post/pone Christmas!’ 
1998-1999
1402PENTOSE (Definition of Anagram)VHCFeather applied to ticklish toes? This’ll get feet dancingone-step; pen + anag.
1380RAPPORT (Misprints)VHCSharp blow left fellow reelingfeeling; rap port
1376LOGOVHCHeadings on leaflets organization gives out show distinctive emblemfirst letters
1367SANBENITOSVHCRunning sensation Black’s packed in – see rags expressing regretb in anag.; ref. Roger B.
1363MAVIN def. THONG (Wrong Number)VHCThe ultimate in exhibitionism: Virginia performing flip-flop in the buff!flip-flop; m + VA (rev.) + in
1997-1998
1355DIACATHOLICONVHCA colonic aid, taste initially disguised with a drop of honeyanag. incl. t, h, & lit.
1351NEATEN (Printer’s Devilry)VHCDistance runner was forced to retire by ti/de rising one foottinea
1346PHARISEEVHCIs —— with cant represented as ‘the precisian’?comp. anag. & lit.

 
HCs awarded to R. J. Heald
Clues  |  Annual Honours   |  Other competitors

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
 


Annual Honours record of R. J. Heald
Clues  |  HCs   |  Other competitors
YearPrizes
(1, 2, 3)
VHCsHCsPosition
2020-20212 (0, 2, 0) 10 1 1
2019-20202 (2, 0, 0) 10 1 1
2018-20192 (1, 1, 0) 9 2 2
2017-20185 (1, 3, 1) 5 3 1
2016-20171 (1, 0, 0) 11 1 1
2015-20162 (1, 1, 0) 10 1 1
2014-20152 (1, 1, 0) 6 3 5
2013-20143 (2, 0, 1) 6 4 3
2012-20132 (0, 1, 1) 11 0 1
2011-20121 (1, 0, 0) 9 3 3
2010-20115 (2, 1, 2) 7 1 1
2009-20103 (0, 2, 1) 4 3 4
2008-20092 (2, 0, 0) 9 2 2
2007-20084 (1, 1, 2) 8 1 1
2006-20071 (1, 0, 0) 8 4 3
2005-20060 4 4 25
2004-20051 (0, 1, 0) 5 1 10
 
2002-20031 (1, 0, 0) 2 7 24
2001-20021 (1, 0, 0) 2 1 22
2000-20013 (1, 1, 1) 2 4 10
1999-20000 6 4 12
1998-19990 5 5 15
1997-19980 3 1