Clues written by Dr J. Burscough
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Also listed as
Dr J. Burscough9671376157116Dec 1984May 202237y 5mJ. Burscough
 
 Clue wordAwardClueExplanation
2021-2022
2599DESIDERATAVHCWanted list crook, readiest for District Attorney to imprisonanag. in DA
2578VARIORU(M) (Letters Latent)VHCShifting constitution, coronavirus mutates in succession of changesanag. less cons.
2020-2021
2556TOERAGVHCGogo, Estragon – ——’s namecomp. anag. incl. s, n, & lit.; ref. ‘Waiting for Godot’
2534BOTTLE-WASHERVHCBelowstairs, the boots is this perhapscomp. anag. & lit.
2517LITERATIMVHCAm I letter changing? Not me, I’m presenting ——anag. less me + I’m, & lit.
2019-2020
2508CHARACTER (Misprints)VHCE.g. Holder, fantastic catcher taking a runHolden; a r in anag.; ref. WI cricketer, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’
2486BRUHAHASecondHereby upheaval regularly eruptsanag. of alternate letters, & lit.
2477SPRAT-WEATHERVHCIn the Bleak Midwinter, seasonal poem originally with transformed earth and waters, p + anag.; ref. poem/carol with words by Christina Rossetti
2018-2019
2447CONGENERVHCEnron and GEC, once involved in communicationanag.
2434STONKEREDSecondStinko? Reed could be one this inebriatedanag. less I, & lit.; ref. Oliver R.
2425EPILIMNIONVHCLake superiorly boasted, ‘I’m No. 1 in ELP’anag.; ref. Emerson, Lake & Palmer; boast = shape roughly
2017-2018
2395PURITANISMVHCProtestant precept, pietist extremes of which Arminius reformedanag. incl. p, t
2386PENNY-A-LINERFirstWriter, non-literary, churning shoddy rot outpen + anag. less anag., & lit.
2378PROPOSALVHC‘Put a ring on it’ suggestion of lady captivating RomeoR in pop O SA l, & lit.
2376SOW(PIASTRE)ENS (Christmas Pudding)VHCWinter stall by devout saint found,/Nativity’s first to have animals aroundpia st + ree + n, all in sows
2373CACOGASTRICVHCDyspeptic suggestion of Cato as conclusion to speech: delenda est Carthago (sic)anag. with C for h
2369FACETIAEVHCVideo app acting as mobile pornography?FaceTime® with a for m
2364COMPOST HEAPVHCContaining organic material primarily, phosphate possibly – refuse tip for horticulturistfirst letters + anag. less h, & lit.
2016-2017
2356PUBLIC SERVANTVHCFor Liberal one such, put in Sir V. Cablecomp. anag. incl. I, & lit.
2347ASLEEPVHCHaving dropped dead, elapsed, perishedanag. less d, & lit.
2343RESTORE (Printer’s Devilry)VHCFarmers producing grain mountain need a C/AP 
2325MASONVHCMansion crumbling? Get me incomp. anag. & lit.
2324CELEBRATIONSThirdMars bar selection?anag. & lit.; ref. Mars Inc. chocolate collection
2015-2016
2305AGREE def. PATCH (Wrong Number)VHCRepair relationship – this mends same-gender split?comp. anag.; repair
2300MISHMASHVHCProviding —— is ‘hash’i.e. providing ‘m’ is ‘h’, ‘mash’ is ‘hash’; & lit.
2291AVESTA (Printer’s Devilry)SecondCountryside’s aligned along le/y linesCountry sides … Leave/Stay
2279CLEMENTINEVHCOrange order let in men embraced by Protestant churchanag. in CE
2250MILESTONE (with missing O) (Missing Letter)VHCOn stele, I mark cursescourses; anag. incl. M, & lit.; course = run
2014-2015
2213SOLECISMVHCBad form, perhaps, using moles (sic) unchecked?anag.; unchecked = not restrained; ref. Molech clue
2013-2014
2174CHARET (Printer’s Devilry)VHCJo and Meg, mar/rying as ‘Little Women’ to become ‘Good Wives’? 
2170SAYONARAVHCSomething said by chaps leaving a Japanese meal, perhaps?say on + a ra(men), & lit.
2168CENTURY (with missing C) (Missing Letter)VHCTen sore – you’re dismissing one in two possiblyscore; anag. of alternate letters & lit.; 200 × ½
2165OUT OF ORDERVHCThis do for ‘outré’?anag. & lit.
2012-2013
2126DESPERATEVHCFurious violation of speed limits snitch brought on the end of both Huhne and Prycee rat in anag.; ref. convictions of Chris H. and Vicky P.
2109THICKETYVHC—— ashes? Wielding hatchets is keycomp. anag. & lit.
2096TRICKVHCFob watch?2 meanings
2011-2012
2058ROBUSTVHCThis clue acceptable for ‘tuberculous’? Not normallycomp. anag. incl. U, & lit.
2053PERISHER def. ESTIMATE (Wrong Number)FirstRogue Herries, central character in Walpole novelanag. incl. p; character (= reputation)
2045CATENATEThirdConveyance of estate, if not singular, can?anag. less s, & lit.; ref. estate agents’ property chain; conveyance = trickery
2010-2011
2040EASTER (Printer’s Devilry)VHCDid the demise of Mansfield and Monroe spell the end of the Hollywood br/a? 
2023CHAMBRANLEVHCPossibly marble, an arch trimming a residence’s opening?anag. less a r, & lit.
2014HACKETTEThirdSort editing Heat, OK, etc (not Observer’s head)?anag. less O; magazines with female editors
2012BLOATINGVHCDrying process – one used in making biltong, jerky?a in anag.
2009-2010
1960NGANA (3 defs + letter mixture) (Parcels)VHCZoonosis (Angolan, Ugandan?) resembling sleeping sickness in animalsSNOOZING ANALOGOUS
2008-2009
1932NINE-TO-FIVEVHCOn shift, if one with no event?anag. incl. I, & lit.
1923ELLIPTICVHCUsing pith, & lit. clue’s thus ——comp. anag. & lit.
1910BARPERSONVHCBeer’s on apron? One —— sports, perhapscomp. anag. & lit.
1906MORSEFirstDo crimes puzzle this DCI?comp. anag. & lit.
1888RASTER (Printer’s Devilry)VHCThough her old man regularly took Vi, ag/ility on her part prevented pregnancy 
2007-2008
1884FREELOADERVHCFederer broken, overturned service provider’s thrown in sponge?AOL (rev.) in anag.
1879LITTER BASKETSecondTransfer ‘Battlestrike’ to Recycle Bin?anag.; ref. computer game
2005-2006
1758BIMBETTEVHCScatty tit, mebbe?anag. & lit.
1733PALESTRAVHCFaulty grip should be eliminated in it, a grapplers’ groundanag. less anag., & lit.
2004-2005
1728EIDOLA def. NULLAH (Wrong Number)VHCPhantom crew ordered to ditch but bailed out?ditch; anag. less but
1715RELEASE / RASPING (Right and Left)VHCWinding reel on heaving sea, catch pike with swivel, round fish with rotating bait – brassy, perhaps?anag. + anag.; spin in gar (rev.); brassy, 2 mngs.
1711MINUSVHCDash in sum?anag. & lit.
1700FIVE-O’CLOCK SHADOWSecondAppearing after poor shave, flocci – OK, covering of hair – when end of afternoon’s passedanag. + dow(n), & lit.
1694MISINTERPRETVHCPrime Minister, I’m becoming a little tired with spin how distortedly you explain!anag. with t for I’m
1689SYNODThirdSee heresy given assent? Not here!(here)sy + nod, & lit.; see, 2 mngs.
2003-2004
1663ARMAMENTARIAVHCAll doctors’ resources required to purge extremes of perspiration from parliamentarian (Liberal one taken as movement’s leader)parliamentarian less p, n and with L I for m; ref. Charles Kennedy at Lib Dem party conference
1654CRESCENT / ENTHRALS (Overlaps)VHCPassing ecstasy, absolute madness for The Arsenal captivates growing boy’s heart, screened from soccer novelanag. less E, a; anag. less o; ref. film ‘Fever Pitch’, adapted from Nick Hornby’s novel
2002-2003
1602FENESTRAVHCFollowing unravelling, enter as light?f + anag.
1593MANSUETEVHCUse meant ‘broken’?anag. & lit.
1589JOKESMITHVHCHash joint smoke – hit may be source of gigglesanag. incl. J
1585SHIATSUVHCRejecting specialized medicine, enthusiast for this demands massageanag. less ENT, & lit.
1572SHIELD-MAYVHCTough bird? It’s unknown when Delia Smith’s cooking!anag. with y for it
2001-2002
1550MEMORITERVHCIodine, in chronic illness, treated tremor by heart?I in ME + anag.
1533MASTER-MARINERFirstCapsizing trawler’s last tar remains – me?anag. incl r, & lit.; ref. captain going down with his ship
2000-2001
1502RAPPELVHCWhereby Prince in ‘Rapunzel’ clears one impedanceP for un Z in Rapunzel, & lit.; ref. fairy tale
1494MARATHONVHCSnickers, once Graham Norton is performing (not without a groan!):anag. less gro(a)n; ref. chocolate bar formerly called M.
1485BOURSE / TIFOSO (Right and Left)VHC‘Footsie’ untouched by European manoeuvres: one supporting Euro’s uncommon on British exchangeanag. less E; B + anag.
1480SAMARITANVHCGo to (Aramaic?) man’s aid, when in distress? Good —— would do!comp. anag. incl. Ar., & lit.
1476LIGNIPERDOUSVHCDespoiling spruce’s heart? It might be!anag. incl ru, & lit.
1472TORAN (Printer’s Devilry)VHCFor ulsters or ties, it’s paisley ran/ge men prefersorties; ref. Ian P.
1467CANAPÉVHCIt circulates with champagne? This might!comp. anag.
1999-2000
1446NEWSPAPERDOMThirdIt’s the province of dailies to wield sweeper and mop, removing last trace of grimeanag. less e
1419SPLODGEVHCTraverse slowly between Sun and Earth, perhaps, creating blot?plod between S and Ge
1998-1999
1398PERMETHRINVHCHow this, sprayed, makes hornet whimper!comp. anag. & lit.
1394BERGAMOTFirstOrange order embargo, ending Loyalist displays?anag. + t; ref. marching bans
1997-1998
1355DIACATHOLICONVHCTerminally constipated? I act and loo-chain rattles!d + anag., & lit.
1996-1997
1286CHALETVHCAre lodges in Switzerland rented out? This one may be!a in CH let
1284STALE (3 defs. + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels)VHCChristmas mystery has all men’s hearts throbbing – / ‘Here Jesus was born,’ the little lamb’s sobbingSTA(BLE ATING)LE; middle letters
1277NOVE(M)BER (Letters Latent)FirstInstant beverages save a lot of time – no brewing!anag. less ages; comp. held in Nov
1273SIPOREXVHCStone artificially created central characters for ‘Nixon’ (including Pres.) with make-upanag. incl. (N)ixo(n); ref. Oliver Stone biopic
1995-1996
1229GRUPPETTOVHCMisleading ‘peg’ tot-up (Crowther’s latest) might give solver a turn!anag. incl. r; ref. AZ’s error in clue to OCTOPOD
1993-1994
1113EMPLASTRUMVHCTrammels wound upanag. & lit.
1989-1990
908INDIGO (Printer’s Devilry)VHCStrictly speaking, one can’t gatecrash sh/ut doors 
1988-1989
874BLUESTOCKINGThirdWho might show worsted in King’s College but no leg?anag. less leg, & lit.; show vi
869HOLD-UPSFirstBush-whackers may take stick to President in United States shortlyhold + P in US
866NECTAREOUSVHCParts of one curate’s free-range perhaps delicious?anag.; ref. classic ‘Punch’ joke
1987-1988
796UPHOLSTERYVHCPolyurethanes, possibly? Not in an antiqueanag., less ane, & lit.
1986-1987
757ETHEROMANIAC (Misprints)VHCGas field might yield carbon monoxide, air – and methanefiend; anag. incl. CO
1985-1986
683BANISHSecondRefuse truck with ash-bin’s debris in?anag.
1984-1985
675CONSTERNATEVHCSo upset one can’t rest?anag. & lit.
662BARGE-COUPLEVHCHouse supports EEC, Labour group’s extreme members rebellinganag. incl. g, p
660Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (Anagram)SecondAt our wainscot, no murine ever greets Santa 

 
HCs awarded to Dr J. Burscough
Clues  |  Annual Honours   |  Other competitors   |  See also: Dr J. & Mrs K. Burscough

2021-2022
  2603 TERAS def. PRATT (Wrong Number)
  2595 FIFTY YEARS
  2591 GHAT
  2586 BALDERDASH
  2573 HANDS-ON
 
2020-2021
  2564 CLEARING
  2543 CABRETTA
  2539 TORSE (Printer’s Devilry)
  2532 POTLA(TSUGA)TCH (Presents Round the Tree)
  2530 STUDENTY
  2525 PLACITUM
 
2019-2020
  2504 UPBEAT
  2500 ESPAGN(OLETTE STRENG)THENER (Half and Half)
  2490 DREAMSCAPE
  2482 VOX POP
  2473 INTERPLAY
  2469 GUDDLE (Spoonerisms)
  2464 BRAINPOWER
 
2018-2019
  2430 CLERIHEW
  2421 SPASMODICAL
  2417 ALTARAGE / PROPOSAL (Right and Left)
 
2017-2018
  2403 SWALE (Spoonerisms)
  2399 CHARMEUSE
  2390 POISSON D’AVRIL
  2360 VIDENDA
 
2016-2017
  2338 TRUMP
  2330 BRAZEN / MOPISH (Right and Left)
  2318 TIMENOPENNY (TIMENOGUY) (Penny for the Guy)
  2309 GLOBETROTTER
 
2015-2016
  2287 VALET
  2283 BARGAIN
  2274 SIMPATICO
  2257 BUST-UP / PIT-PAT (Right and Left)
 
2014-2015
  2248 WAISTLINE
  2239 ERADIATE (Spoonerisms)
  2235 CHOCK-A-BLOCK
  2230 GATES OF DEATH
  2226 DOUBLE-PARKING
  2222 OBJECT LESSON
  2220 A twelve-letter ‘Christmas cracker’ (Christmas Cracker)
  2218 FOREIGNER
  2205 CUMBERSOME
  2200 BRINDISI
 
2013-2014
  2183 SANGRAIL
  2178 PARISON
  2161 FARRAGO
  2148 ZOLLVEREIN
 
2012-2013
  2139 DE RIGUEUR
  2135 LOB
  2131 DIVES / MALIK (Right and Left)
  2122 NICETY
  2118 BLOKEISH
  2113 PICAROON
 
2011-2012
  2091 SNIFTER
  2083 BEWITCH
  2078 RÉCOLLET
  2074 BENNET
  2065 DERMESTIDAE
  2064 COLD TURKEY
  2062 APPLE-KNOCKER
 
2010-2011
  2019 OVERAWE / HENOTIC (Right and Left)
  2010 A COMING OF AGE
  2006 GROAN (Spoonerisms)
  1992 FOULARD
 
2009-2010
  1988 PERIQUE
  1984 ORWEL(L)IAN (Doublethink)
  1975 SEPTENTRIONAL
  1958 HANGDOG
  1953 TRAUMA (misprint of T) (Misprints)
  1940 SCANT def. SNEAP (Wrong Number)
 
2008-2009
  1936 LITMUS TEST
  1914 VE(S)TAL (Letters Latent)
  1893 EARTHY
 
2007-2008
  1858 HUMONGOUS
  1849 AUXESIS
  1836 POSTHASTE
 
2006-2007
  1831 MARGINALIA
  1823 KISS
  1806 INEBRIANT
  1797 HEART
  1788 ETHEREAL OILS
  1784 TEARAWAY
 
2005-2006
  1771 PARTERRE
  1766 GEST (Printer’s Devilry)
  1753 DIAGONAL
  1752 MIDWINTER
  1750 PLOUGHMAN
  1746 ENTOMIC
  1737 ANIMUS
 
2004-2005
  1724 MONEYBAGS
  1702 WORDSMITHERY
  1685 MINO (Printer’s Devilry)
  1680 PILLOW-CUP
 
2003-2004
  1676 CRINGE-MAKING
  1672 IMPASTOS (Spoonerisms)
  1659 SCAREDY-CAT
  1648 MAGIC LANTERN
  1646 BLACK
  1641 GADGETEER
  1633 EMPATRON / WINTERLY (Right and Left)
  1628 ENCOMION
 
2002-2003
  1611 LEISLER
  1598 PHRASEMONGER
  1580 MARGENT def. BEETLES (Wrong Number)
 
2001-2002
  1567 QUEEN
  1563 SLYBOOTS
  1559 THEOLOGASTER
  1554 PEARL
  1546 TRANSPARENT
  1544 PATROL (with jumble of RAPTORES) (Christmas Devilry)
  1541 CHUPRASSY
  1537 CAFTAN
  1528 STROP (Spoonerisms)
  1524 INGRATITUDE
  1519 CARRY-ON
 
2000-2001
  1515 SNIDE
  1511 DEEP-SEATED
  1500 GIT (on board ship) (Ship of Fools)
  1492 The year that Columbus discovered America (Anagram)
 
1999-2000
  1441 Word containing MM displaced by a bug (Millennium Bug)
  1437 MISTLETOE
  1433 NEANDERTHAL
  1428 CRICETID
  1424 HEIST
  1415 MANATI (Printer’s Devilry)
 
1998-1999
  1411 LOOK-SEE
  1406 CHASSEPOT
  1387 Dylan Thomas: A Child’s Christmas in Wales (Anagram)
  1363 MAVIN def. THONG (Wrong Number)
 
1997-1998
  1351 NEATEN (Printer’s Devilry)
  1346 PHARISEE
  1342 ALIENS / RAPINE (Right and Left)
  1336 STOCKING
  1325 UPROOTAL
 
1996-1997
  1300 OXFORD (extra O) (Extra Letter)
  1281 ABLUTOMANE
  1260 OUT-AND-OUT
 
1995-1996
  1238 ELASTIN (Printer’s Devilry)
  1234 AVANT-PROPOS
 
1994-1995
  1178 BOOTLEG
 
1992-1993
  1065 TANDOORI
  1056 ENTRAIN def. ASTHORE (Wrong Number)
 
1990-1991
  969 BUNTER
  943 BARAGOUIN
 
1989-1990
  922 REFORMADO
  913 ARCHIBALD
 
1988-1989
  887 MONSTER
  882 DOSSIER
  878 MOUSEPIECE
 
1987-1988
  835 PROSAICAL
  823 SARBACANE
  801 LINCHET
 
1986-1987
  766 GUBBINS
 
1985-1986
  727 WELL-TO-DO
  701 BALUSTRADE
  688 CUCURBITAL
 
1984-1985
  670 TURNIP-FLEA
 


Annual Honours record of Dr J. Burscough
Clues  |  HCs   |  Other competitors   |  See also: Dr J. & Mrs K. Burscough
YearPrizes
(1, 2, 3)
VHCsHCsPosition
2020-20210 3 6
2019-20201 (0, 1, 0) 2 7 30
2018-20191 (0, 1, 0) 2 3 25
2017-20181 (1, 0, 0) 6 4 10
2016-20171 (0, 0, 1) 4 4 15
2015-20161 (0, 1, 0) 4 4 19
2014-20150 1 10
2013-20140 4 4 25
2012-20130 3 6
2011-20122 (1, 0, 1) 1 7 17
2010-20111 (0, 0, 1) 3 4 15
2009-20100 1 6
2008-20091 (1, 0, 0) 4 3 12
2007-20081 (0, 1, 0) 1 3
2006-20070 0 6
2005-20060 2 7
2004-20052 (0, 1, 1) 4 4 6
2003-20040 1 8
2002-20030 5 3 18
2001-20021 (1, 0, 0) 1 11
2000-20010 7 4 12
1999-20001 (0, 0, 1) 1 6
1998-19991 (1, 0, 0) 1 4
1997-19980 1 5
1996-19971 (1, 0, 0) 3 3 17
1995-19960 1 1
1994-19950 0 1
1993-19940 1 0
1992-19930 0 2
 
1990-19910 0 2
1989-19900 1 2
1988-19892 (1, 0, 1) 1 3 15
1987-19880 1 3
1986-19870 1 1
1985-19861 (0, 1, 0) 0 3
1984-19851 (0, 1, 0) 2 1 16