AZED CROSSWORD 2091

SNIFTER

1.  D. F. Manley: Jumbly mariners averting ruin — a pinky paper’s absorbed wet (FT in anag. less mar; ref. Edward Lear, ‘The Jumblies’ III, 3, 4).

2.  Dr S. J. Shaw: This kind of shot constitutes one stiff drink (comp. anag. & lit.).

3.  D. K. Arnott: Force six making centre of E. Grinstead windy? (anag. of F rinste, & lit.; ref. Beaufort scale).

VHC

D. Appleton: Blow causing skipper a few problems? Small Scotch ref isn’t allowing treatment (anag., 2 mngs.).

M. Barley: Tin provided drinker leaving work with a quick tipple (Sn if t(op)er).

C. J. Brougham: Violent periodic wind creating awful frets in tot (anag.).

J. M. Brown: After swallowing a small measure rinse out brandy glass (ft in anag.).

Dr I. S. Fletcher: What’s blowing isn’t far short of one close to gale (anag. less a, & lit.; on Beaufort scale strong breeze precedes near gale).

G. I. L. Grafton: Lacking standard, partner’s untidily squeezing middle of dentifrice — tiff results (if in anag. less par; tiff²).

Dr W. L. Hawley: A single stiffener maybe, this as feeling grotty? (comp. anag. & lit.).

R. J. Heald: A spanking blow on brat’s rear with hand by school’s head? That’s retrogressive (re t fin s (all rev.)).

R. J. Hooper: The end for Batman, trapped by Riddler? It could serve to sink spirits in Gotham City (n in sifter; ref. comic book characters).

G. Johnstone: Stiffener? Not iron — liquid! (anag. less Fe, & lit.).

T. J. Moorey: Fantastic Spain first again, ultimately a breeze! (anag. incl. E, n; ref. European Cup etc).

C. J. Morse: One strong draught to make you snuffle: another to pep you up (3 mngs.).

D. J. R. Ogilvie (USA): Arms returned after firing a loud shot? (fins (rev.) + (af)ter).

A. Plumb: Strong breeze in forest stirred up old leaves (anag. less o).

T. Rudd: Short ball that can be frightening, if going in (or out) (snorter with if for or).

D. P. Shenkin: What’s friendliest? Relaxing, idle with ——? (comp. anag. & lit.).

R. C. Teuton: You could get a taste of Remy’s finest from this (anag. incl. R, & lit.; ref. R. Martin brandy).

A. J. Wardrop: In which one’s swirling finest drop of Rémy? (anag. + R, & lit.).

A. J. Young: New features in old riddle — what is shot, blows up and keeps running back (n in sifter, 3 mngs.; sniff stops nose running).

Dr E. Young: Bell’s by chance first one out, scoring 0 (anag. less 0; ref. Bell’s whisky/Ian Bell).

HC

R. D. Anderson, T. Anderson, T. C. Borland, Rev Canon C. M. Broun, Dr J. Burscough, D. A. Campbell, C. A. Clarke, M. Coates, P. T. Crow, M. Cutter, N. C. Dexter, Dr P. Diamond, V. Dixon (Ireland), W. Drever, C. M. Edmunds, P. Eustace, J. Fairclough, R. Gilbert, D. Green, A. & R. Haden, D. Harris, Dr G. L. Heard (USA), R. Hesketh, D. Hubble, Mrs J. M. Johnson, L. Keet, W. Knott, E. C. Lance, D. T. R. Lawson, J. P. Lester, T. Locke, M. A. Macdonald-Cooper, W. F. Main, K. Manley, P. W. Marlow, I. D. McDonald, J. McGregor, B. N. McQuade, Rev Prebendary M. R. Metcalf, J. R. C. Michie, D. S. Miller, C. Ogilvie, M. Owen, Ms F. Plumb, N. G. Shippobotham, C. M. Steele, P. Taylor, D. H. Tompsett, J. R. Tozer, Ms O. Tyrrell, M. Wainwright, N. Warne, W. B. Wendt, Ms B. Widger, K. J. Williams, J. S. Witte, R. Zara.
 

ANNUAL HONOURS LIST (13 competitions)
 
1 (equal). M. Barley (2 prizes, 8 VHCs), D. F. Manley (3, 6); 3 (equal). R. J. Heald (1, 9), A. J. Wardrop (1, 9); 5 (equal). M. A. Macdonald-Cooper (1, 8), T. J. Moorey (1, 8); 7. Dr S. J. Shaw (2, 5); 8. R. J. Hooper (1, 6); 9 (equal). T. C. Borland (0, 7), Dr I. S. Fletcher (0, 7), C. J. Morse (1, 5), J. R. Tozer (1, 5), Ms S. Wallace (0, 7); 14 (equal). D. K. Arnott (2, 2), N. G. Shippobotham (0, 6), P. L. Stone (1, 4). 17 (equal). T. Anderson (0, 5), Dr J. Burscough (2, 1), C. A. Clarke (0, 5), R. Gilbert (0, 5), D. Harris (2, 1), J. C. Leyland (1, 3), P. W. Marlow (0, 5), A. Plumb (1, 3), Mrs A. M. Walden (1, 3), R. J. Whale (0, 5). 27 (equal). Dr P. Coles (0, 4), G. I. L. Grafton (0, 4), P. F. Henderson (1, 2), I. D. McDonald (2, 0), J. R. C. Michie (1, 2), C. G. Millin (1, 2), R. C. Teuton (1, 2), A. J. Young (1, 2).
 
CONSOLATION PRIZES
 
T. C. Borland, Dr I. S. Fletcher, Ms S. Wallace, N. G. Shippobotham, T. Anderson, C. A. Clarke, R. Gilbert, P. W. Marlow, R. J. Whale, Dr P. Coles, G. I. L. Grafton.
 
Comments
 
231 entries, almost no mistakes (a couple of failures to find FURAN). Favourite clue, of 24 receiving mention: ‘“Exquisite”, as Sachin T. may be labelled in Paris?’ for PETIT MAITRE. (Baffled non-cricket-lovers may not have known that the Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, arguably the greatest batsman of the modern era, and not a bad bowler either, is nicknamed ‘the little master’.) One clue that received a vote as least favourite was ‘Wild (and rare) creature, one renowned for living the high life?’ (TAKI). Specialized knowledge again, I’m afraid: the Greek-born ‘Taki’ Theodoracopulos has written the ‘High Life’ column in The Spectator since 1977.
 
SNIFTER was clearly a popular choice of clue word, unsurprisingly given its range of meanings and friendly constituent letters, and you duly rose to the challenge with a wide variety of good ideas. One of the simplest, and none the worse for that, was wording along the lines of ‘Breeze, a stiff one’, which I myself would have been perfectly happy to settle for, but this was unfortunately just too popular for special mention in the lists. Likewise anagrams based on the letters of Finister(r)e (English and French spellings) with subtractions therefrom and referring to the breezy conditions that often prevail in that shipping area (now Fitzroy?).
 
The end of another year of Azed competition cluing, the fortieth, believe it or not. My congratulations to all those featuring in the above lists, especially the overall winners. The final positions were still in doubt right up to the end. It was only Mr Manley’s brilliant first prizewinner that drew him level with Mr Barley at the top of the table. If anyone is unfamiliar with Lear’s wonderfully dotty poem, the Jumblies ‘went to sea in a sieve’ and the relevant lines are ‘So to keep them dry, they wrapped their feet/In a pinky paper all folded neat’). As always, I am indebted to Martin Perkins for his meticulous score-keeping throughout the year.