XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 1195

VAULTING-HORSE

1.  C. O. Butcher (London E4): End of Ximenes’s rule—having to readjust will be hard for an old stager to get over (anag. incl. s).

2.  J. L. Morse (London E17): Like the Thane’s ambition to mount, it is o’erleaped (‘vaulting ambition,’ Macbeth I, vii, 27: horse, vb. = mount).

3.  N. C. Dexter (Oxford): Trio gave Huns sIip—concealing one end of the tunnel with this (anag. incl. l, & lit.; ref. book/film ‘The Wooden Horse’: 3 POWs escaped by this method).

V.H.C. (extra prizes)

N. C. Goddard (Enfield): Spring sunlight over a woody mount (anag.; spring = explode).

H. J. Godwin (Egham): Changing his vulgar tone might help a bounder to get a rise (anag.).

R. E. Kimmons (Kettering): Going over a translation exercises the little bounders (vaulting + horse (= translation, crib)).

A. Lawrle (Cheltenham): You might get over this nag with a moiety of luck (over this nag lu(ck), anag. & lit.).

E. S. Leslie (Romford): Could one damage a lung over this? Yes (anag. & lit.).

L. May (Abingdon): I camouflaged the opening of lots with urge to vanish (anag. incl. l, & lit.).

D. H. Smith (Enfield): Go unravel this woolly—it might be useful for a jumper (anag.).

F. B. Stubbs (Crook, Co. Durham): Appointment in gymnasium should attract Badminton enthusiast (2 mngs.; B. Horse Trials).

A. R. Thomas (Hinckley): With vim initially, run, hoist a leg somehow, leap over it (v + anag. & lit.).

D. J. Thorpe (Alnwick): This nag won’t stir. Vet is puzzled with his languor (anag.).

Rev C. D. Westbrook (Cardiff): Up the pole? Then crib: it’s proved useful for escaping detention ((pole-)vaulting + horse; ref. book/film ‘The Wooden Horse’).

P. B. G. Williams (London NW3): Sunlight over a muddied spring may clear it (anag.).

H.C.

Col R. L. Bell, Maj A. S. Birt, R. M. Bonner, R. Brain, Mrs M. P. Craine, L. L. Dixon, W. J. Duffin, J. A. Fincken, E. G. Illingworth, Mrs S. M. Macpherson, H. W. Massingham, C. G. Millin, M. E. Shaw, J. G. Stubbs, M. A. Vernon.
 

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION RESULTS
XIMENES: Report by ZANDER
There were nearly 500 entries from competition-starved Ximeneans, with about 60 incorrect. The spellings BALTHAZAR and BALTHASAR were equally accepted. Anagrams predominated, and many duplications of VARIOUS LENGTH, RUSHING AT LOVE, A VIOLENT SHRUG and LAVER SHOUTING, etc., were too similar in standard to survive the final sifting. Allusions to ‘The Wooden Horse,’ by Eric Williams, ran well into three figures, with little to separate them, but the most ingenious versions have been rewarded below.