Competition clues by Tom Borland
Other competitors | Competition results
Tom Borland has 72 clues
| Comp | Clue word | Clue | Explanation | Pos | Points | Merits | 2022 Annual Competition | 32 | 1.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | SONY (Printer's Devilry) | Hockney often paints blue for mellow backgrounds | Hockney often paints blue forms on yellow backgrounds | 7 | 30 | 4 | 4 |
| April 2022 | REMOTE CONTROL | In this state Stormont electorate suffers: rule from afar | *STORMONT ELECTORATE = REMOTE CONTROL STATE; def. rule from afar | 7 | 27.5 | 0 | 1 |
| January 2022 | UNDERGROUND | Pose on red rug nude, not keeping one's rear concealed | *ON RED RUG NUD(e); def. concealed | 7 | 30.5 | 5 | 2 |
| 2021 Annual Competition | 2 | 12 | |||||
| September 2021 | CICERONE | Expert guide deployed on recce round island | I (island) in *ON RECCE; def. Expert guide | 1 | 39 | 1 | 2 |
| June 2021 | NELSON / PRINCE (Right & Left) | Hold lens trained on Royal pair, finding nice shot | Nelson: *LENS + ON, def. Hold; Prince: PR (pair) + *NICE; def. Royal | 1 | 78 | 0 | 5 |
| May 2021 | TOERAG | No fellow of great rank | *O(F) GREAT; rank = foul; &lit. | 4 | 41 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020 Annual Competition | 3 | 15.5 | |||||
| October 2020 | GLORIA | Suppression of church by oligarch disrupted Christian praise | *OLIGAR(CH); def. Christian praise | 7 | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| September 2020 | SEVEN (Printer’s Devilry) | Many art lovers' choice for a getaway last year | Many art lovers chose Venice for a getaway last year | 9 | 19 | 2 | 1 |
| July 2020 | CAESAREAN | Fired as a cleaner, having left out section in hospital | *AS A C(L)EANER; def. section in hospital | 3 | 35 | 0 | 1 |
| May 2020 | ELDERS | The Spanish sun pulls in the German OAPs | DER (the German) in EL (the Spanish) + S (sun); def. OAPs | 3 | 36 | 3 | 2 |
| April 2020 | OPEN | Copenhagen stores free of restrictions | Hidden in Copenhagen; def. free of restrictions, ref. Denmark lifting lockdown | 2 | 34 | 3 | 1 |
| March 2020 | WARTIME | Armistice and new order since this? | Comp. &lit.: ARMISTICE + NEW = *SINCE WARTIME | 6 | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| February 2020 | ATONEMENT | Staff stick together if heads cut compensation | (B)ATON + (C)EMENT = staff stick together; def. compensation | 2 | 37 | 2 | 5 |
| 2019 Annual Competition | 2 | 15.5 | |||||
| Christmas Special 2019 | Christmas Cocktails (Right & Left) | Moan about barren ground, fruit a pale yellow, mangy peach after year spent spraying | CRY (moan) round *BARREN; fruit = cranberry; *MANG(Y) + PEACH; a pale yellow = champagne | 6 | 17.5 | 0 | 2 |
| September 2019 | ASTER (Printer’s Devilry) | Greens are happy to see we cycled | Greens are happy to see waste recycled | 1 | 90 | 1 | 7 |
| August 2019 | STERNUM | A bit of breast turns me on | *TURNS ME (on = tipsy in C) | 2 | 35.5 | 3 | 5 |
| June 2019 | FLUTTER | Left turf without a farthing, this having been misplaced? | *LEFT TUR(F); &lit. (f = farthing) | 5 | 27.5 | 0 | 3 |
| May 2019 | MERCURY | Pity about our defaced planet | MERCY (pity) about (O)UR; def. planet | 1 | 45 | 1 | 4 |
| 2018 Annual Competition | 1 | 25.5 | |||||
| Christmas Special 2018 | TURKEY (STONES) (Wrong Number) | UK entry rocks, leaving Norway an abject failure | *UK E(N)TRY; def. an abject failure; rocks = stones; ref. Eurovision | 4 | 33 | 1 | 4 |
| November 2018 | HUMMINGBIRD | Diminutive winger departs after Birmingham settled with United for ace | *BIRMINGHAM with U for A, D = departs; def. Diminutive winger | 1 | 48 | 1 | 5 |
| October 2018 | OPAL (Printer’s Devilry) | That faded Matisse, it is almost colourless | That faded mat is so pale it is almost colourless | 3 | 40.5 | 1 | 1 |
| September 2018 | JOANNA LUMLEY | Taking a spin round Lake, enjoy manual 1970s Avenger (6,6) | L (Lake) in *ENJOY MANUAL; def. 1970s Avenger (ref. Hillman/Chrysler Avenger) | 1 | 35.5 | 0 | 1 |
| July 2018 | VINDALOO | Potential source of runs in Oval ground India love | IND (India) in *OVAL + O (love); def. Potential source of runs | 7 | 24.5 | 2 | 2 |
| June 2018 | UNION | Suffering ennui? That's ordinary for English marriage | O for E in *ENNUI; def. marriage | 4 | 58 | 4 | 1 |
| April 2018 | SOLITAIRE | Diamond flogged to Israeli | *to Israeli | 4 | 36.5 | 1 | 1 |
| March 2018 | SEAWATER | What leaves wet areas on rigging? | *WET AREAS; &lit. | 10 | 16.5 | 5 | 2 |
| February 2018 | DRUNKENNESS | Doctor worried nun's knee's being wrecked | DR + *NUNS KNEES; def. being wrecked | 8 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
| January 2018 | ARGENT | Vintage silver car's back in 007's possession? | R (car's back) in AGENT (007); def. Vintage silver, ref. Bond's Aston Martin DB7 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017 Annual Competition | 35 | 0.5 | |||||
| February 2017 | FURPHY | Rumour comic Eddie's to have a sex-change | F for M in MURPHY (Eddie); def. Rumour | 10 | 17.5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2016 Annual Competition | 15 | 4 | |||||
| October 2016 | CHOCTAW | Conservative Whip keeps this move on ice | HOC (this) in C + TAW (whip); def. move on ice | 10 | 17 | 3 | 3 |
| September 2016 | GREASEPAINT | Gene is a part encoding make-up of character | *GENE IS A PART; def. make-up of character | 8 | 21.5 | 3 | 1 |
| August 2016 | LAUGHTER | Urge halt to work in response to cracks? | *URGE HALT; def. response to cracks? | 4 | 35 | 1 | 4 |
| April 2016 | LEONARDO DICAPRIO | Titanic player Paolo di Canio erred, losing head when sent off | *PAOLO DI CANIO (E)RRED; def. Titanic player; ref 1998 incident in which already dismissed di Canio pushed ref over. | 5 | 29.5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2015 Annual Competition | 3 | 15.5 | |||||
| Christmas Special 2015 | A “FIVE GOLD RINGS” word | Afflicted Judea is the setting for very familiar story? | DEJA-VU; V=very in *JUDEA; def. familiar story? | 4 | 36 | 1 | 6 |
| November 2015 | LOCK STOCK AND BARREL | Some clocks tock and bar relaxation altogether | Hidden; def. altogether | 1 | 49 | 0 | 4 |
| September 2015 | SOUNDER | In case of worn-out part, ring plumber? | O = ring in SUNDER = (obs.) part; def. plumber? | 6 | 29.5 | 1 | 4 |
| July 2015 | POUNCE | Launch of predatory leopard? | P + OUNCE; &lit. | 8 | 25.5 | 2 | 4 |
| May 2015 | MARKET (SPONGE) (Wrong Number) | Demand that Primark etc. could absorb | Hidden in PRIMARK ETC; def. Demand; absorb = sponge | 8 | 20 | 4 | 2 |
| April 2015 | CHOKEY | Block with small yard? | CHOKE + Y; &lit. | 2 | 52.5 | 0 | 2 |
| March 2015 | DREAMBOAT | Sort of Bardot, incorporating elements of Mae West? | MAE rev. in *BARDOT; &lit. (across clue) | 3 | 31 | 1 | 3 |
| 2014 Annual Competition | 2 | 15 | |||||
| Christmas Special 2014 | MOUSETRAP / HERMITAGE (Right & Left) | Retreat! He has bamboozled irate mog, but old rogue Tom's a pure menace to Jerry | HERMITAGE: HE around *IRATE M(O)G; def. Retreat MOUSETRAP: *TOMS A PURE; def. menace to Jerry | 8 | 16.5 | 0 | 1 |
| November 2014 | BRIDEWELL | Wild rebel reformed here? | *WILD REBEL; &lit. | 9 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| October 2014 | CLOSE | With Lidl's opening, Tesco is running out of time around here | *L(IDL) + (T)ESCO; def. around here | 2 | 43 | 1 | 5 |
| September 2014 | TASER (Printer’s Devilry) | The court was right to con vicious criminal | The court was right to convict a serious criminal | 6 | 27 | 2 | 2 |
| August 2014 | EATANSWILL | Labour wallies adopting Brown, a rotten choice | TAN = Brown in *WALLIES; def. a rotten choice | 2 | 37.5 | 0 | |
| March 2014 | EXCALIBUR | Fabulous strokemaker tops off Crucible max with flourish | *(c)RUCIBLE (m)AX; def. Fabulous strokemaker | 8 | 21.5 | 2 | 3 |
| February 2014 | REALITY TV | Sort of trivial telly I'll avoid | * TRIVIAL TELLY minus ILL | 1 | 66 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 Annual Competition | 7 | 11 | |||||
| October 2013 | DOLMADES | Lad with some onset of dental decay leaves with filling | *LAD SOME D; def. leaves with filling | 3 | 39 | 1 | 4 |
| September 2013 | LION-HEART | Capturing rook left one ready to mate champion | R = rook in L = left, I = one, ON HEAT = ready to mate; def. champion | 1 | 72 | 0 | 5 |
| August 2013 | CRUMBS | Broken bread representing Christ! | Double def. | 6 | 42.5 | 1 | 5 |
| July 2013 | PEAR (Printer’s Devilry) | For Christmas, to be at the Masses is holy | For Christmas, to beat the masses I shop early | 4 | 51.5 | 3 | 3 |
| January 2013 | PIPSQUEAK | Nothing beats playing Quake | PIPS = beats + *QUAKE; def. Nothing | 7 | 24.5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 Annual Competition | 12 | 7 | |||||
| Christmas Special 2012 | XMAS Stocking Filler (2 defs. + wordplay) | Public take tips from chess wizard | HEX/MASS; HEX = wizard; MASS = public (adj.); (C)HES(S) | 10 | 16.5 | 2 | 5 |
| June 2012 | ORATES (Printer’s Devilry) | There is no growth here – shave to be minimal | There is no growth here, so rates have to be minimal | 5 | 45.5 | 3 | 3 |
| May 2012 | ROSBIF | Jibe from the neighbours, if Bros is played? | *IF BROS | 2 | 49 | 3 | 2 |
| April 2012 | LIVELONG | Volleying out, Murray finally lost in epic marathon? | *VOLLE(Y)ING; def. 'in epic marathon?' (in epic = poetic) | 5 | 35 | 2 | 2 |
| February 2012 | BISSEXTILE | Sixties rebel not about to recollect 1960, 1964 or 1968? | *SIXTIES (RE)BEL; def. 1960, 1964 or 1968? Ref. 'If you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there' | 10 | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| 2011 Annual Competition | 12 | 6 | |||||
| October 2011 | MOCKTAIL (New Chambers Word) | No real punch? Unlikely to claim Klitschko's crown | *TO CLAIM K; def. No real punch? | 3 | 35.5 | 2 | 3 |
| April 2011 | Anagram of 38 letters (Anagram) | Welcome break, rallying nation? "Twaddle", said I | 4 | 51 | 1 | 4 | |
| January 2011 | DUVET DAY | Ray of sunshine? New Dad, yet to take it in, granted time off | anag. DAD YET round UV = 'Ray of sunshine?'; def. 'granted time off' | 5 | 25.5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 Annual Competition | 2 | 15 | |||||
| Christmas Special 2010 | NATIVITY (Letters Latent) | Carbon-free energy coming to save us? | N; A(C)TIVITY = carbon-free energy, def. 'coming to save us?' | 2 | 38 | 0 | 4 |
| August 2010 | SPELUNKER | Chambers I discover not keeping on UK personnel, sadly | * UKPERS(ON)NEL; def. 'Chambers I discover'; ref. closure of C's Edinburgh office. | 1 | 90 | 0 | 9 |
| June 2010 | Any “Double” Word (6 or more letters) (A Game of Two Halves) | Having blown League, Arsenal want shooting | ACK-ACK; Arsenal; (L)ACK | 8 | 21.5 | 0 | 2 |
| March 2010 | MONEY (CLASS) (Wrong Number) | Kind of trap where mark's taken for hard cash | M for H in HONEY (Kind of trap); def. cash; kind = class | 10 | 19 | 0 | |
| January 2010 | PALAVER | Bother — loo’s needed for pee in middle of exam | LAV for (middle) P in PAPER (exam); def. 'Bother' | 1 | 71.5 | 0 | 7 |
| 2009 Annual Competition | 15 | 5 | |||||
| November 2009 | Any Firework | Evil act wherein scoundrel fired revolver | CATHERINE-WHEEL; ACT WHEREIN* + scoundrel=HEEL; def. 'fired revolver' | 2 | 63.5 | 0 | 4 |
| July 2009 | MENO (Printer’s Devilry) | Culprits confess to heroin, numerous works of si/n | Culprits confess to hero in numerous works of Simenon | 6 | 30 | 0 | 3 |
| January 2009 | TOKAY | White flower's worn round York, regularly | Flower = TAY round OK = York, regularly; def. 'White' | 10 | 21 | 0 | |
| 2008 Annual Competition | 5 | 11.5 | |||||
| October 2008 | DOOLALLY (Misprints) | Had boring delay on Circle Line | Definition 'Mad'; OOL ('on Circle Line') inside DALLY=delay. | 8 | 21.5 | 0 | 2 |
| September 2008 | SWATS | Students working assiduously to secure firsts | First letters of Students…secure | 3 | 63 | 0 | 3 |
| May 2008 | PHAT (Printer’s Devilry) | Blokes might call – 1:00, Mon. | Blokes might call 100 mph a ton | 1 | 35.5 | 0 | 3 |
| January 2008 | MIRACLE | Bush remarkably inflamed, for instance, by Liberal America's endless stirring | L inside anag. AMERIC(A); def. Bush remarkably inflamed, ref. the burning bush (Exodus) | 3 | 36 | 0 | 8 |