CCCWC June competition voters’ comments on Clue no. 30

CCCWC June competition voters’ comments

Clue no. 30: POWER TO CLEAN BACK, IT KILLS!(6)

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A clue to Any “Double” Word (6 or more letters) (A Game of Two Halves).
1 comment refers to this clue (from 1 competitor, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
A dog's dinner, make that two – an impression of both the tournament and this competition – inspired by 19 which features surely the best clue-word used. That entry is one of no fewer than ten clues entered with explanations NOT in the format suggested by the organisers. A smaller number gave the details in the correct order, but without any punctuation. Very few entries reveal any thought given to the solver's first task – to identify the word to be omitted – and so to make it more of a challenge by arranging that any word, or at least most words, when removed, would still leave a readable clue. However, in the end I did not let these misgivings affect my votes. I selected seven clues :- 10 Elegant, apt, and witty – 5 points 7 Sound construction, straight to the point – 3 points 22 Apt and very well honed – good surface(s) – 2 points 45 The best of the 'testes/balls' clues – 2 points 15 'spurned' is a very classy feature here – 1 point 17 Let's hear it for Germans and Aussies, beautifully disguised def. – 1 point 19 Spoilt by a disjointed 'thrash', but a great attempt – 1 point Other clues 49 Better than many of those above, but 'with' superfluous content, great pity 11 Brilliantly worked surface and subsidiary, definition needs improving 16 A gem, but I suspect many will judge it to be a bit off-focus, unlike 17 18 "'i" for "in" needs to be flagged by some means for the majority of solvers 30 Reminiscent of Baldrick's riddles, baffling surface & no real definition 46 High quality in every respect. Not a central theme for most, however

Comments on the competition

A dog's dinner, make that two – an impression of both the tournament and this competition – inspired by 19 which features surely the best clue-word used. That entry is one of no fewer than ten clues entered with explanations NOT in the format suggested by the organisers. A smaller number gave the details in the correct order, but without any punctuation. Very few entries reveal any thought given to the solver's first task – to identify the word to be omitted – and so to make it more of a challenge by arranging that any word, or at least most words, when removed, would still leave a readable clue. However, in the end I did not let these misgivings affect my votes.

I selected seven clues :-

10 Elegant, apt, and witty – 5 points
7 Sound construction, straight to the point – 3 points
22 Apt and very well honed – good surface(s) – 2 points
45 The best of the 'testes/balls' clues – 2 points
15 'spurned' is a very classy feature here – 1 point
17 Let's hear it for Germans and Aussies, beautifully disguised def. – 1 point
19 Spoilt by a disjointed 'thrash', but a great attempt – 1 point

Other clues

49 Better than many of those above, but 'with' superfluous content, great pity
11 Brilliantly worked surface and subsidiary, definition needs improving
16 A gem, but I suspect many will judge it to be a bit off-focus, unlike 17
18 "'i" for "in" needs to be flagged by some means for the majority of solvers
30 Reminiscent of Baldrick's riddles, baffling surface & no real definition
46 High quality in every respect. Not a central theme for most, however

CCCWC June competition voters’ comments Clue no. 30: POWER TO CLEAN BACK, IT KILLS!(6)

CCCWC June competition voters’ comments

Clue no. 30: POWER TO CLEAN BACK, IT KILLS!(6)