Welcome to the results of the 75th Clue Writing Competition.  I
intentionally chose two words with multiple meanings, because I'm sick of
anagrams (of course that didn't stop some of the clue-writers).

I was glad to see several new entrants to the CWC.  Since this is my first
moderation attempt (at CWC, anyhow), we have a great deal in common.  I
hope I can live up to the standard of my predecessors.

There were several clues that got top marks.  Here are my eight favorites,
four for each word.

  French beginning to get into recycling garbage (6)	Don Monson
  The decline of official American English (6)		Jake Bergmann
  Things in a park can set us free (6)			Tom Deneau
  Decline short official function (6)			Peter Horne

  Bound for the spa (6)					Yap Yok-Foo
  Season well (6)					Warren Usui
  Get out in this to see sprouting! (6)			Tom Deneau
  Army character in spy ring gets killed in bed (6)	Jason Kim

Although Tom Deneau had two words amongst the top eight, the overall winner
is Warren Usui (for the extremely elegant 'Season Well').  Warren has
graciously accepted the moderator's mantle for CWC #76.

I used the following criteria for grading:

  Overall Clue:
    smooth surface reading
    conciseness
    humor/irony/je ne sais quois
  Cryptic Portion:
    cleverness vs. clumsiness
    accuracy
    clarity, once you "get it"
  Straight Portion:
    clarity of definition

For double definitions, I had to adjust the scale, since there is no
dividing line between cryptic and straight portions.

Here are the clues, including bonus clues mixed in, for those who like to
solve at home:
  

Word #1 (ERSHFR)
  Decline to accept rubbish (6)
  Disallow the short umpire's exploit (6)
  French beginning to get into recycling garbage (6)
  Trash western surfer that isn't radical and excellent? (6)
  Decline to umpire American rookie Eagles (6)
  Surfer takes off right, gains energy, then topples into decline (6)
  Deny us free exchange (6)
  Say no to garbage!  (6)
  Say "No fur -- see?" angrily (6)
  It's useless so don't take it (6)
  Put America before England after the official said no. (6)
  Deny official utilization (6)
  Decline to knit again (6)
  Deny ridiculous fee?  Sure, but leave Elizabeth out of it (6)
  Deny arbiter service (6)
  This is trash. Return to sender. (6)
  The decline of official American English (6)
  Just say no to garbage (6)
  Scrap iron returned amid subterfuge (6)
  Deny sports official an application (6)
  Deny official U.S. direction (6)
  Garbage recycling receives a failing grade (6)
  Turn down, turn around; iron grasped in crafty device (6)
  Rubbish! I do not accept (6) 
  Things in a park can set us free (6)
  Decline short official function (6)
  The centre fuselier will not shoot, it appears (6)
  Don't give in to umpire -- start shouting ugly epithets crazily (6)
  Turn down dwarfish referee seeking employment (6)
  Deny that it is trash  (6)


Word #2 (FCEVAT)
  Bound for the spa (6)
  Well after winter (6)
  Get well after winter (6)
  Porcine gnus ordered to lose weight before summer (6)
  Second and middle of April and not the third of August! (6)
  Buck season (6)
  Rand in spin confronted with seventh letter mocking Fountainhead (6)
  Period of growth for Rhode Island included in review of economic 
    productivity calculations (6)
  No overtime in sporting season  (6)
  The time for greens and a bit of parsley is around the middle of lunch (6)
  Will it reduce the shock? Well, yes (6)
  The bookie will call for the source (6)
  Season well (6)
  Start twice? (6)
  Leaving without a hop (6)
  It is the growing season when a twig absorbs nitrogen! (6)
  Jump and shoot, catching a bit of net (6)
  In a wasp, ringworm lives three months after March 21 (6)
  Bound to sing about Puerto Rico (6)
  Get out in this to see sprouting! (6)
  Leap for joy when winter's finally over (6)
  First season peonies, roses, irises, nasturtiums grow! (6)
  Conspiring to release a prisoner! (6)
  Rise after fall (6)
  Resort loses a call before summer (6)
  Winter has gone with a bounce (6)
  Army character in spy ring gets killed in bed (6)
  Dart through the Shore Patrol cordon (6)



Clues for Word #1 (REFUSE)

----

From: yfyap@pop.jaring.my (Yap Yok Foo)

Decline to accept rubbish

> The "obvious" double definition, if there is one.  Short and to the
> point.  I don't like the phrase "Decline to accept", since "Decline"
> means the same thing.  Please put your clue in the proper format, with
> (6) afterward.  Good effort by Yap Yok-Foo.

Bonus by same author: 

Disallow the short umpire's exploit

> Here, at least, ref is sufficiently common that the word "short" isn't
> needed.  Also, I don't care for "exploit == USE".


From: dmonson@Direct.CA (Don Monson)

French beginning to get into recycling garbage (6)

        French beginning        F
        to get into             (inserted into)
        recycling               re-use
        garbage                 (definition)

> I like this clue.  It's got a strong surface and a nice cryptic.  My only
> quibble is the word "re-use", which isn't quite right, somehow.  Still, a
> very nice clue by Don Monson, and a top score.

From: Qed314@aol.com

Trash western surfer that isn't radical and excellent? (6)

Trash = REFUSE
Western = reversed (in an across clue)
Surfer = SURFER
That isn't radical = remove an R (R = radical in chemistry)
Excellent = E

> A troubled reading throughout.  Is the '?' to indicate an unusual meaning
> of excellent?  Still, there is a nice theme of surfer and surf-speak
> ('radical' and 'excellent').  Perhaps some reference to 'wipe-out'
> instead of 'western' to complete the theme?  Nice try by David M. Tuller,
> but he misses the curl.


From: eeiukiy@eei.ericsson.se (Una Kirby)

1) Decline to umpire American rookie Eagles (6)

Decline = defn.
to umpire = REF (from referee)
American = US
rookie Eagles = E (beginning Eagles)

> This clue breaks down at the end.  The "rookie Eagles" doesn't work for
> me on the surface or as a cryptic.  Before that, the clue is very
> promising, with a nice sporting theme and a good flow.  A good effort by
> Una Kirby.


From: Susan Meyers <susanm@u.washington.edu>

Surfer takes off right, gains energy, then topples into decline (6)

"Surfer takes off right," = surfer removes R for SURFE
"gains energy," = SURFE gains an E for SURFEE
"then topples" = anagram indicator for SURFEE--unsteady SURFEE is REFUSE
"into"
"decline" = definition

> I don't share the general aversion to indirect anagrams with most
> everyone else, but I must point out that this is one.  The surface is
> nearly perfect, with a nice image - I like the surfer clues.  Perhaps
> 'wipe-out' instead of 'topples', but it kills the idiom, I guess.
> Surf's up, Susan Meyers.


From: TODDM@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU

Deny us free exchange (6)

> A nice compact anagram.  No extra words, but, perhaps as a result, short
> on the surface.  I can't really imagine a situation where this makes
> sense as a request - usually the opposite is demanded.  Anyhow, a good
> effort by the man who made me moderator, Todd McClary.


From: gross@math.utah.edu (Fletcher Gross)

Say no to garbage! (6)

> I'm not sure why the '!', as this isn't really an &lit.  Still, as a
> double definition, it's a pretty good one.  Green sentiments, and top
> marks, to Fletcher Gross.


From: Kevin Wald <wald@math.uchicago.edu>

Say "No fur -- see?" angrily (6)

	Say no = REFUSE

	angrily = anagram indicator
	FUR SEE, anagrammed = REFUSE

> We've had the anti-garbage lobby.  Now we hear from the fake-fur
> contingent.  This is what I call a "screaming" cryptic, which isn't as
> bad as it sounds.  It's just saying "I'm a cryptic -- solve me" a bit too
> loudly for my ears.  Nice obfuscation of the cryptic/straight border by
> Kevin Wald.


From: bobg@cullen.demon.co.uk (Bob Gregory)

It's useless so don't take it (6)

> A subtle clue.  "It's useless" is too subtle a definition for my gaudy
> American tastes.  Perhaps "It's garbage..." instead.  The surface is
> smooth as silk!  Nice work and near top marks to Bob Gregory.


From: Valerie Walker <valwalk@brisbane.DIALix.oz.au>

1. Put America before England after the official said no. (6)

   Put America...        America = US
   before England..      England = E
   after the official    Referee = ref
   said no               no = refusal

> I'm not sure what the surface is supposed to mean.  And 'said no' isn't a
> proper definition of 'refuse' -- it's more 'refused'.  Lastly, get rid of
> the period at the end of the sentence.  A good charade that falls a bit
> short by Valerie Walker.


From: aardvark@locus.com (Warren Usui)

	Deny official utilization
          ^     ^          ^
          |     |          |
         def.  REF        USE

> Terse by nature, this clue has a lovely double-use of "official".  I
> don't like 'utilization', but I'm not sure there's a better word (perhaps
> 'service', used two clues down).  Anyhow, a very nice short clue by
> Warren Usui.


From: Clay Colwell <eris@bga.com>

	Decline to knit again (6)

Double definition; DECLINE as a verb synonym of REFUSE
and TO KNIT AGAIN as a definition for RE-FUSE (as in 
a broken bone healing)

> Hmmm... I didn't like re-use, and I certainly don't like re-fuse.  I
> think it's because that's the kind of word my family always try to foist
> off during Scrabble games.  The surface isn't too smooth, either.  What
> does it mean.  However, bonus marks to Clay Colwell for going in a
> different direction from the officials and garbage.

Bonus clue: Deny ridiculous fee?  Sure, but leave Elizabeth out of it (6)
            defn.  anagram  FEE   SURE        -   E

> Starts well, but ends clumsily.  As a result, both the surface and the
> cryptic suffer.


From: EnigmaGB@aol.com

Deny arbiter service (6)
REFUSE = REF+USE

> Not quite as good as Warren Usui's effort (see two clues up), because
> 'arbiter' has only one meaning.  Still, I like this particular structure,
> and think it's the best if you're writing a short clue.


From: Evan Whitney <evan@scd.hp.com>

This is trash. Return to sender. (6)

     Double defn:      This is trash. = REFUSE
                    Return to sender. = REFUSE

(I wrote something very similar to this on a CD I received in the mail
 the other day.)

> Evan Whitney's surface for the junk-mail filled 90's.  The
> double-definition split is pretty obvious, but still, I like this clue -
> it hits me exactly the right way.  And isn't that the point?


From: Jake Bergmann <jbergman@BBN.COM>

The decline of official American English (6)

    Official = REF ; American = U.S. (adjective form)
    REF+US+E

> Jake Bergmann puts it all together with this very elegant clue using
> multiple definitions of 'decline' and 'official'.  A very nice piece of
> work -- top marks!


From: galejs@ll.mit.edu

Just say no to garbage

double definition: Just say no = refuse
                   garbage  = refuse

Maybe this is a good guideline for judging these competitions.

> Perhaps.  So far, the clues have been pretty strong though.  Robert
> Galejs joins the decline of trash motif with a good effort.  I like the
> added 'Just', which distinguishes this clue and gives it a bit of a buzz.
> Thank you Nancy Reagan.


From: Bob Rosenberg <rrosenbe@osf1.gmu.edu>

Scrap iron returned amid subterfuge (6)
===== ~~~~ -------- ---- ~~~~~~~~~~
       FE                   RUSE

> A good cryptic part, a great definition (I like "Scrap"), but the surface
> doesn't make it.  Perhaps some sort of junk-yard theft, eh?  It doesn't
> work for me.


From: bcs@sc.harris.com (Brian Spollen)

 Deny sports official an application (6)

    "deny" = def.
    "sports official" = "ref"
    "an application" = "use"

> So close!  Drop 'sports' and 'an' and you have 'Deny official
> application' which would be perfecto!  With the extra words, it's still
> good, but not magnificent.


From: lmcsimo@lmc.ericsson.se (Simon Morton)

First word:

Deny official U.S. direction. (6)

Deny      = definition
official  = REF    [referee]
direction = E      [east]
thus....... REF U.S. E
surface   : perhaps a directive to deny that some covert operation such as
            Iran-Contra is being run (i.e. directed) by the U.S. goverment

> Putting 'U.S.' in the clue is too straightforward.  Perhaps 'American'?
> I'm with the group that doesn't like 'direction' as a clue for one of
> four letters, as well.  Still, the surface is nice and the clue is a good
> one overall.


Garbage recycling receives a failing grade. (6)

Garbage         = definition
recycling       = REUSE (n)
receives        = inclusion indicator
a failing grade = F
thus ............ RE(F)USE
surface         : perhaps a kerbside recycling program has failed to produce
                  anticipated results

> A very good clue.  I like this one better than the "officially" entered
> clue.  Great surface for those of us who have lived in cities where
> curbside recycling failed.


From: Marti Ford <mjford@uidaho.edu>

Turn down, turn around; iron grasped in crafty device. (6)

Turn down		synonym for refuse
turn around iron	reversal of fe = ef
grasped in		container indicator
crafty device		ruse, the container

	R-ef-USE

> An elegant break of the cryptic using the semi-colon.  However, the
> surface doesn't really make much sense overall.  It is refreshing to see
> a different spin on the word, though.  Thanks to Marti Ford.


From: Dinkar N Bhat <bhat@cs.columbia.edu>

1) Refuse:
Clue: Rubbish! I do not accept. 
Explanation: Rubbish and refuse are synonyms; refuse is also not to accept.

> Another good version of the double definition.  In fact, this is the best,
> as it really flows well.  Top marks to Dinkar N Bhat.

From: Tom.Deneau@amd.com (Tom Deneau)

Things in a park can set us free. (6)

	Things in a park can = defn.
	set = anagram indicator
	US FREE = anagram of REFUSE

> I love the definition.  I don't care too much for the anagram.  Overall,
> though, this is a nice clue, with a pretty good surface (though I don't
> know exactly what it is in a park that will set us free).  Thanks to Tom
> Deneau.

From: Peter Horne <horne@saturn.caps.maine.edu>

Decline short official function. (6)

The explanation:
   Decline --- Definition of the answer (REFUSE)
   Short Official --- Shortened form for referee (REF)
   Function --- Definition of USE

> A very good version of the ref-use variety.  Nice double meanings of
> 'official' and 'function'.  Top marks to Peter Horne!


From: jhn@achilles.net (John Nash)

The centre fuselier will not shoot, it appears. (6)
        RE FUSE - hidden word from a definition in the clue.

> This is a fair amount of work for a hidden word, and the definition is
> nearly obscured by the surface (looks like 'refuses', rather than
> 'refuse').  Also, it's spelled 'fusilier' (I had to look it up to get the
> exact meaning anyhow).


From: "Jason Y. Kim" <jykim@imssys.imssys.com>

   Don't give in to umpire -- start shouting ugly epithets crazily. (6)

EXPLANATION:

   Don't give in to = REFUSE
   umpire = REF
   start [Shouting Ugly Epithets] = SUE
   [SUE] crazily = USE

> I don't care for anagrammed initials, myself - it seems too easy somehow.
> The surface is pretty good (though "ugly epithets" is redundant), with a
> nice melding of the cryptic and the straight.


From: kamarif@pop.jaring.my (Kamal A. Shah)


Clue:           Turn down dwarfish referee seeking employment  (6)

Explanation:    Definition is TURN DOWN = REFUSE
                Dwarfish referee = REF ( Referee could have stood on its own to
                get REF, but I had to give good reason why he was turned
                down!:-)
                At the same giving an indicator. )
                Employment = USE......

> An extra word ('seeking') detracts from this clue.  'Employment' is a
> very good word for 'use'.  Otherwise, this is similar to the horde of
> 'ref-use' clues submitted.


                Deny that it is trash  (6)

An &lit...

> Not really.


----

Clues for Word #2 (SPRING)

----



From: yfyap@pop.jaring.my (Yap Yok Foo)

Bound for the spa

> A good double definition, with a clean surface and (most importantly),
> two definitions of 'SPRING' that are unrelated (at least on the surface).
> Honorable mention to Yap Yok Foo!

Bonus clues:
Well after winter
Get well after winter

> Neither of these work well (before, or after, winter).  The second isn't
> really fair, due to the excess word 'Get', and the first doesn't make a
> whole lot of sense.


From: dmonson@Direct.CA (Don Monson)

2)  Porcine gnus ordered to lose weight before summer(6)

        Porcine gnus            PORCINEGNUS
        ordered                 rearranged to SPRINGOUNCE
        to lose weight          SPRING - OUNCE
        before summer           (definition)

> OK, aside from some contrived zookeeper story, what the heck is this
> supposed to mean?  I'm not a big fan of removing entire words such as
> 'ounce' to complete cryptic clues either.  I do like 'before summer' as a
> straight clue, though - it appeals to me more than 'after winter',
> because it has a better secondary meaning (as 'before the end of
> summer').


From: Qed314@aol.com


Second and middle of April and not the third of August! (6)

Second = S 
Middle of April = PRI  
Not = N 
The third of August = G
&lit. = SPRING

> Not a great clue, but a very good shot at an &lit.  For the S time, I'm N
> a fan of using single letter abbreviations that aren't common.  Others
> might object to 'pri' as 'middle', wanting a single letter, but I've got
> no problem with that.  Anyhow, a nice try, but it doesn't fly.


From: eeiukiy@eei.ericsson.se (Una Kirby)

2) Buck season (6)

Buck = male animal (as in deer)
	or
       definition as verb (eg to leap)

season = defn.

> This clue makes me want to cry, because it almost works perfectly.  Alas,
> in this country, at least, Buck season is in the fall.  Still, a nice
> double definition, with a good double-meaning to 'buck'.


From: Susan Meyers <susanm@u.washington.edu>

Rand in spin confronted with seventh letter mocking Fountainhead (6)

"Rand" = R (surface sense is Ayn Rand)
"in spin" = "in" is container indicator, prompting SPRIN
"confronted with" = facing
"seventh letter" = G, SPRIN facing G = SPRING
"mocking" = in the sense of imitating (surface sense is deriding)
"Fountainhead" = definition

> This goes a bit too far (or perhaps not far enough) in pursuit of the
> perfect theme.  I do love the straight definition (though it deserves a
> '?' at the end for the twist), but the overall reading, and the added
> words make the cryptic too contorted.  Still, bonus marks for originality
> and theme.


From: TODDM@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU

Period of growth for Rhode Island included in review of economic 
productivity calculations (6)

Period of growth = definition = SP(RI)NG 
Rhode Island = RI
included in = container indicator
review of = reversal indicator
economic productivity calculations = GNPs

> I wondered if/when Rhode Island would make an appearance.  The surface
> reading is pretty good on this clue.  Certainly, it's nice and
> consistent, with 'period of growth', 'review' and 'gnps'.  But I don't
> really like GNPs with no hint of the acronym usage (perhaps 'brief
> economic...'?)  Another good theme by Todd McClary.


From: gross@math.utah.edu (Fletcher Gross)

No overtime in sporting season  (6)

> Very good.  The overall surface isn't entirely clear, but I definitely
> favor the nice cross between the cryptic and striaght portions of the
> clue.  I guess I should argue that some hint of the abbreviation of
> 'overtime' should be given, since I've complained about that before (see
> the prior clue).  Still, this clue works for me.  Honorable Mention!


From: Kevin Wald <wald@math.uchicago.edu>

   The time for greens and a bit of parsley is around
     the middle of lunch (6)

        The time for greens = SPRING

	a bit of parsley = SPRIG
	the middle of lunch = N
	SPRIG around N = SPRING

> A couple of CWCs ago, we had a spate of salads at Rwandan and Sudan delis
> (remember dandelion?).  This clue seems to have slipped through to this
> contest.  Anyhow, I like this one very much.  It is smooth across the
> surface, and almost makes sense.  Though I think most people eat their
> greens either before or after lunch and not at the middle, perhaps this
> is some sort of suggestion for a new fad.  The cryptic is particularly
> good, since everyone thinks of parsley when confronted with the word
> 'sprig'.  Good job, Kevin Wald.


From: bobg@cullen.demon.co.uk (Bob Gregory)

Will it reduce the shock? Well, yes (6)

> I guess technically this is cheating, but I like it.  Both halves of the
> clue have extraneous words, but the overall reading is a good one.  I
> dislike that the overall sentence is basically the same as the first
> definition.  That is, there is no new overall surface meaning beyond the
> definition of 'spring'.  Still, a nice clue, where the answer leaps out
> at you if you know it.


From: Valerie Walker <valwalk@brisbane.DIALix.oz.au>


  The bookie will call for the source (6)

   The bookie ... SP    SP Bookie ( starting price )
   will call            call = ring
   for the source       Source = spring

   SP + RING =          SPRING

> I'm just an ignorant 'mercun, but I've never heard the term 'SP Bookie'.
> You seem to suggest that it is understood in Australia, so I'll take your
> word for it.  The phrase 'ring' isn't very common here either, but it's
> fairer (at least I knew it).  Overall the surface is pretty clean, with a
> nice overall flow through the seam between cryptic and straight.  A good
> clue, if I know what the heck an SP bookie was.


From: aardvark@locus.com (Warren Usui)

	Season well

> Quite possibly the perfect double-definition.  A minimum of words and the
> overall clue uses different meanings for BOTH words!  Top prize to Warren
> Usui for this gem!



From: Clay Colwell <eris@bga.com>


SPRING

	Start twice? (6)

Again, double definition, but '?'able because the same word (START)
is used for both definitions (as in "sudden movement" and as in "source").

> This didn't work for me.  It's a nice try to have a single-word
> double-definition, but neither meaning of 'spring' is quite close enough
> to make sense to me.  I think you should probably leave 'twice' off the
> clue entirely if you want to play this game and just use 'Start?', but it
> still doesn't work for me.


From: EnigmaGB@aol.com

SPRING
Leaving without a hop (6)
SP(a)RING

> A short clue often makes up for an odd surface reading.  I liked this
> clue on first read, but it really doesn't makes much sense.  Worse,
> 'leaving' isn't a good definition for 'sparing'.  Still, I like 'hop' for
> 'spring' and the conservation of words is very appealing.


From: Evan Whitney <evan@scd.hp.com>

It is the growing season when a twig absorbs nitrogen! (6)

     It is the growing season = SPRING (defn)
                       when a = filler
                         twig = SPRIG
                      absorbs = container indicator
		     nitrogen = N

     The entire clue also works as an &lit, hence the "!".

> A touch of a stretch for the &lit, since the first half can serve as a
> definition on its own.  Further, the filler isn't too great.  But I still
> like this clue, as its got a charade, and I love charades.  As
> botanically accurate as it may be, the 'absorbs nitrogen' pretty well
> screams 'CRYPTIC!' at the top of its twiggy lungs.  A nice start, but it
> needs some work (a reversal is a start: 'A twig absorbs nitrogen in the
> growing season').


From: Jake Bergmann <jbergman@BBN.COM>

Jump and shoot, catching a bit of net (6)

    Jump = definition ; shoot = SPRIG;  catching = container signal

       SPRI(N)G

> A good job at making a completely different surface from the cryptic.
> 'shoot' is a good clue for 'sprig'.  A nice solid clue by Jake Bergmann.


From: galejs@ll.mit.edu

In a wasp, ringworm lives three months after March 21.

Hidden word: In = indicator
             a wasp ringworm lives
                 ^^ ^^^^
             three months after March 21 = Spring

> Well, ick.  I mean, the image is pretty nasty.  I don't care for the clue
> because the straight definition is just sitting there.  A better approach
> would be, 'In a wasp, ringworm lives well' - something where the surface
> covers up the hidden definition.


From: Bob Rosenberg <rrosenbe@osf1.gmu.edu>

Bound to sing about Puerto Rico (6)
=====    ~~~~ ----- ~~~~~~~~~~~
         SING           PR

> PR = Puerto Rico is fine with me, though I can imagine others won't care
> for it.  I like the double use of 'bound', and the overall clue just
> calls up images of 'West Side Story' in my mind.  A good clue by Bob
> Rosenberg.


From: Tom.Deneau@amd.com (Tom Deneau)

Get out in this to see sprouting! (6)

	out in spring = sprouting.
	&lit.

> Oh, I like this one a great deal.  Kind of a reverse clue, with an &lit
> thrown in.  A charming clue by Tom Deneau, and top marks.


From: bcs@sc.harris.com (Brian Spollen)

 Leap for joy when winter's finally over (6)

    "leap for joy" = def.
    "when winter's finally over" = def.

> A solid double definition, but neither is hidden in the overall surface
> very well.  Still, a good job, with two nice double defs.

Bonus:

 First season peonies, roses, irises, nasturtiums grow! (6)

    "first" = first letter indicator
    "S + P + R + I + N + G", and &lit.

> Sure, it's contrived, but it's a very nice bonus, and a 'happy' clue.


From: lmcsimo@lmc.ericsson.se (Simon Morton)

Second word:

Conspiring to release a prisoner! (6)

Conspiring = letter removal fodder
to release = letter removal indicator
a          = I              [one]
prisoner   = CON            [convict]
&lit       = definition     [spring (v), contrive the escape or release of]
thus ....... (con)SP(i)RING [remove I and CON]
[Not a perfect &lit, I know, since the tense doesn't match (spring and
conspiring) but it was so close that I couldn't resist it.]

> Simon has critiqued his own clue.  I can't add much, except that it also
> isn't quite a perfect overall definition, as 'spring' means to actually
> succeed in the escape, not just contrive to ('We are gonna spring
> Muggsy').  Still, bonus marks for the &lit, and a nice cryptic overall.


From: Dinkar N Bhat <bhat@cs.columbia.edu>

Clue: Rise after fall.
Explanation: Rise is to spring, after Fall (season) is spring.

> This is an elegant clue, but it's got too many small flaws.  First,
> winter is 'after fall', not spring.  Second, 'rise' and 'spring' aren't
> exactly synonyms.  Overall, a very nice surface read - extremely elegant,
> but the flaws bring it down.


From: Peter Horne <horne@saturn.caps.maine.edu>

Resort loses a call before summer. (6)
 
The explanation:
    Resort loses a --- Definition of SPA less the A  SP(A)
    Call           --- Definition of RING
    Before summer  --- Definition of the answer   (SPRING)

> I'm not sure what it means to 'lose a call before summer'.  The surface
> on this clue doesn't work.  However, I like both the straight and cryptic
> definitions, and they fit together well - it just doesn't make any sense.
> A nice charade, which I love.


From: jhn@achilles.net (John Nash)

Winter has gone with a bounce. (6)
	SPRING - two meanings.

> Double definitions should contrive to hide at least one, if not both, of
> the cryptic meanings.  It makes them harder to write, but better to
> solve.  Also, the overall surface doesn't make too much sense (how
> exactly does winter go with a bounce?)  Good try.


From: "Jason Y. Kim" <jykim@imssys.imssys.com>

   Army character in spy ring gets killed in bed. (6)

EXPLANATION:

   "Army" character = Y (because it has two arms)
   [Y] in [SPYRING] gets killed = SPRING
   in bed = SPRING (coil)

> Wow - I love this.  OK, the definition is a little soft ('in bed' =
> 'spring'?), but the rest is great.  I first thought 'Y' was an 'army
> character' because there is a 'Y' in 'armY', but your reasoning is
> better.  The overall surface is very nice, if a bit stilted.  Top marks
> to Jason Kim.

From: kamarif@pop.jaring.my (Kamal A. Shah)

  Dart through the Shore Patrol cordon  (6)

Explanation:    Dart is the definition and is synonymous with SPRING
                Through serves as a filler for nice surface reading and
                also indicates how the answer is derived.
                Shore Patrol = SP ( Reference is Webster's Dictionary )
                Cordon is a RING.....

> SP for shore patrol isn't great, but I don't care for acronyms.  The rest
> of the clue is a good one, with a nice surface and a good cryptic.  I
> also don't really like 'dart' for 'spring', but I can live with it.  Good
> job, Kamal Shah.
