Subject:      CWC 101 - Full results (with spoilers)
From:         Philip Rose <phil.rose@zetnet.co.uk>
Date:         1996/10/11
Message-Id:   <1996101118540669960@zetnet.co.uk>
Newsgroups:   rec.puzzles.crosswords

           CLUE WRITING COMPETITION NUMBER 101

Announcement of results for this competition. NB this posting 
contains the answers, fairly early on.

The winner for both words was Jake Bergmann with the following two 
clues:-

1) Croatian youth is left (radical left), otherworldly (9)

2) With snitch around, top-rated sergeant becomes slicker (8)

and as he offered to moderate CWC 102 I shall invite him to do so.

The runners-up are:-

for Clue 1 David Bullock with:

1) One of a hundred and one from the Adriatic coast (9)

and for Clue 2 newcomer Corran Webster with:

2) Croatian balkanisation: protection from the storm? (8)

Before we delve into the detailed results, I would like to say that I 
am not printing all clues separately. There was not a clamour for 
them when Cruciver didn't and basically it'll add another half-hour's 
cutting and pasting to the process of typing this. 

I had 22 entrants and four were newcomers to r.p.c cluing 
competitions, to whom a great welcome. I hope my comments are 
constructive enough for you.

I think it is fairly obvious that there was a link between the two 
words and a number of competitors made the connection, some very 
well. I chose DALMATIAN specifically because it was CWC 101. The film 
has just been released on video over here, I did try a few charades, 
and then ran CROATIAN through the anagram software to get the other 
word.

Enough of my waffling down to the nitty-gritty. My comments follow 
the explanations and a >. A number of discussion points are raised by 
some of the clues, so I don my asbestos suit. These are noted with a 
#.

Clues for DALMATIAN

1) A dog, and it frisks around the girl (9)

           Anagram - AND IT
           Anag indicator - FRISKS
           Container indicator - AROUND
           Alma - THE GIRL

> It would have been difficult to solve - even once you've twigged 
  it's an anagram container. Maybe OK in a checked crossowrd.

2) Alien surrenders, right after boy returns with dog (9)

    dog = DALMATIAN

    Alien = MARTIAN
    right = R
    MARTIAN "surrenders" R = MATIAN
    boy = LAD
    LAD "returns" = DAL
    MATIAN after DAL = DALMATIAN

> I think ALIEN is a bit weak for MARTIAN. Good tight clue however.

3 Spotted best friend's boy regurgitating something from Mars bar -   
  rat head (9)

[I don't know if you have Mars bars in the UK, it's a candy bar]

> Yes we do, but ours is a chocolate bar with a gooey filling.

    Spotted best friend = definition (cf. "man's best friend")
    's = is
    boy = LAD
    regurgitating = reversal indicator to DAL
    something from Mars = MARTIAN
    bar "rat" head = without R
    = DAL MA(R)TIAN

> Tortuous surface. A dog doesn't have a boy as such. I also think 
  that the Mars Corp. might get a bit upset about the rat's head 
  allusion.

4) Spotted dog and Scottish gent chasing boy, flipping over 
   cushion (9)

  Spotted dog   = defn.
  and           = connective tissue
  Scottish gent = IAN Gent - the founder of CWC.  I think he's in 
                  Scotland.  If not, consider my face red.  Could be 
                  another Scottish gentleman, since that's a common 
                  name up there.
  chasing       = after
  boy, flipping = DAL (LAD backward).  If you object to the 
                  indirection,
                  then making this "lad, flipping".
  over          = after
  cushion       = MAT (as in a tumbling mat)

                  (DAL + MAT) + IAN

> Spotted dog may be a bit easy. SCOTSMAN -> IAN is a bit of a cliche 
  here. The order of the construction led me to MATDALIAN, but I'm   
  not sure I accept your use of OVER for AFTER. 

#1 Use of r.p.c reference (cf IAN GENT). In this case because the 
   cluer provided an alternate charade, I've let it pass (I've not 
   further down). In the past I've been marked down because of such a 
   parochial reference.

#2 I don't object to BOY->LAD->DAL as was suggested I might. Does 
   anyone?

5) Croatian licker? (9)

   Double definition:

   Croatian  = DALMATIAN (Dalmatia being a region in Croatia)
   licker?   = DALMATIAN (the dog)

> This is one of a pair. I think LICKER charading a breed of dog to 
  be good. Honourable Mention to Pete Mitchell.

6) It's sporting a damn tail! (9)

&lit
'It' has a tail, a very general definition of 'dalmatian'
'It' is also an anagram of 'a damn tail'  (sporting=mutating)

> I will not penalise the use of DAMN. I had to look up the 
  biological use of SPORTING, but once I did - Honourable Mention to  
 Robert Galejs.

7) Ultimately, spotted animal running around Firestation Nos. 7 & 8?! (9)

WORD: DALMATIAN
Wordplay type: & lit (charade + anagram + container)
Explanation:  "Ultimately, spotted" = D
"animal" = anagram fodder
"running" = anagram indicator
"around" = container indicator
"Firestation Nos. 7 & 8?" = AT (7th and 8th letters in "Firestation")
D + ALM(AT)IAN

> I have a difficulty liking the device FIRESTATION NOS 7 & 8. I 
  realise I'me letting myself into a bit of flak for this. I also 
  think it contributes nothing to the literal part of the &lit.

8) "Waltzing Matilda", an ever popular Disney movie theme. (9)

WALTZING = anagram indicator
MATILDA = anagram fodder
straight clue = ever popular Disney movie theme = DALMATI + AN = DALMATIAN

> Although the film inspired the word, I think the movie theme 
  alludes more to DALMATIANS rather than DALMATIAN.

# The cluer has asked the group to comment on the use of WALTZING as 
  an anagram indicator. I don't like it in this use, because although 
  I'ld accept MATILDA WALTZING, the verb WALTZ cannot be used 
  transitively with the dancing connotation.

9) Dog Walt animated is not wet, but rabid! (9)

    "Dog Walt animated" = defn
    "Walt animated" = anagram fodder
    "not wet" = (w)al(t) animat(e)d
    "but rabid" = anagram indicator

> A foaming at the mouth job, eh? I think the anagram plus 
  subtraction to be a little crooked.

10) One of a hundred and one from the Adriatic coast (9)

One of a hundred and one = defn (One hundred and one Dalmatians - 
Disney)
the Adriatic coast = Dalmatia
from the Adriatic coast = Dalmatian

> Cannot fault the construction. However, given that dalmatian dogs 
  originally came form Dalmatia, is this too close to be a valid 
  double definition? However, David Bullock gets the runner-up   
  accolade for this clue.

11) Take the toil from an old Italian mat and you've got a spotty coat.

So what do you think? And don't grimace straight away, I told you I was new
at this! So do you get them? I suppose you now the answers anyways!
So are you allowed to say like "take the toil out of..." which means you're
left with dalianmat...which is an anagram of dalmatian...or is that too
simple/sick?

> As written this clue asks me to take THE TOIL out, not just TOIL. 
  The device is perfectly valid, but you must be careful to get it 
  right. Also there is no indication that this is an anagram of what 
  is left, and the definition refers to the coat not the dog.

12) "Rather," newsman maintained, "it be Louisiana"; back from 
western Croatia (9)

    "Rather, newsman" = "Dan" (Rather)
    "maintained" = inclusion indicator
    "it be Louisiana" = "it am la"
    "back" = reversal indicator
    "from western Croatia" = def.
    (perhaps an overly U.S.-centric clue, what with the CBS network
     anchorman and the postal code of one state, but what can I say?)

> I can't make MAINTAIN to mean what you want it to, nor do I like IT 
  BE -> IT AM. I trust you on the newscaster, and US postal 
  abbreviations (well some) are known in the UK.

13) Gent personally carrying primitive bed in support of backward lad
with spots (9)
 Gent, personally = IAN
 carrying = under
 primitive bed = MAT
 in support of = under
 backward LAD = DAL
 with spots = defn.

> Half a point deducted this time for IAN GENT. I have a touch of 
  trouble with the surface. Is the bed supporting the lad already or 
  is our Ian carrying the bed to raise money for the sick boy?

14) Croatian youth is left (radical left), otherworldly (9)

    Croatian = definition
    youth is left = LAD reversed
    radical = R
    left = deletion signal
    otherworldly = MARTIAN

    DAL + MA(r)TIAN

> And he shot Archduke Ferdinand, no doubt. A well-hidden charade 
  that grabbed me. Winner for DALMATIAN to Jake Bergmann.

15) ... but his neighbor is mad at nail breaking (9)

but his neighbor=  Dalmatia is a neighbor of Croatia, is it not?
breaking = anagram indicator
mad at nail= fodder=>DALMATIAN

> The other half had CROATIAN as the subject. However, Dalmatia is 
  the coastal region of Croatia from Split to Dubrovnik, so 
  neighbour is not an apt definition.

16) Invariably spotted on a leash! (9)

Explanation:
        No, it is not another Elvis sighting, making like a teddy
        bear.."tie a chain around my neck and take me anywhere" :)

        A double definition..."invariably spotted" and "on a leash"
        And , I think it is an &lit, too.

> I think this is a punny single definition.

17) Split personality dog (9)

 Split personality = resident of Split 
 dog = 2nd definition

These clues are both somewhat topical and clearly link together. Split
is a resort city on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia - it was something of
a refuge during the recent troubles in the former Yugoslavia.

> What is a resident of Split called - a Splitnik perhaps? The clue 
  requires an indicator that said Splitnik is an instance of a 
  Dalmatian. Like the idea though and I think the definitions are 
  distinct enough.

18) Craftily tail a damn Serb     (9)
------------------------------------------------
Anagram 
craftily = anagram indicator
tail a damn = anagram fodder
Serb = def of Dalmatian
--------------------------------------------------

> Apart from the fact that Dalmatia is in Croatia not Serbia, this is 
  a well-constructed anagram clue. BTW please don't cross-post this 
  to soc.culture.balkan - I have kids.

19) Spotted Dog Boy returning before One-Time Boy
 ingested top-grade titanium (9)
*******************************************************************

Spotted Dog = literal clue
Boy returning = LAD returning = DAL
before = before
One-Time Boy = MAN
ingested = container indicator
top-grade = A
titanium = Ti

Ergo, DAL before MAN containing A + TI

DAL + M (A + TI) AN

Comments:

I was going for the superhero angle with Dog Boy and
was wanting to maintain the Boy construction in my defintion
of MAN.  I struggled among Former Boy, Grown Boy, Adult Boy,
etc., none of which sounded particularly like a superhero.
I settled for One-Time Boy.  Iffy, but I think the idea comes
across.

> A four-part charade, but accurate. Unfortunately not a great 
  surface sence despite your explanation. I've not heard of Dog Boy 
  and as the whole clue revolves around that I do have difficulty   
  with it, but then I'm just an ignorant Englander (Y Sais twp).

20) The dog is spotted by five hundred and two boys around a rug.

Explanation:
~~~~~~~~~~~

Five hundred = D
two boys = AL, IAN
a rug    = MAT
two boys around a rug = AL + MAT + IAN
the dog is spotted = definition

> Another four part charade. I have difficulty envisaging 502 boys 
  and 1 dog - our cat leads a dog's life with 2 girls and one cat. 

21) A spotted dog for Diocletian, after he retired (9)
 A spotted dog - definition of DALMATIAN
 for - connector
 Diocletian, after he retired - definition of DALMATIAN (he retired 
to Dalmatia)

> SPOTTED DOG is probably a tad too easy a definition. As for 
  Diocletian, I've just checked and he did split to Split.

22) One of 101, a Greek waterwoman backed up around fifty flat (9) 
 
Reversal charade with inclusion 
"One of 101" = definition of DALMATIAN, from the 
Disney movie, "101 Dalmatians" 
"a Greek waterwoman" = NAIAD, a young woman-being living in streams/lakes  
"backed up" = reversal indicator; DAIAN 
"around" = inclusion indicator; 
"fifty" = L ; "flat" = MAT; 
DA [LMAT] IAN 
Surface comment: Quite a boat she had! 

> Good construction and idea. The two numbers ought to relate to the 
  same thing, but I can't work out what from the surface.

> And now for something different... clues for RAINCOAT:

1) Form of protection for actor in a play (8)

           Anagram - ACTOR IN A
           Anag indicator - PLAY

> Good covert anagram but I'm slightly worried why the actor needs 
  protection.

2) Macintosh, made by a trendy company, sporting something like a mouse (8)

    macintosh = RAINCOAT

    trendy = IN
    company = CO
    A + IN + CO = AINCO
    something like a mouse = RAT
    AINCO "sporting" RAT = R(AINCO)AT

> A well constructed clue. I much prefer SPORTING used with this 
  intention than the anagram above. Less happy about the (not quite) 
  MOUSE -> RAT.

3) Car in crash - intersection after middle of road is slicker (8)

    car in = anagram bit for RAINC
    crash = anagram indicator
    intersection = T
    after = after
    middle of road = OA
    is = is
    slicker = definition of RAINC OA T

> Not sure that the motoring surface makes sense. This clue has good 
  construction, nonetheless.

4) Mack heard rule of Mantle (8)

  Mack          = defn. (as in Mackintosh)
  heard         = homonym indicator
  rule of       = REIGN
  Mantle        = coat

Presumably the surface makes sense if "Mack" is Connie Mack and Mantle
is "Mickey Mantle".  Connie Mack was a famous baseball manager, and
Mickey Mantle a famous player.  Mantle didn't have too many rules that
he lived by, so if Mack heard one, he'd have been shocked.

So I'm trying to justify this homonym.  Did I succeed?

> Despite the baseball which as am ignorant Englander I admit to 
  totally not understanding, HEARD is a fairly obvious homphone 
  indicator, but don't know whether it relates to MACK or RULE. 
  Honourable Mention to Matthew Merzbacher.

5) Croatian slicker! (8)

   (Partial) &lit anagram:

   Croatian           = anagram fodder
   slicker            = anagram indicator ("in a more sly way")
   (Croatian) slicker = RAINCOAT (granted, the Croatian part is superfluous)

> I understand the temptation of this clue, but I cannot equate SLICK 
  with SLY, it's more SMOOTH-TALKING which abnegates its usage as an   
  anagram indicator.

6) Macintosh is slicker (8)

A non-PC double definition ;)

> Nice good simple clue. Not sure whether it _is_ a double definition 
  or two separate slang terms for the same object.

7) This can make deep frown nice and waterproof! (8)

Word: RAINCOAT
Wordplay type:  Composite anagram &lit.
Explanation:  deep frown + raincoat, anagrammed = nice and waterproof

Comments: "Deep frown" is used to indicate that the item is used in
unpleasant circumstances (i.e., the rain).  

> I could not really fathom this at all. Where is the anagram 
  indicator? If it's MAKE I don't like it.

8) "And at the top of the news, inclement weather coverage to follow 
... it could be a real London fog"! (8)

AND AT THE TOP OF THE NEWS = position indicator (I felt this was legitimate
as you often hear newscasters start a broadcast this way. Of course, they
don't mean anything more than the equally often used "first up")
INCLEMENT WEATHER = RAIN
COVERAGE = COAT
TO FOLLOW = position indicator
RAIN + COAT = RAINCOAT
straight clue = IT COULD BE A REAL LONDON FOG (reference to the brand name
"London Fog")

> I don't feel that the position indicator is valid - it isn't a 
  direct equivalent of FIRST UP: I don't perceive of NEWS being a 
  null word even in the platitudinous way you claim your newscasters 
  use the phrase. Using RAIN+COAT to get RAINCOAT is well...

9) Croatian balkanisation: protection from the storm? (8)

    "Croatian" = anagram fodder
    "balkanisation" = anagram indicator
    "protection from the storm?" = defn

> I nearly downgraded this until I looked BALKANISATION up. It does 
  indeed infer a mixing up of nationalities not just the breaking up 
  of the empires into lots of little countries that I had thought. 
  This is the best of the CROATIAN anagrams and merits being runner-
  up for Corran Webster.

10) Mac had mixed company in a train (8)

Mac = defn (mackintosh; sl.)
mixed = anag indicator
company = CO
in = container indicator
a = A
train = anag fodder

I like the surface so I sacrifice syntax as in the better "Company in 
a train disconcerted Mac").

> The anagram fodder is totally separate from the indicator.

11) What a Croatian would wear to get protection in a waterfall.

As for the second one I thought it was quite funny, although maybe a bit
simplistic....
Anyways I'd appreciate feed-back....

> As I mentioned in your other clue, you do require some indication 
  that the words concerned are to be anagrammed, and a balance is   
  required between obviousness and using a word that doesn't really 
  mean anything to do with mixing or shuffling. The indirect allusion 
  to the need to wear a raincoat, I do like however.

12) Iron a cat sadistically for foul-weather gear (8)

    "iron a cat" anagrammed = "raincoat"
    "sadistically" = anagram indicator
    "foul-weather gear" = def.
    (obvious?  perhaps, but I couldn't resist the imagery; and I *own*
     a pet cat, so don't bombard me with animal-rights literature :-)

> I initially adored this clue as I am also owned by a cat, and one 
  who sleeps on the ironing board at that. But I am  not sure that an 
  ironed cat could provide adequate protection though.

13) Mac: 'Unprincipled schemer!  Spiteful woman!  The ball is IN!" (8)
  Mac = defn.
  Unprincipled = having no origin
  Schemer = BRAIN, e.g. "The brain behind the new plan ..."
  Spiteful woman = CAT
  ball = O   A stretch, but Ximenes used it occasionally, e.g.:
   Billiard player, getting ball in, says: "I'm getting better
    and better" (7)

> Good contsruction, but spoiled by the use of UNPRINCIPLED. I don't 
  really think it asks me to remove the first letter off of a word.

14) With snitch around, top-rated sergeant becomes slicker (8)

    snitch        RAT (verb sense)
    top-rated     A-1
    sergeant      NCO (noncommissioned officer)
    becomes       transition from cryptic to def.
    slicker       definition

    R(AI + NCO)AT charade

> Well constructed, accurate clue. I like the image of the surface, 
  and there's nothing I can really fault. Winner for Jake Bergmann.
 
15) Mad Croatian gets protective gear...    (8)

Mad Croatian= RAINCOAT
protective gear= definition

> Fairly obvious anagram, but could be read in a war-torn manner.

16) Mack takes cover following a downpour (8)

Explanation:
        Mack = mackintosh = RAINCOAT
        cover = COAT which follows RAIN (= a downpour)
        "takes" and "following" are not extraneous words by virtue
        of giving pointers to the construction of the word.

> RAIN+COAT to make RAINCOAT, well...

17) Croatian resort provides elementary shelter (8)
 
 Croatian = anagram fodder
 resort = anagram indicator
 provides = pun definition pointer
 elementary shelter = punning definition

> Again I had to refer to the dictionary for a questionable anagram 
  indicator and again I was pleasantly surprised. It makes this a 
  nice clue with a recently newsworthy surface. Hospitable people 
  these Splitniks. Honourable Mention for Murray Smith.
 
18) A slicker curb shelter, so to speak      (8)
----------------------------------------------------
Homophone / charade
A slicker = raincoat
curb = rein
shelter = cote
so to speak = indicator
-----------------------------------------------------------

> Good construction, but I didn't like the surface with the explicit 
  meaning of CURB. Even when I considered the CURB/KERB meaning 
  'pavement edge' I still have my doubts.

19) MacIntosh:  It resembles a big mouse, includes a Scrabble icon (8)
*******************************************************************

MacIntosh = literal clue
It resembles a big mouse = RAT
includes = container indicator
a = A
Scrabble = anagram indicator
icon -> INCO

Ergo, R()AT includes A + INCO

I fear the contrived nature of this clue overshadows the
surface reading I was going for; namely, a computerese one.
I mean, even by sleep-deprived stretches of the imagination,
a Mac in no way resembles a big mouse, point-and-click-variety
or otherwise.  Furthermore, some obstinate dictionaries insist on
spelling the raincoat version of macintosh with a "K", despite
the fact that its namesake did NOT, a speck which just throws
the drive of my clue out the window.  So "Phooey" on them.  And
finally, I realize that "Scrabble" as an anagram indicator on
first read may be weak.  My dictionaries do have definitions such
as "to move hurriedly", or "to struggle in a disorderly way."
I could have used another program like "Quake" or "Joust" to
indicate the anagram of "icon", but Scrabble's got a much
higher household-name status, so I used it.  Admittedly, in this
word choice I am counting on both:

-> a mental melding of Scrabble and the word "scramble"; and

-> the nature of the game Scrabble (making sense and order [i.e.,
words] out of mixed letters), to justify its use in my clue.

> I really cannot add anything to your own critique, especially: "I 
  fear the contrived nature of this clue overshadows the surface 
  reading I was going for;" It is far too easy to get carried away  
  with a particular idea at the expense of the balance of the clue. 
  Don't dismay, we've all done it in the past, and will probably do 
  again.

20) Wet shelter?

Explanation:
~~~~~~~~~~~
This is my first attempt at a pun type clue so I'm not sure I'm doing
it correctly (or even if they're allowed here).  It seems to need the 
question mark as RAINCOAT could be considered a 'coat of rain' which 
in turn could be considered as a shelter that *is* wet.  Also, you 
use a rain coat to shelter *from* the wet so this is a sort of play on words.

> A pun has to hit the moderator (or solver) between the eyes, so to 
  speak. The alternate reading should be obviously wry and 
  unfortunately WET SHELTER -> COAT OF RAIN doesn't do that for me. 
  Very nice idea though.

21) Flustered Croatian provides cover for flasher? (8)
 Flustered - anagram indicator
 Croatian - anagram of RAINCOAT
 provides cover for flasher - "definition" of RAINCOAT

> Well constructed clue. I'm not sure it's a pun though.

22) Operated firm employing one AT and a Mac (8) 
 
Charade clue with inclusion. 
"Operated" = RAN 
"firm" = CO 
"employing" = inclusion indicator; 
"one" = I; RA [I] NCO plus "AT" = RAINCOAT 
"a Mac" = definition of RAINCOAT, as in a Mackintosh 
Surface comment: Oh, the good old days! 

> Can't get EMPLOYED to operate as you intend here. Sorry about that.

Well that nearly about wraps this up, and I can get back to the three 
Guardian crosswords that have backed up. However first there are 
seven bonus clues that have been submitted. I haven't separated out 
the two words nor commented on them.

23) Boy returned before mom with half-Alsatian black and white dog (9)
 Boy returned - LAD "returned" > DAL
 before mom - MA
 with half-Alsatian - TIAN
 black and white dog - definition of DALMATIAN 

24) Slicker double-crosser hides away first two-thirds of income (8)
 Slicker - definition of RAINCOAT
 double-crosser - RAT
 hides - container indicator
 away first - A
 two-thirds of income - INCO
  so:  R-A-INCO-AT

25) Confused coati ran for waterproof cover (8)
 Confused - anagram indicator
 coati ran - anagram fodder for RAINCOAT
 for - connector
 waterproof cover - definition of RAINCOAT

26) A din Malta gets, haphazardly, from Croatian coastal region (9)

    "a din malta" anagrammed = "dalmatian"
    "gets, haphazardly" = anagram indicator
    "from western Croatia" = def.

27) Slicker actor, in a remake (8)

    "slicker" = def.
    "actor in a" anagrammed = "raincoat"
    "remake" = anagram indicator

28) Phew!--abandoned wrap (inchoate slicker) (8)

Explanation: wrap inchoate - phew = raincoat

(Comments: What I like about this is that it's not like a composite 
anagram--you just remove the approriate letters and RAINCOAT is there
for
you.)

29) Croatian mended clothing (8)

clothing = raincoat (definition)
mended = anagram indicator
anagram of 'croatian' is raincoat

And lastly here is a treat. This clue appeared in a UK National
newspaper last Sunday. As it's now Friday and entries had to get in
by tomorrow first post, I don't think it a spoiler to mention that it
was the Observer Everyman competition, and is probably copyright
Guardian Newspapers Limited.

Wagging tail, a mad northern dog (9)

Once again thank you to all twenty-two of you who took the time out
to enter. I've enjoyed the competition, though I'll submit a few bad
clues, while I recover <g>

Phil Rose
phil.rose@zetnet.co.uk