C5-1b: Winners and Commentary
BSpollen
COLLABORATIVE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP (C5)
Segment (C5-1b) Commentary and Winners List
The second segment of this championship was graced with thirteen
entrants. This may seem none too awesome, but look at it from my
point of view: I had to evaluate 39 clues.
Overall winner: Greg Lawler. Second and third place, respectively,
were Jake Bergmann and Todd McClary.
Here are the winning entries:
1st place: Greg Lawler (jo...@math.duke.edu)
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STOCK CAR:
Repair cracks to racing vehicle (5,3)
repair = anagram indicator
cracks to = anagram of STOCK CAR
racing vehicle = defn
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Comments:
A good clue all-around. Minor flaw: "to" in the surface scans less
naturally than, say, "in" or "of". No wasted words; specific-enough
definition.
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STEALTH:
How to make this is a secret procedure (7)
How to make this is = to get IS from THIS one
has to STEAL TH
a secret procedure = defn
======
Comments:
A bit of a "risky" clue; I'd probably never have dared it, myself.
Again, an efficient clue. Reasonably good surface reading and
definition --- this word, of the three I selected, seemed to be
the most problematical to clue. The cryptic is quite innovative,
making good use of the word at hand. The only possible drawback
is that it uses "steal", from the etymological root as "stealth",
but I'm unsure of whether the usual restriction along these lines
need apply in this case.
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SEASCAPE:
Southern getaway including a view of the ocean (8)
southern = S
getaway = ESCAPE
including = containment indicator
a = A
view of the ocean = defn
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Comments:
This, as far as I'm concerned, was the best clue of the entire round:
beautiful surface imagery; cleverly deceptive use of "getaway"; and
a definition which is sufficiently descriptive (some of the other
clues just used "view" or "picture", which was acceptable, but lacked
the "ocean" aspect that elevated this clue).
________________________________________________________________________
2nd place: Jake Bergmann (jber...@bbn.com)
________________________________________________________________________
STOCK CAR
One drags in this frame, small beds, and mirror (5,3)
One drags in this definition -- "drag" means, take
part in a drag race
frame RACK
small beds COTS
mirror reversal signal
STOC + KCAR -- Full-reversal charade
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Comments:
Sounds like it's moving day! I'll contend that the stereotypical drag
race occurs in one of those skimpy-rail-framed, elongated, parachute-
braked contraptions; yet, one can "drag" in a stock car, so I'll go with
it. Great use of "mirror" as a reversal indicator which fits in very
well with the surface.
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STEALTH:
Insinuation of corruption in latest headline for Hillary (7)
insinuation definition
corruption in anagram signal
latest anagram fodder
headline for Hillary H
STEALT + H -- Charade with anagram
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Comments:
With the exception of "headline" as an initial-letter indicator, which
I'm slightly skittish about, this is a great clue, equipped with a crafty
definition and distinguished particularly by its ever-so-topical surface.
________________________________________________________________________
SEASCAPE:
Strike a cleft bust out of water coloring? (8)
strike S (baseball)
a A
cleft container signal (past tense)
bust out ESCAPE
water coloring offbeat definition
S + E(A)SCAPE -- Charade with container
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Comments:
A good punny definition, clever use of "bust" in surface and cryptic;
it strikes me a bit curious to have apparently achieved sculpture from
a starting point of portraiture, but the "?" covers that.
________________________________________________________________________
3rd place: Todd McClary (to...@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU)
________________________________________________________________________
STOCK CAR:
Speedway vehicle's damage involving timer noise? (5,3)
Speedway vehicle = definition
damage = SCAR
involving = container indicator
timer noise? = TOCK
======
Comments:
Clear imagery, efficient use of words; I rather enjoyed the "timer
noise?" part.
________________________________________________________________________
STEALTH:
Shake the salt with subtlety (7)
Shake = anagram indicator
the salt = fodder
subtlety = definition
======
Comments:
Used in the context of the surface, "shake" isn't an overly-obvious
anagram indicator; good definition.
________________________________________________________________________
SEASCAPE:
Group of artists enters to view painting (8)
Group of artists = ASCAP
enters = container indicator
to view = SEE
painting = SEASCAPE
======
Comments:
Yet another nice surface; good cryptic with no waste. "Painting" is,
as mentioned above, acceptable as a definition, although not as good
as those which tossed in some sort of maritime adjective.
________________________________________________________________________
Greg Lawler signalled an inability to moderate C5-1c; thus, Jake Bergmann
will be your next host.
Brian Spollen
BSpo...@aol.com