Paul's Clue Competition 
I always love to see what solvers can do – there’s some great crossword-writing talent out there, I know!
If you’d like to send me a clue, for any word or phrase of your choice (though not too obscure please!), simply pop it to me using the link below:
Every week I’ll let you know my top three of all those you’ve submitted.
Tips:
1 Do keep the clues short, if possible.
2 If you need to explain the clue, it’s probably too difficult for me!
3 Enjoy!
This week's result's
Results W/E 17/01/10
Once again, many thanks for all your cryptic offerings. I found this an especially tough week to judge.
OK, so here are the commended clues:
Patrick Jones, Edinburgh: Surprising Steven? Surprise! (10,4,2,6) UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS
Kieron Dineen, Newport: (Void) and cream produced Eton mess? (5,7) DAVID CAMERON
Neil Walker, Barrow in Furness: Always to insert, perhaps (8,6) SANITARY TOWELS
Sil van den Hoek, Cambridge: Young victim furious about principal (3,5) WAR CHILD
Robert Brown, Sheffield: African warriors bite exposed rears of showmen (9) IMPRESARI
Beth Bebbington, Cambridge: Great fish! (5) BRILL
Sil van den Hoek, Cambridge: JC (Some say) Johan Cruyff, star of Barcelona - now I see! (7) MESSIAH
Duncan Robertson, London: Spooner improvises about barrier spread (6,3) DAMSON JAM
Beth Bebbington, Cambridge: Men in CIA brought back for screening? (6) CINEMA
Sil van den Hoek, Cambridge: Pushed up bosom for fun, probably mine (5,4) BOOBY TRAP
And this week's winners (ahead of a fine selection of commended clues):
BRONZE:
Boaz, Paulton, for a clue I'd thought of myself quite recently. Given the
nature how one goes about writing cryptic clues, it's not a coincidence that
people have the same ideas independently: Still constipated? (10) MOTIONLESS
SILVER:
I'd neither heard of the work, nor the cigarettes before, but it's a lovely
clue all the same, from Robert Brown, Sheffield: Burns work producing smoke
(5,5) SWEET AFTON
AND THE WINNER!
GOLD:
A wee bit of silliness from Dean Mayer, Poynton, Cheshire: Jimmy Page?
(4,2,6) CALL OF NATURE
Thank you once again for all your great clues.
All the best,
John (Paul)
Results W/E 24/01/10
Welcome to this week, solvers of the world! Thank you once again for all your entries.
Here are those I've commended:
Sil van den Hoek, Cambridge: Party! Let it end in chaos...... (6,4) DOTTED LINE
Posie Francey, Burton on Trent: Take out more contract boundaries (7) EXTRACT
Robert Rowan, Fife: Shy and refused to mention bird in front of another bird (7,3,3,2,1,5) WOULDN'T SAY BOO TO A GOOSE
Robert Rowan, Fife: Elegant little girl broadcasting (8) DEBONAIR
Tom Latter, London: Man + god = woman (9) ALEXANDRA
John Ridge, Clitheroe: Back not down in sport (7) SUPPORT
John Ridge, Clitheroe: "Appreciate Latin" is the summary (6) DIGEST
Neil Walker, Barrow in Furness: Rocky Marciano's Italian (8) MACARONI
Tom Latter, London: Rome reps? (8) EMPERORS
Posie Francey, Burton on Trent: Rough alcohol or cold liquor swigged by secret agent (7) SCRUMPY
Sil van den Hoek, Cambridge: At times complete freedom not right for actress (4,9) CATE BLANCHETT
Neil Walker, Barrow in Furness: Shock treatment from counterfeit business (7) SHAMPOO
Sil van den Hoek, Cambridge: Rattle's contribution to "The Lark Ascending: (4) RALE
Neil Walker, Barrow in Furness: Sure result of using it? (2,5) NO SWEAT
Tom Latter, London: David Tennant did it - how?! (6,3) DOCTOR WHO
And finally, the neat little selection of winners, very tough to separate:
BRONZE:
Neil Walker, Barrow in Furness: Of course, such references are not
to be encouraged, but...: Scourer's right off big breasts - that is a tit
lover? (4,5) BILL ODDIE
SILVER:
Neatly hidden by Tom Latter, London: She is a man that's hiding (8) SAMANTHA
AND THE WINNER!
GOLD:
Kieron Dineen, Newport: Another neat effort from Kieron: House found in
suburb in Godalming (5) BINGO
And that's all for this wee, folks.
Many thanks, and keep the clues coming!
All the best,
John (Paul)