This is a weekly unofficial contest based on your times for the Times cryptic crossword from Saturday to Friday. In July 2007, someone commenting on Tony Sever’s Times 2 RTC blog suggested a competition like … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 10 – your times please”
Author: petebiddlecombe
23,7010 – a bit of a struggle
Solving time 16:10 On first look, I got to 16A before writing anything, but then did quite well with the bottom half and worked back into the NE corner. But the top left took ages, … Read more “23,7010 – a bit of a struggle”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 9 – your times please
Note about Friday’s 23,706 If you’re about to enter and think you’ve made a mistake on this one after checking the official solution, please read the comments in the entry on this puzzle before you … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 9 – your times please”
23,704 – pairs?
Solving time 6:52 Fairly easy for me after some slow puzzles in the last few days. One of those puzzles where the grid contains words that make me wonder whether there’s some overall theme that … Read more “23,704 – pairs?”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – results
A surprisingly low entry for this week, considering that everyone who was all-correct had their quickest time for six puzzles since we started. Maybe MONTAGU’S HARRIER on Tuesday had more victims than we know about … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – results”
Sunday Times 4240 – STill the same
Solving time: about 9 mins This is another puzzle I had to re-solve after losing last week’s copy – hence the approximate time. There are old-fashioned aspects of the ST puzzle that take a bit … Read more “Sunday Times 4240 – STill the same”
Jumbo 714 – Herod, Henry and George
Original copy lost, so I solved this again. I think it took me the usual 15-20 minutes for an easyish jumbo. Just explaining what I think are the toughest few clues here – ask in … Read more “Jumbo 714 – Herod, Henry and George”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – your times please
This is a weekly unofficial contest based on your times for the Times cryptic crossword from Saturday to Friday. In July 2007, someone commenting on Tony Sever’s Times 2 RTC blog suggested a competition like … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – your times please”
23698 – prickly flowers
After yesterday’s fairly difficult vocabulary and music and lit. references, a puzzle where there’s little knowledge needed except for some food and drink and one bit of gardening. Not as easy as Monday’s, but there … Read more “23698 – prickly flowers”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC contest No. 7 – results
The key to success this week was avoiding mistakes on 23,691 and 23,694. Only four entrants came through unscathed, with Mark Goodliffe taking a fairly easy win in both contests and becoming the first to … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC contest No. 7 – results”