Category: Announcement

Estimated competition solving time: 9 minutes As for the Grand Final puzzles, FL indicates clues solved on first look, and WW indicates those entered without complete wordplay understanding. Both are subject to the accuracy of … Read more “2009 Finals – First Preliminary Session – Puzzle 1”

Welcome to Dave Perry and Simon Hanson, our newest bloggers, both with slots on the rotation for writing about jumbo puzzles. Thanks to Simon for prompt work on the Prelim 2 puzzles – it seemed … Read more “Posting in the wrong order …”

Across 1 BOW,WOW 4 IS,OTHER,M 10 BALL,A,DEER 11 L,ASE,R – ASE=sea*, and from side to side indicates L and R, although I’m not sure that there is a containment indicator. With checking letters the answer … Read more “2009 Finals – Second Preliminary Session – Puzzle 3”

I solved this one and Puzzle 3 together – moving back and forth when I felt bogged down. I felt this was marginally harder. Across 1 PA(DLO)CK – DLO = OLD (over the hill) reversed … Read more “2009 Finals – Second Preliminary Session – Puzzle 2”

Well, here goes for my first crossword blogging entry – putting my head above the parapet! Grateful for any comments, and thanks for reading! I was not aware until I read Peter’s blog entries how … Read more “2009 Finals – Second Preliminary Session – Puzzle 1”

The middle of the three for difficulty – my (estimated) time was 14 minutes. The third cracking puzzle of three – I often manage to enjoy at least some of the clues while trying to … Read more “Times Crossword Championship 2009 – Grand Final Puzzle No. 3”

The hardest of the three – my (estimated) time was 18 minutes in two roughly equal bursts – halfway through, I gave up to try puzzle 3 instead. I can’t remember much about which answers … Read more “Times Crossword Championship 2009 – Grand Final Puzzle No. 2”

The easiest of the three, I think – which isn’t saying much. My (estimated) time was 11 minutes. Unlike the other two grand finals puzzles I have no idea who wrote this but it’s just … Read more “Times Crossword Championship 2009 – Grand Final Puzzle No. 1”

A short report which I’ll expand later today or possibly tomorrow. * indicates a former champion. Mark Goodliffe* confirmed his position as the leading current solver by winning today’s final by a distance from a … Read more “Times Championship 2009 – Magoo joins the greats”

We’ll start with the good news. Under his real name, kororareka (Russel John) won the latest Times Crossword Club monthly clue-writing competition. Angus Walker (presumably the one who comments here) was third. Congratulations to both. … Read more “News snippets”