Well, it was rather a tough word to work on but I make no apology for that – as this is the gold standard of competitions and as you are such brainiacs I felt comfortable in choosing it. Not a bad turnout, considering – thank you all.
Dorrien started us well – I do enjoy her (or his, I’m not sure) pithy style: SW then brought us a news story in a clue – no I wasn’t aware but I’ll be talking to my cousin who works on the rails!
Paul rarely disappoints, first with a cunning subtractive anagram with a superb surface, then the neat @7 which gave me a chuckle. Later he rolled out the Axminster in a very well knit clue, if on the singular side.
ChrisE found an elusive pure anagram and gave us a seasonal clue – or should that be ‘sneezonal’?
Nemo you read my mind (see prize) and were it not that I found that clue rather singular it would have been a contender. Later you invoked ‘runners and riders’ in rather elegant style, becoming even racier with 34.
SW then returned like Rocky 2 with a stunning, concise zinger (10/12) – I loved it but woke up at the ‘devil’s hour’ worrying about 'that' apostrophe.
FJ exploded out of the blocks with an elegant, almost effortless attempt, much enjoyed. Later he brought us Hermetic pulsage.
I had to ask for Aristo’s assistance with his – rather sophisticated - double definition. Then Tyke weighed in with a good cricketing DD, I was surprised that ‘field’ had not been used before.
But then Ginge also made good use of ‘field’ with a diabolical wordplay that stonkered me, but very clever as e’er, then FJ returned to the fray with two clues using clever wordplay.
BBM sent in a magisterial - stentorian even - three-worder: I’m not sure how Ximenesian the definite article was but a very fine clue nonetheless.
We are commanded to disregard Mattrom’s tight 29, if she is away next week that will make it easier for the rest of us.
Ginge reappeared in Marlowesque (or should that be Marlowe-esque?) form, and returned to the scene of the crime.
JWS brought up the rear with Prohibition era smugglers, perhaps needed more indication of the anagram – then hitting us with a hearty French stew that gave me a smile.
Along the way there were five or six clues that I thought would be the winner, until they were edged out by subsequent ‘runners’.
I have an outstanding champion – this choice might not please the purists but I’m sure a few impurists will agree, congratulations to
BigBadMarty2 with his brilliant, insouciant @28:
Shoots the messengers (7)
Bravo!
This prize will transport you to a magical, eccentric place a lifetime ago – if you find it tiresome fast-forward to 1m40s and give it a minute, you’ll get my drift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUIWYORY3aE