Thanks all for having a go. We had no fewer than ten clues nominated for the prize - a fair indicator for strength in depth.
Four of you, however, managed to snag a second vote and thus qualify for the judge's dreaded tie-break and casting vote:
amej's anagram @ 6
mattrom's elegant take on the standing and sitting nature of our subject @13
jono's customarily neat building block of wordplay @ 26
motley's ingenious idea of bringing together conservative and reform @ 27
I'll give the prize to the surface I liked the best - concisely set by amej:
Contestants danced - I sat about (10)
Well done amej - here are some prizes:
I chose the word because I've been following the Chess Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, but won't offer a six-hour tactical battle on this occasion.
What do we do now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myEpap3TxVs
The candidates' debate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkXyreJV604
My Chambers tells me that the word "candidate" derives from the Latin word candidus (white) because in Ancient Rome candidates for election wore white togas. Sadly, Otis Day & the Knights were unavailable for hire at the toga parties I attended in Hull circa 1983:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_KWFApICjU