The Triple-Tickle Tripartite Inter-Forum Cryptic Crossword Challenge!

[HarryHoskins]

Oh, Hello. :)

How lovely to have the people of the Western Forum popping in to have a look-see. There couldn't be a cleverer, soberer, better spelling and more attractive bunch in the whole forum. So let me welcome you to the here that is the right here, here.

And where is here?

Well, you happen to find yourself in the most interesting of threads; one that shall entertain, bamboozle and hopefully charge your cleverness glands with excitement. What you gots here is an inter-forum challenge. A crossword of most devious and nefarious naughtiness set by a man who comes from the Isle of Scilly and would like to engage your thought receptors in some thinking type fun.

But whatever does it mean?

Why, allow me to explain -- The cryptic crossword you can find below has been posted in three forums [The Office Party, The Whimsical Pursuits & The Western Forum] and the idea is that you are now in a rather marvelous and gentle competition with the regular users of the other forums to solve the puzzle.

Solve the puzzle, you say?

Yes, solve the puzzle. Answer as a forum team, working out the clues, getting the answers, discovering the theme and generally having a good old time by working those little grey cells you tried to think you'd lost over the xmas period. But remember, no peeking at the other forums threads!

But whats in it for me, you ask!

I cannot help but answer a question asked with such vigor! What's in it for you is a pat on the back, some fun and the sub-forum crown of first to complete the puzzle! You might even find something interesting to write about through a subtle process of crosswordism.

You get the idea? Good.

So, without further ado ...

Over to you. :)



http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2387/solution.png



DOWN


1 – A short saint joins a cute alien and is closely followed by a boy child – if you don’t get this I’ll eat my hat! (7)

2 – The day the countdown stops -- Sometime after Sunday and before Tuesday. (7,3,9)

3 – Snowy heathens jet crazily in search of melodic material found in a film star’s dentures. (4,6,5)

4 – Nom de plume employed by a Peckinpah character. You may call him Timmy or Zimmy or Tommy if the police are around. (5)

5 – Horse found near area of water mostly enclosed by land. (3)

6 – Stereotypically colorful greeting meets Jewish person who’s apt to play it again – casual racism only ever creates a cartoon character. (8,3)

9 – Blimey! Prefix joins tarty computer. Space now. Then a short cricket club follows, adds a municipality in Schwyz District of Switzerland and ends in a brief question – wrote author without speech marks. (6,8)

11 – Listen, if Davey Crockett could hear a boundary by smell alone he’d have one of these where his nose should be. (8)

12 – Writer interested in the solitude of a peaceful bird. (5,8)

14 – Sheriff of the important parts. Those parts being the top section of a snooker table, a French meat product, a singular sound made at the dentist, and a Norton-esque exclamation. A pretty good fella. (8)

15 – Chilli beans, gasoline, leather and a spark from a one who created an awful Producer may cause western comedy. (7, 7)

16 – Brief regards to sight links one to midget saint and means everything that has gone before is up for future examination. (11)

18 – French king of love wrote westerns. (5,6)

20 – Normal genre from the orient? The opposite, in fact. (5,4)

21 – Eh, you – say in a northern accent? It’s found in them there hills, precious. (4)

22 – A type of car which one can drink in. (6)

23 – Place where Lovejoy may swear at an impotent phallus. (8)

24 – The reverse of a reverse. May be found in Annie Proulx, out on the range or at a sci-fi deck. (6)

27 – Merseybeat via the American west. You looking for me? Well I'm the only man in the doorway. (3,9)

28 – Something for Bent Nailers to aim at? You know it’s missed or you'd hear more boings. (8)

30 – Shot an American drink due to extra MDMA. (7)

31 – A dead place made from an escarpment of cobblers off-cuts? (8)

34 – The Ferret came from one, the Chihuahua limps on one -- a reversal of how some get online. (3)

36 – Ritchie? Christ, no! A gunfighter! Christ, Yes! (5)




Across


7 – One who stomps around hoping to get wet with an early cult, say? (9)

8 – Place where shortened heads up display may give character clue – young blue eyes’ dressing? (5)

10 – A virgin (short) saying. Proclamation of the benefits of happiness in the face of adversity to a comrade. Wistful? Almost. (5,4,3,3,4,7)

13 – Amphetamine led to definite article ending child outlaw. (5,3,3)

17 – Author takes communist Sesame Street cutesy, pauses, then adds a singing Sayer, sodium, and a short road to make himself complete. (6,7)

19 – Wild cat is one helluva critter! (4)

24 – Trousers posh men cottage in? Add tea to a letters afterthought. (5)

25 – Upside-down outlaw found in iron before arrest? (3,5)

26 – Short pleasure button with part of equation pushed into it leads to small forest opposite of west – he could well have starred in a Rawhide. (5, 8)

29 – I heard Missus right’s other half uses them to kick his team. (5)

32 – Leader journalist went with when jumping out of plane. (8)

33 – Maid’s zinc glove upset Burt Lancaster's sexual movements to become film and book. ( 6,2,6)

35 – Director of whores’ company finds crossing in river. (4,4)

37 – Noble savage sees self in gunship? The Pope, Rousseau and Boeing are to blame, not me. (6)

38 – The last of Titanic actor Billy is neither black or white when written by this author. (4,4) *For clue 38 the second to last letter is an A (although its meant to be an E) Mea culpa, there is no in vino veritas -- just spelling mistakes.*

39 – Something to pull on when riding can be found in bare investigation. (4)

40 – Actor Bruce joins some of Jean Claude and finally finds himself eaten by a British cross reference. (3,3,5)

41 – Where one who created an expensive stalker may find himself after killing a genre with a titular western film. (7,4)


:)

[FabricatedParadise]

Can I play for the wrong forum? I'm typically a party girl, but I desperately want to go westernfor this thread. Pretty please?

[HarryHoskins]

Can I play for the wrong forum? I'm typically a party girl, but I desperately want to go westernfor this thread. Pretty please?

You choose your forum, FP. I'm a thinking western could do with all the help they can get -- especially as I know how terrible the clues are. :)

[HarryHoskins]

At the moment things are not looking good. :(

I say that in honesty. I say that because I am your friend. Your mentor. We've had some lovely maneuvering from Office party. Our ranks have been swelled in the glamor and wonderfulness stakes by FP. But we've gotta catch up. Office party are way out ahead!

This cannot stand, Westerners!

I say to all of you, all you lovely and marvelous fellas and fellowesses, all you need to do is look as this crossword -- just have a little peek -- let your mind work the theme and start guessing!

It ain't hard -- one could even say its a crossword made for y'all (though, of course, I shall deny that in a court of law and am confident there is no way this statement could possibly get to the other side.)

So! Once more (or at least 'first time') into the breach my friends!

We are western! We stand united and therefore fall over together! But we stand too! Yes! We stand too!

Onwards! :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current standing in the Leaderboards. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 16

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 0

WESTERN - 0


Still all to play for, but at the moment Office Party have shot into an early lead. :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current standing in the Leaderboards. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 18

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 7

WESTERN - 0


Whimsey mounting a comeback! Western yet to rise again! Still all to play for, but at the moment Office Party are still out in front. :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current standing in the Leaderboards. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 19

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 13

WESTERN - 0


Whimsy putting the pressure on! Western still sitting on the porch considering the sunset! Still all to play for, Office Party in front but their lead is being eaten into! :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current standing in the Leaderboards at bedtime (taking into account mybadselfs spelling mistake). :)

OFFICE PARTY - 19

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 14

WESTERN - 1


Due to my error in the spelling of answer #38 I have had to put [misspelling included so as not to skew the grid] it into the crosswords of each forum.

The answer to # 38 was Zane Grey but should now appear in your semi-completed grids as Zane Gray.

Whilst Office Party had already guessed this clue, I think it only fair that all forums have the clue filled in. So, everyone (save Office Party) moves up one. Hopefully, no one minds this too much and takes into account my poor, booze addled brain and my big heart when thinking of nasty names to call me -- if you can't think of an appropriate term with which to insult me, I rather like slormgorm. :)

With all that said, there is some good news to come out of the oops. The western forum -- whose cool in the face of the triple-tickle crossword competition is truly something to behold -- are now off the mark!

So, on to day two of the competition. Office Party still out front, Whimsy starting to snap at their heels and Western getting up from the rocker, stretching, sitting down, getting up to scratch, then sitting down again.

Good luck all and apologies for the mistake. :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current Sunday standings in the Leaderboards. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 20

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 14

WESTERN - 1

Western are either plotting a big finish or taking their historical re-enactment of the literacy rates of 1870 very seriously indeed. Whimsy have stalled -- perhaps to take a flight of fancy -- and Office Party are still in the lead with the aid of a beloved!

All to play for, folks. Can Whimsy close the gap to Office Party? Is the Western forum currently undertaking a sponsored silence? The answers to these questions are in your hands dear reader. :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current January The Sixteenth standings in the Leaderboards. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 23

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 14

WESTERN - 1

Western last seen heading out with the Donner Party! Concerns about the whereabouts of Whimsy growing! Office Party capitalizing on lead!

All still to play for, folks. :)

[HarryHoskins]

Current day after January The Sixteenth standings in the Leaderboards. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 26

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 14

WESTERN - 1

Western in the wilderness! Whimsy staring at clues with a bewildered face! Office Party stretching lead daily!

All still to play for, folks. :)

[HarryHoskins]

Two days after January The Sixteenth, the standings in the Leaderboards are as follows. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 28

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 14

WESTERN - 1

Western too busy writing? Whimsy lost their Lord Peter and going on guesses alone? Office Party out front with an unassailable lead?

All still to play for, folks? :)

[J'Dubee]

Sorry, Harry.
Crossword puzzles ain't for me...

If you have a Turkey Shoot or Guess the Showgirl's measurements contest...

I'm your man.

[HarryHoskins]

Sorry, Harry.
Crossword puzzles ain't for me...

If you have a Turkey Shoot or Guess the Showgirl's measurements contest...

I'm your man.

Dagnabbit, JD -- you done let the cat out of the bag about me next two contests! :)

Still, just for fun, why not give it a go. The whole thing is western themed and a few of the clues are AW Western Forum specific.

Here's one I reckon you might could get with no problems at all. :)

19 Across – Wild cat is one helluva critter! (4)

[Haggis]

Harry, this ain't right.

*spit*

How in the world can a fish (Silver King) and his ilk be kicking butt in a Western crossword (unless, you know, it's that crossword puzzles weren't invented until the 20th century)?

I need to git the saloon folk workin' on solving this puppy. How do we get the word to you on what we've figured out?

eta: BTW, I've got 38 across nailed. :D

[HarryHoskins]

Harry, this ain't right.

*spit*

How in the world can a fish (Silver King) and his ilk be kicking butt in a Western crossword (unless, you know, it's that crossword puzzles weren't invented until the 20th century)?

He's got the Mccardey, the Michelle, the Swachski, the Parametric and the Lilgreenbookworm working for him is how! :)

I need to git the saloon folk workin' on solving this puppy. How do we get the word to you on what we've figured out?

The idea is to post your answers and guesses in this here thread. If ya'll get it right you'll get a ding like a spittoon hit and the word will go into the grid. If ya'll get it wrong, you might could get a hint in the right direction. :)

Of course, you might be playing the dangerous long game and have all the answers already -- if this is this case, all you need do is post the answers before either Office Party

*spit*

or Whimsy

*Double spit*

complete the grid by posting the answers in their own forums threads. No peeking in each others threads is allowed. So your answers are safe here with me.

eta: BTW, I've got 38 across nailed. :D

Nices moves, Haggis. The nicest of moves! :)


Approximately 72 hours after January The Sixteenth, the standings in the Leaderboards are as follows. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 30/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 14/42

WESTERN - 1/42

Western might could be raising a posse! Whimsy might could be playing Aces and Eights close to their chest! Office Party appear to be doing a conga line to the chequered flag!

All still to play for, folks! :)

[HarryHoskins]

Approximately 84 hours after January The Sixteenth, the standings in the Leaderboards are as follows. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 31/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42

WESTERN - 1/42

Western gathering forces! Whimsy making a comeback! Office Party into the home straight!

All still to play for, folks! :)

[Haggis]

But if'n we post our answers in this here thread, them rapscallions from Office Party might see what we done said. I don't trust them none at all.

[HarryHoskins]

But if'n we post our answers in this here thread, them rapscallions from Office Party might see what we done said. I don't trust them none at all.

It's a risk -- especially as I see the nefarious DL Hegel posts in Office Party -- but everyones in the same boat. :)

The drunken idea was to get everyone from each forum involved in their forums thread, guessing and building on each others ideas, having the crossword updated so if they weren't au fait with the cryptic clues they could get the theme and go for it as the letters appeared in the grid from other peoples answers. Perhaps more importantly, I thought it might get people chatting and meeting each other and having a high old time this way.

I cain't change them rules now, especially as Office Party and Whimsy & Prompts have already got their answers out in their threads. :)

[Haggis]

I cain't change them rules now, especially as Office Party and Whimsy & Prompts have already got their answers out in their threads. :)
Where? :evil

[HarryHoskins]

Where? :evil

If I tell you, will you promise not to peek? :)

[Haggis]

If I tell you, will you promise not to peek? :)
Would I lie to you, Harry? :rolleyes:

[HarryHoskins]

Would I lie to you, Harry? :rolleyes:

I cain't believe you or the devilish grin would even think about that sort of thing. :)

In the meantime -- tell me you got this one.

34 – The Ferret came from one, the Chihuahua limps on one -- a reversal of how some get online. (3)

:)

[Haggis]

I cain't believe you or the devilish grin would even think about that sort of thing. :)

In the meantime -- tell me you got this one.

[I]

:)
:roll:

That's the only one I got, pard.

[HarryHoskins]

:roll:

That's the only one I got, pard.

I'm putting in, dagnabbit. :)

Paw is the answer as you know. Here's the clue and the working out.

34 – The Ferret came from one, the Chihuahua limps on one -- a reversal of how some get online. (3)

A riff on Shadow Ferrets dad (PAW), Haggis' poor shot paw (PAW) and the reversal of what some use to get online (WAP reversed = PAW)

Hows about this one -- tailor made, surely?


28 – Something for Bent Nailers to aim at? You know it’s missed or you'd hear more boings. (8)

:)

[Haggis]

Okay. Two that I got.

Spittoon.

*spit*

[HarryHoskins]

Okay. Two that I got.

Spittoon.

*spit*

Super nice spitting and super nice work, Haggis! :)

Here's the working out.

28 – Something for Bent Nailers to aim at? You know it’s missed or you'd hear more boings. (8)If you're a bent nailer, you gots to spit. And what do you aim spit at? A SPITTOON. Moreover, those who recall my spit Christmas version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will know the sound of a SPITTOON hit with spit. Boing! :)

Since you're on a roll -- howsabout you and the western forum give a couple more a go. Ya'll must be familiar with these two!


19 – Wild cat is one helluva critter! (4)


22 – A type of car which one can drink in. (6):)

[Haggis]

Super nice spitting and super nice work, Haggis! :)

Here's the working out.

If you're a bent nailer, you gots to spit. And what do you aim spit at? A SPITTOON. Moreover, those who recall my spit Christmas version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will know the sound of a SPITTOON hit with spit. Boing! :)

Since you're on a roll -- howsabout you and the western forum give a couple more a go. Ya'll must be familiar with these two!


:)
You're pressing your luck, Harry. I'm gonna have to run those by the gang at the Bent Nail, and maybe even the Comedy Cabaret.

[HarryHoskins]

You're pressing your luck, Harry. I'm gonna have to run those by the gang at the Bent Nail, and maybe even the Comedy Cabaret.

The Bent Nailers should defo get 22, after all, they're in one all the time. As for 19, well, there's a certain lady around these parts who should get it straight off.

Still, the Comedy Cabaret are more than welcome to play for Western during the contest -- the more the merrier. :)

[Haggis]

You wouldn't be talking about a bar car would you? I kept thinking Clubcar, but after I counted it out on my paws, it was too many letters.

I'll have to get Miz reg working on the other.

[HarryHoskins]

You wouldn't be talking about a bar car would you? I kept thinking Clubcar, but after I counted it out on my paws, it was too many letters.

Nope. But its a sort of car the Bent Nailers get into daily. :)

I'll have to get Miz reg working on the other.

That would be good for more eyes and more brains, but I gotta say there's another western lady that might could be extremely important for that clue, too. :)

[HarryHoskins]

The Triple-tickle Leaderboard, 95 odd hours after January the Sixteenth is as follows. :)

OFFICE PARTY - 33 and a half/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42

WESTERN - 3/42

Western moving on up with some nice moves! Whimsy come back paused for a while! Office Party getting closer to the finishing line!

All still to play for, folks! :)

[HarryHoskins]

Wait a minute! Wait a goddamn minute! We got some moves here, we got some goddamn Western moves to be proud of! :)



Down


1 – Stetson
5 – Bay
9 – Cormac McCarthy
11 – Frontier
12 – Larry McMurtry
15 – Blazing Saddles
18 – Louis LAmour
21 – gold
22 – saloon
23 – Deadwood
24 – Cowboy
27 –The Searchers
28 – Spittoon
30 – Whiskey
31 –Boothill
34 – Paw
36 – Roach

Across


7-Rainmaker (though this could be raindance)
8 – Ranch
13 –Billy The Kid
17 – Elmore Leonard
19 – Puma
25 –Ned Kelly
26 – Clint Eastwood
29 – Spurs
32 – Geronimo
33 – Valdez Is Coming
35 – High Noon
37 – Apache
38 – Zane Gray
39 – Rein

26 goddamn answers in one! This ain't so much a come back as succor coming from Fort Knox and bringing with 'em moves nicer than Jagger and more smooth than a Terry's Chocolate orange! :)

Goddammit folks we got a game now! I say, yee-haw and lickety split we got a game now! Western risen! Western showing some class! Western moving to the grooving of the moving of the what ever rhymes with 'ooving'!

My word Whimsy! I say my word Office Party! Your boys and girls are taking a helluva beating now! Western, that sleeping elephant has a-woken and my word you gots some problems now!

The anonymous and nice legged one has busted 26 correct answers in one go -- sure, the Haggis already hit 28 & 34 down and 38 Across -- for certain you got a couple (36 Down & 35 Across wrong) but, dagnabbit! We is back in the game! The western forum is back in the godammn game! Raise them hands up and do the hat dance! Henry Fonda your way all across the goddamn prairie 'cause the West is the goddamn second best so far!

Phew!

Don't it make you wanna brim! :)

[HarryHoskins]

The Triple-tickle Leaderboard circa tonight -- no clues and no nothing 'cause, dagnabbit, one of the forums has been making some goddamn moves! :)


OFFICE PARTY - 34/42

WESTERN - 29/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42


Whimsy looking sleepy with nothing much to shout about! Western shot into second place and snapping at some partying heels! Office Party resting on their laurels and about to get caught!

The games afoot! The moves are made! Who knows what could happen next! :)

[Haggis]

You thought it was me, didn't you, Harry? I mean that comment about the legs almost gave it away. But it weren't. I expect it were one of our ladies. Our gents ain't smart enough to have done all that.
the question is, which one?

Or should I instead concentrate on the remains of the puzzle?

[Haggis]

35 accrost. John Ford?

[HarryHoskins]

You thought it was me, didn't you, Harry? I mean that comment about the legs almost gave it away. But it weren't. I expect it were one of our ladies. Our gents ain't smart enough to have done all that.
the question is, which one?

Or should I instead concentrate on the remains of the puzzle?

It sure wasn't you, unless you been waxing and lost a further two legs. :)

35 accrost. John Ford?

Goddamn right on, Haggis! Thems some nice moves! :)

[Haggis]

40 acrost. Lee Van Cleef?

[HarryHoskins]

40 acrost. Lee Van Cleef?

That'll be some super three paw strutting, Angel Eyes! :)

[NinaK]

Harry I’m still not sure if I’m posting these in the right place or correctly but here’s some more.

Down

3- John Waynes Teeth
4- Alias (second answer Billy)
14- Deringer
20- Weird West
36- Shane (second answer Clark)


Across

10- Smile when you say that partner
24- chaps
41- Heavens Gate

[HarryHoskins]

Harry I’m still not sure if I’m posting these in the right place or correctly but here’s some more.

Down

3- John Waynes Teeth
4- Alias (second answer Billy)
14- Deringer
20- Weird West
36- Shane (second answer Clark)


Across

10- Smile when you say that partner
24- chaps
41- Heavens Gate

You got the right place and you got 6 out of 8 right. That's some fantastically super stuff, Nina! :)

For the Downs you got 3 / 4 / 20 & 36 spot on.

For the across answers you got 24 & 41 spot on and you are within a letter of getting 10 across right, too.



The Triple-tickle Leaderboard circa right now.

Whimsy may want to know that 41 across had its clue labeled as (6,4) when it should've been (7,4) this has been amended and yes, I am an idiot -- as if you didn't know. :)


OFFICE PARTY - 38/42

WESTERN - 37/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42


Whimsy eating dust! Western consolidating on come back! Office Party into the final furlong!

Could be a photo finish! :)

[NinaK]

OK for 10 across are you looking for pardner instead of partner?

[HarryHoskins]

OK for 10 across are you looking for pardner instead of partner?

Yes ma'am I am, nice work! :)

[HarryHoskins]

The Triple-tickle Leaderboard circa right now.


OFFICE PARTY & WESTERN - 38/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42


Whimsy dying with its boots on! Western and Office Party tied for first place with four clues to go! :)

[CDaniel]

Okay

I have a guess at this mind you.

14-dpaterso

[HarryHoskins]

Okay

I have a guess at this mind you.

14-dpaterso

Guess are as right as right answers when they're right -- and this one is as right as any! Nice moves, CD! You got the Sheriff of these here important Western parts! Well done. :)

[Puma]

And I'll bet #2 - the day the countdown stops -has to do with the Western Contest a la - January the Sixteenth.

[HarryHoskins]

And I'll bet #2 - the day the countdown stops -has to do with the Western Contest a la - January the Sixteenth.

Super nice moves you slinky cat, Puma! Spot on on the working out and some nice last minute style, too! :)

[HarryHoskins]

The Triple-tickle Leaderboard circa right now!!! :)

WESTERN - 40/42

OFFICE PARTY WESTERN - 38/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42


Whimsy paralyzed by its own cleverness! Office Party overtaken by a rampant Western coming good at the last!

The excitement is almost too much for this reporter! Who knows who could win! Its up for grabs now! My word it is up for grabs now! :)

[Puma]

Not what I would have used as a clue - but is 6 Yosemite Sam?

And - rotten #16 - can you hint - is midget saint referring to a quarter horse or MG Midget (or neither)?

[HarryHoskins]

Not what I would have used as a clue - but is 6 Yosemite Sam?

Right on the money, Puma! :)

Yup, I was a little reticent about this clue, too. However, (rather like the apache clue) I think I have enough depth in there to be valid.

And - rotten #16 - can you hint - is midget saint referring to a quarter horse or MG Midget (or neither)?

Now, ya'll are on the final clue. I can tell you its neither of the good avenues you've gone down, but until the one of the other forums is close I can't, in fairness, give any clues towards its answer. :)


The Triple-tickle Leaderboard circa right NOW !!!!!!!!! :)

WESTERN - 41/42

OFFICE PARTY WESTERN - 39/42

WHIMSY & PROMPTS - 19/42


Whimsy headed toward Boothill! Office Party pulling back for the last challenge! Western one answer away from victory!

Someone grab me a nappy 'cause I don't think I can contain meself! :)

[NinaK]

Harry is 16 down revisionist?

[HarryHoskins]

Harry is 16 down revisionist?


http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4678/winnere.jpg

WINNER!!!!

Out of the ashes, western rises again!

An amazing turnaround!

Never discount a genre!

FINAL RESULTS!!!

WESTERN - 42 out of 42

OFFICE PARTY - 40 out of 42

WHIMSY - 19 out of 42


Western takes the trophy! :)

Most Honorable mentions go to the brilliant Michelle and Mccardey from Office Party for not only entering into the spirit of the comp, but also being exceedingly clever.

Mentions go to Flying Tart, Archer joe and Nymtoc from Whimsy. And to all the players in Office Party.

Super well-dones go to Haggis, the outstandingly good Nina-K, CDaniel, Puma & Fabricated Paradise

For now, Folks. Thats all. :)

(I'll post the clues with full working out in a little while. Thank you all for playing and to everyone who got involved. It was all rather lovely.) :)

You may all look in each others threads now. Good work all. :)

[Haggis]

:snoopy:

[mccardey]

Three cheers for Western!

Hip-hip :hooray:

Hip-hip :hooray:

Hip-hip :hooray:

Very cunning hold-back-to-the-last-minute strategy, fellas.

Drinks for everyone!!!

[HarryHoskins]

Here's the complete grid and the answers for the down clues dissected. :)

(Across to follow 'cause it don't half take some time)




http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2387/solution.png



DOWN


1 – A short saint joins a cute alien and is closely followed by a boy child – if you don’t get this I’ll eat my hat! (7)

A short saint = ST. ST is the abbreviation for Saint. A cute alien = E.T. Spielberg's alien is cute and, further to that, cute means small and a small Extra Terrestrial is reduced to E.T. A boy child = a Son. The last word in the clue HAT, is what you were looking for.

STETSON


2 – The day the countdown stops -- Sometime after Sunday and before Tuesday. (7,3,9)

A cheeky and western forum and competition specific clue. So cheeky that I gave the answer away in several of the Leaderboard updates to make things fair.

The countdown clock was to be found in the last ten or so posts in this thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230831) -- it stopped on January The Sixteenth. The crossword was posted in the early hours of Saturday the Fourteenth of January and named the time the countdown would end. Sometime after Sunday (Jan 15th) and Tuesday [Jan 17th) = January The Sixteenth

January The Sixteenth.


3 – Snowy heathens jet crazily in search of melodic material found in a film star’s dentures. (4,6,5)

In a crossword, a word that indicates movement like CRAZILY shows that words previous or following it are an anagram. In this case, Snowy heathens jet, are the letters to be viewed crazily. When re-arranged they form -- John Waynes Teeth


The answer you were looking for is reiterated by the rest of the clue. Melodic material means you are looking for a song = John Waynes Teeth. Furthermore a Films Stars Dentures gives you a synonym for the answer you are looking for.

John Waynes Teeth


4 – Nom de plume employed by a Peckinpah character. You may call him Timmy or Zimmy or Tommy if the police are around. (5)

A Nom De Plume is an ALIAS. Bob Dylan played the character ALIAS in Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garret & Billy The Kid. Timmy, Zimmy & Tommy are all ALIAS' given by Bob Dylan in his song You Gotta Serve Someone. If the police are around, one may wish to employ an ALIAS.

ALIAS


5 – Horse found near area of water mostly enclosed by land. (3)

A double clue here. Horse = BAY. The type of horse is confirmed in the second part of the clue -- Area of water mostly enclosed by land = BAY.

BAY


6 – Stereotypically colorful greeting meets Jewish person who’s apt to play it again – casual racism only ever creates a cartoon character. (8,3)A clue I was reticent about including, but figured has enough going for it to be allowed. When decoding this clue, one must understand that the setter is working on showing how stereotyping makes cartoon characters. That is to say, racism is ridiculous and 2 dimensional.

Here's how it works.

A Stereotypical colorful greeting = YO (this terminology is aware that it is a stereotype and the last of the clue makes this explicit). A Jewish Person = SEMITE (again, this term is used in relation to the meaning of the clue as a whole). Who's apt to play it again = SAM (out of the film Casablanca and again, a nice riff on stereotypes making characters 2 dimensional due to fictionality).

Casual racism makes a cartoon character. Here we have a riff on the previous stereotypical clues and a suggestion of the reductive and ridiculous nature of racism. It also give the thing one is looking for, that is -- A cartoon character = YOSEMITE SAM

YOSEMITE SAM


9 – Blimey! Prefix joins tarty computer. Space now. Then a short cricket club follows, adds a municipality in Schwyz District of Switzerland and ends in a brief question – wrote author without speech marks. (6,8)

A blimey prefix = COR (blimey). A tarty computer (for those only with windows) = MAC. A Short Cricket Club = MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club abbreviated), the Swiss municipality = ARTH. A short question = Y. CORMAC MCCARTHY

An author who doesn't famously doesn't use speech marks = CORMAC MCCARTHY

CORMAC MCCARTHY


11 – Listen, if Davey Crockett could hear a boundary by smell alone he’d have one of these where his nose should be. (8)When a cross word has the word Listen it is telling the reader the answer is a homophone.

Davey Crokett was all about the FRONTIER. The synonym you were looking for is BOUNDARY = FRONTIER. The clue then riffs on being able to hear something if our Davey had something capable of listening where his nose should be.

Here is the homophone. A FRONT EAR = FRONTIER.

FRONTIER


12 – Writer interested in the solitude of a peaceful bird. (5,8)The first word tells the guesser that they are looking for a Writer. LARRY MCMURTRY. However, it could be any writer until the rest of the clue tells you he is interested in the solitude of a peaceful bird. A peaceful bird in solitude is a Lonesome Dove. LARRY MCMURTRY wrote Lonesome Dove.

LARRY MCMURTRY


14 – Sheriff of the important parts. Those parts being the top section of a snooker table, a French meat product, a singular sound made at the dentist, and a Norton-esque exclamation. A pretty good fella. (8)Sheriff of the important parts = Mod of Western Forum = DPATERSO. Those parts = List of parts that make up his name. Top section of a snooker table = The D. A French meat = Pate. A singular sound made at dentist = Open up and say R. A Norton-Esque exclamation = Chat show host Graham Norton is fond of exclaiming the word SO. DPATERSO
A pretty good fella = DPATERSO (I prolly should've gone for a 'moderate' fella, but he's greater than that.)

DPATERSO

15 – Chilli beans, gasoline, leather and a spark from a one who created an awful Producer may cause western comedy. (7, 7)The combination of beans, gasoline, leather & a spark = BLAZING SADDLES. One who created an awful producer = creator of BLAZING SADDLES and The Producers, Mel Brooks. Western Comedy = BLAZING SADDLES

BLAZING SADDLES

16 – Brief regards to sight links one to midget saint and means everything that has gone before is up for future examination. (11)The most tenuous of clues here. The central answer in the grid, the one most applicable to the western contest and the one I wanted to be got last. Therefore, the clue was tenuous. (Bloody well done Nina).

Brief regards = RE. Sight = Vision. One = individual or I. Midget saint = ST (abbreviated saint.). REVISIONIST

Everything that has gone before up for future examination = REVISIONIST. (Yup, not the best of definitions I know.)

REVISIONIST

18 – French king of love wrote westerns. (5,6)French King = LOUIS. French love = AMOUR. King of love = First letter of love = L. LOUIS L'AMOUR.

Wrote Westerns = LOUIS L'AMOUR

LOUIS L'AMOUR

20 – Normal genre from the orient? The opposite, in fact. (5,4)A simple reversal clue. Looking for a GENRE. Normal East reversed = WEIRD WEST

WEIRD WEST
21 – Eh, you – say in a northern accent? It’s found in them there hills, precious. (4)Another homophone and triple meaning clue. The say gives it away. EH, YOU - when said = AU. AU = GOLD. Found in them there hills = GOLD. Precious = GOLD.

GOLD

22 – A type of car which one can drink in. (6)
Like 5 down, here we have a double barreled clue. A type of car = SALOON. Which one can drink in = SALOON.

SALOON


23 – Place where Lovejoy may swear at an impotent phallus. (8)Place = DEADWOOD. Lovejoy = Ian McShane swearing actor in DEADWOOD. An impotent phallus = (just about) DEADWOOD.

DEADWOOD.

24 – The reverse of a reverse. May be found in Annie Proulx, out on the range or at a sci-fi deck. (6)Reverse Cowgirl is position one may or may not want to get into. The reverse of a reverse is, therefore, COWBOY. Annie Proulx is famous for a COWBOY or two in a sexual position. A COWBOY can be found out on the range. The sci-fi author William Gibson calls cyber surfers who jack into decks COWBOY[s].

COWBOY


27 – Merseybeat via the American west. You looking for me? Well I'm the only man in the doorway. (3,9)
Not the best of clues is this one. But still, for them that got it, bloody good work. THE SEARCHERS = A Merseybeat band. You looking for me = film reference to tell the guesser it is a film and also a riff on someone searching. Well I'm the only man in the doorway = riff on the famous last scene in THE SEARCHERS and riposte to - You looking for me. A difficult clue, that.

THE SEARCHERS

28 – Something for Bent Nailers to aim at? You know it’s missed or you'd hear more boings. (8)If you're a bent nailer [the Bent Nail Saloon is a thread in the Western forum], you gots to spit. And what do you aim spit at? A SPITTOON. Moreover, those who recall my spit Christmas version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will know the sound of a SPITTOON hit with spit. Boing -- unless you miss it! :)
SPITTOON


30 – Shot an American drink due to extra MDMA. (7)A type of shot is a Whisky shot. An American Drink (with regards to the theme of the crossword) is Whisky. The American spelling is defined by the following.

Shot an American drink due to extra MDMA.

MDMA is the pharmaceutical abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy, the street name of which is E.

So whisky becomes a properly American drink by adding the extra E, to make WHISKEY. (Thanks to Boron for the additional HELP (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234931)

WHISKEY
31 – A dead place made from an escarpment of cobblers off-cuts? (8)Again, not the best of clues here. I went a bit overboard with the off-cuts -- but i hope ya'll forgive me.

A dead place = Cemetery = BOOTHILL. AN escarpment of cobblers off-cuts = BOOTHILL

BOOTHILL


34 – The Ferret came from one, the Chihuahua limps on one -- a reversal of how some get online. (3)


Another Western forum specific clue (with a little help on the end for everyone else).

Things that are often joked about in the Bent Nail Salloon. A riff on Shadow Ferrets dad = PAW, Haggis' poor shot paw = PAW and the reversal of what some use to get online; WAP reversed = PAW

PAW


36 – Ritchie? Christ, no! A gunfighter! Christ, Yes! (5)

Another nefarious one.

SHANE Ritchie is an English 'entertainer'. Though you are not looking for him. You are looking for Christ as a gunfighter. This can only be SHANE. From the movie SHANE -- a Christ analogy set in the west.

SHANE


Crikey! It done takes longer to explain 'em than it does to write 'em. Still, there's all the down clues and the working out.Hope this helps anyone who was a scratching thier head and hope it helps anyone wanting to set or take part in another crossword challenge. :)

The across clues and dissections will be along in a while. In the meantime, feel free to say 'WHAT IN THE GOOD GODAMMN WAS [RANDOM NUMBER] DOWN ABOUT! ARE YOU CRAZY! :)

[Haggis]

Three cheers for you, Harry. It was a lot of work but provided a bunch of fun to those of us who indulged. Many thanks. :)

[Puma]

Only speaking for myself, but I had / have way too many other things going on to be able to play or enjoy games here on AW. I do crosswords when I'm waiting on my husband at doctor's offices - but that's the limit. So, if you Harry, or anyone else has thoughts about doing something like this again, don't count on me to join in. I only popped in yesterday because I noticed long-time westerner Dan had joined the players. Puma

[Haggis]

Only speaking for myself, but I had / have way too many other things going on to be able to play or enjoy games here on AW. I do crosswords when I'm waiting on my husband at doctor's offices - but that's the limit. So, if you Harry, or anyone else has thoughts about doing something like this again, don't count on me to join in. I only popped in yesterday because I noticed long-time westerner Dan had joined the players. Puma
Not everyone has the time nor inclination to participate in these kinds of activities. Nothing wrong with that at all. But I'll continue to urge those who do to play along because I think it's good for the community.

[Puma]

I agree, Haggis - I just think something like this is probably better in Office Party where the participants may be more inclined to play. An announcement there was going to be a game challenge going on could be put on all the forums so people would have a chance to join teams and play. All you'd need would be a different thread for each team. Least that's my thought. Puma

[HarryHoskins]

Here's the across clues as promised. :)

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2387/solution.png




ACROSS


7 – One who stomps around hoping to get wet with an early cult, say? (9)

RAINMAKER

One who stomps around hoping to get wet = RAINMAKER. With an early cult, say. The say on the end says there's a [tenuous] homophone in there. In this case, it is the word cult/colt. An early model colt was a RAINMAKER.


8 – Place where shortened heads up display may give character clue – young blue eyes’ dressing? (5)

RANCH

A bookend clue. The thing you are looking for is at the beggining and end. Place = RANCH and Dressing = RANCH. Inside the bookends are clues to help you out. A shortened Heads Up Display is a HUD. Which gives you a character clue as HUD is a character in a modern western of the same name who was played by Paul Newman. Paul Newman was famous for his blue eyes and his RANCH dressing.


10 – A virgin (short) saying. Proclamation of the benefits of happiness in the face of adversity to a comrade. Wistful? Almost. (5,4,3,3,4,7)

SMILE WHEN YOU SAY THAT PARDNER

Not the best, or easiest, of clues as it's pretty bad and I used a particular bastardization of the saying. Again, super salutations for those who got it.

A virgin is short for a Virginian. Saying, means it's (surprise surprise) a saying whose origin is to be found in the book The Virginian. Wistful, Almost. Is a hint at the author of the book Owen Wister and an ironic comment on the saying itself. The middle part of the clue is a very poorly exucuted synoymn of the saying itself.


13 – Amphetamine led to definite article ending child outlaw. (5,3,3)

BILLY THE KID

A street name for amphetamine is BILLY. The definite article is THE. Ending means the last word and child = KID. Child outlaw is also who you are looking for = BILLY THE KID



17 – Author takes communist Sesame Street cutesy, pauses, then adds a singing Sayer, sodium, and a short road to make himself complete. (6,7)

ELMORE LEONARD

Author = ELMORE LEONARD. Communist Sesame Street Cutsey = ELMO. (I made a boo-boo here -- drunk as I was when I set this I thought young Elmo was actually called Elmore). Pauses shows the gap between names. A singing sayer = LEO. Sodium = NA. A short road = RD. ELMORE LEONARD


19 – Wild cat is one helluva critter! (4)

PUMA

Wild cat = PUMA. One helluva critter (play on critiquer) = our very own PUMA


24 – Trousers posh men cottage in? Add tea to a letters afterthought. (5)

CHAPS

Trousers = CHAPS. Posh Men = CHAPS. Trousers posh men cottage in, chaps have an ease of access. Tea = CHA (I probably should've said Indian tea here). A letters afterthought = PS. CHAPS

25 – Upside-down outlaw found in iron before arrest? (3,5)

NED KELLY

Upside down outlaw = you are looking for an antipodean outlaw = NED KELLY. Found in iron before arrest (very devious I was here. The wording suggests all sorts of punnage (the in and before -- however that was a sleight of hand.). Australian outlaw NED KELLY wore an armoured suit prior to arrest and is also known as the Iron outlaw.


26 – Short pleasure button with part of equation pushed into it leads to small forest opposite of west – he could well have starred in a Rawhide. (5, 8)

CLINT EASTWOOD

A rude, crude and utterly lewd clue. Short pleasure button = CLIT. Part of equation = N is pushed into the word CLIT. A small forest = WOOD. Opposite of wests = EAST and also
means East moves opposite (to the front) of Wood.

CLINT EASTWOOD starred in rawhide (And let me tell you, this clue was so close to going the S & M route but I stopped meself in time)


29 – I heard Missus right’s other half uses them to kick his team. (5)

SPURS

Another clue which has a big foot in the western forum. I heard shows there will be a homophone ahead. Right, therefore, become WRITE. Missus right/write other half is AW member MR WRITE. MR WRITES football team is Tottenham Hotspurs (Known as SPURS). Something to kick a team (of horses with) are SPURS (if you had long legs that is!)

32 – Leader journalist went with when jumping out of plane. (8)

GERONIMO

My favourite clue is this one.

Leader = GERONIMO. Leader = first word. The first word someone jumping from a plane uses if they are not swearing is GERONIMO!


33 – Maid’s zinc glove upset Burt Lancaster's sexual movements to become film and book. ( 6,2,6)

VALDEZ IS COMING

An anagram clue. The give away is the word upset. So the letters you are looking to upset are Maid’s zinc glove = VALDEZ IS COMING.

A little lewdness follows. Burt Lancaster (yes, I never knew he was Mexican either) plays VALDEZ in the film of the book. Burt Lancaster's sexual movements, well, I leave you to work that out on you're own.

35 – Director of whores’ company finds crossing in river. (4,4)

JOHN FORD

Director = JOHN FORD. Whores' company - a JOHN. A crossing in a river = a FORD.37 – Noble savage sees self in gunship? The Pope, Rousseau and Boeing are to blame, not me. (6)

APACHE

Another clue I was a little reticent about using, which is why I put the disclaimer in the clue. In the end, I liked the idea of asking the question 'Are current apache gunship pilots noble savages?'

Here's the working out.

Noble savage is a term Alexander Pope and Jean Jacques Rousseau used when talking of the Indian peoples. The APACHE are an Indian people. A gunship is an APACHE made by the firm Boeing.

There was, as an entrant cleverly pointed out, a nice unintentional clue in this, too. That is 'found IN GUNship' forms a nice sound alike of Indian and riffs well on the way Indian peoples have been given names and called things other than thier correct names.


38 – The last of Titanic actor Billy is neither black or white when written by this author. (4,4)

ZANE GREY

I made a right mess of this one due to bad spelling. Apologies for that.

Here's the working out.

The last of Titanic actor Billy = ZANE. Neither black or white = GREY. Author = ZANE GREY


39 – Something to pull on when riding can be found in bare investigation. (4)

REIN

A container clue. Sometimes (but not always) when you see the words 'can be found in' it means the whole of the word will be in the following words. So, something to pull on when riding = REIN 'can be found in baRE INvestigation.


40 – Actor Bruce joins some of Jean Claude and finally finds himself eaten by a British cross reference. (3,3,5)

LEE VAN CLEEF

Actor = LEE VAN CLEEF. Actor Bruce = LEE. Some of Jean Claude = VAN. Finds himself = LEE. Eaten (means LEE is eaten by another word) by a British Cross Reference = CF. So LEEis eaten by CF. = CLEEF.


41 – Where one who created an expensive stalker may find himself after killing a genre with a titular western film. (7,4)

HEAVENS GATE

Another awful clue and another clanger dropped here with a word count mistake. Apologies on both these counts and bloody well done to those who managed to answer anyway.

Here's the (extremely tenuous) working out.

Where = place = HEAVENS GATE. One who created. Expensive = DEER. Stalker = HUNTER. Michael Cimino created the Deer Hunter and also directed HEAVENS GATE. May find himself after killing a genre. HEAVENS GATE is credited as the film that killed the western genre. I was also -- and not successfully either -- implying he was lynched for this terrible? act and finds himself at HEAVENS GATE.

Titular Western film = Titular means it's the same as the place and a Western film = HEAVENS GATE.

Not my finest hour, that one.


So there you go. :)

I think the across clues were, on average, worse than the downs -- my explanation for this can only be they were set at the end of the night. Hope this helps (and doesn't totally confuse) anyone wanting to learn a little bit about cryptic crosswords.

Thanks for playing. :)