Cryptic Contest III- results posted.

[Vagrant]

How it works:
1) Entrants should sign up in this thread.
2) I will assign a list of 6 words that entrants will write clues for.
3) All entrants will PM the clues they write to me, along with explanations.
4) I will post the clues and explanations in this thread. In addition to the clues written by the GL, I'll include a clue published in a respected crossword for each word.
5) All entrants will rank the top four clues for each solution. Those who did not submit cryptic clues may participate in the voting.
6) I will then tabulate the scores, awarding 3 points for Gold, 2 for Silver, 1 for Bronze, and 0 for any clues that miss the podium.
7) Highest combined score wins plus there'll be some other awards.

Deadline for sign up and submissions is 11:59pm 5 Sept (unless we extend it).
I'll be asking for four votes to get an 'adjusted' winner when the published clues are discounted.


Participants:
3iff
Suspence
Elethiomel
esme
novice
Jack Ian
DejMar
Thok
Quailman

[3iff]

Go for me...

[Suspence]

In...thanks for running this.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Elethiomel]

In.

[esme]

In.

[novice]

Ok, I'm in.

[Jack_Ian]

"Resistance is futile!"

OK! I'm in.

[Amb]

The hotel didn't quite get built (2)

ie: In

[Vagrant]

Word List

1. BEHEAD

2. OWNERSHIP

3. PERISH

4. VOLUME

5. WHITEBAIT

6. Any animal of five letters. As a guide for this one I'd suggest that obscurity is not your friend. Remember, this is not a crossword - the greatest cryptic clue ever constructed is not likely to be very successful if your answer is AOTIS and 90% of participants have never heard of it. But that's just my opinion and I won't be voting.

[Suspence]

[Vagrant]

[Vagrant]

Since I won't be voting I've decided to offer my critique on submissions when I receive them. You can decline or accept the offer as you see fit (bearing in mind that my opinions don't always align with the majority view when it comes to cryptics.)

I've received one submission so far and have my critique ready but I wanted to put this out there before I send it just in case any player has a major objection to me doing this.

Also, *bump*

[Suspence]

I'm all for that.

I've entered by the way, but I don't currently appear on the participants list.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Elethiomel]

Sent.

[Jack_Ian]

Sent - looking forward to critique.

[Vagrant]

Just say that there's a word where every single entrant sends a clue in the format
<definition> <anagram indicator> <anagram fodder>
and every single clue's anagram fodder is exactly the same.

If this 'hypothetical' situation were to occur would you prefer to know before the clues are posted so you could all change your clue if you wanted to or would you prefer to vote on these essentially identical clues and take your chances that voters will like your definition and anagram indicator more than the others.

[Elethiomel]

Hmmm. I only sent one clue in that format.

If I can find a good clue that doesn't rely on anagrams, maybe I'll change it. (Or maybe not.)

[Suspence]

If every clue is the same, then I guess we all should know. If even one is in a different format, then it doesn't seem fair that the one setter who came up with something orignal shouldn't (potentially) be rewarded for that.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Vagrant]

[Suspence]

Rats! I only said what I said before cuz I knew I didn"t send any in that format.

Seriously though, if you feel all of them are too close, we should know. If you see enough difference to allow for fair voting, I say let it be.

I felt like saying something when 50+% of people submitted a double def for SHOT in CCII.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Elethiomel]

I say just let it be. If it turns out *everybody* had the same idea for one of the words, we can still have some fun coming up with alternative clues after the votes are in.

I don't want to start second-guessing myself about which of my clues are original or not.

[Thok]

I'm in and have sent in 6/6 clues.

[Jack_Ian]

[novice]

Sent.

[Suspence]

Sent.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Amb]

I'm struggling to find time to enter, so I think I might have to withdraw and just judge later.

[3iff]

If everyone has clued a word essentially the same then perhaps the target word should be changed. The problem will be with casting votes as most of the candidates will be identical for that word.

It's your call though.

[Vagrant]

There's just over a day left for anyone who wants to enter.

[Scurra]

Sorry - a little too busy over the last few days to find any time for this at all.
Looking forward to voting though.
_________________
_{still Quiz Olympiad champion. Must get a life.
New definitions: COFFEE - someone who is coughed upon}

[Vagrant]

There will be a roughly 24 hour delay until I can post the clues.

[Vagrant]

BEHEAD
Added entertainment beginning to be had from guillotine.
Alas! German scrambles from beachhead to strike down with vengeance.
Be CEO?!
Before initialization code finishes, start to execute.
Decapitate guy in sweat unit.
Decaptitate and stone the man in the middle.
Execute worker inhaling gas today.
He gets a bead on Medusa, for fatal blow.
Maybe he adjusted prisoner's neck?
Top rule?

OWNERSHIP
Crazy whisper: No right to property!
Criminal whores pin the deed.
Exclusive rights to scan Debbie Downer's hippocampus.
How sniper shot the property.
Landlords have joint possession of property.
Nervously whisper "No holding."
New pro – he wins title.
Possession is nine tenths of a sniper - how confusing!
Sniper who shot stock shares representation.
Title of homeowner's hippy extract.

PERISH
Decline of newspaper is heartbreaking!
Die through his carelessness.
Discover that the Reaper is here!
Leper I shave conceals decay.
Manic hipster has no time to die.
Publish alternative act for "The Thought."
Secretly, sharecropper is hoping to buy the farm.
The Church says "Die!"
The congregation heard "Depart."
To check out sniper rifle, Henry cuts north.

VOLUME
"Book 'em, ..." makes a return at the end of Five-O script for 'Honolulu's Last Duet'.
Book size!
Endless, crazy love! Say you and me are content!
How big is the book?
Mass publication.
Remote setting for a book.
Sound hesitation to break up playful love.
Space taken on bookshelf.
TV setting capacity.
Undeveloped ovule has minute mass.

WHITEBAIT
A small fish attacked with a bite!
Back a bet with one at sea catching small fish.
Delicious fry is chewed with a bite.
Fish with scrambled eggs? At first, a bit unusual.
Part that hasn’t caught rays, catching a fish.
Set dogs upon the heels of something pink, ignoring trace of red herring.
Small fry, spicy, with a bite.
What I bite? Fermented fish.
Young fish is served with a bite.
Young schoolers relaxed with a bite.

FIVE LETTER ANIMAL
Animal sounds like a cow with the tail of a horse.
Beautiful bird regrets getting its wings clipped.
Big Bird has wings correctly labelled for a little wide-eyed primate.
Cursory control of anonymous edit?
Extra veneer camouflages creature.
Fugitive lost his head for a deadly sin.
I horn toss!
Reset alignment!
Took a picture framing quadruped.
Uncovered Eve's nakedness!

[Vagrant]

I'll post the clues with explanations soon.

[Vagrant]

BEHEAD

Added entertainment beginning to be had from guillotine.
Definition: guillotine
BEH(E)AD - added (entertainment beginning = E) to (BE HAD)

Alas! German scrambles from beachhead to strike down with vengeance.
Definition: to strike down with vengeance
BEACHHEAD (alas! German = ACH) from (BEACHHEAD)

Be CEO?!
Definition: &lit
BE HEAD - BE (CEO= HEAD)
BEHEAD – (be CEO) = (be chief executive officer) = (be executioner)

Before initialization code finishes, start to execute.
Definition: to execute
B+E+HEAD - (Before initialization = B) (code finishes = E) (start = HEAD)

Decapitate guy in sweat unit.
Definition: decapitate
BE(HE)AD – (guy = HE) in (sweat unit = BEAD)

Decaptitate and stone the man in the middle.
Definition: decapitate
BE(HE)AD – (stone = BEAD) (the man = HE) in the middle

Execute worker inhaling gas today.
Definition: execute
BE(H)E+AD – (worker = BEE) inhaling (gas = H) (today = AD)

He gets a bead on Medusa, for fatal blow.
Definition: Medusa, for fatal blow (i.e. how to kill Medusa)
BE(HE)AD – (HE) gets a (BEAD) on

Maybe he adjusted prisoner's neck?
Definition: neck
BE HE AD - may(BE HE AD)justed (prisoner = container indicator)

Top rule?
Definition: top
Definition: rule? (i.e. BE HEAD)

OWNERSHIP

Crazy whisper: No right to property!
Definition: right to property
OWNERSHIP – crazy (WHISPER NO) (anagram)

Criminal whores pin the deed.
Definition: deed
OWNERSHIP – criminal (WHORES PIN) (anagram)

Exclusive rights to scan Debbie Downer's hippocampus.
Definition: exclusive rights
OWNERS HIP – (scan = container indicator) debbie d(OWNER'S HIP)pocampus

How sniper shot the property.
Definition: the property
OWNERSHIP – (HOW SNIPER) shot (anagram)

Landlords have joint possession of property.
Definition: possession of property
OWNERS+HIP – (landlords = OWNERS) have (joint = HIP)

Nervously whisper "No holding."
Definition: holding
OWNERSHIP – nervously (WHISPER NO) (anagram)

New pro – he wins title.
Definition: title
OWNERSHIP – new (PRO HE WINS) (anagram)

Possession is nine tenths of a sniper - how confusing!
Definition: possession is
OWNERSHIP – nine tenths of (A SNIPER HOW) confusing (anagram)

Sniper who shot stock shares representation.
Definition: stock shares representation
OWNERSHIP – (SNIPER WHO) shot (anagram)

Title of homeowner's hippy extract.
Definition: title
OWNERS HIP – home(OWNERS HIP)py (extract = container indicator)

PERISH

Decline of newspaper is heartbreaking!
Definition: decline
PER IS H – newspa(PER IS H)eartbreaking (container indicator)

Die through his carelessness.
Definition: die
PER+ISH – (through = PER) (HIS) carelessness (anagram)

Discover that the Reaper is here!
Definition: &lit
PERISH – discover that the Reaper is here
PER IS H – (discover = container indicator) that the rea(PER IS H)ere

Leper I shave conceals decay.
Definition: decay
PER I SH – le(PER I SH)ave (conceals = container indicator)

Manic hipster has no time to die.
Definition: to die
PERISH – manic (HIPSTER) has no (time = T) (anagram)

Publish alternative act for "The Thought."
Definition: publish alternative (i.e. “publish or PERISH”)
Definition: act for “the thought” (i.e. “PERISH the thought”)

Secretly, sharecropper is hoping to buy the farm.
Definition: to buy the farm
PER IS H – (secretly = container indicator) sharecrop(PER IS H)oping

The Church says "Die!"
Definition: die
PERISH – (the church = PARISH) (says = homophone indicator)

The congregation heard "Depart."
Definition: depart
PERISH – (the congregation = PARISH) (heard = homophone indicator)

To check out sniper rifle, Henry cuts north.
Definition: to check out
PERIS+H – (SNIPER) rifle (anagram) (henry = H) (cuts = removal indicator) (north = N)

VOLUME

"Book 'em, ..." makes a return at the end of Five-O script for 'Honolulu's Last Duet'.
Definition = book
V+O+LU+ME – (EM) makes a return (reversal indicator) (at the end of = after) (five = V) O (script for honoluLU’s last duet = LU)

Book size!
Definition: book
Definition: size

Endless, crazy love! Say you and me are content!
Definition: content
VOL+U+ME – endless (removal indicator) crazy (LOVE) (anagram) (say you = U) and (ME)

How big is the book?
Definition: how big?
Definition: book

Mass publication.
Definition: mass
Definition: publication

Remote setting for a book.
Definition: remote setting (i.e. TV remote)
Definition: book

Sound hesitation to break up playful love.
Definition: sound (i.e. on a TV)
VOL(UM)E – (hesitation = UM) to break up playful (LOVE) (anagram)

Space taken on bookshelf.
Definition: space taken
Definition: on bookshelf

TV setting capacity.
Definition: TV setting
Definition: capacity

Undeveloped ovule has minute mass.
Definition: mass
VOLU(M)E – (undeveloped OVULE) (anagram) has (minute = M)

WHITEBAIT

A small fish attacked with a bite!
Definition: &lit
WHITEBAIT – a small fish attacked (i.e. eaten) with a bite (i.e. in one bite)
WHITEBAIT – (a small fish) attacked WITH A BITE (anagram)

Back a bet with one at sea catching small fish.
Definition: small fish
WHI(TEB A)1T – back (reversal indicator) (A BET) (WITH 1) at sea (anagram) (catching = container indicator)

Delicious fry is chewed with a bite.
Definition: delicious fry
WHITEBAIT – chewed (WITH A BITE) (anagram)

Fish with scrambled eggs? At first, a bit unusual.
Definition: fish
WHIT+E+BAIT – (WITH) scrambled (anagram) (eggs at first = E) (A BIT) unusual (anagram)

Part that hasn’t caught rays, catching a fish.
Definition: fish
WHITEB(A)IT – (part that hasn’t caught any rays = WHITE BIT) catching (A)

Set dogs upon the heels of something pink, ignoring trace of red herring.
Definition: herring
WHITE+BAIT – (set dogs = BAIT) (upon the heels of = following) (something pink ignoring trace of red = WHITE)

Small fry, spicy, with a bite.
Definition: small fry
WHITEBAIT – spicy (WITH A BITE) (anagram)

What I bite? Fermented fish.
Definition: fish
WHITEBAIT – (WHAT I BITE) fermented (anagram)

Young fish is served with a bite.
Definition: young fish
WHITEBAIT – served (WITH A BITE) (anagram)

Young schoolers relaxed with a bite.
Definition: young schoolers
WHITEBAIT – relaxed (WITH A BITE) (anagram)

FIVE LETTER ANIMAL

Animal sounds like a cow with the tail of a horse
MOOSE
Definition: animal
MOOS+E – (sounds like a cow = MOOS) with (the tail of a horse = E)

Beautiful bird regrets getting its wings clipped.
EGRET
Definition: beautiful bird
EGRET – REGRETS (getting its wings clipped = remove both ends)

Big Bird has wings correctly labelled for a little wide-eyed primate.
LEMUR
Definition: little wide-eyed primate
L+EMU+R – (big bird = EMU) has (wings correctly labelled = L-R on the correct sides)

Cursory control of anonymous edit?
MOUSE
Definition: cursor(y) control
MOUS E – (of = container indicator) anony(MOUS E)dit

Extra veneer camouflages creature.
RAVEN
Definition: creature
RA VEN – ext(RA VEN)eer (camouflages = container indicator)

Fugitive lost his head for a deadly sin.
SLOTH
Definition: deadly sin
SLOT+H – fugitive (LOST) (anagram) (his head = H)

I horn toss!
RHINO
Definition: &lit
RHINO – I horn toss (i.e. I toss things with my horn)
RHINO – (I HORN) toss (anagram)

Reset alignment!
STEER
Definition: &lit
STEER – reset alignment (i.e. of wheels or rudder)
STEER – (RESET) alignment (anagram)

Took a picture framing quadruped
OKAPI
Definition: quadruped
OK A PI – to(OK A PI)cture (framing = container indicator)

Uncovered Eve's nakedness!
SNAKE
Definition: &lit
SNAKE – uncovered Eve’s nakedness (i.e. in the Garden of Eden)
SNAKE – (uncovered = container indicator) eve(S NAKE)dness

[3iff]

Well I've managed to decipher the animal clues (except 1) and have chosen my medal winners. Now I'll have a look at the explanations and see if that changes any of my decisions.

[Vagrant]

I'm adding the explanations one at a time because it's taking me a lot longer to do them than I thought it would.

[3iff]

I realise that...there's no rush.

[Vagrant]

All the explanations and animal answers have now been posted and invissed. Apologies to anybody who doesn't like the way I've explained their clue - I've tried to be consistent.

I'll be very surprised if the published clues do as well this round as they did last round. I think there's at least one clue better than the published clue for every answer.

[3iff]

Here's a voting sheet

BEHEAD
Gold -
Silver-
Bronze-
4th -

OWNERSHIP
Gold -
Silver-
Bronze-
4th -

PERISH
Gold -
Silver-
Bronze-
4th -

VOLUME
Gold -
Silver-
Bronze-
4th -

WHITEBAIT
Gold -
Silver-
Bronze-
4th -

ANIMAL
Gold -
Silver-
Bronze-
4th -

[Vagrant]

[3iff]

Well I had to do one for myself and saved you the effort. I'm sure you were about to post your own version...