Azed

[Farrwest]

Anyone seen Sunday's AZED?

[scorpiojo]

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2019/oct/06/azed-crossword-2469

[Farrwest]

Thanks scorpojo. Sunday mornings wouldn't be the same without it!

[scorpiojo]

:-)

[Farrwest]

Now I've seen it, I wish I hadn't!

[scorpiojo]

You can do it :-)

[Farrwest]

But I'm not going to! As you know the first AZED of the month always has a clue replacement requirement which I have objected to as it then comes a 'clue writing competition' which some kind lady in Oxford has to wade through. I feel that if they want such a competition they should have one but why spoil it for those not interested in clue writing. This is just the same with spoonerisms substituting for clues

[teacher1]

I agree with you Farrwest.

[Farrwest]

Thank you teacher1. It's good to know that I'm not alone on this! I have contacted the Azed people about this and they tell me that the clue writing competition is very popular. Well, they would say that wouldn't they!

[alidoc]

I think they should have two separate prizes on the clue writing week, I'm no good at writing clues but however hard it's been to solve the grid seems I'll never win that particular weeks crossword.

[Spoffy]

The clue writing competition has been a regular feature of the Ximenes/Azed puzzles in The Observer for the last 74 years and has produced many of the most memorable clues ever written. Inevitably it tends to favour the significant number of crossword setters who take part, some of whom have achieved multiple wins, but the winner of April's comp had been taking part in the clue writing competitions since 1959 without having previously lifted the trophy.

75% of the year's Azed puzzles offer everyone who completes and submits the puzzle an equal chance of winning, so I don't see that adding a further test of skill to the remaining 25% is unreasonable - and please note that Azed himself reads every clue that has been submitted.

Incidentally, many of those who enter the clue writing competitions also complete the non-competition puzzles but don't submit their entries, thus improving the chances of those who submit only the non-competition puzzles.