Comments on: Financial Times No. 13,733 by SLEUTH

By: Walduck

Walduck — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:07:19 +0000

I’m still at the stage where I like an easier puzzle, but 10ac threw me, and I had never heard of either of the components of 30ac. Sitting on the subway with no reference materials I hoped that there was a tree called a tuma (for ‘trauma’), but that left me stumped for 18d!

Thanks everyone

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:39:20 +0000

I found this easy enough and v enjoyable – would see PEPPERMINT as quite a standard clue-type in cryptic puzzles, not that unusual to have a few elements in the cryptic build-up.. My favourite clue was COWPAT. When I was finished, I noticed there was a pangram (every letter of the alphabet appearing in the grid). Thanks, Sleuth and Ringo.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:51:58 +0000

Many thanks Ringo & Sleuth

Certainly very little sleuthing was required to crack this puzzle.

Also thanks to niloci for revealing the identity of Courtier. Regretfully, I find Wimbledon totally boring, having made the mistake of attending on one occasion. Never again!

By: Ringo

Ringo — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:57:29 +0000

Fair point, Conrad. It is a good clue – but still, it seems like a lot of trouble to go to, if you see what I mean.

By: Conrad Cork

Conrad Cork — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:53:57 +0000

Thanks for the blog Ringo.
Re 6 down. I wouldn’t call it particularly convoluted. In fact, like 10 across, the surface is designed to mislead you by almost hiding the actual definition. Something Sleuth is rather good at.

By: niloci

niloci — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:17:44 +0000

Enquiries were made on Tuesday about the identity of the compiler of the tennis-themed crossword. I can reveal that it was set by John Barrett, former Wimbledon and Davis Cup player, TV commentator for the BBC and other networks, author of books on tennis and for many years the FT’s tennis correspondent.