Our activity group for Cryptic Crossword enthusiasts has been gradually taking on more difficult challenges in the almost 3 years that we've been running. Starting with just a handful of absolute beginners, we've added more experienced solvers as we went along, and have together progressed from easier puzzles onto more difficult ones. But now in 2025 two new things are happening. First we have a new beginners group being kicked off, starting from 27th of February. And second we have taken our first steps into not just solving other people's clues, but also beginning to set our own. And finding this is not as easy as you might think!
This has been via an inter-u3a challenge, with several cryptics groups across Lancashire and Cheshire taking it in turn to set a monthly challenge for the other groups ta try to solve. Just 15 to 20 clues, all on a particular theme; but trying to use an assortment of different clue types. Still waiting for feedback on how well 'our' clues went down with our competitors.
If we do have any fellow members in Wigan branch who fancy checking these out, they're uploaded onto our group page now. So if you are already a whizz at Cryptic Crosswords, or just of word-games in general, and can think a bit laterally, you are invited to have a go at them. The theme we picked was alcoholic drinks. (Well it was the February challenge, and dry January had just ended!). And here's a selection as a taster...
| Sounds like you’re faking the agony (9) | a sound-alike clue with sham pain leading you to champagne |
| Grains mashed up with a punch (7) | an anagram of the word grains, followed by the letter a, for sangria |
| A drink from kebabs, in theory? (8) | did you spot that the word absinthe is hidden the phrase 'kebabs in theory' |