By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve the clue presented by the previous poster and then set your own clue.

Anything from the (worldwide) crossword arena is acceptable by way of clue style, but if you stray from the pure path beware the scourge of... ...Pandora's WET NOODLE!

The puzzle could be an old favourite or something of your own making. Don't be shy: this is for everyone, not just the old hands!

There is nothing to prevent (say) a couple of related clues if offering a single clue cramps your style.

If there are multiple answers involved, there is no restriction against one person solving all and the solver of the final clue/part is the one who goes next.

Obviously you need to await confirmation of a correct answer before posting your own puzzle, but please then do so reasonably promptly: if having answered correctly you are not going to be able to set a follow-up clue within about the next 24 hours, please pass your turn to someone else so that the game does not stall.

To save the poor demented solvers from excessive brain damage , you should consider revealing one letter of the answer (in any position) when the question is set, unless the answer is very short/easy so that provision of a letter hint at the outset would spoil the sport!

If no-one is biting within about 24 hours you probably need to start dropping additional hints.

To try to give everyone a fair crack of the whip, the immediately previous setter is asked not to post a solution to the current clue within the first 24 hours.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted World Clue Federation championship belt ===[**WCF**]===

Constructive criticism and cheerful badinage are to be expected, not to mention a certain amount of national rivalry, but above all, have a bit of fun!
Next clue:

Frame to French bear's racket (10) - no e

Early first day hint: direct is on the right.

Second day hints: the bear has a name and you can hear his racket!

hull(frame)a(to in French)baloo(bear's name according to google!)

"Frame a bear's racket" would work same, right?

Yes it would Denis: "to French" was just an added frill left over from an abortive attempt to clue HUL separately followed by LA (the French).

Baloo is the bear in The Jungle Book.

Frame this: ===[**WCF**]===

Ya ba da ba doo: thank you!

Commercial treatment of egg gemology? (5,2,4)

Day#1 clues: 2 e's, direct not on right!

leggo my eggo

So I leggo the belt: ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you CD.

Conservative man entered in list in U.S. city (9)

Rochester = US city - roster (list) containing (entered in) c + he (conservative man).

I had to google leggo my eggo to find out what it is: not something making a big impression this side of the water, I think!

That's the city Lex

From a recent paper:

Starts with first of three hags (8) - one e

T(hree)WITCHES=hags

Thank you, dictionary.com:
Main Entry: start
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: flinch
Synonyms: convulsion, jar, jump, scare, shock, spasm, turn, "twitch"

You can take a turn (or perhaps a spell) with this:
===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Lex; this one will hurt!:

Abdominal twists do fit true guts (10,9) More than 0 e's !

intestinal fortitude

abdominal = intestinal
fortitude = anag of do fit true

fortitude your abdominal with this: ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Denis!

An eye half open with spasm (5)

Half open = Op + tic (spasm)

This ought to open your eyes, Koala! ===[**WCF**]===

Happy birthday, Cheryl!!

Have a nice one Cheryl.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFh-rX_Sfhs

Many more Cheryl

Happy Birthday Cheryl,

Happy Birthday Cheryl!

Have a good one, Cheryl!

Thanks...

What dentist used to make doctor sick? (5)

Thanks for the Birthday wishes, everyone! I got to spend the day with my sister, so it was a very nice birthday.

What dentist used to make doctor sick? (5)

DR(doctor)ILL(sick)

One of cutest crypt I've seen!

Over to you Doc...

===[**WCF**]===

Merci K.

Leaders chasing 6 bandits (7) pas de voyelles "e"

viKINGS

You deserve vi diamonds: ===[***WCF***]===

Why thank you, sir!

Mercedes, naked, dancing for shrink (6)

Love it !!

recede

M(ercede)s.. naked remove ms
dancing=anag indicator on 'ercede'
direct is shrink

That's it manxman! ===[**WCF**]===
I'm keeping the extra diamonds!!

Thanks Sherlock, enjoy the diamonds

One times ten thousand, in fact (5)

A(one)X(times)IO(ten)M(thousand)

axiom it is CD ===[**WCF**]===

Is that a fact?! Thanks.

Prophet sounds a bit like a big bad guy! (5)

augur? (sounds like ogre)

Right! I did state "a bit like"

===[*WCF*]=== (you kept the other 2 diamonds)

OK, then.

Tell of it running amok in New York (6)

notify
of it anagrammed in N Y

That's it, manxman. And here's a totally intact belt with all the diamonds you deserve!! ===[**WCF**]===

Gratitude Sherlock

Infielder finally out in last place (8)

last place = basemen T = finally ouT ?

If so, then clue should have infielderS, right?

Right on both counts a typo

Here you are...===[**WCF**]===

Thanks MxM; perhaps you'll get lucky and the
Noodle Wielder will be watching the British Open

Matadors always keep behind (6)

dorsal = "behind"

"Matadors always" is container, per "keep"

OLE Helmer! Here's your belt: ===[**WCF**]===

Oofda! Dat's a hefty belt!

From booklet of oldies:

Thoughtful writer embraced drunk (6)

poLITe

Yes, a timeless poet. Like you, too, Cue!

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Helmer. I do throw a verse now and again.

Unusual covert organization stuck in unending tour (7)

spe(cia)l
covert org=CIA
unending tour = spel(l)

Great solve, manxman. I have something special for you ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you Cue

Saw lame bears cross (5)

maXim

You saw that one Sherlock ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, manxman!

Contrive initially to avoid remembering (6)

forge t(o)
Yer getting tricky in your young age, Cheryl!

Seems to me that you're the young one, Denis! ===[**WCF**]===

Merci a lot.

Omitted the t at end of forfeit (6) no e

Early 1st clue: direct on left

PLUS: I'm not 100% sure it's fully "legal" but
I think it is; so possible I'll get a few lashes!

Cute one, Denis. It reminds me of me!

forgot (forgo+t)

Geesh...almost forgot to send you this:===[*WCF*]===

Kept 2 diamonds, which I'm sending to Cheryl !

Thanks CD.

Ape to roam through muck--it's a whole lot better (4,8)

Like it!

"Chimp rove" in "mud" -> much improved

Well done UW. Here is the much improved belt with new diamonds added. ===[**WCF**]===

Shame you should have to add the diamonds yourself, manxman - send the bill to Denis

Fellow having a fight won't upset sophisticate (3,5,4)

man about town

man (fellow) + a + bout (fight) + town (anag. of won't)

Good one, Cheryl. One improved belt winging its way towards you ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, Rog!

Huff and puff about period show (7)

P age=period ANT (pant = huff and puff)

Here you go, Mr. Universe! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Miss Universe!

Small mass, exactly a byte (5) no "e"

Day#1 clue: byte = b

2nd clue: ????b ; ???? = exactly

3rd clue: 1 vowel only, at center

All i can come up with is 'crumb' but no explanation for 'exactly' A real stumper CD

An alternative answer "plumb"

I came up with the same thing, manxman. I could see how a plum would be a small mass, and plumb means exactly, but that's opposite of what's indicated.

Although...I came across these in a dictionary:

plum
Definitions

adjective, adverb
a variant spelling of plumb

and....
plumb
Definitions

noun
1.a weight, usually of lead, suspended at the end of a line and used to determine water depth or verticality

Per dictionary.com:
plumb/plʌm/ Show Spelled [pluhm] Show IPA
noun
1. a [small mass] of lead

plumb/plʌm/ Show Spelled [pluhm] Show IPA
adverb Also, plum.
5. [exactly], precisely, or directly.

Yer plum correct with plumb MxM: ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you CD.

Most clever hints about leader of the territory (6)

One 'e'

cutest?

cues containing t (leader of the) + t (territory)

Exactly correct Sherlock. This cute belt is all yours

Thank you, manxman!

Iron man and woman (6)

FEmale

Anutter version:
Male starring in "Iron Woman"!
F emal E

Good one, Denis.

I'd pass on the belt but I never got one from manxman. But, I can give you the 2 diamonds you gave me earlier. **

Sorry Sherlock. I was sure that I pasted it on I will just forward it on to CD.

===[**WCF**]===

Geeshhhh...never had so much trouble getting MY belt before

Missile got hit twice (7) no "e"

Le hint du premier jour: direct = missile

Day#2 hint: 1111222 ; 1111 and 222 both = hit

how about shotgun?

dingbat

Ding ding! ===[**WCF**]===

Smile somehow doesn't make remedy for dullness? (10)

grindstone

grin + dstone (somehow doesn't)

Good one Sherlock. All yours... ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you!

Gad! One caught in snare with selenium (7)

gad = TRA i P se=selenium

Now you can traipse about in your shiny belt! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Cheryl.

On to entanglement #71 !

One more entanglement and this thread will have a number in common with CD!

So will you send me another BD gift?