By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve (and briefly explain) 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 too far 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!

For those unfamiliar with crossword clues who want to give it a try, there is plenty of guidance online and a quite entertaining and instructive book (not just for beginners) available from amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Times-Crack-Cryptic-Crosswords/dp/0007546521/ref=dp_ob_image_bk and no doubt elsewhere, and for those who like British Crosswords you may like to try these (which are free): http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords and https://www.ft.com/crossword.

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 18 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 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 should start dropping additional hints, and 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.

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.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted CanukDenis Memorial Championship Belt
===[**CDM**]===

This thread is so named in honour of our late dear friend Denis Borris (aka CanukDenis) who was an ever cheerful and quick-witted presence on this forum, posting many an iffy crypt just to stir the pot, and intrigued by all things linguistic, mathematical and beyond.
RIP CD - we hold you in our hearts as we play on!

Next clue:

Pioneer priest on island adopting strange rites (12)

fr/on/tiers/man

Right on target Annie Oakley!
===[**CDM**]===

Thank you kindly, pardner!

Veiled worker's pager catching sound of alarm (9)

Direct on left. 5 e's

Veiled worker = beekeeper. Sorry Cheryl I can't do any better. Denis is no longer here to help.(lol)

That's a good answer, Curly! ===[**CDM**]===

If anyone's wondering: b(eek)eeper

Yeah, "kee" just didn't make sense as a sound of alarm. Good solve, curly!

Denis would have been proud of that one!

Merci beaucoup Cheryl, Sue, and Rog. I think this is an easy one.

Provokes with sharp points (7)

There are 3 e's.

Needles

Good to see you sporting the CDM, Remi

I was on pins and needles waiting for an answer.

Take care Kev. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: you also keep safe Remi

Less well entertained by some light banter (8)

Direct on the right, three vowels all different, starts with a consonant, one indicator.

cvvccvcy

ra/iller/y

Nothing ill about that answer, sunshine!
Here you go: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, sir!

A dialect penetrated by noble finance worker (10)

Hint time: direct on the right, no e's, 4 vowels total, two of which are the same

A ccountant

Spent a lot of time trying to cram "accent" into too small a space...

Hope you have a place for this, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl!

Follow woman following directions (5)

Direct on the left
Wordplay 1+1+3
Think Pandora...

ensue
e+n+sue

Yes, manxman! For that solve, a reward ensues ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you UW

Disdain is shown against vamp (8)

direct is on the left

Con-tempt

Good one UW, ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman!

English sister spies alien turning articulate (9)

e/nun/cia/te

English = e
sister = nun
spies = cia
alien turning = te (et reversed)

That was quick, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog!

For example, NASA associate in the middle of morning (7)

Direct on left, no e's

acronym
a(crony)m

That's the one, manxman! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Sherlock

Musical presentation, "Love Each One" (5)

Love = o
Each = per
One = a

-> opera

Correctly deduce UW ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman !

Liberator to enjoy taking Italy's capital to heart (7)

Saviour = liberator - savour (enjoy) containing (taking to heart) i (Italy's capital)

...after giving up on finding a justification for Bolivar...!

Savour this, young Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, good sir!

Writer's employed reworking fictional detective (4,5,6)

Direct on the right

Lord Peter Wimsey (anag. of writer's employed)

Spot on M'Lady: ===[**CDM**]===

"I always have a quotation for everything—it saves original thinking."

“Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.”

Lord Peter Wimsey per Dorothy L Sayers

Thanks, Lex!

About time Trudeau brought back four-letter word (9)

FYI, I'm not holding up too well here in MN and find the need to stay away from the internet. However, I'm hoping to use this site as a distraction when the need arises.

Hang in there, Cheryl!

Direct on the right. 3 vowels, 1 an e, the other two are the same.

Thanks, Rog!

ceccvccvc

tetragram (margaret + t)

Phew! is a four-letter word meaning relief. Nice job, Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl!

A hot, vile cussword (4)

Direct on right

Oath (anag "a hot")

A heck of a good solve, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Sue!

One that gave us both a bit of a giggle:

Worst place to change a tyre (3,4)

Early hint : Not an anagram in sight...

OK:

1. Double definition - Worst place to change a tyre

2. Think John McEnroe...

Hm...

Think motor racing

Pit stop (pits top)

What has it got to do with John McEnroe?

Geting very close, but "pit stop" is a happening, not a place

Was thinking of towards the end of his "Serious" outburst, namely "You've got to be..."

the pits

A steal for manxman! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you although Lex did all the hard work

Watching contest addition (7)

vie/wing

Well done Sherlock===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxy!

With 1-Down, almost a printer's run over line (5)

Direct on right. No e's.

cvcvc, 2 consonants the same.

Could be re-clued as:

With 1-Down, almost a short last line

Wordplay = 1 + 1 + 3

First and last consonant the same.

w+i+(do)w

Interesting: I had never come across that meaning for the word previously, so now I feel a little better about being completely stumped!

Same here! I still don't completely understand the solution.

W (with) + i (1) + dow (down almost) = widow, apparently meaning a short last line in printing

Aaaaah, a Denisian cryptic. Thank you, Lex.

...and good work by mxm in cracking it (as I am sure he has although of course we await Cheryl's confirmation)

And, widow it is! Great job, manxman! ===[**CDM**]===

Sue, it reminded me of Denis as well.

(a Denisian cryptic) Very funny Sue.

Thank you Sherlock

Bird's egg in roll (7)

one 'e'

cvvccvc

ro(o)ster

Good answer Sherlock ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you muchly, manxy!

Keep it: a phrase covering words written in stone (7)

Epitaph = words written in stone, hidden word (from the mistress of the genre!)

For winning this belt your name will be written in stone, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, although I'm not sure I'm ready for my name in stone just yet...!

Novel virus found in bones, unknown in the past (6,7)

Direct on the left, no e

Doctor Zhivago (solved by me, explained (the hard bit) by Mrs Worrier!)

Virus is 'hiv'
Bones is 'doctor' - she's a fan of the original Star Trek (can't imagine why...)
In the past is 'ago' (my humble contribution)
and 'z' is a (mathematical) unknown.

Nice one, Lex!

Congratulations to both: ===[**CDM**]===

That one came from a Financial Times puzzle (now our regular lunchtime brain training except for the Saturday Telegraph)

Thanks, Lex! One from Mrs W:

Wise guy finds potassium without a barrier (4-3)

Early hints:

Direct on the left
Wordplay 1 + 2 + 4
ccvc-vcc
"finds" is merely a link word to improve the surface
"potassium" now spelt correctly

k/no/w-all

That's the one, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you kindly, Rog!

Reverse-color pictures, for example, taken by locals (9)

Direct on the left. 2 e's

n(eg)atives

Hey, Cue! Nothing negative about that answer. ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl

Dustin Hoffman movie part is said to be sweet (7,4)

Tootsie Roll

That's a sweet answer, Sue

Thanks, Cue.

Rascally swindle? Harrumph (8)

Oops...forgot to give you something ===[**CDM**]===

You were busy being sweet.

Direct on left, knowledge of British helps.

It does??

Charade type, ccvc/cvcc

scam/pish

Pish tosh, Sherlock - you got it! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks much, Sue!

Endure article connecting thug with Mafia boss (2,2,3,2)

Go on and on = endure (goon an don/thug + article + mafia boss) - I like it!

I could go on and on, Lex, but I'll keep it short and just give this to you! ===[**CDM**]===