Herculis / GK Links Week 5

[ShamrockBlue]

Yes it's that time again, week five of the fiendishly difficult guessing game.
For those who've not entered before it's a chance to become an Answer Bank Legend, can you be the first person ever to get the magic FOUR.
Taking the Sat Tel GK Link words , see if you can predict the link words in Monday's Herculis.
The links for today are ( hopefully ) :
BUDS : ROYAL : VITAL : PAGE
Good luck all and remember immortality awaits !

[Muzz]

I'll go for -
Cotton Buds
Royal Warrant
Vital Statistics
Page Break

Good Luck to all of us!!!

[Christiana]

battle royal
cotton buds
vital statistics
ram shackle (also trying to be cunning. Thought I'd be orignal with rampage but too late, so trying this)

[Cleocima]

Spring buds, Royal sovereign, Vital statistics, Page boy

[crofter]

I've just returned to the croft after visiting the family in the NE and had a glance at the guesses so far! Very interesting - however Christiana and Aquagility are both linking their last guess on RAM (instead of PAGE!). Is there time to correct these? I hope you both see this!

On the journey North, mrscrofter (aka valerie) put forward the following links (with one new suggestion)
TASTE = BUDS
ROYAL = FLUSH
VITAL = SIGNS
STOP = PAGE (STOPPAGE)

[gardenknowin]

Well lateral thinking didn't work ! but I'm dead chuffed I was the only one to get page three (and I don't even read that paper....!)

[Christiana]

Crofter spotted that I did my answers far too late and mucked up the 'page' one. Can't actually get the puzzle out here in Portugal - not until late on and I don't usually bother, so don't know the answers but it's now Monday which no doubt disqualifies me, but will stick to the original idea of 'rampage'. Hope someone puts the final answers up for all those of us who don't get the Monday Herculis. Thanks Crofter for trying to let me know.

[sarumite]

Hi Christiana ...... this is an unofficial posting of the link words as requested, for those not in possession of the Herculis crossword. ShamrockBlue will no doubt later determine whether or not we have a winner this week!

TASTE BUDS
ROYAL MINT
VITAL SIGN
PAGE THREE

[ShamrockBlue]

Thanks Sarumite and all.
Have just gone through the entries ( with customary Monday morning alertness ) and it seems there were a number of entrants with two correct.
The 'coupon spoilers' this week I think were 'ROYAL' and 'PAGE' which had so many likely possible links.
Well done to Stretts who was the only entrant to guess ROYAL MINT, and Gardenknowin and JohnAlex the two contestants who got PAGE THREE.
Crofter if you want to apply the scoring sysem and have the spare time that would be good, if not no worries.
Thanks everyone for making it work, see you Saturday morning
.

[ShamrockBlue]

The good people who got two correct ( Drum roll )

***** JOHNALEX******
*****CHIEFPANDA****
*******JAN1956*********
*********SALLY259*****
*****MRSCROFTER****

well done !

[sarumite]

............. and many thanks to you ShamrockBlue for continuing to organise this little diversion for our added entertainment.

[crofter]

Over the last two weekends stretts has proved the most consistent with early hits both runs.

Taking the answer as VITAL SIGN (not SIGNS) several ABers (including myself) will be disappointed to come so close.

The bonus points (for the FIRST hit) go to Tenter (for TASTE), gardenknowin ( for THREE) and stretts (for MINT).

Taking into account one point for each hit (irrespective of being first or not) this weekend's scorers are TWO points for stretts, gardenknownin,Tenter and johnalex (for TASTE and THREE); and ONE point to JMR27, Chiefpanda, jan1956, chriss, shaneystar2,sally, Arabesque and Magyar.

Over the last TWO weekends, the Hot Shots have been:
4 points = stretts
2 points = gardenknowin, Tenter, johnalex, bridgenut, crofter, Dee Sa, JimJools, and Magyar

But all could change next week!

If you would like this scoring system to continue (just for fun) or you would like to opt out, then let me know.

[sarumite]

I say Go for it Crofter - (it adds further interest) ... even though I must be a hot favourite for relegation to the lower leagues!!

[Aquagility]

Is there a booby prize, please?

[bridgenut]

YES , as sarumite says it adds a interesting angle to the crossword ( provided the shaded squares are there ) . A friend of mine in Somerset and I have been guessing between ourselves for a couple of months on what the link words would be . Nice to see how other peoples minds work . Many thanks again for organising this ShamrockBlue.

[Christiana]

Yes, keep it going. It's some consolation for not being able to do the crossword itself - the Telegraph is on sale in the Algarve but for sky high prices and frequently lacking the very parts I'm after.

[shaneystar2]

I'll donate a bottle of bubbly for the winner..I won six bottles in the local parish magazine crossword comp this month.
Keep up the good work everyone and thanks ShamrockBlue for this interesting bit of fun each week.

[Tenter]

Great idea but how long does it run?
Just looked at the first 4 I wrote down and would have had 3 right but it's like the Grand National you've given every horse a chance and then backed the wrong one!

[twosearch]

I think VITAL SIGNS should be marked as correct.

Is that what you said Shamrock blue?

If there is a booby prize then I must be the favoursite - 0 out of 4 two weeks running?

[ShamrockBlue]

Hello Twosearch , yes SIGN or SIGNS were both acceptable.
As some have already commented , the plural is more often used.
I'm not sure about a booby prize really , there is always the chance that it may encourage some entrants to deliberately go for it in an attempt to achieve notoriety. ( I almost hate myself for imagining such a devilish scenario ) :)
Cheers

[crofter]

There is still some work taking place behind the scenes during this teething period. One thing that is being discussed is "The Plural Rule " to cover the options like VITAL SIGN or VITAL SIGNS. Both would be marked as correct!

This rule would be activated by ShamrockBlue before scoring could take place. Clearly in this case the scores would be radically different - so this is why we can take one more week try to iron out the wrinkles ready for a November start.