October 9
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to see the Open Puzzles and the Advanced Puzzles.
“Pencils down,” said Harry Aldrich, Master of Ceremonies at
the First Annual Portland Crossword Puzzle Contest, held Saturday, October 9 at
the Downtown Multnomah Public Library. The 20-minute first round of the contest
was over and 104 contestants – 62 in the Open Division and 42 and the Advanced
Division – had turned in their first puzzles.
By the end of round three, there were six finalists ready to
compete in the “puzzle-off” round which required them to solve giant puzzles on
easels as the audience looked on.
“3-2-1-start!” said Aldrich, and the two-feet by four-feet
puzzles were turned around and the solving began.
At the end of the puzzle-off round, first place winners
were Matt Jones in the Advanced Division
and Nancy Fandrem in the Open Division. Second place winners were Robert
Baumann in the Advanced Division and Burke Wood in the Open Division.
Aldrich presented with a flourish prizes (dictionaries) to
the two winners as well as special certificates to the six puzzle-off finalists
and suggested that the contest be held more than once a year. Asked for a show
of hands from those who would like such contests more often, well over 80
percent of the audience immediately reached a hand into the air. “Once a week,”
said one of the contestants and that seemed to be the sentiment of many of
those who attended.
“We should have more contests like this on the West Coast,”
said Advanced Division winner Jones, who has very successfully competed in a
variety of crossword puzzle contests on the East Coast. “Why should we have to
travel so far away when we have people interested in these contests right
here?”
“The contest will be held next year a week after the
Portland Marathon again,” said Caleb Burns, organizer of the contest. “After
the healthy body of the Marathon, time for a healthy mind!”
For more information about the next crossword event – or to
join the Portland Puzzle Club – please call Caleb at 503 288-4558 or email him
at calebb@teleport.com