51 voters was a reasonably good turnout given the time of year. The average number of voters each for this year was nearly 53, well up on last year's average of 40.5.

It has been a successful year for the Anagrammies and the Forum, with further enhancements to the running of the voting and the Forum. We have had quite a few new very active members, who have injected a lot of enthusiasm into Forum.

There was a good spread of winners this month, with 12 members winning a total of 15 awards.

Hans-Peter obtained this nomination at the beginning of the month and I had forgotten how good it was until I was setting up this month's competition.

Even by the 12 hour mark, he was a clear leader, and his lead continued to grow as the competition went on.

The minor placings were very closely fought, with six contenders for 2nd and 3rd places. Zoran, JJ and Mey were well placed at 12 hours; then Rosie, Mey, Zoran and Horrid at 24 hours. Mike came into consideration by the end of Day Two with Zoran, Rosie and David still in the running. The Final Day saw Mike and Zoran consolidate and they kept Rosie out by just two points.

Hans-Peter's win bring him up to ten awards. Zoran now has 17 awards, which keeps him in 13th place on the All Time Table, joining Jon Gearhart.

1

  Hans-Peter Reich

66  

What is the square root of nine? = THREE, for an equation shows it!

2

  Zoran

30  

True lottery = Try roulette!

2

  Mike Mesterton-Gibbons

30  

Separation of church and state = Sane courts don't preach a faith.

4

  Rosie Perera

28  

Rotten apples ~ splatter open.

5

  Joe Fathallah

21  

Praise the Lord = Hear old priest.

This was a very close category this month.

Scott opened a small lead over Rosie at twelve hours. He and David Green shared the lead at the end of Day One with Rosie just one point behind. David was two points clear of Scott at 48 hours and pulled away on the last day for a 5 point win.

David has had a quiet year with just this one award. His total is 18 awards and he is in clear 12th place on the all time list.

1

  David A Green

36  

'Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds' by Joy Adamson = Enjoy sober story of a woman's bond for wild Elsa.

2

  Scott Gardner

31  

Steinway "Model A" Grand Piano = We'd played a sonata in G minor.

3

  Rosie Perera

26  

The notes in a scale: do re mi fa sol la ti do = Soloists note familial chant: "Doe, a deer..."

3

  Jesse Frankovich

26  

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas = Frigid airs came with same month.

Another close one. The Asian Tsunami was an obvious source for anagrams in this category.

At 12 hours, David and Toby tied for the lead, five points clear of the field. Alan had a tremendous run in the next 12 hours, jumping from fifth to equal first with David. At 48 hours, they were still locked together in a tie. Alan powered home on the last day to win by seven.

This was Alan's first award and a well deserved one finding an apt one-word to one-word anagram.

1

  AlanY

50  

Sumatra = Traumas.

2

  David Bourke

43  

The tsunami disaster = Asians muttered "SHIT!"

3

  Toby Gottfried

31  

A heartbeat away from the Presidency = A part I'd fear: that Cheney may be worse.

3

  Mey Kraus

31  

Second term of the Bush administration = Mind if I doubt that chosen one's smarter?

This category started out being quite close, but not for long.

Toby led out, with Mey one point back and JB two points further back. Mey broke clear by the end of Day One and was never in doubt of winning.

1

  Mey Kraus

69  

General A. Pinochet = Great Chilean? Nope.

2

  JB

51  

Nurse Florence Nightingale, Angel of th... = Once using gentle care, for men in fra...

3

  Tony Crafter

46  

The fashion designer Pierre Cardin = He inspired chains of trendier gear.

This was a huge win for Tony, who has so often just missed out on awards this year.

Tony was 25 points clear after 24 hours, and 44 points ahead at the end.

This was Tony's fifth win his inaugural year.

1

  Tony Crafter

92  

The Beaches of Normandy = Death on some French bay.

2

  Toby Gottfried

48  

United States Marine Corps = Sent in to capture sidearms.

3

  View

29  

The Promised land = A splendid mother.

Another big win here, this time for Richard.

He consistently was double points on the second place. His final margin was 42 points.

His 15th win of the year takes him to 146 on the All Time Table.

1

  Richard Grantham

70  

If it squirms, it's biology
If it stinks, it's chemistry
If it doesn't work, it's physics
And if you can't understand it, it's mathematics. =
If it's wordy, it's English
If it's knotty, it's economics
If it squeaks, it's music
And if it's run by the Antichrist, dammit, it's sport day.

2

  Mey Kraus

28  

The RSPCA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) = Oh, role's to protect a variety of species? Then I truly *can't* harm one fly!

3

  Tony Crafter

27  

O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? = Herewith have theory: Dying's scary, so get it over with.

Another start-to-finish winner here, on this occasion Mike.

At 24 hours, he was just three points ahead, but broke 12 points clear by the end of the competition.

Two awards this month and three all-up is a great start to his involvement in the Forum.

1

  Mike Mesterton-Gibbons

46  

Christmas Greetings = Grinch misses target.

2

  Mey Kraus

34  

Traditional Christmas Greetings á I sign the card, mail it to strangers.

3

  Horrid Stretchy Pus

30  

As the clock strikes Midnight on Christm... = ...

JB's entry here certainly look a likely winner. So nostaglic of everyone's childhood Christmas plays!

23 points clear at the end of Day One, she maintained that margin to the line.

This was JB's ninth win of the year and she has won 61 awards all-up.

1

  JB

78  

The Christmas Story from Luke, Chapter ... = The Annual Nativity Play Now, child...

2

  Mey Kraus

56  

On the twelfth day of Christmas, My tr... = (Signed reply from The Internal Reven...

3

  David Bourke

33  

"...Slither slither slither slither went... = Throb! Oh, how erotic! Oh, how passion...

There were three likely contenders here, but David's hilarious group-referential 5000 letter offering was always going to be hard to beat.

Sure enough, he was eight points clear at 12 hours, then kept a 20 to 30 point lead after that. Allan kept Mey back in third place.

David's win caps a strong year with 16 awards. He now has 64 wins. Allan has had four wins this year and consolidated 10th place with 25 awards.

1

  David Bourke

70  

The Grinch

2

  Allan Morley

45  

On the first day of Christmas...

3

  Mey Kraus

35  

Paddy's Song (The Bricklayer's Lament)

4

  JJ Gertler

21  

Four score and seven years ago...

5

  Tony Crafter

16  

A comely young widow named Bransome...

Another good win to Mey here, with clearly the best anagram in the field.

Mey had three wins again this month, for a massive 41 winners this year (second best ever) and 187 on the All Time Table.

1

  Mey Kraus

75  

The airport security guard = Stretch a digit up your rear.

2

  Tony Crafter

56  

The oldest profession = Denotes hole's profits.

3

  Joel Davey

41  

Premature ejaculations = Aaar! Molten juice erupts!

Sometimes, Richard and I have to go through every category carefully and debate the merits of each contender. No such discussion was needed this month. Scott led Entertainment much of the way with what we both considered an excellent anagram.

This was Scott's 13th Anagrammy and moves him into 16th place.

Scott Gardner with:
Steinway "Model A" Grand Piano =
We'd played a sonata in G minor.