The twelve unclued lights form three quartets, each of which comprises two words that follow and two which precede one of the three words of the puzzle’s title: HAPPY [TRIGGER, WALKING, MEDIUM and ENDING]; EVER [HARDLY, CANTIL (thus reading ‘cantilever’), SINCE and GREEN]; and AFTER [SHAVE and TASTE, LOOK and TAKE].

First prize Nicholas Grogan, Purley, Surrey

Runners-up John Boyd, Ashtead, Surrey; Jenny Mitchell, Croscombe, Wells, Somerset