| CENTRIST | Moderate makes small change to be winner, after rough start (8) |
| FINETUNES | Makes small changes to great music? (9) |
| REGRET | Show remorse for egret after rough start (6) |
| PESTILENCE | Plague makes small change outside steps (10) |
| MEDALLIST | I'm led, last off and unlikely to be winner! (9) |
| FEET | Achievement said to be winner, without hesitation (4,5) |
| FIRST | Achievement said to be winner, without hesitation (4,5) |
| HEREBY | Heresy makes small changes in this way (6) |
| ERNIE | His draws always turn out to be winners |
| FOES | Staff to be winners finishing their rivals |
| VICTORS | Figures high points are needed to be winners (7) |
| QUESERASERA | "-------, ----(Whatever Will Be, Will Be)", winner of the 1956 Academy Award for Best Original Song (3,4,4) |
| SPECIFIC | Small ocean, second to change, to be precise (8) |
| CENTRISM | Small change to writing is by Mike with a philosophy of moderate views (8) |
| STILETTO | Small change to title - that's sharp (8) |
| DOGTIRED | After rough handling, Roget did get worn out |
| ARBOREAL | Polar bear heading off, for a change, to be living in trees |
| SELFSAME | Southern females must change, to be exact |
| TIEBREAK | Means of deciding winner after level scores |
| EVICTORS | They throw out the winners after the end of the race (8) |
