Possible Clues:

• Stubborn and industrious types securing first and second
• An elf, in a seasonal or showbiz context
• Second animal is hit with end of bat
• Italian town? I'm lost with tense worker and aide
• Burden-carrier first, perhaps soldier second
• One helping Turkey and half of Uzbekistan start to thrive
• Creatures great and small grabbing first aid offered by this person?
• Deputy, subordinate
• All excited, sit with Santa's helper
• Shop worker is idiot and is ultimately incompetent worker