C R Y P T I C C R O S S WOR D

ACROSS 1 Musician’s recital stint

broadcast (12) 9 Rural traveller seeing someone taking risks by river – not good (7) 10 Booze, old style, and stagger –

trouble by the sound of it (4,3) 11 Top arguing in court, rejecting

pressure (7) 12 Italian singers in operas composed with no end of style (7) 13 Distortion in soft sweet (5) 14 A crew lent out for community

service (3,6) 16 Make stronger use of religious

education? (9) 19 Gentleman confronting two bridge players – one sounds the alarm (5) 21 Drunk needs bit of advice, getting escorted after parking (7) 23 Mistake regarding small

footwear (4-3) 24 Work extremely large amount to

see marsupial (7) 25 Curious dance card (7) 26 Pugilist with sweat covering

face – ‘Hang on!’ we hear (12)

DOWN 1 Understanding group of high

ranking officers (7) 2 What late-night barman will do clearing clubs is unsurpassed (3-4) 3 Mercenary perhaps in Irish

uniform (9) 4 Precious items not given introduction but they have titles (5) 5 Long walk exciting a priest (7) 6 Builders’ material is transported round a US city (7) 7 Public relations speech about

biography’s rapid growth (13) 8 Incandescent with rage referring to others? (6,7) 15 Eccentric owns teeth sharpener (9) 17 Young offender to stray – or get better? (7) 18 Site of professional shooting? (4,3) 19 Asian language retained by extremists in struggling party (7) 20 Olympic city with diplomatic approach that’s read as a severe warning (4,3) 22 Object shown in streetside murals (5)