THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Seen in the garden bed, a single flower (11)

9 I ring to bring order to disorder (7) 10 Poor shot at changing the route (5) 11 Size of a field for a medley race? (4)

12 Makes a shambles of a Schubert variation (8)

14 Points to one of several children as being bright (6)

16 Fly to organise mixed double set (6) 18 Squanders food? (8) 19 Caledonian company in a small way (4)

22 A piece of chocolate roll? Not now, thanks! (5)

23 Composing an air in modern Persian fashion (7) 24 A direct route provided immediately (11)

DOWN

2 Some well-to-do urban homes smell! (5) 3 Forget to leave out (4) 4 Reward for a champion layer? (3,3) 5 Owes cash for the display cabinet (8) 6 Beg for an adjustment in net rate (7) 7 Lets one down lightly (6,1,4) 8 Looking for golden opportunities (11) 13 Falls for a queen (8)

15 Five players still not inwardly disheartened (7) 17 Tiresome duty for a judge (6) 20 Tea cups, etc. (5) 21 Some catch up (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Omnipotent (3-8) 9 Obscure (7)

10 Brief fight (3-2)

11 Large marine food fish (4) 12 Begin (8) 14 Identifying symbol (6)

16 Increase (6)

18 Almond paste (8) 19 Lacking enthusiasm (4)

22 Waken (5) 23 Ineffectual (7)

24 To separate (4,7)

DOWN

2 Compare (5)

3 Common fund (4) 4 Unprovoked (6)

5 Flower of remembrance (8) 6 Hitherto (2,2,3) 7 In addition (11)

8 Despite that (11) 13 A military unit (8)

15 West Atlantic islands group (7)

17 Italian tenor, d. 1921 (6) 20 Vast expanse of sea (5) 21 Stronghold of fortress (4)