the crosswords

PUZZLE 14799

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Weightlifter takes fish being fussy about meat (4,5) 8 A bird and its dam (5) 9 Lured sailors say to these islands? (7) 10 All set out to see the girl (6) 11 Bill returns with a part for her (6) 12 Journalist about to take a drink (8) 15 Turn in goal and even nearly score (8) 18 US state taking a right from another (6) 20 The first firearm in sport (6) 21 Take the wrong way and land in crazy situation (7) 22 The place at which we admit a girl (5) 23 Crossword fans should be used to such setbacks (9)

DOWN

2 Region holding northern sports venue (5) 3 Reverence for upstanding Chinese vessel a tug (6) 4 Preserve disorder being obstinate (8) 5 A beating to leave marks on the skin (6) 6 Shakespeare’s night of comedy (7) 7 First place to look for a clue (3,6) 11 Oriental quarter in Dresden? (9) 13 Ancient writers made their point with it (8) 14 He has no faith in Castro (7) 16 He turns up in the country (6) 17 They are identified by degrees (6) 19 Be of service when a few grow sick (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Without emotion (9) 8 No more or less than (5) 9 Sign of something’s existence (7) 10 A void (6) 11 Assign to particular duty (6) 12 Run-down and abandoned (8) 15 An arboreal rodent (8) 18 Hotel sitting room (6) 20 Dedicate (6) 21 Biased (7) 22 Falter (5) 23 Very difficult assignment (4,5)

DOWN

2 Perchance (5) 3 Seem attractive (6) 4 Take responsibility for (8) 5 Get completely free of (6) 6 Gigantic Californian conifer (7) 7 Peak period in TV viewing (5,4) 11 To scold (5,4) 13 Name-check of those present (4,4) 14 Remain in existence (7) 16 Incisive reply (6) 17 Popular stringed instrument (6) 19 Degree of quality (5)