C ROSSWORD

No 1,538

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘A’ appears in the grid. Post your entry to YOU Crossword No 1,538, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Closing date is Friday, April 28. One random winner from all correct entries will win €100 and five runners-up will win €25 each. Winners will be notified within 14 days. Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

6 Frankfurter served in a long roll split lengthways (3,3) 7 Unnamed (8) 9 Pickle flavouring (4)

11 Indulging in petty criticism (10)

12 A 20 across country in Europe (6)

13 The data fed into a computer (5)

14 According to Shakespeare, such people ‘die many times before their deaths’ (7)

16 In Arthurian legend, where King Arthur’s palace and court were situated (7)

18 Old enough (2,3)

19 German Second World War POW camp (6)

20 Descriptive of a country, surrounded by other countries, that doesn’t have its own ports (10)

21 Wicked (4)

22 Offend, repel, estrange (8)

23 Gift by will (6) DOWN

1 Bobby on the beat (6,9)

2 A 20 across country in Africa (6)

3 A 20 across country in Europe (7)

4 A 20 across country in Africa (8)

5 Renaissance painter who had an Italian airport named after him (8,2,5)

8 Surpass all others – especially in stupidity or folly (4,3,4)

10 A cross between a labrador retriever and a poodle (11)

15 Slanting, oblique (8)

17 Audience member who interrupts a performer (7)

19 Rider’s seat on a horse (6)