CRYPTIC/QUICK CROSSWORD

NO.544

Here’s your chance to win a Collins Concise English Dictionary. Complete the crossword using

either the cryptic or the quick clues and send it to us with your name and address. Send your solution to: Cryptic/Quick Crossword No.544, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must be received by Thursday. The winner will be drawn from a hat. The winner of Cryptic/Quick Crossword No. 543 is Brenda Ryan, Ratoath, Co. Meath.

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1 Once more, go over wild caper (5) 4 Peas tight around Italian dish (9) 9 Far-sighted expert finds opening with credentials (9) 10 Understanding crawler will pursue old king (5) 11 A lesson that’s corrupt (6) 12 Supposed to be a quiet guardian (8) 14 Need me all confused and given a tough coat (9) 15 Costume turned red on ship (5) 17 Look for bugs with a brush (5) 19 Space wasted on animal – it’s his fault (9) 22 Neighbourly aim to send telegram (8) 24 Partner gets sporting chances on river (6) 26 Big look around cold house... (5) 27 ... it gets redesigned by earthly expert (9) 28 Easy to put on weight for fool (9) 29 Category of verb is not relaxed (5)

DOWN1 Agentas substitutegets material(7) 2 Teach sweet cool treat recipe(9) for 3 Soldierby the statenot provided(7) 4 Discard a feature of the garden (4) 5 Australian, say, on a painted composition (10) 6 Difficult to get a horse drawn (7) 7 Time to reduce ridicule (5) 8 I must improve with exercise and motivation (7) 13 Illumination that’s ostentatious and insubstantial (10) 16 Uncool tie worn to make speech (9) 17 Basic order and directions are a source of irritation (7) 18 Game bird and vegetable – sounds disgusting (7) 20 Make the most of a notable deed (7) 21 Article affected rate of building (7) 23 Religion stirred Lisa to get married (5) 25 Prisoner has one bit of money (4)