CRYPTIC/QUICK CROSSWORD

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.600, 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.599 is Claire Casey, Midleton, Co. Cork.

CRYPTIC CLUES Across

1 European country animal (5) 4 Italian writer takes tube out to see novice (9) 9 Too ardent, unfortunately, and needed to set off (9) 10 Something valuable, when arranged (5) 11 Continue the summary (6) 12 Tall trio struggled to make an omelette (8) 14 Inexpensive but not clean (4,5) 15 Send timer to be fixed (5) 17 Turned up with round piece of jewellery (5) 19 First person to follow report on item of cosmetics (9) 22 Facing work, poet is upset (8) 24 A French blonde is unreasonable (6) 26 Bury in the hinterlands (5) 27 Financial groups make changes or actions (9) 28 Escape to form a union (9) 29 Super new design for a wallet (5)

Down

1 Lasted to final – terribly rude (7) 2 Ruminates about a way to cure disease (9) 3 Many CID orders are positive in attitude (7) 4 A day to have fruit (4) 5 Eagle, say, unexpectedly fed by prior (4,2,4) 6 Drink to queen getting something for the kitchen (7) 7 Alan’s mad about the organ (5) 8 Remove a little bit from a book (7) 13 Creep changed story about carbon container (10) 16 Tea party host is an enthusiastic milliner (3,6) 17 Excellent, catching cold, as it’s frozen (4,3) 18 See former pupil play the first shot (7) 20 Pooch running around space in pen (3,4) 21 Fighting to return raw food (7) 23 I opt to work round a terrace (5) 25 King and fool to become united (4)