CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. It may be painfully crooked after tennis (5)

4. Landed properties of the realm being three (7)

8. Oil supplier going out at the time with nothing ahead (5)

9. Shrewd to have a small beer on the rugby field (3,4)

10. Wisecrack one will stop one saying (3)

11. The glutton finds room, right, but can’t get round it (9)

12. Job head teacher will invite one to (4)

13. A neat way to prepare aircraft for flying (4)

18. It’s time a ruin was restored with a little painting (9)

20. see 1 Down

21. Cunning present accepted by a monarch (7)

22. see 1 Down

23. Rating a change of scene, due to not being there (7)

24. The things one dislikes he’s at variance with (5)

DOWN

1, 20, 22. Sufficient to improve on the Cheshire cat’s grin (6,2,4,1,3,5)

2. Robert, a poet, puts it across (7)

3. Sort of spanner for one to turn with violence (6)

4. An attempt at putting forth of strength (6)

5. A child’s chest (6)

6. Glittering overhead in air at being disturbed (5)

7. In which there’s no danger of the contestants being boxed? (6,7)

14. Tell what may be needed at poll if voting is close (7)

15. Speak ill of laming it in such a way (6)

16. Break in and take the grub up to the French (6)

17. Well, one has it good: cheers! (6)

19. Such corners are all right in small numbers (5)