TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Cunning practice smashing me and pa to pieces (12) 9 Take on work turned over during a drink (7) 10 Big volumes, a thousand in small digits (5) 11 A ship’s personnel almost finding some land (4) 12 Extreme bravery makes him sore (7) 15 Manage turning device (6) 16 Be a criminal, getting shiner (6) 19 Second vehicle hired out is red (7) 21 It may be tied in with banknotes (4) 24 Goodbye to something cast in gold (5) 25 Young swimmer, a little European (7) 26 Local moment when distant dream shattered (8,4)

DOWN

2 With ambitions, though no good for medicine (7) 3 Former partner with it, though way out (4) 4 Issue to be of importance (6) 5 Irritating ring tone’s element (8) 6 Smell us finding substance in soil (5) 7 Send stake (4) 8 Kitchen vessel hurt style (7) 13 Versatile, nothing square? (3-5) 14 One more on earth, absurd (7) 17 Fit in first of complaints on something to fill in (7) 18 A hundred in group or subdivision (6) 20 Inch round a country (5) 22 Crowd providing service (4) 23 Change poor diet (4)

COFFEE TIME ACROSS

1 Art of playing to win (12) 9 Choose for a job (7) 10 Big books (5) 11 Israeli city and port (4) 12 Boldness (7) 15 Carrying-strap (6) 16 Fire lit as a signal (6) 19 Bright red (7) 21 Clump, cluster (4) 24 ‘Farewell’ in French (5) 25 Baby frog (7) 26 Local clock-setting system (8,4)

DOWN

2 Common analgesic (7) 3 Act of going out (4) 4 Be of importance (6) 5 Common gas (8) 6 Compost (5) 7 Employment position (4) 8 Aplomb (7) 13 Complete (3-5) 14 A different or alternative one (7) 17 Behave like most other people (7) 18 Area (6) 20 Articles of porcelain (5) 22 Catholic church service (4) 23 Abridge (a text) (4)