Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Break report to sniper (5,4) 8 About to employ reason (5) 10 Pole’s strange inclination (5) 12 Use a needle like this, say (3) 13 Hitting with can (3) 14 Small group, owing to time (4) 15 Terribly remote celestial object (6) 16 Three moved yonder (5) 18 Students oddly silent around fish (6) 20 Groped around for fastening (4) 22 Swimmer feeling around (3) 23 Pam made new plan (3) 24 About to damage amulet (5) 25 Animated a veil badly (5) 26 Orders yet to be transported by ship (9)

DOWN

2 Stimulate flower with uranium (5) 3 Cut in personnel (4) 4 Resist plan that’s relative (6) 5 Gas round region (5) 6 A disc came out for lecturers (9) 7 Cheered as compassion affected need (9) 9 Pioneer to get comfortable on the right (7) 11 A tiller turned out to be exact (7) 15 Encountered the police in London (3) 17 Husband encountered wearing the Spanish headwear (6) 19 Pleased with charter (5) 21 Mention old tree (5) 23 County condiment (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Marksman (5,4) 8 Starting point (5) 10 Ramp (5) 12 Darn (3) 13 Metal (3) 14 Piece for two (4) 15 Shooting star (6) 16 In that place (5) 18 1980s haircut (6) 20 Cord (4) 22 Moray or conger? (3) 23 Chart (3) 24 Allure (5) 25 In existence (5) 26 Warship (9)

DOWN

2 Wake up (5) 3 Ship’s company (4) 4 Female relative (6) 5 Form of oxygen (5) 6 Scholars (9) 7 Gladdened (9) 9 Colonist (7) 11 Verbatim (7) 15 Assembled (3) 17 Protective hat (6) 19 Hire (5) 21 Utter a view (5) 23 Irish county (4)