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No 1669

ACROSS

1 Scotch reel composed for a united team in League Two in England (10)

7 Find a champion in the roma team (4)

9 In the past, elgar, say, had some idea. Not any more (4)

10 Get 5 down with expressions of hesitation in bat and ball game (8)

12 Measure up to toulouse, ulster and Newcastle, initially (3)

13 Not doing very much, bu ti would take on the French (4)

14 Did a football team wear the Spanish uniform? (6)

16 Observer notable to get into the ground at present (9)

18 Second vehicle, by the end was quite frightening (5)

20 Old England cricket captain started at Taunton, Exeter and Dorset (3)

21 Great old chaser had one of 28 down with spirit (3,3)

25 Had to copy some athletes who were in good shape (3)

26 Had too many strikes, initially, during one’s bowling spells (5)

27 Was a frequent flyer like charlie Parker, for instance (4)

30 Add up, at the end, in a betting organisation (4)

31 End up with nothing, and quite exhausted (4)

32 Reports of matches coming in from all directions (4)

33, 34 Test of endurance in major event held across the Channel, mainly (4,2,6)

35 An english runner had to try things out (4)

DOWN

1 Former champion omitted from the team for the 33, 34 across (5,6)

2 Once had to redesign a weather signal (4)

3 Did an old jockey have to keep out of sight? (4)

4 Hospital department, in short, had to retain management having to consider it (9)

5 Played all 18 hole son the circuit (5)

6 Will have to give up, having made a concession (7)

8 Managed to get players to come under control (4)

9 Top driver headed off team event on the track, but had to hold things up (5)

11 Turned in, after bowing out of the game (7)

15 Leading vehicle’ s other wheels shows promise (3)

17 A player relies on arrangements for safe keeping (5)

18 Number of players in mel rose event, recalls late great golfer, in the end (5)

19 Aright rack et made by one car in old Formula One team (5)

22 Prevent some players going inside terminal building (5)

23 May encounter an old arsenal boss, at the end (4)

24 Is ready togo to a boxing match, say (5)

28 Left-wingers playing for aberdeen, Liverpool and Man U, for example (4) 29 A couple are ready to appear, at the end (4)

Dear Reader,

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords. Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.

We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.

Stay safe!

Joy Yates, Editorial Director