THE WEEK CROSSWORD 1144

An Ettinger travel pass case and two Connell Guides will be given to the sender of the first correct solution to the crossword and the clue of the week opened on Monday 18 February. Send it to: The Week Crossword 1144, 2nd floor, 32 Queensway, London W2 3RX, or email the answers to crossword@theweek.co.uk. Tim Moorey (timmoorey.info)

ACROSS

9 Chief of clan one’s seen in article (5)

10 Partner past their best gets position on board (9)

11 Rot found in eastern tree remains (7) 12 Sea tossed bird from the east (7) 13 Mother’s champion in very big Broadway hit (9)

15 Returned some candidate’s nice image as part of another (5) 17 Substantial fortune reduced (3) 18 Country song enthralling chaps (7) 20 Almost cut standard (3) 21 Flower seller out of bounds is a French keeper (5)

22 Hopeless peer’s upset in appointment (9)

25 Female’s not just come here for amusement (7) 27 Excellent copying from a CD (7) 29 Bad reaction on first bit of claret, lacking in body? (9)

30 Entertaining Liberal peer going west (5)

DOWN

1 Type of rest that can be significant (6)

2 Back rubbish strike around bistro? That’s criminal (10)

3 TV detective to some extent over-ambitious (4) 4 Fancy there’s a beautiful lady (6) 5 Mug’s not up for it – shame! (4,4) 6 A second buccaneer bringing out sweat (10) 7 First month with English girl (4) 8 Piggott perhaps seen around in Irish district (8)

14 Principal Arab leaders said to be showing signs of rejection (10)

16 Recorders, say coming from sponsor in a muddle (10)

17 Matt below northern hill struggled (4,4)

19 Ship’s officer maintains European river is nothing to write home about (8) 23 Trim tree (6) 24 Bury’s vengeful front pair sent off (6) 26 Number working at one time (4) 28 On having shed pounds you shouldn’t get ____! (4)