CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Complete first of circuits, ahead after British bloomer (9) 6 A container, partly open (4) 10 Extremist in Istanbul, trapped (5)

11 Loads in favour of merger (9) 12 Worry about fellow, the Parisian in a port not far from Perth (9) 14 A dry, freezing cold, unfinished loft (5)

15 Become physical? Don’t be so naive (3,4)

16 Big boss, more vague after drink (7)

18 Coach beginning to toil, damaged in rear (7)

20 A Burgundy wine can bring great joy, mostly after tea! (7) 21 Check about ending of gag rule (5)

23 Clubs dealt — bar having a flutter on this? (4-5)

25 Form of investment, one thing to have faith in (4,5) 26 Parachute failing to open — wrong ’un (5)

28 Hour with author (4) 29 Direct series causing a complete change in opinion (9)

DOWN 1 Outspoken, expert about lake (5) 2 Perfectly ignoring adult and small child (3)

3 Dash round implausible island battle site (2,7) 4 During depression, a point raised in

State House (7)

5 Old wife hemmed in by crowd shows courage (7)

7 Connect article with society? Me too! (4,3,4)

8 Bump into ladder on a bridge (3,6) 9 Fish and a fruit served up (4) 13 Deportation, one-time practice (11) 15 Search finished after game (2,7)

17 Art repels crude artisan (9) 19 Playing field — game on it for conscript (7) 20 Rude men flanking a museum administrator (7) 22 Record message (4) 24 Aim to tour Maine? Correct (5) 27 Ruminant from foreign uplands (3)