CROSSWORD

QUICK CLUES

Across 1. Journalist (8) 5. Skin (4) 9. Girl’s name (4) 10. Splitting (8) 11. Excursion (5) 12. Closest (7) 13. Showing signs of exposure to the elements (7-6) 18. Formal work (8) 19. Victim (4) 20. Denoting position in a sequence (7) 21. Anglo Saxon assembly (5) 22. A fuss (2-2) 23. Sayings (8)

Down 2. Behave destructively (7) 3. Red (7) 4. Freestyle combat sportsperson (3-2,8) 6. Distinguished (7) 7. Close more firmly (7) 8. Sense of taste (6) 13. Lacking (7) 14. Corrected (7) 15. Disliking (6) 16. Make aware (7) 17. Young female sheep (3-4)

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across 1. The fellow at the back of the crowd is a reporter (8) 5. Shower with missiles and hide (4) 9. Some of them manage a Jane Austen novel (4) 10. Sticking together - or

splitting up (8) 11. Sarah to go forth on the offensive (5) 12. Closest sea-tern is disturbed (7) 13. Showing signs of having been stricken by the elements (7-6) 18. A setter is confused about one exposition (8) 19. Seek divine intervention, we hear, for animals of the chase (4) 20. Part of a word in algebra relating to sequence (7) 21. Native sense shown by an old assembly (5) 22. A bit of a prevalent odour will produce a stir (2-2) 23. More than one saying it’s a religious book (8)

Down 2. Rush wildly around, as a politician in anger (7) 3. In the street unusually clear colour (7) 4. When coming to grips he’s totally committed (3-2,8) 6. Exalted one surrounded by ten men in the proper order (7) 7. A stretcher could be used to do this (7) 8. A friend had a meal in accordance with his taste? (6) 13. Having some deficiency outside (7) 14. Put right before noon and finished afterwards (7) 15. Certainly not liking the old crone holding the money (6) 16. Inform somebody of a reward, we hear (7) 17. We will be involved with Mabel - a frisky young creature! (3-4)