GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

6 Racecourse in Cumbria (7) 7 An improvised or impromptu comment (2-3) 9 UK songbird also called a jenny that used to feature on the farthing coin (4) 10 1656 painting of Infanta Margaret Teresa and her entourage by Diego Velázquez (3,7) 11 Subatomic particle that carries a negative charge (8) 13 Katherine Grainger is a noted British Olympian in this sport (6) 15 The shawm was a forerunner of this wind instrument (4) 17 Ben, ex-Northampton and England rugby union winger (5) 18 German sparkling white wine or champagne (4) 19 A horse-drawn vehicle available for hire in India (6) 20 Slow-cooked diced vegetables used in sauces or as a base for braising meat (8) 23 Body of water between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (3,2,5) 26 ___ Price, Plaid Cymru’s leader since 2018 (4) 27 The point of the heavens opposite the zenith (5) 28 An advantageous or convenient thing (7)

DOWN

1 Informal term for a raspberry or sound of contempt in the U.S. (5,5) 2 The ____ , steel rollercoaster at Alton Towers (6) 3 Robert, English music journalist and radio presenter (4) 4 Hairspray and The Greatest Showman actor (3,5) 5 Dele, Spurs and England midfielder (4) 6 Traditional gift for a 35th wedding anniversary (5) 8 Young 1950s bohemian who rejected traditional ways (7) 12 ____ Tate, Irish poet and hymnist born in 1652 (5) 14 Peace of ____ , series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years’ War in 1648 (10) 16 Country that first hosted a Formula One grand prix in 2004 (7) 17 Sian, actress who plays Fleabag’s sister in the sitcom (8) 21 Jay, restaurant critic and The Kitchen Cabinet presenter (6) 22 Its national flag is a tricolour with vertical pales of green, white and red (5) 24 ___ Wingate, British military officer who commanded the Chindits in World War II (4) 25 Yannick ___, French ex-tennis player and three-time Davis Cup winning captain (4) SOLUTION ON MONDAY