CRYPTIC/QUICK CROSSWORD

NO.624

Here’s your chance to win a Collins Concise English Dictionary. Complete the crossword using either the cryptic or the quick clues and send it to us with your name and address. Send your solution to: Cryptic/Quick Crossword No. 624, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must be received by Thursday. The winner will be drawn from a hat. The winner of Cryptic/Quick Crossword No. 623 is Eoin Hearty, Youghal, Co. Cork.

CRYPTIC CLUES Across

1 Courtyard obtained in anticipation (5) 4 An agent, a pilot and a mechanic (9) 9 Start to speak around island with spirit (9) 10 Uneasy feeling in equal measure (5) 11 Last to finish by the river (6) 12 Fibrous mineral seen when top gets exceptionally large (8) 14 Generating a win in self-assertive condition (9) 15 Hardy character has registered a lock (5) 17 Notice soldiers are brought in to improve (5) 19 Stan meets order in measure of affordability (5,4) 22 Doctor has nothing about being common (8) 24 Brown craft incorporated a pattern (6) 26 A cold car crashes in African city (5) 27 Old copper smashed plate to show lack of guilt (9) 28 Broken gate returned artist to study public area (3,6) 29 Belief that’s unchanged when overturned (5)

Down

1 Saw expert having a word (7) 2 Yet another scale is of very poor quality (5-4) 3 Foreign character gets round a very short distance (7) 4 Aimlessly move capital, say (4) 5 Reporters get a chief to keep going (5,5) 6 Investigation of fashionable adventure (7) 7 Intended to have meagre time (5) 8 Agent of retribution seems in trouble (7) 13 Thrash person in charge, being a shark (10) 16 European transport gets positive response to fatigue (9) 17 Insect made Mary break a book (4,3) 18 Theatrical work about one old model (7) 20 Small crate managed to contain large colour (7) 21 Nag about shelter set out in a different line (7) 23 Had trouble with a Catholic villa (5) 25 Curious canaries have to look (4)