THE PRIZE CROSSWORD

WIN €2,000

There’s an amazing €2,000 prize for the first correct solution drawn at random in our general knowledge Prize Crossword. Entries must arrive by Friday, September 18 (photocopies not accepted). Today’s solution will appear next week and the winner’s name on Sunday, October 4. SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter. You must complete the iSpy box to enter. SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter – and good luck!

Across

1 The ––– –––, informal name for an air medical service based in Australia (6,6)

8 See 4 Down

11 An ancient language of India (8)

12 In Christianity, the liturgical headdress of a bishop or abbot (5)

13 A prearranged combat between two people with deadly weapons (4)

14 See 4 Down

15 19th Century English furniture and textile designer and artist (7,6) 17 Poems or word puzzles in which certain letters in each line form a word or words (9)

19 Norma –––, Canadian-American actress who won an Oscar for her role in the 1930 film The Divorcee (7) 23 Christian church ceremony, especially in a Roman Catholic or Orthodox church (4)

24 A green or bluish patina formed on copper, brass or bronze (9)

25 A strong wooden barrel used to hold alcoholic drink (4)

26 A hairy Eurasian plant with blue, purplish-pink or white flowers (7) 28 A member of the moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party, opposing the more radical Bolsheviks from 1903 on (9)

31 The 31st President of the US, serving from 1929-33 (7,6)

34 Small, mouse-like, longsnouted mammal (5)

36 ––– Wars, two conflicts (1880-81 and 1899-1902) in which British troops fought in South Africa (4) 37 A highly venomous snake which spreads the skin of its neck region into a hood when alarmed (5) 38 A farcical or grotesque imitation (8)

39 Pat –––, former flat racing jockey who was Champion Jockey eleven times (6) 40 David Bowie song that became his second UK No.1 single in 1980 (5,2,5)

Down

2 Domesticated South American cud-chewing mammals, used as beasts of burden (6)

3 Inborn intuitive powers (9) 4, 8 Across and 14 Across The Central religious scripture of Sikhism (4,6,5) 5 Shops that sell clothes and equipment for a specific purpose (10) 6 A member of a people of South India and Sri Lanka, or their language (5) 7 Climbing palm with tough stems used for wickerwork and canes (6)

8 A small beam or glow of light (5)

9 A mountainous principality in South West Europe between France and Spain (7)

10 A nickname for the US city of New Orleans (3,3,4)

16 Musée du –––, landmark museum in Paris, located on the Right Bank of the Seine (6)

18 Michael –––, actor who won Oscars for his roles in The Cider House Rules and Hannah And Her Sisters (5)

20 A building providing overnight accommodation (6) 21 SI unit of time equal to one thousand-millionth of a second (10)

22 A detailed brochure about a college, school or company (10)

25 Historic county at the tip of the North East mainland of Scotland (9)

27 Peter Carl –––, Russian goldsmith and jeweller, known for his golden

Easter eggs (7)

29 An abnormal, intense and irrational fear (6)

30 Henri –––, German-Swiss confectioner who founded what is now the world’s largest food and beverage company (6)

32 1977 film for which Sylvester Stallone received two Oscar nominations (5)

33 Fermanagh and –––, local government district covering most of the southwest of Northern Ireland (5) 35 A gambling game in which players bet against the dealer on what cards he or she will turn up (4)