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, May 24 (photocopies not accepted). Today’s solution will appear next week and the winner’s name on Sunday, June 9. You must complete the iSpy box to enter. SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter – and good luck!

Across

11 A game played in a swimming pool by two teams of seven players (5,4)

12 A word pronounced in the same way but differing in meaning, spelling or both (9)

13 Band formed in 1971 by Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Seiwell and Denny Laine (5)

14 To have great faith or confidence in (5,2)

15 A large tract of land on which livestock are reared (5)

16 A white wine from the Rhine valley in Germany (8) 18 Outside space attached to a pub (4,6)

22 A shocking or unwelcome surprise (9)

24 The loss of the sense of smell (7)

27 The derived SI unit of electric charge (7)

28 Actress who won Oscars for her performances in La La Land and Poor Things (4,5)

30 Keeping up with --- ---, competing with one’s neighbours in material possessions (3,7)

32 With the narrowest part going first (8)

35 Denoting a shop or restaurant that opens for a short time in a temporary location (3-2)

37 A treeless grassy plain of the central United States and southern Canada (7)

38 Small metal disc given as an award or commemoration (5)

39 1982 farce play by

Michael Frayn (6,3)

40 Madame de ---, chief mistress of French

King Louis XV (9)

Down 1 Lacking dexterity, proficiency or skill (7)

2 Australian prime minister 1923-29 (7,5)

3 In Greek mythology, the god of war (4)

4 Frank ---, Labour secretary of state for health 1997-99 (6)

5 See 9

6 English essayist and poet who wrote under the pen-name Elia (7,4)

7 An annual US award for outstanding television performances and productions (4)

8 An ancient Greek city-state in the South Peloponnese (6)

9 and 5 Go ---, ---, 1942 book by US author William Faulkner (4,5)

10 Benjamin ---, British poet and Rastafarian whose collections include Talking Turkeys (9)

17 An unknown intermediate place or condition between two extremes (5)

19 Travels or walks about with no fixed purpose or direction (5)

20 Novel by Charles Dickens, the title of which refers to a shipping company (6,3,3)

21 US author of the 1970 book 84, Charing

Cross Road (6,5)

23 A marten of north Asian forests, with dark brown luxuriant fur (5)

25 --- layer, region of the stratosphere which absorbs high-energy solar ultraviolet radiation (5)

26 Coniferous tree with bluegreen needle-like leaves and brown cones (5,4)

29 Archaic word for stablemen, especially at an inn (7)

31 Large, broad-winged fish-eating bird of prey (6)

33 Sequences of imaginative thoughts (6)

34 A very thin pancake, often rolled or folded around a filling (5)

36 A bucket, especially one made of wood or metal (4)

37 Stratagem or gambit (4)

38 A low, prolonged mournful sound (4)