30-MINUTE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

4 The mountaineer rose (7) 8 Better footballer (6) 9 Beg for a chance in the net

rate (7) 10 Two pig stealers likely to get

beaten! (3-3) 11 Produced a speech to read in

an unusual way (6) 12 Makes an entry and carries

out some subjugation (4,4) 18 Shortens dog-ends! (8) 20 To smarten up a tree (6) 21 Collation that is just

maize (6) 22 Decide to separate the

component parts (7) 23 To stop in the Andes is

terrible (6) 24 Could be the top men in the

building trade (7)

DOWN

1 A form of commendation

gravely written (7) 2 Enliven a team in disorder

(7) 3 Make a note of an unsurpassed achievement (6) 5 One of Britain’s capitalists

(8) 6 It’s used in building a piece

of artillery (6) 7 A fine finish, but you’ll find

me in the wrong lane! (6) 13 Cover one single survey

differently (4-4) 14 I will be encircled by conceited rogue (7) 15 Agrees to being dispatched

in a ship (7) 16 An earnest request for father

to return to the ring (6) 17 Did some excavating for

prehistoric boat (6) 19 She is involved in a setback when dissertations are required (6)