2-Speed Crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Wild bear take a little refreshment (3, 5) 7 Deliver without charge (4) 8 Interweave hair to make a sack (8) 9 Attack baseball player (6) 10 Active doctor plunged into river (6) 11 Put a little butter (3) 12 Proposal of health to a good man (5) 14 “Sun” first to get politician’s account (5) 16 The main points to note (3) 18 Lay out money on fashionable underwear (6) 20 Take a breather during exercise, then dive (6) 22 Flood of letters from Aunt Enid (8) 23 Spectacular film about Greek character in East Cuba (4) 24 Inferior boxer, maybe — one unfancied to win (8)

DOWN

1 Rent-trouble causing a storm (7) 2 A small department is proficient (5) 3 Comment about apostle (6) 4 Wait at the finish after a race (6) 5 Man also known as Herb! (5) 6 Concert piano at last ready for delivery (6) 13 Anne is off-colour (6) 15 Fixing the ropes (7) 16 Breed rats in rotation (6) 17 A slice for each person (6) 19 Girl in New York as childminder (5) 21 University writer gets doctor to turn over (5)

COFFEE TIME ACROSS

1 Refreshment interval at work (3, 5) 7 Release, let go (4) 8 Bed cushion (8) 9 Pudding mixture (6) 10 Quick on the feet (6) 11 Young goat (3) 12 Singed bread (5) 14 Tale (5) 16 Ocean (3) 18 Put cash into shares (6) 20 Dip, immerse (6) 22 Overwhelm (8) 23 Long adventure (4) 24 Unfavoured opponent (8)

DOWN

1 Whirlwind (7) 2 Highly skilled (5) 3 Notice (6) 4 Be present at (6) 5 Aromatic seasoning plant (5) 6 Actor’s cue (6) 13 Earthy pigment (6) 15 Tackle, mast support (7) 16 Percolate (6) 17 To each one (6) 19 She-goat (5) 21 Capsize, overturn (5)