2-Speed Crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Builds up reserve of shares a lot (10)

8 Act so as to spoil gymnastic exercise (4)

9 Drink with unusual kick (3, 5) 10 A noted kind of present (6) 11 Meaning to give one Frenchman some wine (6) 12 Russian leader one would deliver (3)

13 Way to welcome five lines in musician’s score (5)

15 Plant that could sweep the deck (5)

17 Animal found in overseas setting (3)

19 Aircraftman catches facial disorder from milk (6)

21 The French declare he’s a quitter (6)

23 Present holder suspended on Christmas Eve (8) 24 Perspiration drawn by marksman (4)

25 Idea not worth considering by competitor scratching (3-7)

DOWN

2 Number voting to produce … (4, 3)

3 … Venomous creature taking care of female supporter (5) 4 Knitter taking a tumble (6) 5 Clear one politician taking cover outside (6)

6 Cricketer posing unanswerable riddle (7)

7 Better kind of cider (5) 14 Church authority in Virginia I can’t reform (7)

16 Cow seen above Scots loch (7)

17 Battle to put first part of play on (6)

18 Petty example of indifference (6)

20 Vary sound from part of church (5)

22 Interrupter of the stop-go mechanism (5)

COFFEE TIME

ACROSS

1 Accumulates supplies (10) 8 Shellfish (4)

9 Drink with spirit base (3, 5) 10 Give (6)

11 Bring goods into country (6) 12 Free (3)

13 Piece of wood forming part of cask (5)

15 Sweeper (5)

17 Idiot (3)

19 Related to milk (6)

21 Person departing (6) 23 Legwear (8) 24 Part of necklace (4) 25 Competitor withdrawing (3-7)

DOWN

2 Evict (4, 3)

3 Snake (5)

4 Headlong fall (6) 5 Transparent (6)

6 Member of cricket team (7) 7 Gambler (5)

14 Pope’s palace (7) 16 Intimidate (7)

17 Deed (6)

18 Insignificant (6)

20 Amend (5)

22 Traffic light (5)