CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

15, 857

Across 1. He or she, for example, winner of bronze medal? (5,6) 9. Go back? Eugene regrets in part doing just that (7) 10. Old bit of Chilterns, represented by their leader (7) 11. Sack bunch of Texans? On the contrary (3) 12. Twice torrential water starts dreadful flood (7) 13. Hormone transformed bird (7) 14. Tight-lipped parent (3) 15. Model’s tough question (5) 17. Engineer tours CERN Collider, say (5) 18. Note that comes and goes (5) 20. Bette drops male layabout (5) 22. Troublemaker erases odd bits of bitmap (3) 24. Fault tired me out (7) 25. Ducks in Kerry disrupted nests of other birds (7) 26. Withdraw cluster of precious diamonds (3) 27. Old timer prepared group of students in rotation (7) 28. Dumb fanatic at hotel offers beauty treatment (3,4) 29. Confident Belfast (banks excluded) blocks duress somehow (4-7)

Down 1. Order crew under canvas to produce tablets (3,12) 2. Ring up criminal about circle, exclusive circle (2-5) 3. Fear concerning old man running round (5) 4. Nuts help me over period that’s temporary (9) 5. Dispatched opponents at bridge to open beer (4,3) 6. Part of UK essentially reunited? (8,7) 7. Strasbourg politician upset about rubbish briefly (3,3) 8. Amateur lecturer is a handsome young fellow (6) 16. I can still broadcast a little bit (9) 18. Reserved the majority of French stuffing (6) 19. High-ranking officer reported to be hawkish (7) 21. Again request instrument concert leader rejected (7) 23. Mind what tipsy chef’s holding (6) 25. Roman twin’s uncle, American storyteller (5)