CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 The race to repair the track (5)

Many successes with the girls (5)

Virtually a letter, but by word of mouth (7)

Lend about a grand to the mountain man (5)

They mean something in women’s lives (5) Taught how to go in opposite ways at once! (5) Spice you could point out for me (7)

Free from excessive pride (3)

Sharp as a lot of detectives (4)

At Easter she’s a changed woman (6)

19 All het up when sacked (5) 20 Form a partnership to get the side promoted (4,2) Piece of designated evidence? (4)

To give him credit could be stupid! (3)

Good way to defend a porter (7)

A start in life (5) Proportionate figure taken by a dirty dog (5) Anne’s brew of tea (5) If cruel, could be the devil! (7)

Those of the church are clearly not hell’s (5) Edifice rebuilt by Abe? (5) 6 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 22 24 25

26 27

28 29

30 31

DOWN

2 3

What “adult” may mean to Eric? (6) Astonished at the publicity about a puzzle (6) 4 5 6

7 8

12 13 14

15 16 18

19 Over there in the back of beyond (3)

Butch is said to be a match for nothing (5)

Played the fool with the £100 possessed (7) Sunday song? (4)

Sent in to break up the game (6)

If not comic, it may be erotic (5)

Food that’s beyond the inner man? (5)

He was touchy about precious metal (5)

Send for the right issue (5) That boy with an air (5) Those one may “lie in” are presumably false (5) Angry notes promising payment for a coat (7) 21 22

23 25 26 28 Noted national property (6) Foreigner holding up as best possible (6)

With a quick look, see in a different angle (6)

It can blemish satin badly (5)

The TV series of account? (4)

Water from a hose, apparently (3)