TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD Cryptic

This two-speed crossword has two sets of clues, but just one grid. If you can’t solve the Cryptic clues, try the Quick.

ACROSS 1

Some fresh avocados causing chaos (5)

4 Hopes to get a ship around

new pier (7)

8 Questioning a professional

singer of ‘White Christmas’ (7) 9 A measure of restraint? (5)

10 Some pay earned for a long

time (4)

11 Boring task for the affluent?

(4-2-2)

13 A board transaction? (4)

14 Responsibility we can’t

avoid? (4)

16 Give porridge to (8)

17 Just a loud tune (4)

20 Offspring produced

periodically (5)

21 Support for the reader (7)

22 Stays if out to please (7)

23 Rita’s out of step (5)

DOWN

1 Relatively content with a card

game? (5,8)

2 Pansy’s other name (5)

3 Copy a nativity scene (4)

4 He drops a line hoping for

some response (6)

5 Preserving choice fish (8) 6 Concerning a boy’s motives (7) 7 The elder dancer in practice?

(6,7)

12 Sailors employed by Mr.

Raines (8)

13 Down payment is put back in

the warehouse (7) 15 Lovely sort of tennis shot (6) 18 Possibly earn a place in the

sporting world (5)

19 Bills passed for religious

work? (4)

Quick ACROSS

1 Devastation (5)

4 Hopes (7)

8 Examining (7)

9 Length of metal

links (5)

10 Unit of time (4)

11 Wealthy (4-2-2) 13 Trade (4)

14 Burden (4)

16 Jail (8)

17 Light-coloured (4) 20 Edition (5)

21 Reading desk (7) 22 Fulfil (7)

23 Step (5)

DOWN

1 Card game (5,8)

2 Instrument (5)

3 Cot (4)

4 Fisherman (6)

5 Preserving (8)

6 Motives (7)

7 Highest-ranking member of a business relationship (6,7)

12 Seamen (8)

13 Place (7)

15 Shot at a moving

ball (6)

18 Stadium (5)

19 Deeds (4)