CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,700, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 66.
ACROSS
1 An early tape
degraded in box (7,4) 9 Band, oddly weary, use
it to get on board (7) 10 Deposed, having wasted energy, wanting more? (7) 11 Block short river in
NI (3) 12 Refusal to accept one old soldier’s lack of wisdom (7) 13 Oz plant, up which
one’s in trouble (3,4) 14 Like small beast of
burden (3) 15 Perhaps watch over area of responsibility (5) 17 Takes out fruits (5) 18 Old judge to make speech (5) 20 Bound to miss new shoot (5) 22 Regularly cause signal to be given to actor (3) 24 Suspect shop is beginning to make false argument (7) 25 Poisonous plant has a bollard protecting it (7) 26 Europeans left fish (3) 27 Sad occasion when fuel ran out and ... (7) 28 ... Cicely, dressed up, followed black vehicle (7) 29 Old domain of travellers and northern politician in Ireland (5,6)
DOWN
1 It helps if writer wants to make good points (6,9) 2 Early January near Wye turned out badly (3,4) 3 Set times for somewhere to break journey (3-2) 4 I hear Swiss psychologist’s expression nearly finished child (9) 5 Problem blocking plant
taken up again (7) 6 Colonist reaches 66°N or 66°S (or thereabouts) (9,6) 7 Doug and Andy defend
state of Africa (6) 8 Summers, and creatures basking in them? (6) 16 Monk’s mule squashed
fruit (4,5) 18 Become inflexible and cross if youth grabs it (6) 19 Saw European farm
animals (7) 21 No city council enters Grand Hotel, one offering Italian food (7) 23 Team exit, having lost
wings (6) 25 Record collection artist originally left behind (5)