THE PRIZE CROSSWORD
There’s an amazing £1,500 prize for the first correct solution drawn at random in our general knowledge Prize Crossword. Entries must arrive by Friday, February 16 (photocopies not accepted). Today’s solution will appear next week and the winner’s name on Sunday, March 4 SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter.
ACROSS
1 Pete – – –, American tennis player who won 14 Grand Slam singles titles (7) 5 British artist whose works include the statue Verity, in Ilfracombe harbour (6,5) 10 Harold – – –, American film actor and producer most famous for his silent comedies (5) 11 A small stream of water or another liquid (7) 13 In English history, the local representative of the king in a shire until the early 11th Century (5) 14 The act of leaving or abandoning without intending to return (9) 15 Very large venomous snake capable of delivering a fatal bite (4,5) 16 In sport, the act of preventing a goal (4) 17 A new town in Buckinghamshire, seat of the Open University (6,6) 20 A medieval prose narrative, written in Iceland, recounting the exploits of a hero or family (4) 21 Seeing with, or intended for, both eyes (9) 22 In archery, either of the halves of a recurve bow (4) 26 20th Century English actress, singer and music hall star who entertained Allied troops during World War II (6,6) 27 Virginia – – –, British former Olympic medal-winning equestrian (4) 29 Ambiguities and omissions, as in laws, by which one can avoid penalties or responsibilities (9) 31 In sport, a competitor thought likely to win (9) 33 – – – Jones, British architect who introduced the Renaissance classical style of architecture into England (5) 34 Harry – – –, actor who cowrote and starred in the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap (7) 35 Steve – – –, British athlete who won the 800m at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow (5) 36 An outstanding work, achievement or performance (11) 37 Women’s skirts or dresses worn from the late Middle Ages into the Baroque period (7)
DOWN
1 Phrase meaning a period of youth and inexperience, coined in Shakespeare’s Antony And Cleopatra (5,4) 2 Temporary states of mind or temper (5) 3 See 30 4 A republic in South East Europe, the capital of which is Belgrade (6) 5 The – – – – – – – – –, 2003 bestselling mystery thriller novel by Dan Brown (2,5,4) 6 Shoaib – – –, former captain of the Pakistani national cricket team (5) 7 Caroline – – –, German astronomer who discovered several comets (8) 8 Sparrow-sized bird with a deeply notched tail that is chiefly found on farmland or wetland (4,7) 9 A horse race for fillies held annually at Epsom since 1779 (3,4) 12 A small, fine-toothed hand tool with a strong brass or steel back (5,3) 16 People who have written their names on a document such as a treaty or contract (11) 18 A masterly or brilliant stroke, creation, effect or accomplishment (4,2,5) 19 Unexpected difficulties or dangers (8) 23 Traditional French loaves made with four ingredients (9) 24 The V-shaped bone above the breastbone in most birds, furcula (8) 25 Simone de – – –, 20th Century French author and philosopher (8) 26 A silvery metallic element used in thermometers as a non-toxic alternative to mercury (7) 28 Antonin – – –, Czech composer whose works included the New World Symphony (6) 30 and 3 Knighted English rower who won a gold medal at five consecutive Olympic Games (5,8) 32 A conception of something that is perfect (5)