CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

8 A small section produces expert (5)

9 Theo had become an impetuous person (7) 10 Brawl journalist only just got through (7)

11 Ring a relative found at desert haven (5)

12 Old ship has the potential to open out (9) 14 Brown constantly included (3)

15 Excellent student to be indisposed (3)

16 Me at the top of the charts? (6,3)

19 To prohibit Capone would be tiresome (5) 21 Leather worker requires small adjustable ladder (7) 23 During June quality isn’t evenly matched (7) 24 Shackles golf clubs (5)

DOWN

1 Two-wheeled carriage sounds attractive (6) 2 Barely at conflict with deception (8)

3 Animal companions go up the stair (4)

4 Notice in exhibition you’ve to follow closely (6) 5 After army retreats, Crusoe moves furthest from the estuary (2,6)

6 Small county where people go to retire? (4) 7 Weird boy – more than likely! (4-2)

13 Flooring O’Neill again with hesitation (8)

14 Also, star sign in party suggests ‘farewell’ (6-2) 15 Henry leaves port for a shady spot (6) 17 Strength of seafood discussed aloud (6)

18 Go back, without starting, to exit (6) 20 Negative, the Spanish get Christmas (4)

22 Noisy author at the Irish parliament (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

8 Soft brushed leather (5) 9 Coloured arc in the sky (7) 10 One-horned mythical animal (7) 11 ‘Laughing’ animal (5) 12 Wore your smartest clothes (7,2)

14 Make an effort (3) 15 Furrow made by wheels (3) 16 Grandparent’s sister (5-4) 19 Adult foal (5) 21 Apparent contradiction (7) 23 Accounts examiner (7) 24 Woollen cloth for suits (5)

DOWN

1 Published or distributed (6) 2 House-dweller (8) 3 Office note (4) 4 Clipped (a tree) (6)

5 Best part (4,4)

6 Wind instrument (4) 7 Covered with perspiration (6) 13 Proposes (8) 14 Wheeled clumsily (8) 15 Warm up again (6)

17 Run out, lapse (6) 18 Dinner jacket (6) 20 Bad-mannered (4) 22 Brand-name crackers (4)