CROSSBAR DOWN
1712
ACROSS
1 Two little boys led a third to a top
English race meeting (5,5)
8 Is one of the Madrid teams
genuine? (4)
9 Infirm graduate in a deep sleep (4)
10 Contending with others, including
a trainee when finishing off (4)
15 Health resorts used by players in Stranraer, Peterhead, Ayr and Stirling, initially (4)
16 Short road-race featuring in
Twitter (2)
17 Sides competing in the junior
leagues, as it were (5,5)
19 Appeals, at the end to the referee,
but does so politely (6)
20 Ring up in a state, when left
behind (4)
21 Pass to a little boy is allowed (9)
25 Scan the last bollard on the road
(4)
26 One's left a country in south-east
Asia for one in Asia (5)
29 Run into US river-boats with
some flags (9)
31 Understand how some teams use
engine power (3)
32 Proceed to prosper when older
(3,2)
33 Lived off other people, and
cleaned them out (7)
34 US writer started out in Preston,
Oldham and Exeter (3) 1 About to bet on contests for teams
on the track (5,5)
2 Some reinforce protection for the
killer-whale (3)
3 Some are close to collapse on the
circuits (4)
4 Parcels out a long list of items for
sale at auction (6)
5 Act in an unruly display, at some
stage (5)
6 Leave out some teams at the
bottom, it seems (4)
7 Sport at odds with union, in the
past (5,6)
10 Wants to head off some little
soldiers (4)
12 Was Noel put off by some wealthy
characters (7)
13 A friend may be playing for a
different team (4)
14 Read out some extracts from a
leaflet, perhaps (5)
18 One field event may suit West
Ham (6)
21 Sit for an artist in a composed
state (4)
22 About to go at pace, one more
time (5)
23 Picture one game being
organised (5)
24 At the end, I'm expected to start to record a sprinter's speed, say (4)
27 Practice areas for bowlers and
batters (4)
28 Fall out when not included on the
team sheet (4)
30 Did an old Celtic star start out
signing new offer (3)
Dear Reader,
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords. Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.
We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.
Stay safe!
Joy Yates, Editorial Director