FACTFINDER’S CROSSWORD

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.

The solution to this week’s Factfinder crossword will appear next Saturday as usual.

Stay safe!

Joy Yates, Editorial Director

Across 1

Historic nickname for the nine of diamonds

(5,2, 8)

9 A long double-breasted overcoat (9)

10 A gaseous radioactive element (5)

11 Small fat river-fish of the carp family (5)

12 Cocktails containing rum and lime-juice (9) 13 Relating to a prominent dialect of Greek (5) 15 An unsatisfactory draw in chess (9)

17 On the spur of the moment (9)

19 Italian poet (1544 - 1595), best known for

Jerusalem Delivered (1591) (5)

21 Large town on the north bank of the Clyde

(pop 20,000) (9)

23 Former royal burgh in Fife (pop about 1,600)

(5)

24 Tributary of the Missouri River, 276 miles

long (5)

25 The sweet-brier (9)

26 Nickname of an Asan and African beast of

burden (4,2,3,6)

Down

1 A rail with a characteristic cry (4-5)

2 An inner last retreat in a fortification (7)

3 County town in the west of Ireland (pop about

25,000) (5)

4 A long narrow, rock-bound inlet (5)

5 To crackle, snap or rattle (9)

6 Having an exciting, disturbing effect (9)

7 Small principality in the Pyrenees (180 sq

miles; pop about 78,000) (7)

8 Low hills of sand, especially on the seashore

(5)

14 The South American bell-bird (9)

15 The final selected candidates for an office

(5,4)

16 A softening application as poultice, etc

(med) (9)

18 Orchestral kettledrums (7)

20 A marine fish of various kinds, robalo,

Belone, hake, etc (3-4)

21 The scum of melting metals (5)

22 Nick __ (b 1941), US actor who won a Golden Globe for his role in The Prince of Tides (1991) (5)

23 A short story (as a literary genre) (5)