Prize crossword
For this puzzle we’ve provided two sets of clues, each giving the same answers. One set of clues is cryptic, one is quick. It’s a good way to hone your skills because it gives you two ways to crack the crossword! Once complete, the letters in the shaded squares, when read from top to bottom, left to right, will spell out a word – this is your prize answer. Write it on the entry coupon on page 104 and post it, email it or enter online. Two winners will be chosen randomly from all correct entries and whichever set of clues you follow, you have an equal chance of revealing the prize answer and winning!
Cryptic clues
ACROSS
1 I leave to catch up and trap a bird (6)
4 Least favoured competitor is sort of grounded (8)
8 What is paid to landlord to take in
area’s inhabitant (8)
9 Lady establishes a barrier across eastern lake (6)
10 Closed small cabin (4)
11 You and I rose, perhaps pushing back a monster (8)
14 While travelling briefly near and then away from home in the outskirts of Europe (2, 5)
16 A group of people on leave (7)
18 Engineers test case heard for a second time (7)
20 School discipline finally expected to include a whip (7)
22 Liking quiet entrance (8)
24 Interact, if odd characters are not
kept straight (4)
26 Heirloom, for example, in shaped clay (6)
27 Queen disappears before requiting turned into a secret love affair (8)
28 Reserve time in holiday area (3, 5)
29 Some laddie selecting what a lorry
driver might need (6)
DOWN
1 Lifting apparatus left for young lass (4)
2 Strange hour being the person
next to 8A (9)
3 Stealing an article on feet (5)
4 Ultimately, you have property beyond the narrow point where Manhattan 8A might dwell (6)
5 Blot out periods on top of Everest (5)
6 Lack of agreement from club over
the road (7)
7 Redhead’s written about former
flame’s first film (10)
12 Overzealous proposal coming
after first half of race (5)
13 Set up storage for grain a ship’s
left beyond Maine city (10)
15 Lucretia rarely carries bejewelled
item (5)
17 Rotten centre in a fruit (9)
19 No going back; stuck in tense
time of the day (7)
21 Priest converted band (6)
23 Bad journalists make wild cuts (5)
24 Briefly recorded the absence of toy bear (5)
25 Told to get better shoe (4)
Quick clues
ACROSS
1 Slang term for a gluttonous person (6)
4 Player not expected to win (8) 8 Junior doctor who lives in their hospital (8)
9 Woman — in distress? (6)
10 Put a lid on (4)
11 Horror movie beast (8)
14 During transit (2, 5)
16 (With) a lack of inhibition (7)
18 Legal proceedings following new evidence, eg (7) 20 Teach (7)
22 Strong inclination (8) 24 Organised (4)
26 Gift by will (6) 27 Fascinate (8)
28 Save up (3, 5)
29 Fuel (6)
DOWN
1 See 4D
2 Occupant of the house next door (9)
3 Robbery (5)
4 & 1D Billy Joel anthem (6, 4) 5 Delete (5)
6 Conflict, strife (7)
7 1964 Sean Connery film based on an Ian Fleming novel (10)
12 Fanatical (5)
13 Vast bustling settlement (10)
15 Headdress (5)
17 Variety of peach (9)
19 In the Air - - -, Phil Collins hit (7)
21 Line of colour (6)
23 Illegally accesses a computer server (5) 24 Well-known (5)
25 Rear of the foot (4)
SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD: ISSUE 446/January 23, 2024 Across 8 Desolate, 9 Barge, 10 Fine, 11 Standpoint, 12 Remix, 13 Integrity, 15 Inane, 16 Scent, 21 Cleveland, 23 Agree, 25 Conclusion, 26 Turn, 27 Earth, 28 Hoodwink.
Down 1 Reviled,2 Comedian, 3 Lapse, 4 Remains, 5 Obedience, 6 Ardour, 7 Peanuts, 14 Onslaught, 17 Night owl, 18 Bloomer, 19 Insight, 20 Hearing, 22 Vicars, 24 Onion.
Prize word EDITOR