I have more to comment on than usual in this one as there are a number of unfamiliar word and one clue (35A) that, despite being short, has a lot of complexity. I must make that my favourite in this solve, although I also liked 12D and 25D.
I did not time myself but I think the time was fairly standard as none of the clues were difficult to solve from wordplay and checkers, just needing subsequent fine tuning of my understanding of how the clues worked and the checking of definitions in the dictionary.
I have my doubts as to whether I will be taking up my place in the Crossword Final this year as travel arrangements are proving problematic after we moved away from the London area earlier this year, so good luck to all competitors.
|
Across |
|
|---|---|
| 1 POST-HASTE – Flora POSTE – Stella (Gibbons’) girl from Cold Comfort Farm, around HAST = had | |
| 6 STAFFORDSHIRE – STAFFS = groups of workers, HIRE = engage, around O(ld) and RD = road. Stone is a town in Staffordshire | |
| 13 LOADS – LADS = boys, around O = love | |
| 14 ARRIVEDERCI – ARRRIVED = came, RICE* | |
| 15 PRAYS – sounds like PRAISE = approval | |
| 16 SILLY SEASON – SILLY = stupid, SEA = water, SON = boy | |
| 17 LOAD-BEARING – LOADING = extra premium, around BEAR = put up with | |
| 18 RAT RACE – RATE = speed, around R.A.C. = drivers | |
| 20 ASEPSIS – ASS = stupid man, around EP = record, IS | |
| 21 WIDOWER – W(ith), I = one, DOWER = sort of house | |
| 23 NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM – NATURE = character, ABHORS = finds repulsive, A VACUUM = household appliance | |
| 27 SKA – SKA(ter) = ice-dancer | |
| 28 SEESAW – SEE = Bishop’s seat, SAW = was, reversed | |
| 29 BELT UP – double definition | |
| 31 INDIGNITY – double definition, the second defining IN DIGNITY referencing a quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet | |
| 34 PANELLIST – PT = part, around A NELL = a little girl, and IS/td> | |
| 35 HOPPER – (grass)HOPPER = insect, HOPPER = feeder and a HOPPER is only using one leg. So wordplay, straight definition and mildly cryptic definition. I could add a fourth reading with HOP = grass and PER = a, as Chambers has HOP = old slang for any narcotic which would be support for the first part. Hats off to the setter if that was intended | |
| 36 DRAGON – DR = GP, around AGON(y) = pain | |
| 39 TUG – GUT = narrow water, reversed | |
| 40 SWEEP UNDER THE CARPET – SWEEP = worker in chimney, UNDER THE CARPET = rugged on top (with a rug on top) | |
| 42 TARNISH – TARN = lake, IS, H(ospital) | |
| 43 EXTRACT – EXTRA = more, alternate letters in sCoTt | |
| 45 DRESSER – double definition, although there are plenty of dressers still found in kitchens | |
| 47 CASTING VOTE – double definition | |
| 49 DOUBLE CROSS – DOUBLE = repeated, CROSS = religious symbol. The reference to 55 is to treachery | |
| 51 IDOLA – initial letters of Initial Debate Outrageous Lies And. Wordplay was clear but needed to check the word before submission | |
| 52 ACCLAMATION – ACTION = operation, around C(aught) and LAMA = priest | |
| 53 VIRTU – VIRTU(e) = goodness. Another where the wordplay as clear but I needed to check the word before submission | |
| 54 PAINTED DESERT – PREDESTINATED* | |
| 55 TREACHERY – TEACHER = master, around R = one of the three basics, Y(ears) | |
|
Down |
|
| 1 PALM SPRINGS – PAL = LAP = part of course, reversed, MS = writing, P(oetry), RINGS = calls | |
| 2 STARLET – STARLIT = in faint light, with E(nergy) replacing I = one | |
| 3 HUSKY – double definition | |
| 4 SIAMESE CAT – S(on), EMACIATES* | |
| 5 EURASIA – EA = each, around URA(l)S = mountain range, and I = one | |
| 6 SEVEN-YEAR ITCH – (ARSENIC THEYVE)* | |
| 7 ANDALUSIA – (v)ANDAL = hooligan, USA = America, around I = one | |
| 8 FORMATS – FOR sounds like FOUR = a number, MATS = rugs | |
| 9 RAINBOW GUIDE – double definition | |
| 10 SEPHARDIM – (co)MRADESHIP* where the removed CO = business | |
| 11 IMARI, I, MAR = spoil, I = one | |
| 12 EAST GERMANY – the final letters in neglecteD depriveD pooR are DDR, the former East Germany’s initials | |
| 19 AIRMAIL – cryptic definition | |
| 22 WASHING UP – double definition | |
| 24 TWEENAGER – TWEE(t) = message, ANGER* | |
| 25 HEELTAP – HEEL = send rugby ball back (in a scrum), TAP = gentle kick. I vaguely remembered this word for drink left in a glass | |
| 26 ARIDEST – A, RIDE = journey, ST(reet) = way | |
| 30 PEPPER-AND-SALT – (PLAN SPEED TRAP)* | |
| 32 GARBAGE – GARB = clothes, AGE = start to wear out | |
| 33 RIDER HAGGGARD – RIDER = passenger, HAGGARD = looking drained. She is a novel by Rider Haggard | |
| 34 POTATO CRISP – POT = jar, A, TOP = lid, around alternate letters in CoRk and IS | |
| 37 NATURE STUDY – NATURE = science magazine, STUDY = sketch | |
| 38 FER-DE-LANCE – FENCE = barrier, around ALDER* | |
| 40 SOI-DISANT – SOD = ground, around I = one, IS, ANT = worker | |
| 41 NOTRE DAME – NO = absence of, TAME = uninteresting, around RED = colour | |
| 43 ECORCHE – hidden in dECOR CHEers. | |
| 44 TOURIST – TOUT = strongly recommend, around (i)RIS(h) | |
| 46 SCOURGE – SCOUR = clean, G(reas)E | |
| 48 SHOGI – SH = peace, OG I = I GO = one board game, reversed. Another one to check | |
| 50 CIVIC – a palindrome so no change on reversal. One can have a CIVIC centre and “of town” is the straight definition | |
The two long ones felt oddly connected, that vacuum hiding the dust, perhaps, but both were excellent clues.
Not at the champs myself this year: are your travel woes resolved?
ONG’ARA,
KENYA.