Solving time: 15:10 After a quick start in the top left and the two long anagrams I struggled with this one, especially in the bottom left and on the two central down answers, both of … Read more “ST 4246 (Sun 14 Oct) – Plenary session”
Times Saturday 23731
Solving time 16:33 Solved out of the paper for a change, while sitting in a pub over a pint of real ale and using my mobile phone as a stopwatch. I’ll have to do that … Read more “Times Saturday 23731”
Times Saturday 23725 (Oct 6) – delayed
Solving time 22:29 At least 5 minutes of which was spent on 12ac at the end. Looking through it again now, I can’t remember anything else holding me up much. I see they’re not publishing … Read more “Times Saturday 23725 (Oct 6) – delayed”
2007 Times Championship final puzzles – up at last
The Grand Final puzzles and solutions are now on the Times Online site. You can find them here. Sadly, they’re picture files which print out no more than adequately (and that’s on a fairly new … Read more “2007 Times Championship final puzzles – up at last”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 14 – your times please
This is a weekly unofficial contest based on your times for the Times cryptic crossword from Saturday to Friday. Championship puzzles and this contest Contests 13-18 will consist of five puzzles each rather than the … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 14 – your times please”
Find the K
Interesting puzzle with a few words you don’t often see in crosswords, although I was a little disappointed that, having made the effort to get X, Q and Z into the puzzle, the setter didn’t … Read more “Find the K”
23,735 – a game of two halves
Solving time: 12:51 The right hand side went fairly fast, with its easy SHRINKING VIOLET at 6D. But the clever cryptic def of AUTOBIOGRAPHIES at the other long down held me up on the left … Read more “23,735 – a game of two halves”
23734 – Championship prelim 1, puzzle 1
Solving time: about 10 minutes on the day, in two stages This puzzle included one of the clues that made me sweat a bit at Cheltenham. After completing all but one clue in this puzzle, … Read more “23734 – Championship prelim 1, puzzle 1”
Times 23733 – wipers
NE corner held me up for quite some time — not sure of overall timing since had many interrupts but total elapsed time <1h. I found 9A, 11A and 13A to be rather fiendish or … Read more “Times 23733 – wipers”
23,732 – threatened by hummingbirds
Solving time: 55m30s Off to a good start. Mostly straightforward with a few easy clues for beginners. I finished with BODY and SABREWING – I almost gave up on that the latter. I took a … Read more “23,732 – threatened by hummingbirds”