I can’t offer a solving time, I’m afraid, as I solved this in a leisurely fashion over several sessions around the pool (or even in it!) while on my hols. With the temperature in the high nineties most of the time, I find it hard to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time.
I got through it in the end though, and without aids, so I’m relatively pleased with that.
I think the excellent surface of 10a gets my COD, but 11a was certainly timely. I rather liked the last couple of down clues as well.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | DISPERSE = (PRESS + ED)* about |
6 | CHASTE = S |
9 | V |
10 | WILD ANIMAL = (AND WILLIAM)* – I like the clever use of ‘Harry’ as an anagrind to complement the anagrist so perfectly. |
11 | CRICKET MATCH = (MCC HAT-TRICK)* about |
14 | STICK + LE + R |
15 | YOU BET – dd |
16 | STONES = NO (number) in SETS (groups) all rev |
18 | BUTTON + UP – Jensen Button was the 2009 F1 World Champion, currently driving for McLaren. |
20 | TALCUM POWDER = (WORLD CUP TEAM)* |
22 | BARBERSHOP – cd |
24 | TOUR |
25 | IN HERE – I thought of cohere and adhere quite quickly, but I’m not sure I’ve ever come across inhere as a word in its own right, just the derivative inherent. |
26 | PIT-PROPS = PRO (for) + P (power) all in P |
Down | |
2 | INTE(R)STATE |
3 | POL(IC)E + CONSTABLE |
4 | RAW DEAL – cd |
5 | ‘ELL – dd |
6 | CHA(NT)RY |
7 | A FISH OUT OF WATER – cd – because the EEL is hidden in |
8 | THAW = (WHAT)* |
12 | MA + R + ABOU |
13 | REFUSED + UMP |
17 | S(PL)URGE |
19 | TOP SPOT – a palindrome |
21 | DARN = (R + AND)* |
23 | HIP – triple def – Cool / Fruit / It can nowadays be replaced |
The less said about the 16ac/18ac combination the better. But it’s probably what they should have done after “Between the Buttons”.
Final note: re 22ac — Perth recently hosted the international barbershop quartet comp for ladies.
Edited at 2013-08-11 04:03 am (UTC)
Didn’t know INHERE or BUTTON. I’m with kevingregg on racing although in my book cars going round in circles for hours on end is worse than the other forms he mentions because, in addition to all the other unattractive qualities of the activity, the participants make a lot of unpleasant NOISE.
Rather surprised to find that VTOL (pronounced Vee-TOL) is officially a noun according to Collins and Chambers.
I’ve no complaint about removing ON separately at 26ac but I might have queried Kevin’s royal example as it seems somewhat different to me.
Edited at 2013-08-11 07:10 am (UTC)