Solving time: 8 minutes
I found this pretty straightforward with no unknown words or meanings. How did you do?
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | Somewhere to discuss university cutting class? (5) |
| FORUM | |
| U (university) contained by [cutting] FORM (class) | |
| 4 | Conservative girl in charge in Derby? (7) |
| CLASSIC | |
| C (Conservative), LASS (girl), IC (in charge). The 5 English Classic horse races are The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket; The Oaks and The Derby at Epsom Downs; The St Leger Stakes at Doncaster. | |
| 8 | Pilot beginning to advance by way of hill (7) |
| AVIATOR | |
| A{dvance} (beginning), VIA (by way of), TOR (hill) | |
| 9 | Excellence of French waters, exactly what’s needed (5) |
| MERIT | |
| MER (French waters – sea), IT (exactly what’s needed – that’s it!) | |
| 10 | Unusual demo car men seize (10) |
| COMMANDEER | |
| Anagram [unusual] of DEMO CAR MAN | |
| 14 | Bookmaker getting new starter, this inexperienced person? (6) |
| ROOKIE | |
| BOOKIE (bookmaker) ‘getting a new starter’ becomes ROOKIE | |
| 15 | Like some humour found in Cairo, nice (6) |
| IRONIC | |
| Hidden [found] in {ca}IRO NIC{e} | |
| 17 | Organising opera, sir? I’m someone who maybe can help? (10) |
| IMPRESARIO | |
| Anagram [organising] of OPERA SIR I’M. The definition is &lit. | |
| 20 | One stealing article I put inside, fearful initially (5) |
| THIEF | |
| I contained by [put inside] THE (definite article), F{earful} [initially] | |
| 22 | Get through exam period — a journey (7) |
| PASSAGE | |
| PASS (get through exam), AGE (period) | |
| 23 | After review rector accommodating a person who’s inventive (7) |
| CREATOR | |
| Anagram [after review] of RECTOR, containing [accommodating] A | |
| 24 | Leave resort in Croatia (5) |
| SPLIT | |
| Two meanings | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Pastry enthusiast welcoming learner (4) |
| FLAN | |
| FAN (enthusiast) containing [welcoming] L (learner) | |
| 2 | Bar means of transport (4) |
| RAIL | |
| Two meanings | |
| 3 | Object from space encountered below at intervals? Correct, we hear (9) |
| METEORITE | |
| MET (encountered), {b}E{l}O{w} [at intervals], then RITE sounds like [we hear] “right” (correct) | |
| 4 | Italian city supporting Church element that shines (6) |
| CHROME | |
| CH (church), ROME (Italian city) | |
| 5 | Purpose of action is missed first of all (3) |
| AIM | |
| A{ction} + I{s} + M{issed} [first of all] | |
| 6 | Cloth worker becoming police officer (8) |
| SERGEANT | |
| SERGE (cloth), ANT (worker). Other types of sergeant are available so this is an unsignalled DBE (Definition by Example), something we’ve learned to care less about these days. | |
| 7 | Note new picture is less expensive (3-5) |
| CUT-PRICE | |
| C (note – music), then anagram [new] of PICTURE | |
| 11 | Plant US drugs policeman is at the outset setting up secretly (9) |
| NARCISSUS | |
| NARC (US drugs policeman), IS, then S{ettitng} + U{p} + S{ecretly} [at the outset]. ‘Narc’ is US slang for ‘narcoctics agent’. | |
| 12 | Aesthetically pleasing section of chart is ticked (8) |
| ARTISTIC | |
| Hidden in [section of] {ch}ART IS TIC{ked} | |
| 13 | Power or composure this sea creature has (8) |
| PORPOISE | |
| P (power), OR, POISE (composure) | |
| 16 | Holidaymaker’s escapade entertaining Mike (6) |
| CAMPER | |
| CAPER (escapade) containing [entertaining] M (Mike – NATO alphabet) | |
| 18 | Time everyone finds hard to believe (4) |
| TALL | |
| T (time), ALL (everyone). A tall story is hard to believe. | |
| 19 | Gamble full of Northern flair (4) |
| BENT | |
| BET (gamble) containing [full of] N (Northern). To have a bent for something is to have a natural ability or interest in it. | |
| 21 | In good health, suitable (3) |
| FIT | |
| Two meanings | |
My times has sergeant as incorrect as shows the correct answer with an a. That being the case does the clue hold up. Sarge cloth, never heard of it
In my electronic edition both the main paper and the Crossword Club have SERGEANT as the correct answer.
A slow start which did not fill me with confidence. However, as I persevered the answers kept coming, enabling me to surprise myself by completing this with no aids.
I had heard of impresario but did not know what it meant. Once I was sure it was the answer I entered it and then checked the dictionary for the definition.
Happy days, no aids 😊
4:26 this morning. A not too demanding start to the week from Hurley with a nicely pitched QC.
Liked 17 ac “impresario” and 13 d “porpoise”.
Thanks to Jack and setter.
FOI FORUM, LOI and my COD PORPOISE. 6:34 for an excellent day.
Still learning and still DNF, but I enjoyed the clues I managed. I think my problem is not being able to identify the type of clue, as when I completed the across clues after reading the blog, I managed to complete almost all the remaining down clues. Many thanks for the helpful blog.
Good work Ian. Sounds like the checkers helped – I certainly find I need them some days 🙂
Spelling impresario incorrectly did not help us with 3d. Otherwise a pleasant start to the week. Thanks Hurley.
A nice start to the week, all finished in 9:18 for a rare sub-10 minute time. FOI FORUM, LOI MERIT, COD PORPOISE. Biffed NARCISSUS: needed the blog to point out the NARC. Thanks to Hurley & Jack.
Nice work on your Boltesque time 😀
13.59 for me, not a PB but very satisfactory. Liked PORPOISE and AVIATOR but couldn’t parse MERIT. A good start to the week.
AFTER 2 ends did thos but put in fall not tall😓
10:16
Just outside a very rare 10 minutes as was slow to see LOI ARTISTIC as a hidden word. No real hold ups otherwise.
Not much left for me to say as I agree with nearly all of your comments. Gentle and fun. I don’t time myself but I was in the region of 15 mins.
A late solve by the fire with a dram. Nothing to report other than 07:20 for 1.1K and a Decent Day.
Many thanks Jack and Hurley.
Templar
Worked steadily through and got there in reasonable time. CUT PRICE, PORPOISE and IMPRESARIO took longest to get.
I’ll never forget my In-laws’ reaction when I told them we were going to SPLIT. Nice place. Nice puzzle, finished inside ten minutes. FOI AVIATOR, LOI PASSAGE, COD BENT. Thanks, Hurley and Jack