The prize
One lucky winner will receive book tokens to the value of £10. Yes, ten British pounds!
The challenge
Using your skill and judgement, complete the crossword grid below using the clues supplied. Some (but not all) of the answers will be words or phrases familiar to members of this forum. Here goes:
Across
1 Jug of wine for artist in diner (6)
4 Someone showing up an hour early for elevenses has Damian Eadie initially close to rage (8)
9 Crooked cheats exhibiting purity (6)
10 I abandon devotees jumping around in exercise garments (8)
11 Flashy car from east end of region of France (9)
13 Divisions obtained by happily subtracting an irrational number (roughly) (5)
14 Standard of word presentation should be high in Dictionary Corner! (7,7)
17 A terse estimate approximately solved during breaks (7,7)
18 Unsophisticated backwater (5)
20 The final countdown for prisoner - and German spirit (9)
23 Hear French saucy remark, perhaps, when repeated (8)
24 Arch that's synchronised with others? (6)
25 Talk over noise to indicate vertical position (8)
26 A university qualification in 60 minutes? (6)
Down
1 Charlie heartlessly gets 149 from target generator (5)
2 Kingdom of Montreal, maybe? (5)
3 Chopped feta cut up in one pasta dish (9)
5 Alice's adversary in train starting here, end of railroad - Victoria, perhaps? (3,3,5)
6 Crazy poster loses right to preclude denial (5)
7 Filthy fibber - stupidly, I'd try and rail back (5,4)
8 Not difficult to adopt Central Standard Time - such joy! (7)
12 In a clip from silly 'X' certificate short, keeping quiet (2,2,7)
15 Confused date after I came back looking malnourished (9)
16 One holding party in South Africa follows beast of burden with similar sound (9)
17 Financial backer is in to fruity hybrid (7)
19 Maria von Trapp, perhaps, once she got out of the habit! (2-3)
21 It spins in both directions (5)
22 Find beech kernel after ordering palm tree (5)
How to enter
PM me your answers by 6pm (GMT) on Sunday, February 8th. Include with your answers the following information:
- your full name
- your postal address
Unlike the Cryptic Forumites competition, I will not be publishing any information about who's entered and how well they've done until after the competition has closed. You are not required to include explanations as to how you derived the answers from the clues.
All correct entries will be eligible to win; after the closing date, one correct entry will be drawn at random and the sender of that entry will receive the prize.
Rules
- The competition is only open to members of C4C.
- No more than one entry may be submitted per person.
- All instructions above about entering the competition form part of these rules.
- Entries not complying with the rules shall be declared void.
- The judge's decision is final.