Columba

2106: 30/3

30 3 is a definition of one unclued light (which 34 follows) and also a cryptic indication of 16A. 34 is marked by the holder of the 16A with a 40. One unclued light is the name of the 40, and one is the name of the holder of the 16A. One of these lights consists of three words.

2013: Rime

Extra words to be removed from clues were: ‘Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And, sorry I could not travel both’.  The lines of verse appearing in the grid (highlighted for clarity only) were ‘I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference’ from the poem ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by Robert Frost.   First prize Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorks Runners-up Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd; J.

2100: Mask

Each of eighteen clues contains one misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell a four-word phrase which alludes to the unclued lights, indicating the position of one of them in relation to the others. One unclued light is  hyphened; elsewhere, ignore an accent.

2097: spaced

1D, 2 40, 12 and 15 36 are PERSONAE (43) that have been adopted by DAVID BOWIE.  Unchecked letters of unclued lights are supplied by the thematically allusive astronaut writer, piano guy spelt by extra letters in clues.

Solution to 2094: A little down

Corrected definitions were: 12A camper; 15A bairn; 28A plants; 37A yearn; 39A fines (pl. of finis); 43A beard; 6D paras; 19D vice; 25D coin; 40D shot. Missing letters spelt MILES DAVIS, whose work 42A defines the other unclued lights. First prize C.R.

2097: Spaced

In each of 14 clues, the cryptic indication omits reference to one letter of the answer.  These letters must be highlighted, to reveal the name of someone who has had a number of 43, some of which are unclued lights, individually or paired.  Each of the remaining clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras are the unchecked letters of all seven unclued lights. One unclued light consists of three words, and one consists of two words.

2092: Attend

Clues in italics are definitions only. In each of their answers, it is necessary to 32 10 (a four-word phrase) to create the word to be entered in the grid. Each of these entries (one of which is hyphened) is defined by an unclued light.

2089: backward and forward

The unclued lights (16D/21? 16D/16A/23/38/24/11/14?) form a quotation by SHYLOCK in The Merchant of Venice. A number of references to the play and its opposition between Jews and Christians were included in the clues.

2086: Tufty

One unclued light, a term for any member of a group to which two unclued lights belong, can be divided into three words; each of these has two synonyms among the remaining unclued lights.

2083: groundless

Unclued entries, when augmented by the letter that follows them in the grid, are all types of coffee or coffee bean.  The extra letter might be thought of as the coffee grounds. First prize Seamus McNeill, Belfast Runners-up Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, W. Yorks; C.J.

2080: Players

Each of twenty-one definitions contains one misprinted letter. Corrections of misprints spell two items of the same kind as the unclued lights. Two unclued lights consist of two words each.

2077: below par

Extra letters in jumbles, plus INITIALS (37) of clues, give the saying ‘Where the carcase is, there shall the eagles be gathered together’.  The carcase in the grid is a MORKIN, accounting for the presence of six eagles. First prize Mark Rowntree, London SE10 Runners-up C.V. Clark, London WC1; M.F.

2074: capital punishment

Six unclued lights are names for HELL (12), which is ‘A CITY MUCH LIKE LONDON’ (38 43) according to a quotation by SHELLEY. First prize J.H. Peevers, Didmarton, Glos Runners-up Chris James, Ruislip Manor, Middlesex; J.

2077: Below par

Each of seventeen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. The extras spell the first four words of a saying (in ODQ). The remaining seven words of the saying are supplied by 37 of the puzzle’s clues. Solvers must highlight a concealed item (six letters) which, in accordance with the saying, accounts for the presence in the grid of six unclued lights.

2071

LETHAL BITES (14 7) and BLITHE TALES (36 33) are possible results of the STORMING (19) of THE BASTILLE (an event commemorated on 14/7).  Definitions of the components of the results are 23, 31, 11 and 8. First prize P.

2074: Capital punishment

Six unclued lights are synonymous with one unclued light which, according to a quotation in ODQ, is 38 43 (five words).  The key light is integral to the name of the quotation’s author, which must be highlighted.

Crossword 2071: 14-7

Each of twenty-four clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell five words identifying an event, which could result in 14 7. Another possible result is given by the lights symmetrically opposite to 14 7. Definitions of the components of these results are supplied by four other unclued lights.

Crossword 2065 solution

AND could be found in the grid connecting NAME & ADDRESS, HERO & LEANDER, and BANGERS & MASH, so 19 and 21 were connected by THE and had to be GOD SAVE and KING. First prize P.L.

Crossword 2068: Hard case

One unclued light is an utterance prompted by a discovery. One unclued light is the occupation of the person to whom the discovered item belonged; the remaining unclued lights are features of the item. The name of the speaker, concealed in one column, and the item itself, concealed in another, must be highlighted.  One unclued light consists of three words, and one consists of two words.