to 2176: ,
The unclued lights are BUTTERFLIES (as is the ‘comma’ in the title). The pairs are 7/34A, 13/24, 33/6 and 35/25. First prize Sheila Beesley, Coventry Runners-up J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere; Kim Conchie, Falmouth, Cornwall
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Thursday
Thursday
2176: ,
The unclued lights (one hyphened, one of two words), individually or as four pairs, are of a kind. Across 4 Small thief accepting a lead album for cuttings (9) 10 Photographer’s kit cases with 40 systems (10) 11 Composer from Harlem, composed (6) 12 Unscrupulous member of the French
to 2173: Men of note
The unclued lights are COMPOSERS whose surnames start with the letter C. First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex Runners-up Kenneth Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; Dr R.L.H. Barnard, Emsworth, Hampshire
Thursday
2173: Men of note
The unclued lights are of a specific kind. Across 11 Top flier backs help for sloth (6) 12 Birds on the barriers (5) 14 Mayfly larva on cobras, dead (5) 15 The head that’s characteristic of the Russian Church (5) 17 Lay claim to 32s somehow (6) 19
to 2170: Hector’s summer nights
The unclued lights are the titles of the six movements of Nuits d’Eté (Summer Nights in translation) by Hector Berlioz: 38, 10/6D, 30/25, 19, 15, 12/18. First prize Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire Runners-up Richard Foden, Vesenaz, Switzerland; Mrs E.J. Simmons, North Wembley, Middlesex
Thursday
2170: Hector’s Summer Nights
The unclued lights (one of three words and three of two), as three pairs and three individually, are of a kind. Ignore four accents and one apostrophe, in total. Across 1 A few lines about criticism of Indian city pub (9) 6 Composer’s lost final catalogues (5) 9 Boy at
to 2167: Groupies
The unclued lights are ‘nouns of assemblage’, all listed on page 6 of the Word Lover’s Miscellany section in Chambers 2011. Solvers had to shade to highlight COWARDICE (34A + 40A). First prize John Fahy, Thaxted, Essex Runners-up Mike Atkin, Butterton, Staffs; Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham
Thursday
2167: Groupies
The unclued lights are of a kind and are listed together in Chambers 2011. Solvers should highlight two normally clued solutions which together form another theme-word. Across 1 Ties series of games with instrumentalists (11, two words) 7 Small county’s struggle (3) 11 Clog has lost its tip – repaired
to 2164: Blank crossword
The unclued lights are types of CROSS. Solver were required to indicate clearly the FYLFOT at the centre of the grid. First prize M. Purdie, Ceres, Fife Runners-up Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex; Hugh Thomas, Ixworth, Suffolk
Thursday
Blank crossword
Solvers must create the barred grid for themselves; the resulting grid is symmetrical whichever side is uppermost. When submitting an entry, solvers need not indicate the clue numbers, but must clearly indicate the pattern of eight bars at the centre of the grid which is an example of the theme. This pattern is named as
to 2161: Appellation contrôlée
The unclued lights begin with DOC (the Italian abbreviated equivalent of APPELLATION CONTRÔLÉE). First prize Dennis Cotterell, Carlisle Runners-up Clare Reynolds, London SE24; Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd
Thursday
2161: Appellation contrôlée
The unclued lights (one doubly hyphened) share a medical similarity. (Despite appearances there are no rude words in the puzzle!) Across 3 Revolutionary clock setting? (12, two words) 11 Vessels from fleet in the States (4) 12 When a name is misrepresented? (7) 16 Caught bird, reportedly, on rock
to 2158: Late bloomers
The unclued lights are the surnames of people (nine of whom were botanists) who gave their names to flowers. First prize Angus Ross, Old Portsmouth, Hants Runners-up John Harcourt, Maidstone, Kent; Janet Fletcher, Johnstone, Renfrewshire
Wednesday
2158: Late bloomers
The unclued lights (33 with I) are of a kind, all verifiable in Chambers under the appropriate headword. Across 1 Chief director takes one look at the league (13, two words) 8 Very best note on new piano (7) 10 1 and 10 down. Confused? I’m off! (7) 15
2155: Poor Billy’s left out | 16 April 2014
The unclued lights are SIBYLS (the title was an anagram of BILLY’S with L omitted). First prize Judith Bevis, Newport, South Wales Runners-up Dr Stephen Clarkson, Ipswich, Suffolk; Geoffrey Telfer, Baildon, West Yorkshire
Thursday
2155: Poor Billy’s left out
The unclued lights (two must be paired) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 10 Details from Britain forged (4) 12 Colour of monster coming to grips with awfully vile demise, almost (10, two words) 14 Mother isn’t me or her, we’re told (3) 15 Offering a sleep before dance (8) 17 Trousers covering
to 2152: T20
Each letter of each solution and each unclued light has to be represented in the grid by its numerical position in the alphabet — the title, T = 20, indicated this transposition. ACROSS: 1 SEVEN 6 Peal 12 Certain 13 SIX 14 Dagger 15 Begorra 16 Vola 20 Bob 22 Betel 23 Kae 24 Dusk 26 Waifs 30 Ria
Thursday
2152: T20 – it’s just not cricket!
The unclued lights (and 4 Down + N) are of a kind and along with the suggestion given by the title, they indicate how all the solutions (clued and unclued) have to be adapted before being entered into the grid. Ignore two accents and one apostrophe. Across 6 Carillon playing opening arrangement
to 2149: Super!
When preceded by GREAT, each unclued light yields a phrase listed in Brewer 19th edition. First prize Mrs T. Vernalls, Thame, Oxfordshire Runners-up J. Anson, London SE5; A. Fabian, Dunsden, Oxfordshire
Thursday
2149: Super!
Each of the unclued lights (one of two words and one of three) can be preceded by the same word which solvers must state when submitting their entry. All resulting phrases are verifiable in Brewer 19th edition. Across 1 Detached from musical backed by censor (8) 6 Thoroughfares more important than Norfolk waterways,
