to 2293: Topping
The unclued lights are items of headgear. First prize Tony Watson, Twyford, Berkshire Runners-up Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire; R.C. Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol
Doc
Thursday
Thursday
2293: Topping
The unclued lights (one of two words and one hyphened) are of a kind, all verifiable in Chambers. Across 4 Night-flier in gear (11, two words) 11 Fancy pictures from one publication with topless sequences (9) 14 City faraway from Helsinki, evidently (4) 15 Aunt Sally is retiring (3) 18 Dropping openers, new eleven win
to 2290: Timely II
Perimetric trios combine to suggest HOG/MAN/AY: SHILLING, MALE, INDEED; SWINE, ATTENDANT, YES; MOUND, EMPLOYEE, EVER. The relevant activity is FIRST-FOOTING (35/25/16) and the relevant name is SYLVESTER (11). First prize Helen Hinder, Knaphill, Surrey Runners-up Mrs J. Smith, Beeston, Norfolk; Bill Stewart, Leicester
Thursday
to 2287: Quarry
Unclued lights are types of LIMESTONE. First prize Frances Whitehead, Harrogate, North Yorks Runners-up Margaret Almond, Sholing, Hants; P.D.H. Riddell, London SE23
Thursday
2289: I don’t believe it!
The unclued lights, as a singleton and four pairs with one unclued light doing double duty, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Two of the unclued lights are of three words, one including an abbreviation. All but one of the remaining unclued lights are of two words. Ignore two apostrophes. Across 10
to 2286: B
The unclued lights are provinces or areas of BELGIUM. First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex Runners-up Frank McDonald, Carron, Falkirk; I. Lyttle, Armagh
Thursday
2286: B
The unclued lights are of a kind. Ignore one grave accent. Across 1 Hails a picador, awfully exciting (13) 11 Difficult child had fun playing close to school (7) 12 Father has undone Turk’s head (5) 14 As You Like It — a piece of theatre by Shakespeare (6, two words) 16 Peg
to 2283: be damned
The unclued lights are PUBLISHING FIRMS. Our apologies for the omission of clue 42 Across. It went missing during the production stage. It should have read: 42 Enticing action Latino attains oddly (13) First prize Jenny Gubb, Uffculme, Devon Runners-up Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire; Mrs E. Knights, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Thursday
2283: Be damned
The unclued lights (one of two words, one of three and-another of four components) are of a kind. Chambers gives only a cognate of the solution at 7 Down. Across 9 River in middle of West Bank city (4) 11 Seafarer of marked individuality, but primitive (10) 12 Clear illustration includes appendage of seed
to 2280: Acorns
The unclued lights are famous British OAK trees. First prize Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex Runners-up Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex; Jan Thompson, Bolton, Lancs.
Thursday
2280: Acorns
The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Ignore one apostrophe. Across 1 Top for one dining in Cornwall? (7) 11 Rainy weather trapped everyone, in case (6) 12 Chosen the same, leaderless (7) 14 Old sweetheart at short race track (5) 16 Hang around. Look
to 2277: Royalty
The theme word is KING and the pairs are 4/41, 14/1A, 19/27, 34/16 and 38/24. First prize C.V. Clark, London WC1 Runners-up C.S.G. Elengorn, Enfield, Middlesex; Jacqui Sohn, Gorleston, Norfolk
Thursday
2277: Royalty
Having solved the puzzle, solvers are required to highlight a 2×2 square which contains the four letters of the otherwise unclued theme word. This theme word can be paired with five of the unclued lights. The resulting pairs are then defined by the remaining five unclued lights (two of two words), all of which can
to 2274: round and round
The unclued lights are stations of the London Underground CIRCLE Line. BAYSWATER is the paired theme-word. Solvers had to highlight TOWER HILL in yellow, as per the Line’s colour on a London Tube Map. First prize Janet Hill, Brighton Runners-up Gay Roper, Weston Underwood, Bucks; Don Young, Oldham
Thursday
2274: Round and round
The perimeter squares yield six theme-words in order, though any one of them can come first. The remaining unclued lights (two individually and a pair) reveal three more theme words. Solvers are asked to highlight in the appropriate colour a final two-word theme-word hidden in two rows in the completed grid. Across 6
to 2271: I’m not here or there
All but one of the unclued lights can be preceded by DOCTOR (or in one case DOC). The title also explains why DOC’s name (as the compiler) was omitted from the heading of the puzzle. Solvers were required to highlight CAPE at 38 Down which yields ‘Cape Doctor’ where Doctor follows rather than precedes the
Thursday
To 2268: In state
The unclued lights are US STATE CAPITALS. First prize Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants Runners-up John M. Brown, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffs; Gareth Davies, Langstone, Newport
Thursday
2268: In state
The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer among other reference books. Elsewhere, ignore one grave accent. Across 1 Complete support for defender (8) 6 Wan painting child’s vehicle (6) 11 Novice leads the experts, then ties (5) 14 Calm meeting in silence (6) 16 Slight, and slightly
To 2265: POURING
The unclued lights Across are CATS and the unclued lights Down are DOGS. First prize John Kitchen, Breachwood Green, Herts Runners-up Matthew Hudson, Stoneleigh, Surrey; Patrick Tremlett, Nedlands, Western Australia
Thursday
2265: Pouring
The unclued Across lights (two of two words) are of a kind, as are the unclued Down ones, all verifiable in Brewer 19th edition. Across 1 Originally inexperienced, feels skill growing (12, two words) 12 Outlet I left, working out rota for a breather (10) 14 Some greet Andalusian character (3) 17 Lawgiver cut
