Clockwise round the grid from 11 run three trios (8,4,6,5,9,3,5,8,4), each trio combining to suggest the same word. A trio of unclued lights combine to give a relevant activity (hyphened) and the remaining unclued light gives a relevant name verifiable in Brewer. Across 9 Hat to be pleased with resembling a boater (10) 13
The name was The Spectator. THESP (SARAH BERNHARDT: 37/19), EC (EAST CENTRAL: 36/20), TAT (HEMPEN MATTING: 5/15) and OR (LOGIC CIRCUIT: 35/31). First prize Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham Runners-up Rose Llewellyn, London SW10; Trevor Evans, Drulingen, France
Clockwise round the grid from 21 runs a timely quotation (9,5,3,5,2,7,3,11,5) (in ODQ) followed by the initials of its author, a 2/5. The source is 18/17. Across 8 Plump for some drinks and a sandwich (5) 9 Law-officer fills ditch for president (6) 10 Passé person knows Beatrix by name (7, hyphened) 12 Classy
Clues with misprints were 16, 22, 24 and 34 Across and 2, 3, 6, 26, 31 and 36 Down. Corrections spelt WELLINGTON. Unclued lights were: Oceanian capitals (1A and 8A); Wellington’s battles (18A and 13D); beef dishes (7D and 19D) and types of boot (37A and 38A). First prize Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West
Four pairs of unclued lights suggest the constituent parts of a name (two words). Elsewhere, ignore three accents. Across 1 Chapel always including prayer unknown (8) 9 Zoological region’s evolved arcane goat (10) 14 Fate of Abram’s companion (3) 16 Brother, say, and mother’s skull part (6) 17 Train carrying Academician into college (5)
Seven unclued lights were names of VERSE-MEN (22) minus one letter: VI(R)GIL (1A), BRO(O)KE (15A), BRID(G)ES (16), DON(N)E (9), S(P)ENDER (21),(W)HITMAN (30) and PO(U)ND (34D). Title: Hard(y). First prize Mrs C. Turner, Highgate, London Runners-up F. J. Bentley, Tiverton, Devon; Alexander Caldin, Salford, Oxfordshire
Clockwise round the perimeter from 3 run the titles of three items (1, 6, 3, 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 3, 4) from the same source, the title of which is epitomised by the four unclued lights. Ignore two apostrophes. Across 8 Slowly cycling with a bouquet? (5) 9
Seven unclued lights (all real words) are names of 22 (hyphened) minus one letter. The missing letters give GROWN-UP. Across 4 Game Charlie (athletic chap with a heart problem) (9) 10 Pro shinned nastily getting painkillers (10) 11 Rosy Lee and fellow almost dance (6, hyphened) 12 Secure university members axed watchman (7, two
Clifton Fadiman wrote that cheese was ‘MILK’S LEAP TOWARDS IMMORTALITY’ (3/4/18). The remaining unclued lights (16, 21, 25, 35, 44 and 1) are cheeses. FADIMAN (diagonally from the 13th row) was to be shaded. First prize Roland Rance, London E17 Runners-up Eileen Robinson, Sheffield; J. Smithies, Guernsey
Six unclued lights, the sixth spelt in its original way, are members of a team proclaimed dramatically at a venue given by the remaining pair. The proclaimer and team leader appears diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Minister and unknown independent in conflict (5) 9 Eyelid
The perimeter quotation is from L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between, in which Leo, Marian and Ted are the main characters. First prize Robert Hirst, Twineham, West Sussex Runners-up Peter Moody, Portchester, Hampshire; Willie Hamilton, Exeter
Six unclued lights are examples of ‘3/4/18’ (four words in total, ignore an apostrophe), a quotation (in ODQ) whose author’s surname (7) will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 11 Tony and Charlie amid ducks beside Yellow River (7) 12 Men declaimed European decree (6)