CROSSWORD by Columba
A first prize of 125 and a bottle of Graham's Late Bottled Vintage 1989 Port for the first correct solution opened on 19 February, with two runners-up prizes of f15 (or, for UK solvers, the latest edition of The Chambers Dictionary – ring the word `Dictionary'). Entries to: Crossword 1246, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WCIN 2LL.
The unclued lights (one of three words, one of two) comprise a key word, a triad suggested by the greater part of it, and a quintet by the remainder. Ignore three accents.
Name Address ACROSS 1 Free portion of Brie, so old, sent back (5) 4 Tumbrel? Convict in that is something skeletal (9) 9 Sort out 'n' smarten vault? (10) 11 Great haircut's fringes coil (5) 12 Cold Australian curtailed sojourn in Switzerland (7) 14 Learned Celt in love left office
(5)
15 Scotch glimpse of nasty 20 (5) 16 You've drunk nectar, coming to this exalted state? (6) 21 Beam, catching reflected head — to pin it is vital (8) 22 Checks coals, getting hot instead of cold (7) 24 Balm dreadfully dear (4) 25 Useless things, rags (4) 28 Brands Dreyfus ultimately noble (8) 33 Fancy tea? Junk's what it looks like (6) 34 Key cutting volume, absolute Bible (5) 35 Wine to go quickly round (5) 37 I may be upset by cheese pie cooked in northern pub (7) 38 Rodent's evasive, up in retreat
40 Dandy's ndy's wee comic; it comes once a week (9) 41 Dab of yellow (5)
DOWN 2 Basketwork of yore is frayed (6) 4 Charlie (tipsy) writhed (6) 5 Regular features in rain will show indigo (4) 7 Reluctant look at head of horror (5) 13 Grass, we hear, not green: it needs washing (7) 15 Yearns for smashing of six (6) 17 So sibling denied queen help?
(6) 18 Broad — humourless witch close to Emile? Oddly, yes (6) 19 Explorer lifting firm regalia's content (7) 23 Still one, wide-eyed, holding court (8) 26 Dolphins: 'Is Pegasus off with- out us?' (7, hyphened) 29 Knowing about madhouse upset cocotte (6) 30 Hunter clipped the French bird (6) 31 Craft chamber's enamelled ware (6) 32 Abdomen, supple only in part
(5)
Solution to 1243: Fine line
The unclued lights were POETS LAUREATE (9).
First prize: Mrs M.P. Knox, Seven- oaks, Kent. Runners-up: Gareth Walton, Knutsford, Cheshire; Nicola Fletcher, Horsmonden, Kent.
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