Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hi Tim,

14a - 3 letter "wool supplier" around/"hiding" a 4 letter "blemish" and both these are surrounded by 2 letter "book" - definition is "course".

17a - 3 letter "swimmer" around 2 letter "the Spanish" - definition is "race".

15d - 5 letter "signifies then 4 letter "big games" - definition is "wealth check" (almost wrote the 2nd word answer!)

Sorry Tim...

15d - 4 letter "big game" (I accidentally added an S)

Thanks Brendan. Very helpful.
Also figured out the Munro in 19a - new to me (as was the humorous writer in 28a)
I agree that 11a is a great surface.
Pity there weren't more anagrams but plenty of fair clueing and most were gettable with nothing too obscure, though learned a few new words along the way (eg 'boozer' in 3 down)

Thanks Tim, I did initially wonder if 3d contained a 'ghost anagram' in the wordplay, a much frowned upon device in crosswords, but the "upset" means something else so, as you say, all is fair:-)

After a good start with 75% completed in decent time... total paralysis in SE Corner. The various hints were for mainly other areas - but were great for confirming parsing where I had none. So thank you for that. Then, as so often happens, a glimmer of light appeared and everything fell into place. I liked 11a too. FOI 4. LOI 29a.

Hi Alzy,

The SE corner was mostly empty, even when the the other 3 were all complete! I'd seen that definition of "dilettante" before but, needless to say, I didn't remember it and only got it once I had all the crossers😜

Yes. I think I got lucky with 4d in that I could see certain letters that had to be there, but discovered the dilettante connection while researching possible solutions.

Hi Brendan & others.
I count at least 17 with a sporting connection, covering winter, rugby, horse racing, golf, summer, swimming and supporters among others.
Thoroughly enjoyable with my lunchtime coffee.

Hi Mystogre,

I can see 17 but that's not including the clue that actually contains the word "sport" in the answer.

Thanks for all the comments. Good start, and now stuck on last two clues: 22d and 28ac.
I’ve got -O-I - - and -E-T - - -
Any hints?