2706: Pitched

The unclued lights, all but one being two or more words and some could include a hyphen, are of a kind.

Across

6 Powers which followed BL in Texas (6)

12    Loathed nerd having left one-armed bandit damaged (10)

13    Blackwood, bridge player, rather gaunt (5)

15    Graham is on manoeuvres with NZ crime writer (5,5)

16    Continued to travel, we hear, to city on the Ribble (7)

20    Ride the waves and scan (4)

22    Typical – upset USA twice – then left (2,5)

23    Iberia and TWA losing heart with airlines cartel (4)

24    Whence Tennyson’s Lady who has toppled Pixie (7)

30    Approving sounds coming out of Soho (4)

31    Muffs and gloves for fighting by French waters (7)

34    Half of the boss’s hearing in a law court (4)

36    Branch officers initially anger cabinet (7)

39    Public room at spa or seaside amusement park (7)

40    Former Norwegian PM trimmed bristly artificial fly (5)

42    Doc, surrounded by duties; prepares for takeoff (6)

43    Ms Price, soprano, at Spanish city by river (8)

Down

2 Wintry hail blowing around Swiss city (8)

3 Soldiers’ pipes (5)

5 Measure shallows and protects from floods (7)

6 They are not free of charge (6)

7 Pinches lass’s rear and ducks (6)

8 Some of what Kohli destroyed, that is to say (2,3)

9 Settling her in reviewing Armistead Maupin’s roman à clef (5,8)

11    National parks’ workers supporting compounds (9)

17    Some ultra-high jubilant shout (3)

19    Instructive sessions spilled out into tests (9)

21    In more ways than one, they may make a fine spray (5)

27    Doctrine embraced by Afghanis methodically (3)

28    Publicity broadcast that is plain (7)

29    Rent trouble, quite a blow (7)

32    Mule is slaughtered for food (6)

33    Asprey somehow manages debts (6)

35    Donuts regularly consumed during Sunday afternoon, as starters by composer (5)

37    Love god taking books to praying figure (5)

Download a printable version here.

A first prize of a £30 John Lewis voucher and two runners-up prizes of £20 vouchers for the first correct solutions opened on 23 June.