The theme word is PHOENIX (38A). 6A, 12A and 26A are legendary birds; 15A, 28A and 4D are state capitals; 16A, 30D and 37D are the ‘Southern Birds’ constellations. The title was suggested by River Phoenix and the Phoenix Islands. First prize Gordon Hobbs, Woodford Green, Essex Runners-up Paul Elliott, London W12; Steve Reszetniak, Enfield,
Unclued lights (11/1D, 12/35, 15, 18/1D and 22/17) are fences of the Grand National course, together with two famous winners (19 and 29). First prize Barry Butler, Birmingham Runners-up Mrs J. Smith, Beeston, Norfolk; R. Wightman, Menston, W. Yorks
The unclued are locations on SKYE, ‘The Misty Isle’ (solutions at 15 and 31). ISLE does double duty in 15/31 and 31/33. The title suggests ‘Over the sea to Skye’, the isle now being linked to the mainland by a bridge. V/W at 41 Across refers to the alternatives Waternish and Vaternish. First prize D.P.
Unclued lights each contained a different TREY (20) from the alphabet: AFGHAN (24), CANOPY (27), DINGHIES (42), DABCHICK (1D), HYMNODY (5), KARSTIFY (6), ASTUTE (10), CALMNESS (26) and MADEFY (30D). The title suggested KLM. First prize Mrs R. Hales, Ilfracombe, Devon Runners-up E. Reuben, New Barnet, London;R. Hainsworth, Clapham, Lancaster
Extra letters in clues plus 1A give ‘the separation of philosophers into sages and cranks’, an extract from a quotation by QUINE (35). 24, 25, 29 are sages; 17, 39, 42 are cranks. First prize Storm Hutchinson, Dulas, Anglesey Runners-up William Spont, Bellingham, Massachusetts; Nick Hussey, Overton, Hampshire
The unclued lights are ROMAN CROWNS. First prize Philip Hawkins, Wirksworth, Matlock, Derbyshire Runners-up G.H.Willetts, London SW19; Chris Edwards, Pudsey, Leeds
The END (19) of Rameau, a great COMPOSER (1A) of OPERAS (6) and for the CLAVECIN (1D), occurred in PARIS (37) CCL (25) years ago, on 12th September 1764. Born in DIJON (21), he was a friend of VOLTAIRE (26) and an enemy of ROUSSEAU (41). RAM (29) and EAU (31) were to be shaded.
FURBELOWS — given by initial letters of superfluous words in clues — can be read as FUR BELOW S, indicating the unclued lights in each of four columns in the grid. First prize F.J. Bentley, Tiverton, Devon Runners-up Bertie Ledward, London SW11; M. Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian
The unclued lights are abbreviations of seven English and one Welsh county, which themselves are inflected headwords in Chambers. (Consequently, Hants at 35 Across was disallowed) First prize Christina Casement, West Harting, Hampshire Runners-up R.C. Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, Nr Bristol; Jane Smith, Beeston, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
In Vanity Fair (18/2), George Osborne is associated with 6/30 and 10/31. As Chancellor, he was preceded by 8, 26 and 29. First prize Stephen Gore, Seer Green, Bucks Runners-up Brian Midgley, Ettington, Warwickshire; Nicola Fletcher, Horsmonden, Kent
Songs by KATE BUSH include WUTHERING HEIGHTS, HAMMER HORROR, HOUNDS OF LOVE and CLOUDBUSTING in the perimeter, and (defined by the puzzle’s title) WOW. First prize Chris James, Ruislip Manor, Middlesex Runners-up Alexander Caldin, Salford, Oxfordshire; Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorks
The unclued lights are BUTTERFLIES (as is the ‘comma’ in the title). The pairs are 7/34A, 13/24, 33/6 and 35/25. First prize Sheila Beesley, Coventry Runners-up J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere; Kim Conchie, Falmouth, Cornwall
The four works were Waverley (anagram of 12/21), Kenilworth (15/8), The Talisman (29/2) and Ivanhoe (38/37) by SIR WALTER SCOTT (diagonally NW to SE) which was to be shaded. Title: anagram of Redgauntlet. First prize Roy Robinson, Sheffield Runners-up Sebastian Robinson, Glasgow; M.F. O’Brien, London N12
The key phrase is KNOW WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES (12 38 43). Each of the partially indicated answers is pinched by a shoe, creating entries at 1D, 20, 21, 24 and 29; definitions of these are at 30, 14, 26, 42 and 15. First prize D.G. Page, Orpington, Kent Runners-up Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney,
The unclued lights are COMPOSERS whose surnames start with the letter C. First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex Runners-up Kenneth Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; Dr R.L.H. Barnard, Emsworth, Hampshire
Gerry Goffin, popular LYRICIST (40), died on 19 June 2014. He wrote the perimetric songs IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER and WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW and also ONE FINE DAY (2), for which Carole King composed the music. The ‘linked’ GOFFIN (7th row) and KING (7th column) were to be shaded. The
The seven 2×2 squares each used the letters STAR in order, and depicted the seven major stars that make up the GREAT BEAR (URSA MAJOR) in THE PLOUGH (aka the BIG DIPPER). First prize D.V. Jones, Llanfair, Caereinion, Powys Runners-up Barry Roe, Wigston, Leicester; M. Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian
The unclued lights are the titles of the six movements of Nuits d’Eté (Summer Nights in translation) by Hector Berlioz: 38, 10/6D, 30/25, 19, 15, 12/18. First prize Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire Runners-up Richard Foden, Vesenaz, Switzerland; Mrs E.J. Simmons, North Wembley, Middlesex
The grid represents Germany, with six bordering countries round the edge, and four cities in the interior, positioned roughly appropriately in relation to each other. 21 across is an anagram of DEUTSCH, which could be added to LAND to make DEUTSCHLAND. First prize David Jenkinson, Matlock, Derbyshire Runners-up Kevin Ward, Quorn, Leicestershire; Paul Machin,
Initial letters of superfluous words in clues give nightingale, quail and cuckoo, specimens of AVIFAUNA (5) represented by FLUTE (43), OBOE (40) and TWO CLARINETS (27 18) in the SIXTH SYMPHONY (13 26D) of BEETHOVEN (14). The symphony is known as the PASTORAL (1D/41, suggested by the puzzle’s title). First prize Hugh Thomas, Ixworth,
