Crossword solution

The unclued lights are CONDUCTORS (SARGENT is an anagram of the title STRANGE).   First prize Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, North Yorks Runners-up Ian Dempsey, Califon, New Jersey; Michael Ferguson, Berlin

The pairs of anagrams were of countries and their capitals: Dominica & Roseau (2 & 11); Latvia & Riga (20 & 8); Italy & Rome (21A & 35); Algeria & Algiers (27 & 26); Yemen & Sanaa (29 & 31). Title: PURE MAIL (Peru & Lima).   First prize Henry Dove, Farnborough, Hampshire Runners-up J.B.

Initial letters of superfluous words in clues give titles of ALBUMS (29D) by FLEETWOOD MAC (39).  8A, 25, 33 and 34 are RUMOURS; 12 defines TUSK, and 1A defines MIRAGE; and TANGO IN THE NIGHT indicates 16 /17.   First prize M. Day, London N6 Runners-up Paul Davies, Reading, Berks; Hilda Ball, Belfast

The unclued lights, when paired 12/20, 16/33, 25/29, 31/6, 42/2, are RICOCHET or reduplicated words.   First prize Mrs Rhiannon Hales, Ilfracombe, Devon Runners-up Roger Sherman, Richmond, Surrey; D.V. Jones, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys

Redundant words were: IRAQI (1A), ADO (5A), AENEAS (39A), EPEE (5D), AREA (25D). In line with 16/17, remaining unclued lights were all anagrams of snakes: 18A ASP; 26A COBRA; 36A BOA; 41A FER-DE-LANCE; 31D ELAPID; 33D TAIPAN; 35D ADDER.   First prize Rowan Priestman, Guildford, Surrey Runners-up Margaret Lusk, Fulwood, Lancashire; P. West, Birmingham

Extra letters in clues give the assertion by HOUSMAN (31) that ‘I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat’. In the grid, the definition RENEGADE eludes seven unclued terriers.   First prize J.R. Carrington, Denchworth, Oxfordshire Runners-up Sandra Speak, Dursley, Gloucestershire; Andrew James, Winchester, Hampshire

The unclued lights (1A, 1D/36, 4/31D, 5/27, 15/16A, 16D, 25A/40, 42 are each the PSEUDONYM (anagram of ‘Dumpynose’) of a famous celebrity. See Brewer 17th edition revised, page 1112 et seq.   First prize Mike Underwood, Auvillar, France Runners-up Anthony H. Harker, Oxford; Gillian Ollerenshaw, Bowdon, Altrincham

The puzzle marked a DOUBLE TON (42/27) by DUMPYNOSE (11) in THE SPECTATOR (17/19). Remaining unclued lights suggest a DOUBLETON: two hearts (13 & 7), one diamond (1), one spade (6A) and one club (29). PLUCK (13) & SPIRIT (7) were to be shaded.   First prize Elizabeth Feinberg, Carlsbad, CA, USA Runners-up Ian Shiels,

Twelve unclued lights are names of ARTISTS which are ANAGRAMS (9) of superfluous words in clues.   First prize E. Hogg, London SW13 Runners-up A. Mulholland, Nottingham; Sue Topham, Elston, Newark

The chain of anagrams is as follows: 40, 8, 18, 25, 22, 23, 21D, 19, 1A   First prize Robert Hirst, Twineham, West Sussex Runners-up Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire; R.B. Briercliffe, Isle of Man

The quotation is inappropriate for the CHAMELEON and the PTARMIGAN (shown in red), both of which survive by blending in to the background. Appropriately, they were hidden in the final grid and were revealed by entering the correct words at 24A, 26A, 35A, 5D and 29D. First prize M.F. O’Brien, London N12 Runners-up Gerry Fairweather,

Seven unclued lights are STUFFED ANIMALS (13 18) — i.e. deer, horse, anoa, cat, seal, tup and boar, filled with material supplied by TAXIDERMY (20).   First prize Peter Done, Turramurra, NSW, Australia Runners-up Dr S.M. Sheerin, Princes Risborough, Bucks; D.P. Shenkin, London WC1

The unclued lights are characters from The Goon Show. The paired solutions are 22/20, 32/35 and 37/9.   First prize Phillip Wickens, Penrith, Cumbria Runners-up Richard Snailham, Windsor; Roger King, Twickenham, Middlesex

The theme word is GRAVES: 19, 34 and 40 are famous cemeteries; 17, 28 and 39 are wines from SW France; 6D/12/16 is a work by Robert Graves.   First prize Michael Grocott, Loughborough, Leics Runners-up Alan Hook, York; Dr R.L.H. Barnard, Emsworth, Hants

All the unclued lights mean ‘Goodbye’.   First prize Alan Donovan, Croydon, Surrey Runners-up Mary Varela, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex; Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, West Yorks

The unclued lights are foreign cities, as known in their own countries.   First prize  Vicky Thomas, Apokoronas, Crete Runners-up  Mrs F. Brimacombe, Bideford, Devon; Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex

The full quotation was ‘Mother, GIVE ME THE SUN’ (14/7) from Ghosts by HENRIK IBSEN (29/1D). Remaining unclued lights give ME THE SUN: MI/RA (12), MOI/RA (24), MOI/RE (25) and MI/RE (39). GHOSTS (in the ninth row) was to be shaded. First prize Pamela Moorey, London EC1 Runners-up A. & P. James, Winchester, Hants; Kenneth

Eight unclued lights are EXPERTS (24), whom — according to the words of LORD SALISBURY (9) supplied by superfluous and missing letters in definitions — ‘you never should trust’.   First prize Mike Underwood, Auvillar, France Runners-up S. Riviere, Ansty, Wiltshire; Christine Twickel, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire

The twenty-two lochs which did not fit into the grid are, in order of their appearance in the story: Ainort, Awe, Eynort, Katrine, Eck, Nevis, Sunart, Cluanie, Eil, Hourn, Assynt, Maree, Melfort, Affric, Long, Tummel, Frisa, Treig, Tuath, Striven, Ericht, Alsh.   First prize Charles Hastings, Upper Woolhampton, Berks Runners-up David Carpenter, Sutton Coldfield; Roderick