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.
Two unclued lights describe the location of the others, individually or as a pair. One of these unclued lights does double duty. One square must contain a beetle showing possible alternatives to one of the unclued lights. Across 11 Tipsy grannie raking it in (7) 12 Skilling worker put sign outside (6,
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 unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 1 Poet has overdose first (5) 6 More than one figure of speech is about Roman soldier (7) 11 Where to eat, relax and gossip once about god (10) 15 Note this colour for French artist (4) 16
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
The unclued lights are of a specific kind. Additionally each is a legitimate inflected headword in Chambers. Elsewhere, ignore one acute accent and an apostrophe. Across 4 By the way, black weapon is a valuable curio (9, two words) 9 C.O.O.L.E.R. characters in the mail? (10, two words) 12 Types
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 unclued lights (one hyphened, one of two words), individually or as four pairs, are of a kind. Across 4 Small thief accepting a lead album for cuttings (9) 10 Photographer’s kit cases with 40 systems (10) 11 Composer from Harlem, composed (6) 12 Unscrupulous member of the French
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
The unclued lights are of a specific kind. Across 11 Top flier backs help for sloth (6) 12 Birds on the barriers (5) 14 Mayfly larva on cobras, dead (5) 15 The head that’s characteristic of the Russian Church (5) 17 Lay claim to 32s somehow (6) 19
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 unclued lights (one of three words and three of two), as three pairs and three individually, are of a kind. Ignore four accents and one apostrophe, in total. Across 1 A few lines about criticism of Indian city pub (9) 6 Composer’s lost final catalogues (5) 9 Boy at
The unclued lights are ‘nouns of assemblage’, all listed on page 6 of the Word Lover’s Miscellany section in Chambers 2011. Solvers had to shade to highlight COWARDICE (34A + 40A). First prize John Fahy, Thaxted, Essex Runners-up Mike Atkin, Butterton, Staffs; Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham
The unclued lights are of a kind and are listed together in Chambers 2011. Solvers should highlight two normally clued solutions which together form another theme-word. Across 1 Ties series of games with instrumentalists (11, two words) 7 Small county’s struggle (3) 11 Clog has lost its tip – repaired
The unclued lights are types of CROSS. Solver were required to indicate clearly the FYLFOT at the centre of the grid. First prize M. Purdie, Ceres, Fife Runners-up Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex; Hugh Thomas, Ixworth, Suffolk
Solvers must create the barred grid for themselves; the resulting grid is symmetrical whichever side is uppermost. When submitting an entry, solvers need not indicate the clue numbers, but must clearly indicate the pattern of eight bars at the centre of the grid which is an example of the theme. This pattern is named as
The unclued lights begin with DOC (the Italian abbreviated equivalent of APPELLATION CONTRÔLÉE). First prize Dennis Cotterell, Carlisle Runners-up Clare Reynolds, London SE24; Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd
The unclued lights (one doubly hyphened) share a medical similarity. (Despite appearances there are no rude words in the puzzle!) Across 3 Revolutionary clock setting? (12, two words) 11 Vessels from fleet in the States (4) 12 When a name is misrepresented? (7) 16 Caught bird, reportedly, on rock
The unclued lights are the surnames of people (nine of whom were botanists) who gave their names to flowers. First prize Angus Ross, Old Portsmouth, Hants Runners-up John Harcourt, Maidstone, Kent; Janet Fletcher, Johnstone, Renfrewshire
The unclued lights (33 with I) are of a kind, all verifiable in Chambers under the appropriate headword. Across 1 Chief director takes one look at the league (13, two words) 8 Very best note on new piano (7) 10 1 and 10 down. Confused? I’m off! (7) 15
