Crossword solution

The unclued lights are US STATE CAPITALS. First prize Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants Runners-up John M. Brown, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffs; Gareth Davies, Langstone, Newport

The unclued lights are anagrams of words meaning ‘blessing’, hence 43A MIXED BLESSINGS. The words are 11A AGREEMENT, 31A BENISON, 34A CONSENT, 40A BOON, 10D PERMISSION, 13D GODSEND, 15D SANCTION and 27D DARSHAN. First prize Ian Dempsey, Oldwick, New Jersey Runners-up Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lancs; Rhidian Llewellyn, Minchinhampton, Glos

Associations with adjectives are ALL RIGHT (16), BRIGHT LIGHTS (40), BEAUTIFUL DREAMER (31), GREAT DANE (42), and SMALL BEER (4).  The hymn, by MRS C.F. ALEXANDER (28, 18) is number 587 in the English Hymnal.   First prize Frank Anstis, Truro, Cornwall Runners-up Dr John Stabler, North Creake, Norfolk; R.B. Briercliffe, Onchan, Isle of Man

The unclued lights Across are CATS and the unclued lights Down are DOGS.   First prize John Kitchen, Breachwood Green, Herts Runners-up Matthew Hudson, Stoneleigh, Surrey; Patrick Tremlett, Nedlands, Western Australia

‘Harry the King, BEDFORD (19) and EXETER (18), WARWICK (1D) and TALBOT (25), SALISBURY (4A) and GLOSTER (12)’ (Henry V, act 4, sc.3) are named in Henry V’s speech at AGINCOURT (26/34). HARRY THE KING (diagonally from the third row) was to be shaded.   First prize M. O’Hanlon, North Berwick Runners-up Philip Hawkins, Wirksworth,

Corrections of misprints in clues give STEP ON THE GAS, indicating the unclued lights in each of four columns in the grid.   First prize Virginia Porter, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff Runners-up Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd; John M. Brown, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire

The unclued Across lights are ANAGRAMS of French numbers (22: trente, 24: soixante, 26: sept, 29: onze, 43: trois) and the Down lights of German numbers (3: vier, 4: hundert, 10: sechs, 40: acht, 41: drei).   First prize G. Jones, London SW1 Runners-up Sue Topham, Elston, Newark; S.J.J. Tiffin, Cockermouth, Cumbria

Clifton Fadiman wrote that cheese was ‘MILK’S LEAP TOWARDS IMMORTALITY’ (3/4/18). The remaining unclued lights (16, 21, 25, 35, 44 and 1) are cheeses. FADIMAN (diagonally from the 13th row) was to be shaded. First prize Roland Rance, London E17 Runners-up Eileen Robinson, Sheffield; J. Smithies, Guernsey

BUTTONS AND BOWS (1A) is a song in the film THE PALEFACE (10), sung by BOB HOPE (27). Other unclued lights are buttons (7, 12, 31) and bows (16, 39, 40). First prize John Nutkins, Twickenham, London Runners-up Paul Machin, London N11; Elizabeth Feinberg, Carlsbad, California

The unclued lights can be preceded by GREEN which had to be shaded in green, as indicated in the solution grid.   First prize Vincent Clark, Frant, East Sussex Runners-up Michael Grosvenor Myer, Haddenham, Cambridge; Emma Staveley, Oxford

The perimeter quotation is from L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between, in which Leo, Marian and Ted are the main characters. First prize Robert Hirst, Twineham, West Sussex Runners-up Peter Moody, Portchester, Hampshire; Willie Hamilton, Exeter

SHAKESPEARE — indicating the action required to create 9, 11, 32, 18 plus 24, and the puzzle’s title — is the name of Matthew Arnold’s poem from which the perimeter quotation is taken. First prize Peter Wilson, Kettering, Northants Runners-up Miriam Moran, Pangbourne, Berks; John Light, Addlestone, Surrey

The unclued lights reveal ELEVEN (five English and six Scottish) league football teams (3/38, 4/1D, 10, 14, 18, 18/28, 19, 26, 27/1D, 28, 36 {City}). 1 Down has to become ROVERS. First prize Margaret Shiels, Edinburgh Runners-up Sandra Speak, Dursley, Gloucestershire; Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorkshire

Oscar WILDE (35) described hunting as THE UNSPEAKABLE IN FULL PURSUIT OF THE UNEATABLE (1A, 14, 30, 42), and the huntsmen are John PEEL (12), JORROCKS (R.S. Surtees) (19) and Siegfried SASSOON (Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man) (28). First prize Heather Weeks, Hove, East Sussex Runners-up Hilda Ball, Belfast; Hugh Thomas, Ixworth, Suffolk

To create entries at 5, 9, 20, 29D and 41, answers to clues in italics become TREE-HUGGERS (15), embracing sallow, fig, argan, oak and dita. Definitions of the entries are 16, 12, 8A, 3 and 35. First prize Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex Runners-up Lewis Corner, South Fremantle, Western Australia; C. & A. Snelson, Middlesmoor,

FIRST, the ‘starter’ solution at 10 Down, can be linked with the other unclued lights, with it also appearing twice in ‘First things first’. First prize P.E. Berridge, Gosberton, Lincolnshire Runners-up John C. Edwards, Ightham, Kent; Professor Colin Ratledge, Beverley, E. Yorkshire

The works were Striding Folly (anagram of 11/22), Whose Body? (36/1D), The Nine Tailors (2/48), Strong Poison (9/30) and Gaudy Night (17/46). DOROTHY L. SAYERS (diagonally from the SW corner) was to be shaded. Title: anagram of LORD PETER WIMSEY who features in all five works. First prize Mark Rowntree, London SE10 Runners-up Mrs S.

WILD HORSES, the title of a track on STICKY FINGERS (1D) by the ROLLING STONES (12), defines the other unclued lights. First prize C.G. Millin, Ramleaze, Wilts Runners-up John Angel, Woodbridge, Suffolk; J. Anson, London SE5

The unclued lights can be preceded by JACK.   First prize Margaret Lusk, Preston, Lancs Runners-up P.D.H. Riddell, London SE23; Derek Willan, Gosport, Hants

In line with 10A, other unclued lights were anagrams of US states: 17A ILLINOIS; 29A MARYLAND; 35A UTAH; 7D TEXAS; 9D OREGON; 18D MINNESOTA; 33D MAINE. First prize Paul Davies, Reading, Berkshire Runners-up D.P. Shenkin, London WC1; Mrs J. James, Harrow, Middlesex