Crossword solution

To 2126: Word Building

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

Solution to 2075: an outstanding idea?

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,

Solution to 2125: Nil desperandum

The part quotation was ‘BUT WESTWARD, LOOK, THE LAND’ (1/5/28) from Say not the struggle naught availeth by Arthur Hugh Clough. Remaining unclued lights, read from right to left (‘westward’), each contain a ‘land’: Libya (4), Oman (23), Iran (30), Cuba (35) and Italy (41). CLOUGH (in the fourth column) was to be shaded.   First

To 2124: Pack

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

To 2123: Go on then!

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

Solution to 2122: Theme and Variations

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

Solution to 2121: Take Care

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

Solution to 2120: Urban — or what?

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

Solution to 2119: Filial request

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

to 2118: Unreliable

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

to 2117: Highlands and islands

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

Solution to 2116: Splish splash

The part quotation was ‘WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE’ (15A/35/1D) from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by COLERIDGE (20). Remaining unclued lights, not in themselves indicating water, all consist of two parts that do: SEA/MED (3), KILL/DEE (6), MAIN/SPRING (19), PEE/WEE (30) and BURN BLUE (34D/25).   First prize Chris Edwards, Pudsey, Leeds Runners-up David Norwood,

solution to 2115: typos

Unclued lights are TYROS. Corrections of misprints (including one in the title) give the alternative title ROOKIES.   First prize E. Hogg, London SW13 Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; C.S.G. Elengorn, Enfield, Middlesex

Solution to 2114: MMCXIV/CCCII

The unclued lights are headwords in Brewer under the SEVEN heading. The title indicates the sum ‘2114 divided by 302 = 7’ and so solvers had to include ‘7’ or ‘seven’ alongside their submitted solution.   First prize Frank Maslen, London SW1 Runners-up Andrew James, Winchester; Dolf Mootham, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Solution to 2113: Recycling

The ‘circular chain’ (or RING CYCLE) of items was: RING CYCLE (anag of RECYCLING), GLYCERINE, GENERICAL, CAREENING, TANGERINE, ARGENTINA, WAGNERIAN, NORWEGIAN, ANGLE IRON, LOHENGRIN, RHEINGOLD, RE-FOLDING, GLORIFIED, FILIGREED, SIEGFRIED, REGICIDES, ISENERGIC, RECOGNISE, CONCIERGE, CRYOGENIC.  WAGNER, whose bicentenary fell on 22 May, replaced the answer WAURST at 46 across.   First prize Dr John Stabler, Fakenham,

Solution to 2112: Refer

Extra letters in clues give cancrine and Sotadean, both meaning PALINDROMIC, which describes each of the unclued lights and also the number and title of the puzzle.   First prize Chris James, Ruislip Manor Runners-up P. and R. Dacre, York; Hugh Schofield, Paris

2111: Father figures | 23 May 2013

The unclued lights are the four members of ABBA (which means ‘father’), at 11/21, 12/40, 16/7 and 39/10.   First prize Jason James, Cambridge Runners-up Mark Rowntree, London SE10; David Lumley, London SW5

Solution to 2110: resort

Unclued lights are anagrams of seaside resorts in southern England: Paignton (1A), Seaford (32), Margate (33), Ramsgate (40), Salcombe (7), Ryde (15), Looe (21) and Worthing (22D).   First prize Don Thompson, Bolton Runners-up A. Mulholland, Nottingham; Wilf Lewsey, East Leake, Loughborough

2109: Not Quite 50 Shades | 9 May 2013

Unclued lights were winners of the NOBEL PRIZE (11A) for literature and their works. Each work contained a colour in the title, explaining how to shade the answer: MY NAME IS RED (1D); THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK (19D); THE GREAT GOD BROWN (15D); THE GREEN HOUSE (35D).   First prize Jamie Staveley, London SW15 Runners-up Clare

Solution to 2108: Capital Fellows

The unclued lights are the surnames of the London WORTHIES, which had to be highlighted along the top row.   First prize Eleanor Parker, Broadstairs, Kent Runners-up Roger Baresel, London SW7; D.G. Page, Orpington, Kent