Solving time: 15-20 minutes
These comments are written after a look back at the puzzle with answers – I discarded my original copy as I forgot I was supposed to be writing this. I found this puzzle rather easier than the last couple of Scorpions – maybe because I’m getting more used to his style.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 3 | STAGE = (gets a )*,COACH – ref. the film that made John Wayne famous. |
| 9 | R(OUNDNES = (nudes on)*)S |
| 11 | MA(rat)HON – capital of Menorca – a British dependency for part of the 17th century, by the way. |
| 12 | CONSIDERATENESS – ON SIDE = “leg area” in certain*, with run-out as anag. indicator |
| 14 | GALWAY = “Gaul”,way – ref. the ‘man with the golden flute’. |
| 15 | SE(ASHE)ELL – another 70s celeb here – Wimbledon champ Arthur Ashe. |
| 17 | O.S.,WEST,RY |
| 19 | GOBBLE – letter swap in ‘gobble’ |
| 22 | BAR,BAR,A(CAST)LE – with “MP departed” as the def. |
| 25 | SNAKEBITE – (in basket)*, hom(E) |
| 26 | CUR(RYPAST=patry’s*)E – up = anag. indicator |
| Down | |
| 1 | DARLING,TO,N = oNe’s heart. |
| 2 | CO(UN,C,I)L |
| 4 | THE,Si,S |
| 5 | GAS METER – cryptic def. |
| 6 | COMPASSIONATE – pass = BALL (soccer), in (tie, Monaco)* |
| 10 | DENTAL SURGERY – cryptic def |
| 16 | GREA(T)SE,A – an old term for the Med. |
| 18 | WEBSTER – 2 defs, one referring to Noah W. |
| 21 | B.A.,SALT – ‘academic’ for a mere B.A. seems a tad generous! |
I still find Scorpion about the hardest Indy setter, though I did finish this one a little faster than some previous ones, but still much slower that the average Indy. The setter has a very distinctive style.
Found the original copy today – actual solving time was 19:54.