Dalibor’s crossword was one for the occasion and can be found here: Dalibor @ York 2015 .
So, if anyone still likes to give it a go, read no further.
Eight Across clues lacked a definition but could either be clued by FOX or ROMAN (with a nod to the venue, a great pub).
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1,17 | VULPES VULPES |
Regularly, slipper gets stuck in showy car when reversing twice (6,6)
[s]L[i]P[p]E[r] inside VUS (reversal, indicated by ‘when reversing’, of SUV (showy car, Sport Utility Vehicle)) – then doubled (‘twice’) Fox #1 |
| 5 | PEDESTAL |
Stand still finally after flying at speed (8)
(AT SPEED)* + [stil]L [* = flying] |
| 9 | SAMANTHA |
A Palestinian organisation going west to confiscate Bible books (8)
Reversal, indicated by ‘going west’, of: A + {HAMAS (Palestinian organisation) around NT (Bible books)} Fox #2 |
| 10 | EPIGON |
Bad imitator of farm animal’s a long time around (6)
EON (a long time) around PIG (farm animal) |
| 11 | SERAPHICAL |
Like Angels – somehow Charlie’s apparently included (10)
(CHARLIE’S)* around AP (apparently) [* = somehow] |
| 12,6 | CITY DWELLER |
Directly involved in Merkel’s world, wasting time? Quite the opposite (4,7)
(DIRECTLY)* around WEL[t] (Merkel’s (German word for) ‘world’, minus t (time)) – instead of the other way around Roman #1 |
| 13 | SLYBOOTS |
Review of Times wrapped in body waste (8)
Reversal, indicated by ‘review’, of: BY (times) inside STOOLS (body waste) Fox #3 |
| 16 | ROOTLE |
Grub available in hotel to order, partly sent back (6)
Hidden, indicated by ‘partly’, in: [hot]EL TO OR[der], then reversed (‘sent back’) |
| 17 |
See 1
|
|
| 19 | TYPEFACE |
Kind expression (8)
TYPE (kind) + FACE (expression) Roman #2 |
| 21 | ASTI |
Alcohol‘s not good for a Top Gear celebrity (4)
A + STI[g] (Top Gear celebrity, minus g (good)) |
| 22 | ABRAMOVICH |
British artist appears in adult film, ultimately banned by the Church (10)
{B (British) + RA (artist)} inside {A (adult) + MOVI[e] (film, ultimately banned)} + CH (church) Roman #3 |
| 25 | BAFFLE |
Airline nearly flew across France (6)
{BA (airline, British Airways) + FLE[w]} around F (France) Fox #4 |
| 26 | POLANSKI |
Cold War ultimately ignored by National Board (8)
{POLAR (cold) minus [wa]R} + N (national) + SKI (board) Roman #4 |
| 27 | FALL FLAT |
Force no one to be slim? Eating will in the end have no effect (4,4)
F (force) + ALL FAT (no one to be slim) around [wil]L |
| 28 | SPLASH |
First signs of Sex Pistols’ beat causing a stir (6)
S[ex] P[istols] + LASH (beat) |
| Down | ||
| 2 | UKASE |
Ruling Great Britain and Northern Ireland like Spain (5)
UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) + AS (like) + E (Spain) |
| 3 | PLAYA |
Activity to get over a natural depression (5)
PLAY (activity) + A |
| 4 | SATCHMO |
Old musician with upset stomach (7)
(STOMACH)* [* = upset] |
| 5 | PRANCES |
Showing empty pitcher with one’s name engraved is showing off (7)
P[itche]R + {ACE’S (one’s) with N (name) inside} |
| 6 |
See 12 Across
|
|
| 7 | SWITCH OFF |
Stop paying attention to very, very loud gripping woman who’s spellbinding (6,3)
{SO (very) + FF (very loud)} around WITCH (woman who’s spellbinding) |
| 8 | APOSTOLIC |
Capitol so ruthless in connection with the Pope (9)
(CAPITOL SO)* [* = ruthless] |
| 14 | LOUISIANA |
4 shortly welcomes Scotsman in LA (9)
LOUIS A[rmstrong] (4 shortly, i.e. Satchmo (4d) = Louis Armstrong, then shortened) around IAN (Scotsman) |
| 15 | BE PAINFUL |
If plan B leads to European Union breaking up, hurt is the result (2,7)
(IF PLAN B E[uropean] U[nion])* [* = breaking up] |
| 18 | SCAFELL |
Small restaurant overlooking lakes and hilltop (7)
S (small) + CAFE (restaurant) + L,L (lakes) |
| 19 | TAR SPOT |
Black mark for sailors with marijuana (3,4)
TARS (sailors) + POT (marijuana) |
| 20 | PIMPLES |
Red marks from politician with loads of money around (7)
PILES (loads of money) around MP (politician) |
| 23 | VINYL |
New York Dolls rejecting all covers after six records (5)
{NY (New York) + [do]L[ls]} coming after VI (six) |
| 24 | COKES |
Former athlete’s swallowing a thousand soft drinks (5)
COE’S (fomer athlete’s) around K (a thousand) |
Why hasn’t this guy been snapped up by one of the nationals? His technique is solid, he writes good surfaces and he’s original. This puzzle is light years ahead of one puzzle that appeared in a national paper (very} recently!
Yes, this was a excellent puzzle which I enjoyed solving on the day with the group at my table.
Agree with the above comments. Nice use of theme and a very enjoyable solve.
Late to the party as ever but I add my congratulations also. After VULPES VULPES I feared we were in for obscure names for foxes so a pleasant surprise when the lovely Samantha turned up. Sound and interesting clues throughout and great fun.
I echo the first comment: Dalibor’s more than proved his worth so why can’t we have him in broadsheet puzzles?