Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle October 2022

 Nemesis by Chalicea

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A rather cocky little fellow who appears in the first row of the grid speaks the words that circle the remainder of the perimeter. He tempts a number of characters who appear as entries in the grid. Solvers must highlight his nemesis.

Across

9 Will's equally conforming to law with Latin dropped at the start (6)

10 Drink beer regularly - excellent! (5)

11 Turned over germ cell, beginning of meal for bee-eater genus (6)

12 In Reunion, white ordinary soldier primarily treats military uniform (7)

13 Draught animal to weed round edges of rows (5)

14 Ingredient of varnish that is put back around spacecraft (5)

15 King accepted wine essentially: tribute in the past (4)

17 Conclusion of hostilities' constant peace following rage (9)

19 In Holyrood push Ethiopia's money (4)

22 Registers US resorts (not Cuba) (6)

24 Is my halo slipping ignoring start of your jokey way of describing addiction? (7)

25 Dilapidated almond shrub of wormwood genus (6, two words)

27 Subdue spirit of Perth's rather objectionable person (3)

28 Talk of queen, say, going round hospital (4)

29 Pale greenish part of shrubbery leaves (5)

30 Provide with equipment, also almost completely draw back (6, two words)

33 Nice friends to be objected to endlessly (4)

34 Some cynic advertised a rechargeable battery (5)

36 In Perth strips from time to time at library - ultimately shameless! (5)

37 Maybe sow potatoes in garden for starters (3)

38 Persistently follow mean scoundrel (3)

39 Wellington's soup of shellfish, cooked hare too (7)

Down

1 Brand of clingfilm used up wrapping Rand fruit (6)

2 Superficial appearance of German defeat (5)

3 Records elevated church tower losing time (6)

4 Binomial ABC I sorted out for book-lover (12)

5 Sovereign found in child's schoolbag? (5)

6 Critical study of former associate workers (6)

7 Briefly submerge amphibious vehicle (4)

8 Deities arise in tumult (5)

10 Curiously listen absorbing essentially merry snicker in Glamis (7)

16 Get discussion going about elevated river valley (3)

18 Angle to strengthen with an iron plate (4)

20 Shoe, we're told, fashionable sure-winner in Kentucky Derby (6))

21 Wife, might be one who swallowed a fly (7, two words)

22 Wrong pursuing former partner to obtain by coercion (6)

23 Salt coating in good, oddly edible Chinese tuber (7)

26 Covers spread around (6)

29 In Glasgow we polish up local job centre (5)

31 Japanese food you'd only sample (4)

32 Pale when hot and extremely dry (4)

35 Not completely acceptable to speak fondly (3)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the shaded nemesis,  to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th November 2022. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.