Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle March 2023

 High Bar by Hawk

PDF version

6 Down gives wordplay for a linked pair of words written side by side; the answer must be jumbled before entry and highlighted. Other wordplay-only clues lead to six similar pairings. Solvers must highlight whole, symmetrically positioned rows or columns of the completed grid which are jumbles of these. 20 other clues contain an extra word to be removed before solving. Paired in clue order, extra words provide 10 further thematic jumbles. Highlighted cells on the perimeter contain a final jumble, to be solved and written below the grid (two words). The Chambers Dictionary (2016) is the default source. 37A is in Brewer’s Dictionary. 23D is in the Oxford Dictionary of English.

Wordplay-only

6 Bakers left upset with negative press

a Against feeding spinach to half-cut kid

b Fashion designer's entertaining press: "Are gloves making a comeback?"

c Letter from India, say, in magazine

d Pancakes scoffed by last people

e Rubber device that amplifies first language

f Stumble on capsized inflatable in rocky bay

Across

1 Clumsy Aunt Lisa overturned can of spit (7)

7 Spider monkey grabbing skimpy thong retreats (6)

11 Lobes of net capturing, in inverted commas, fish (8)

13 Runaways returning only by secured cargo (7)

14 Good reason to retire slaves (5)

15 Simple man's piety criticised, as unruly youth is ripped off (4)

16 Will's father tolerated medieval salt (7)

17 Make glittering review of stimulant at back of magazine (7)

20 Hall's through, after second grand slam goes off (5)

21 Flies circling tent anchors (7)

22 Coral Cup amateur trial's finisher whinnied in the ring, maybe (7)

26 Recipe leaving ailed angler dashing for early doctor (5)

30 Linnean Society audience first administers holy rite (7)

31 Old supplement outlines leaf identifications (7)

33 Saw wide despatched by, finally, Joe Root's inspiring upward drive (4)

35 Highly moody characters in final tour (5, two words)

36 Remembers checks you shouldn't have stopped (7)

37 Old cartoon dog in submersible craft (8, two words)

38 Festive event not hollow, like some 18th-century music (6)

39 Novelty lugs displayed by assorted bridge players (7)

Down

1 Local fixes railways by Princes Street (6)

2 Goddess's slave girl regularly accompanying nursemaid (6)

3 Look from afar dismissing father's indistinct appearance (4)

4 English vessel welcomes Orkney’s sounds (4)

5 Fifty balancing item from right to left, say (6)

7 Like a royal sword being destroyed (6)

8 Every so often legal speed's reduced (5)

9 Speaker is avoiding shorter composition (6)

10 Swedish bank leases properties (6)

12 Paints label in agreeable letters (7)

17 Banned Peg from dissecting sick birds (7)

18 Heading off to bind part of foot (4)

19 Trim regressive gene in leg defect (4)

22 Keeping a teacher's course notes, old man splits after college (6)

23 Dutch replaces English in seven laterally-inscribed aboriginal languages (6)

24 Fine piece of music in the post (6)

25 Ancient Jewish brother being born (6)

27 Corrects English maître d' following new season's starter (6)

28 More than one voter is wallowing in apprehension (6)

29 Limes, French garlic & greens served up (5)

32 Scouse's junk email sent with name removed (4)

34 Island state queuing up, to some extent (4

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image,  or in list format, giving the highlighted entries and the solution below the grid  to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th April 2023. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.