Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle March 2024

 RR XVI - At Sixes and Sevens

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In an effort to be as fair as possible to clue writers, each was allocated a plain clue to a seven-letter answer. However, the grid proved too difficult to build, so for 12 answers the first six letters are used ‘at sixes and sevens’ to make a new Chambers entry. The last letters of these answers could be arranged to form the unclued centre row, which was a consideration for the title. Solvers should highlight another Chambers entry, crossing the centre row, that likewise could cryptically explain the 12 modifications (8 cells).

The Chambers 13th edition is the primary reference.

Across

  1 Committee initially to interrogate quiet believer in positivism

  5 A fuss about actuaries’ failure of recognition

11 Fasten vessel carrying Scottish preserve (2 words)

13 Those who ramble are getting more confused about Rishi Sunak, primarily

14 Element of logic in a grower turning chemical-free

15 Suffering single mum’s after prime beef cut?

16 Brief text I, for one, answer about old prejudices

17 A habit's redesigned for religious adherent

18 Said about university furnished with sculpted forms

19 Comparatively speedy replacing whiskey with new dram

23 Surprisingly learn MP admitted he’s a sucker?

27 Caught eating cat, occasionally canines will be hurling

32 Encounter's commencement is sealed by a glove shaken about and put down (2 words)

33 Casino's gutted, fleeced by unerring gambler ultimately becoming flusher

34 Thick bread left to cut bread slices

35 Silver regularly missing, thus arranged detectives

36 Bishop against women in places of worship

37 Nothing less (nothing gained) - that's not looking promising

38 College function holding another finale

39 Cartoon characters made for lively dance

Down

  1 Cerebral structures one found in layers

  2 Will’s boat shifted TNT with care

  3 Desire place overlooking lake for everyday work

  4 Put too much text in books about poetry

  6 Worry about craving for cake decoration

  7 Biting off each end of twig as medication

  8 Our site's dilapidated - shabbiest in Glasgow

  9 Sit pens haphazardly on instruments

10 Greedy horse in house is starting to hallucinate

11 African singer, live in Costa Rica, intoned sacred syllable by clubs

12 Fix dye in fading raincoat

20 Managed to detain evil criminal in part of fortress

21 Start to hope potters lacking money still produce on the black market?

22 Big easy golfer works around poor lies, but they leave sour taste

23 An example of this is kinda rising sound overwhelming Ligeti's boundaries

24 Mealtimes are disturbed as this wind blows

25 Softly a sexy European pinched near the ear

26 Distilled oil and trace nutrient eyesight requires primarily

28 One applying finishing touches to rug woven by old queen

29 Such a shaggy look for Irish pet

30 Ignorant preacher, following mass, omitting chapter from translation of extract

31 Nieces excited about introduction to Ruby Wax 

Entries
To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the final entries to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th April 2024. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Voting
You may vote for your favourite clue with your entry. You can just nominate one clue, which will be awarded 3 points, or your top three which will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points. The person whose clue accumulates the most points will receive a prize, which also has been donated by the Crossword Centre.

Clues by…

…Anax, Steve Bartlett, David Beamish, Rod Beards, Brian Betker, Kieran Callaghan, Chalicea, Conto, John Covenhope, Simon Griew, Derek Harrison, Hawk, Richard Heald, Helen Heath, Hedge-sparrow, Karla, Chris Lancaster, Loonapick, John Nolan, Kevin McDermid, Mertytsetesh, Mr E, Pandiculator, Bhalchandra Pasupathy, Phylax, Ed Powles, Nick Pursey, Sowmya Ramkumar, Skinny, Simon Shaw, Ian Simpson, Peter Smith, Sprout, Robert Teuton, Colin Thomas, David Thompson, Trigot, Verbascum, George Walker, John Walsh, Luciano Ward and Keith Williams.