March 2026 Round Robin XVIII

 Round Robin XVIII - Tour Party by Arcadia

Quadrants start in the NW corner and move clockwise round the grid, with the direction of answers moving similarly, so Quadrant A's answers are across and down, Quadrant B's down and back, and so on.  Clues for each quadrant are in alphabetical order of their six-letter answers, which must be entered where they will fit; as must the four 12-letter entries, which pay tribute to a cruciverbalist scholar (three words) who generally eschews cartes blanches (two words). Solvers should show up (three words) congratulations on his achievements (three words). Chambers (2016) is the main reference. One entry is in Collins.

Quadrant A

That is either end of comic aboard take off for each one

Female goats supply kids

Erin somehow immersed in French first issue of Loki

Sweeper dusted boiler

Court decision in Poland accepted Conor's first appeal

Type of music appropriate for medley

Unusual variant of chips at L'Enclume for starters, served in special bowls

For some, privates could be gross when entering bed unclothed

Trump stops leaders of France and Spain overturning attack

Once feeling disgust at robbery, after money's taken

Quadrant B

Amongst Rodentia, no mice presenting social disorganisation

Chilled drink because Earl's entertaining (two words)

On reflection, do try backless dress for Ed

Sprinkler set off in taxi?

Sue may emerge from this mistreatment

Adelaide's acacias turning silver in squalid neighbourhood

Apropos of nothing, extremely eager to accept boring part

One acquiring tea leaves for ship's counter

Term for liquor – primarily one that gives upset tummy

Work clothes with special fabrics

Quadrant C

Sauce is revolting in octopus tacos

Eton's first form feed us on last of chocolate spread

Sole part's matching tempo

Mark, under pressure, picked up weapon

Scratching head, lioness writhes and perhaps roars

Intermittently, members of Oasis, if unhappy, ultimately turn to hard stuff?

Fisherman essentially functions without nets

Learns to accept extremely pernicious bacterial infections

Foot following surreptitious passages

An indication of little ones in a delivery system?

Quadrant D

Earlier, undying bird caught by Hoy's lamp?

Need for one enclosure in front of base

Insular forest-dwellers Napoleon's first encountered in Elba?

Call to witness truncated witchcraft trial

“Old South Whales” repulsed NSW citizens?

Singular biblical warrior covering head with archer's stance

Philosophers and saints imbibing nameless restorative

Maybe De Niro clipping a letter to portray accent?

Initially damp hay spread with this could become dehydrated

Sent to change Ebenezer Scrooge initially e.g. past, present and future

 To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th April 2026. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Remember to vote for your favourite 3 clues and I will offer a prize to the winning clue writer.

PDF copy

Clues, thanks to:

Adam Vellender, Alf Mullins, amoeba, Arcadia, buddy, Cagey, Craft, Dave Williams, David Thompson, David Whyte, Derek Harrison, Ed Powles, Edmund French, Ghoti, Gumboot, Hawk, Hedge-sparrow, Henri, Ian Simpson, Jonathan Owen, Nudd, John Nicholson, John Reardon, John Walsh, Keith Williams, Kevin MacDiarmid, Luciano Ward, Mad Dog, Paul Henderson, Peter Biddlecombe, Peter Smith, Philip Stevenson, Phylax, Rod Beards, Simon Griew, Simon Shaw, Skinny, Quotient, Steve Bartlett and Tim Coates