CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Claim a state hoards

copper and sulphur (7) 5 Oil group among thousands making money in Russia (6) 9 Utilitarianism’s proponent corrupted poor actor (7) 10 Julia is one concealing

affair (7) 11 Former Russian boss ejects singular sailor (3) 12 Mess here that’s sort of

cool and genteel (4,7) 13 Leave resort in

Adriatic (5) 14 Small firm returns to liaise somehow and meet people (9) 16 Exemplary poster on island border withdrawn (9) 17 Start cameras rolling here (5) 19 Tough characteristic of powerful batter (4-7) 22 Deer run out first in evening (3) 23 Lots here in uniform blocking director’s instruction (7) 24 Painter dislocates leg dealing with business (2,5) 26 Where to find clean clothing for surfing? (6) 27 Under the table, i.e. deeply drunk, having put away litres (3-4)

DOWN

1 Plant an assassin in Rome having promoted Republican (7) 2 It suggests Eric’s from

Panama perhaps (7,8) 3 Note reduced army

marching north (3) 4 Book in posh car

for dance (5) 5 Shortly dispatch old bike to get former unit (9) 6 Ring about rare item of

some value (5) 7 Superficial rush on line to acquire facelift maybe (8,7) 8 Primarily sore joints said to be a sign of flu? (6) 12 Record piece covered

by the Carpenters (5) 14 Import material (9) 15 Mike leaves gammon

boiling in between (5) 16 Monastic community

has rancid butter (6) 18 Position of advantage to see bishop departing (7) 20 Inspired by success, amateur reaches one part of Hispaniola (5) 21 Rocks at the front

freeze (3,2) 25 My half of horse? (3)