It’s been over 2 years since The Stickler was yanked by News Ltd. When I first thought of doing a weekly puzzle I searched for ways to get the word out to Stickler solvers and to a new audience both in Australia and across the world. A general search for “cryptic crosswords” in Australia yielded surprising results: the most interest was centred on U3As (Universities of the Third Age). Cryptic crossword classes were commonplace and sometimes there were beginners and advanced classes on offer. I made an effort to reach out to the tutors of these classes, either directly or through U3A offices, informing them of the crosswords and resources available at www.stickler.com.au. My hope was to get U3A cryptic classes doing The Stickler Weekly and the word would spread from there. It’s been a partial success, with a number of tutors including my work in their classes, and others happy to promote the website.
It’s clear that U3A interest continues to grow in cryptic crosswords as search results show more and more classes are being held. I’ve decided to make the Stickler experience more tangible by offering my services to these groups around the country in person. Subject to suitable interest shown by the U3As and other groups, I’ll be planning a series of road-trips that take in as many cryptic crossword classes and solving groups as possible. Solvers and tutors will be able to pick my brains in their regular classes, and U3As without a class will be able provide a taster to members through an introductory course. Prospective tutors can use me to help structure and plan classes and I’ll run special classes on any areas of cryptic crosswords that interest solvers. There will be no charge.
I’m not limiting this offer to just U3As – any organised cryptic crossword solving group can request my services. So if you are involved with a U3A or an organised cryptic crossword solving group, or any other group that might benefit from some cryptic counselling, please let me know. I’ll be sending out an email to the U3As that I’ve got contact details for with the above details soon. At this stage I’m looking for expressions of interest and feedback on the concept. If the response is good, and the resultant scope logistically feasible, it’ll happen.
The forum’s all yours…
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SOLECISM | |
| Exclusive computer language is first to make an error in syntax (8) | SOLE + C + IS + (M)AKE | |
| 5 | ROUTED | |
| Working vehicle, owned by staff, is thrashed (6) | UTE inside ROD | |
| 10 | MONARCH | |
| Head of state active in parade (7) | ON in MARCH | |
| 11 | OBTAINS | |
| Boat repaired in docks finally comes by (7) | Anagram of BOAT + IN + DOCK(S) | |
| 12 | LINGO | |
| Latin spirit behind popular foreign language (5) | L + (GO after IN) | |
| 13 | OPPORTUNE | |
| Piano used in remix of poor song is timely (9) | P inside anagram of POOR + TUNE | |
| 14 | TRACE ELEMENT | |
| Meet cleaner affected by trader’s lead and copper, for instance (5,7) | Anagram of MEET CLEANER + (T)RADER | |
| 18 | MADEMOISELLE | |
| French woman prepared one marinated in wine (12) | MADE + (I inside MOSELLE) | |
| 21 | EYESHADES | |
| Visors certainly had wedged in pocket of withdrawn witness (9) | (YES + HAD) inside (SEE reversed) | |
| 23 | MANGO | |
| Staff received pruned fruit tree (5) | MAN + (GO)T | |
| 24 | ITERATE | |
| Go over extent of white rat experiments (7) | whITE RAT Experiments | |
| 25 | BASSOON | |
| Barium’s in a minute instrument (7) | BAS + SOON | |
| 26 | LATTER | |
| Closing cafe’s offering starter of rabbit (6) | LATTE + (R)ABBIT | |
| 27 | PEDANTRY | |
| Quibbling nerd regularly seen in food store (8) | n(E)r(D) inside PANTRY | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SIMPLY | |
| Only child who does wrong things in secret (6) | IMP inside SLY | |
| 2 | LINING | |
| Some poplin in garment, perhaps? (6) | popLIN IN Garment | |
| 3 | CARTOGRAM | |
| Map got retrieved inside vehicle before drive (9) | (GOT reversed) inside (CAR + RAM) | |
| 4 | SCHOOLCHILDREN | |
| Introduction of history in old chronicles excited pupils (14) | (H)ISTORY inside anagram of OLD CHRONICLES | |
| 6 | OUTER | |
| Loudmouth not keeping quiet in spectator area (5) | SHOUTER minus SH | |
| 7 | TRIBUTES | |
| Honours guy obtained in university classes (8) | RIB inside TUTES | |
| 8 | DESSERTS | |
| Made a point of backing items tabled last (8) | STRESSED reversed | |
| 9 | COMPREHENSIBLE | |
| Resolution of Chinese problem is simple (14) | Anagram of CHINESE PROBLEM | |
| 15 | ECLAMPSIA | |
| One following lights, in view of expert, reversed, expecting problem (9) | (I after LAMPS) inside (ACE reversed) | |
| 16 | IMPERIAL | |
| I’m interested primarily in cultivated pearl of superior quality (8) | IM + (I)NTERESTED inside anagram of PEARL | |
| 17 | ADHERENT | |
| Tenacious head sorted out cost of living? (8) | Anagram of HEAD + RENT | |
| 19 | ON FOOT | |
| Running Os printed in new-style font (2,4) | (O + O) inside anagram of FONT | |
| 20 | COUNTY | |
| Part of a nation’s land with no river (6) | COUNTRY minus R | |
| 22 | HEAVE | |
| Enjoy taking ecstasy and throw up (5) | HAVE outside E |
