No 2666, Sunday 25 Dec 11

MERRY CHRISTMAS

ACROSS
1   - Pub against City in needle match (5,5) - LOCAL DERBY {LOCAL} {DERBY}
6   - Animal kept for breeding gets endless attention (4) - STUD STUDy
10 - Living in a town in Darfur, Bangladeshi (5) - URBAN [T]
11 - Almost risk bringing in Arab coach (9) - CHARABANC {CH{ARAB}ANCe}
12 - Stimulating drink (7) - CORDIAL [DD]
13 - Leaves foil, crumpled with time (7) - FOLIAGE {FOLI*}{ABE}
14 - Flag showing major shipping hazards (5,3,4) - STARS AND BARS {STAR}{S AND BARS} My COD

18 - There's talk of a bit of trouble during change-over (12) - CONVERSATION {CONVERS{A}{T}ION}
21 - Bird ran off in stadium (4,3) - BARN OWL {B{ARN*} OWL}

22 - A permit held by the sportsman (7) - ATHLETE {A}{TH{LET}E}
23 - Mushy peas and tripe starter (9) - APPETISER*
24 - Bar, stifling to staff (5) - BATON {BA{TO}N}
25 - The queen of Carthage accomplished nothing (4) - DIDO {DID}{O}
26 - What Bloomingdale's always has in? (10) - APOSTROPHE [CD]
DOWN
1   - Boat set afloat (6) - LAUNCH [DD]
2   - Poles caught sabre dancing (6) - CABERS {C}{ABERS*}

3   - Ageing, as the walrus undoubtedly is (4,2,3,5) - LONG IN THE TOOTH [DD]

4   - Former church leader's first to stand out (5) - EXCEL {EX}{CE}{L}
5   - Annual dinner of beef 'Santa' may provide (9) - BEANFEAST*
7   - Hothead showing sign of emotion at opponent's ground (8) - TEARAWAY {TEAR}{AWAY}
8   - Drop iron? (8) - DECREASE {DE-CREASE}
9   - Admitted as a barrister shouted for drinks? (6,2,3,3) - CALLED TO THE BAR [DD]
15 - Produces a meal at short notice - smashing result, with drink later (7,2) - RUSTLES UP {RUSTLE*}{S UP}
16 - One holds a sword - he won't strike poet (8) - SCABBARD {SCAB}{BARD}
17 - Fearless, I unwisely printed (8) - INTREPID {I}{NTREPID*}
19 - Socialist premier in tabloid (3-3) - RED-TOP {RED}-{TOP}

20 - Odd scene involving a session with a spiritualist (6) - SEANCE {SE{A}NCE*}
22 - A bishop, as seen in wall hanging (5) - ARRAS {A}{RR}{AS}