No 2588, Sunday 06 Jun 10

An excellent crossword with some lovely clues, got only a couple in the first pass but later they started tumbling in
ACROSS
1 - God of love after a ballot (6) – {A}{POLL}{O}
4 - Ethnic, first in box in court case (6) – {TRI{B}AL}
8 - Some tinsel, at Christmas, in bar (5) – LATCH [T]
9 - Divert sports team approaching course (9) – {SIDE}{TRACK}
11 - Suitable, "Feelings", a pop single (4,10) – {GOOD} {VIBRATIONS}

13 - Intensely serious, boy describing adult (7) – {E{A}RNEST}
15 - Fancy goods originally imported by one US state (7) – {I}{MA{G}INE}
16 - Remarkably smooth northern newspaper proprietor (7) – {THOMSO*}{N}
18 - Understands article in rag's racy (7) – {GA{THE}RS*}
20 - Both row rowboat unsuitably loaded (5,1,3,2,3) – WORTH A BOB OR TWO*
23 - Mater's rewritten: Mother, with a capital (9) – {AMSTER*}{DAM}
24 - Confine one male brought in drunk (5) – {L{I}{M}IT}
25 - Make a journey with French composer after end of concert (6) – {T}{RAVEL}
26 - Here's the spinner - there'll be flipping ducks again! (6) – SPIDER <-
DOWN
1 - Piece of music composed to greet all (10) – ALLEGRETTO*
2 - Defeat old-fashioned party (5) – {OUT}{DO}
3 - Composer shown round very European port (2,5) – {LE HA{V}R}{E}
5 - Note girl drinking drop of sparkling wine (7) – {RE}{T{S}INA}
6 - Beans are, I suspect, served up in a sauce (9) – BEARNAISE* never heard of this sauce before
7 - Enjoy the same thing (4) – LIKE [DD]
9 - Second-rate vessel in need of flag (11) – {SUB}{STANDARD}
10 - Sketch popular stable lad in reception area (7,4) – {DRAW}{IN}{G ROOM}
12 - Nobleman holding a dart and a toy weapon (10) – {PE{A}{SHOOT}ER}

14 - Ashore, son plays in a North Wales resort (4-2-3) – RHOS ON SEA*
17 - Defiant remark made by chronic drunkard in this place (2,5) – {SO} {T HERE}
19 - Tart, upper part containing bread (7) – {T{ROLL}OP}
21 - Faint-hearted gloomy Italian turned up (5) – {TI}{MID} <-
22 - Record throw (4) – CAST [DD] ?

GRID

No 9861, Saturday 05 Jun 10, Sankalak

Literal cake walk today, except for 14A.
ACROSS
1   - Draw a circle round a dealer in stolen goods, for a complete barricade (4-5) - {RING}-{FENCE}
5   - Stopped without starting and relaxed (5) - cEASED
8   - Tin toque redesigned but just short of what it should be (3,5) - NOT QUITE*
9   - Fights over leftover pieces of food (6) - SCRAPS [DD]
11 - A willow that is very big? That is right (5) - {OS}{IE}{R}
12 - Take it or leave it (9) - ULTIMATUM [E]

13 - Take in a popular joke, say (6) - {IN}{GEST}(~jest)
14 - The queen, anyone can see, is wearing pure sky blue (8) - {C{ER}{U}LEAN}

16 - Such surgery can improve looks (8) - COSMETIC [CD]
18 - Sheridan's competitors (6) - RIVALS [CD]
22 - He won't do a day's work perhaps (4-5) - PART-TIMER &lit

23 - Girl of the month (5) - APRIL [DD]
24 - Father, but not necessarily an elderly person (3,3) - OLD MAN [CD]
25 - Crawly creature that I may drop in confusion (8) - MYRIAPOD*

26 - How Shropshire was also spelt differently, ending with ‘p' (5) - {SALO*}{P}
27 - Desk-bound, needs arty make-up (9) - SEDENTARY*
DOWN
1   - Decorative art on Indian house front (7) - RANGOLI [E]

2   - The contents of vacuum (7) - NOTHING [E]
3   - Change fifty careful men spot in a source of light (11,4) - {F{L}UORESCENT LAMP}*
4   - Umpire's decision allowing the batsman to bat on (3,3) - NOT OUT [E]

5   - Banishment of old partner with a message (15) - {EX}{COMMUNICATION}
6   - Let's eat out here in Washington (7) - SEATTLE*
7   - They collect rubbish from Delhi University people crossing street (7) - {DU}{ST}{MEN}
10 - Article in Emergency Room that can put people to sleep (5) - {E{THE}R}
15 - A thousand soldiers upset by Greek character (5) - {SIG}{M}{A}<-

16 - Generous officer, religiously devout (7) - {CO}{PIOUS}
17 - Baked dish from Ulster, cooked with a drop of Drambuie (7) - {STRU{D}EL*}
19 - Old Roman general who had a hold over Pennsylvania (7) - {A}{GRIP}{PA}
20 - Agent carrying treated gold is stained (7) - {SP{LODG*}Y}
21 - Worn out at the edges, like temper waiting to flare up (6) - FRAYED [CD]

GRID