The Sunday Crossword No 3294, Sunday 18 Feb 2024

ACROSS

1   Highest in command initially skirts the issues (6) TOPICS {TOP}{In}{Co...d}{Sk...s}

4   Set point – fantastic – let's pick up the pace (4,2,2) STEP ON IT*

9   Clergyman rejected nonsense by idiot (6) PASTOR {ROT}{SAP}<=

10 Taunt accepted by Dad in France, English being distinguished (8) PEDIGREE {PE{DIG}RE}{E}

12 No, I engendered flipping contempt (8) DERISION {NO 1}{SIRED}<=

13 Sleep with partners in largish numbers (6) DOZENS {DOZE}{NS}

15 Refuse to camp: hope for resort and welcoming spa at the outset (7,4) COMPOST HEAP {TO+CAMP+HOPE}* over {Spa}

18 Delivering while almost asleep (8,3) DROPPING OFF [DD]

21 More painful part of stomach, i.e. reticulum (6) ACHIER [T]

22 When irritated, interfere after rector's left one of the Canaries (8) TENERIFE INTErFERE*

24 Something African National Congress tabled in opposing Nationalists, primarily? (8) SANCTION Acrostic &lit

25 Punctilious Detective Inspector leaves area (6) STRICT diSTRICT

26 Fantastic Island that can be seen in comics (8) SUPERMAN {SUPER}{MAN}

27 In the East End, he got up and wiped out? (6) ERASED (~ 'e raised)

DOWN

1   Audio kit packeted ham-fistedly (4,4) TAPE DECK*

2   Kind of tense, drive over island for meat (8) PASTRAMI {PAST}{RAM}{I}

3   Everyman, perhaps mad, drew otters dancing (9,6)  CROSSWORD SETTER {CROSS}{DREW+OTTERS}*

5   Even movement of the ocean reported (4) TIED (~tide)

6   Carton half open, reptiles scurrying: nasty thing to receive in the mail (6-3,6) POISON-PEN LETTER {carTON+OPEN+REPTILES}*

7   Drinks slowly in harbours (6) NURSES [DD]

8   The Ivy's serving tripe – but only starters, I believe (6) THEIST {THE}{Ivy}{Se...g}{Tr..e}

11 Loading area in which you might go bust (7) PONTOON [DD]

14 Parts of beans that are used for worship (7) TEMPLES [DD]

16 Institute enshrined in the law finally validates insurance documents (8) POLICIES {POLIC{I}E}{v...eS}

17 Got to camp (8) AFFECTED [DD]

19 Cowboys use these in Dallas so sparingly (6) LASSOS [T]

20 Exercise in the gym? Don't look so sad (4-2) CHIN-UP [DD]

23 Up to now, Romeo not seen in comfy spot (4) SOFA SO FAr

Reference List

Dad in France = PERE, English = E, Partners = N,S, Rector = R, Island = I, Institute = I, Romeo = R

No 14100, Saturday 17 Feb 2024, Afterdark

ACROSS

1   Source in soldiers' training field... (7,6) ASSAULT COURSE {SOURCE}* [RA]

10 ...surrendered as per heartless order in a bizarre decision primarily (9) ABDICATED {DICtATE} in {A}{Bi...e}{De...n}

11 One taking cover from a mammal... (5) COATI {1}<=>{COAT}

12 ... allowed at Florida Keys, say (5) ISLET {IS LET}

13 Close school at Spain, talented one is expelled (9) SECRETIVE {S}{E}{CREaTIVE}

14 Rechristen king at England? Amen everywhere (6) RENAME {R}{E}{AMEN*}

16 Unusual to let go of female for some rum that's diluted (5) RUNNY {-f+r)RUNNY

19 Marriage on 1/1/1 ending early (5) UNION {ON}<=>{UN}{1}{1}

20 Avoid fish fed with some yeast having phosphorus (6) BYPASS {B{Ye..t}{P}ASS}

25 Use of money for a certain purpose for fringe characters to develop knocked often (4-5) RING-FENCE {FRINGE}*{kNoCkEd}

26 Singer seen in promos sabotaged shows in retribution (5) BASSO [T<=]

27 Difficult to blend... (5) CROSS [DD]

28 ...all fats, kale tips possibly with petiole (9) LEAFSTALK {ALL+FATS+KalE}*

29 Only our fine to set free? No way (3,2,4,4) NOT ON YOUR LIFE*

DOWN

2   Relegate team position (8) SIDELINE {SIDE}{LINE}

3   A small young horse with tip of tail clipped at racecourse (5) ASCOT {A}{S}{COlT}

4   Current and old top songs on television primarily (6) LATEST {LATE}{So..s}{Te...n}

5   Hermes's staff beat up accused stealing some umbricelli (8) CADUCEUS {ACCUSED}* over {Um...i}

6   In Delhi, chacha and aunt frequently left yard in a soiled manner (9) UNCLEANLY {UNCLE}{AuNt}{L}{Y}

7   Delirious to leave London district stable (6) STATIC ecSTATIC

8   Auditor with the help of last vendor got salmon eggs (6) CAVIAR {CA}{VIA}{v...oR}

9   Wanted new idea to win first match (5) AIMED {AI{Ma..h}ED*}

15 Announcement by man & wife on losing weight before Easter essentially by order (9) MANIFESTO {MAN}{wIFE}{eaSTer}{O}

17 Make light of daughter's personal hobby (8) DOWNPLAY {D}{OWN}{PLAY}

18 Say, Sir John to lose control almost on employees (8) FALSTAFF {FALl}{STAFF}

21 Weird there's nothing good in spot (6) SPOOKY {SP{O}{OK}Y}

22 Fraud seen in that rickshaw... (5) TRICK [T]

23 ...completely in tatters primarily with glasses covering tension (2,4) IN TOTO {IN}{Ta...s}{O{T}O}

24 Fantastic lake right near university in a place in Ladakh (6) LEKARU {LAKE*}{R}{U} Something wrong here.as there is no such word or place. The place in Ladakh is just KARU

26 Herb is basically bawling like a lady (5) BASIL {Ba...g}{AS}{1}{L}

Reference List

School = S, Spain = E, King = R, England = E, Female = F, Small = S, Left =- L, Yard = Y, Weight = W, Order = O, Daughter = D, Glasses = OO, Tension = T, Right = R, University = U, Lady = L