First time entrant takes prize

THE winner of The Northern Echo's Champagne Christmas Crossword is a first time entrant from Darlington.

Chris White, a 56-year-old civil servant at Mowden Hall, said: "Val, my wife, enters every year but this was my first time. She does the wordsearch every Saturday and the crosswords every day."

As well as being helped by Val, Chris of Claxton Avenue was assisted in tackling the giant puzzle by his Aunt Flo, Florence Deacon of Trinity Road.

"They were all there on Christmas afternoon with their dictionaries spread out all over the table," said Laura, Chris' 25-year-old daughter. He also has a son, Gary, 22.

The most difficult clue was "derived from observed facts" which looked like a jumble of letters but, with internet help, turned out to be "a posteriori", a Latin philosophical term.

They also struggled with the clue "sleep during summer" which required the answer "aestivate".

Here are the complete answers:

THE SOLUTIONS

Across
2. Coracle, 7. Spangle, 12. Lobelia, 17. Curates, 22. Holy, 23. Aesop, 24. Nervy, 25. Nacho, 26. Urea, 27. Secular, 28. Rarebit, 29. Marimba, 30. Seaweed, 31. Debt, 33. Sushi, 36. Run-up, 37. Loopy, 39. Stem, 42. Armed, 44. Aggrieve, 45. Healthy, 47. Xebec, 49. Gerund, 50. Distil, 51. Emit, 54. Small ad, 56. Day bed, 57. Blow a fuse, 60. Aestivate, 63. Esteem, 65. Cerise, 66. Nag, 68. Adagio, 70. Allege, 71. Satay, 72. Rhapsody, 76. Snapshot, 79. Spank, 80. Sell, 83. Beady, 85. Erato, 86. Bytes, 89. Curs, 91. Ocarina, 92. Per diem, 93. Unaware, 94. Coolish, 95. Tent, 96. Noise, 97. Ether, 98. Satyr, 99. Etui, 100. Unclean, 101. Roughen, 105. Cripple, 109. Interns, 110. Silo, 113. Lip, 115. See, 116. Beam, 118. Free time, 119. Brews, 120. Stale, 121. Neediest, 122. Exodus, 123. Sepia, 124. Evens, 125. Scampi, 126. Flat, 127. Opt, 128. Extra, 129. Nan, 130. Alibi, 131. Tie, 132. Eros, 133. Hawser, 135. Meant, 136. Thumb, 137. Dressy, 139. Stories, 142. Venue, 144. Owe, 145. Lisle, 147. Cheaper, 151. Lens, 152. Tackle, 154. Erratum, 157. Dissent, 160. Sicken, 163. Tone, 164. Grief, 167. Aegis, 169. Pueblo, 170. Ethical, 173. Atolls, 174. Fiance, 175. Affairs, 178. Static, 179. Alms, 180. Eta, 181. Awn, 182. Sate, 183. Eat in, 185. Glassful, 187. Aigrette, 188. Rabbi, 190. Caps, 193. Bated, 194. Terms, 195. Outer, 196. Saul, 198. Helen, 199. Atomic, 201. Sudoku, 202. Simian, 204. Dexterity, 206. Consensus, 207. String bean, 209. Bless, 211. Gamer, 212. Knee-length, 217. On the make, 220. Sacrifice, 223. Auntie, 224. Avocet, 225. Yuppie, 226. Laird, 228. Noon, 229. Boron, 230. Slant, 232. Nurse, 233. Gift, 235. Aloud, 236. Disposed, 237. Take heed, 238. Theme, 239. Earn, 242. Ere, 244. Mac, 246. Gibe, 248. Anther, 250. Essence, 252. Crocus, 253. Attire, 254. Precede, 256. Enlist, 258. Psych, 259. Imbed, 260. Ramp, 263. Keynes, 265. Recycle, 269. Dogstar, 273. Shears, 274. Tabu, 276. Appoint, 277. Photo, 278. Ave, 279. Elect, 280. Charmer, 281. Sleaze, 283. Airer, 284. Pails, 285. Antler, 288. Used, 289. Lop, 290. Easel, 291. Sol, 292. Tamer, 293. Ohm, 295. Veal, 296. Oxford, 297. Fifth, 298. Envoi, 299. Dim sum, 300. Jerrycan, 301. Opera, 302. Canto, 303. Accolade, 304. Lees, 306. Eat, 308. Emu, 310. Mode, 313. Urinate, 314. Queerer, 318. Ascetic, 322. Peeping, 323. Golf, 324. Adieu, 325. Creed, 326. Lingo, 327. Elan, 328. Flare up, 329. Otalgia, 330. Reroute, 331. Capstan, 332. Bias, 334. Tweet, 337. Naira, 338. Aargh, 341. Tide, 344. Titus, 346. Land mine, 348. Scissors, 350. Brush, 352. Exceed, 353. Strand, 354. Yew, 356. Poodle, 357. Herein, 358. Emphasise, 361. Abundance, 364. Yahweh, 366. Calibre, 367. So-so, 369. Riches, 371. Cantab, 372. Total, 373. Tipster, 377. Outguess, 380. Stood, 381. Sale, 384. Sylph, 386. Erupt, 387. Aerie, 390. Sane, 392. Vestige, 393. Absorbs, 394. Lignify, 395. Provoke, 396. Huge, 397. Raven, 398. Eerie, 399. Sinai, 400. Nook, 401. Roulade, 402. Element, 403. Gestapo, 404. Culprit.

Down
1. Fore, 2. Cyst, 3. Record, 4. Called, 5. Ears, 6. Isis, 7. Sprig, 8. Aircrew, 9. Gable, 10. Entrees, 11. Brunei, 12. Lymph, 13. Burka, 14. Limit, 15. Analyst, 16. Echo, 17. Cosy, 18. Reared, 19. Teemed, 20. Suds, 21. Were, 31. Digress, 32. Borstal, 34. Untwine, 35. Halberd, 38. Poleaxe, 40. Tableau, 41. Madness, 42. Andes, 43. Dicey, 46. Lei, 47. X-axis, 48. Caulk, 52. Men, 53. Tag, 55. Meaty, 58. Ova, 59. Foolish, 61. Thalami, 62. Ash, 64. Maraschino, 65. Canine teeth, 67. Apathy, 69. Opportunity, 70. Antifreeze, 73. Hyper, 74. Perdu, 75. Yemeni, 76. Source, 77. Scalp, 78. Obese, 81. Electrolyte, 82. Lotus-eaters, 83. Banns, 84. Axial, 87. Title, 88. Scrim, 89. Cheshire cat, 90. Rough-spoken, 102. Overtone, 103. Gossamer, 104. Elephant, 106. Revenues, 107. Passable, 108. Leafiest, 111. Indus, 112. Observe, 114. Phantom, 115. Scented, 116. Besides, 117. Agate, 134. Abaft, 138. Shear, 139. Slipper, 140. Once, 141. Enrol, 143. Ursa Major, 146. Intention, 148. Hoist, 149. Port, 150. Reactionary, 152. Tees, 153. Knit, 155. Acoustic, 156. Umlaut, 158. Iritis, 159. Sonorous, 161. Claw, 162. Ness, 164. Glance, 165. Flag Day, 166. Gaseous, 168. Sterling, 171. Heebie-jeebies, 172. Canthi, 176. Factor, 177. Intransigence, 184. Thereunto, 186. Leasehold, 187. Amendment, 189. Bain-marie, 191. And, 192. Sixteen, 196. Sibling, 197. USA, 200. Count, 201. Sulky, 203. Abracadabra, 205. Tat, 208. Tea, 210. Skin-deep, 213. Neo, 214. Garden, 215. Handset, 216. Top secret, 217. Oenology, 218. Eugenics, 219. Ephemeral, 220. Send-ups, 221. Chrome, 222. Elf, 227. Attend, 230. Sequel, 231. Tattoo, 234. Centaur, 240. Arson, 241. Neck, 243. Rein, 245. Acne, 246. Gems, 247. Beech, 249. Tamp, 251. Shell, 255. Dirge, 257. Imam, 261. A posteriori, 262. Powder puffs, 264. Speedos, 265. Rousseau, 266. Coalface, 267. Carefree, 268. Earshot, 269. Deplete, 270. Grievous, 271. Testicle, 272. Renminbi, 273. Stardom, 274. Travel agent, 275. Bed and board, 281. Spontaneous, 282. Awoke, 286. Tumid, 287. Roman Empire, 289. Lactic acid, 294. Mackintosh, 304. Leapt, 305. Elite, 307. Arcane, 309. Madras, 311. Owner, 312. Epoch, 314. Quota, 315. Eland, 316. Regains, 317. Petite, 319. Carrion, 320. Truss, 321. Clear, 332. Bye-byes, 333. Alcohol, 335. Wearily, 336. Elder, 339. Asperse, 340. Gnocchi, 342. Inertia, 343. Ennoble, 344. Tenet, 345. Steal, 347. Nap, 349. Own, 350. Blues, 351. Hexad, 354. Yes, 355. Was, 359. Methane, 360. Ass, 362. Bootleg, 363. Alumina, 365. Honshu, 366. Carina, 368. Oeuvre, 370. Stroll, 371. Colour, 374. Passe, 375. Torte, 376. Reset, 378. Togas, 379. Say-so, 382. Ague, 383. Ever, 384. Sere, 385. Levy, 388. Rind, 389. Epic, 390. Sent, 391. Neon.