About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.
Monthly Archives: October 2026
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 17/10/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (10/10/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 FLEABITE A piece secured by bolt is a slight inconvenience (8) (A + BIT) inside FLEE 5 BALLAD Everyone sitting tight during dreadful song (6) ALL inside BAD 10 RIGHT What authors do in … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 10/10/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (3/10/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CACTUS Members of unsympathetic ACTU subdivision desert plant (6) unsympathetiC ACTU Subdivision 5 RACISTS Cold is contracted by strike-breakers and prejudiced people (7) (C + IS) inside RATS 9 DISCOUNTENANCE Cold treatment continues awkwardly … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 3/10/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (26/9/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SEETHING Observe matter in a highly agitated state (8) SEE +THING 5 HOBART Watering hole located in stormy centre of Australia (6) BAR inside HOT 9 ADDER Summer competition table without a definite leader … Continue reading
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