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.
Author Archives: David Stickley
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 14/3/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (7/3/2026) Solution
Across Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SPIRED One after special wine, like a church, possibly (6) (I after SP) + RED 5 BEMUSE Be first to make and run through puzzle (6) BE + (M)ake + USE 8 DISINFORMATION … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/3/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (28/2/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SEALANT It’s used to secure computers linked in an established centre (7) LAN inside SEAT 5 ATTIRED Dressed in clothes at flat (7) AT + TIRED 9 STAND AND DELIVER Did vandals enter in … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 28/2/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (21/2/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 INTROS Trendy class recalled opening passages of music (6) IN + (SORT reversed) 4 IMMORTAL Unforgettable time spent in base (8) T inside IMMORAL 10 MYSTERIES Strange events televised initially in my long-running TV … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 21/2/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (14/2/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 OFF THE RECORD Private – he put in effort changing line (3,3,6) HE inside anagram of EFFORT + CORD 9 CRAWL Some swimming enclosure that contains fish (5) Double Definition 10 VIRULENCE Rule broken … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 14/2/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (7/2/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 COOK STRAIT NZ channel throws together feature (4,6) COOKS + TRAIT 6 LIMO People mover is large in my opinion (4) L + IMO 10 DRAMA Theatre doctor, a man not fully extended (5) … Continue reading
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