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 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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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/2/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (31/1/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 LIVER SPOT Skin blemish that’s usually brown or silver, disfigured large belly (5,4) Anagram of SILVER + POT 6 KAVA Some drink, a Vanuatuan beverage (4) drinK A VAnuatuan 10 GUEST Visitor took a … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 31/1/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (24/1/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 STAMINA Enduring strength shown by 70% of Tasmanians with conditioning (7) Anagram of (TASMANI)ans 5 PORTAL Sydney, say, a large point of access (6) PORT + A + L 8 LIPID Cover impregnated with … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 24/1/2026, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (17/1/2026) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 BIG TOP Dance around one great entertainment centre (3,3) BOP outside (I + GT) 5 PARABLE Lesson given by expert following average golf score (7) ABLE after PAR 10 AFTER SCHOOL CARE Teacher of … Continue reading
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