Across
  1. Air can swirl around this group. (6)
  4, 36 ac. Fuss after dung beetle makes for small group. (6)
  7. Victory in Europe and Los Angeles for this group. (4)
11. Māori dancing ball and Hawaiian dish. (3)
13. Thanks to know one name cheated. (5,2)
14. I’m trapped by broken paint drums. (7)
15. Space for formal occasions to toast more converts. (9)
16. Sends out points about major U.S. college. (5)
17. Wire service we follow to see group. (4)
18. See 24 ac.
19. Descriptive of icy wind from both poles at an arm-length. (5)
22. It’s big in New York, but massive in Cupertino. (5)
24, 18 ac. Judaic ceremony with oxen once – they’re used for defenses. (8)
25. Group initially participated and volunteered often. (4)
28. Moment Reagan becomes simple-minded soul. (5)
29. Hail again as compound of ceramic aluminium, briefly. (9)
31. Tool for punching heads does the job perfectly - and in French! (7)
33. Tricky old ruse to create pilgrimage site. (7)
34. Admirers also show keen resentment. (3)
35. Group seen with popular Gomoku. (4)
36. See 4 ac.
37. Group worker - mostly someone who deceives. (6)

Down

  1. Group request in theatre to usher, one hears. (5)
  2. Fighting kite from Romania, with a couple of thousand going to Alaska unionist. (7)
  3. Sex offenders once seen imprisoned by non-smoker. (6)   
  5. Taking the most hopeful view, while using simplicity a lot! (14)
  6. King of France and Republic of Ireland. (3)
  8. Formerly a source of coal…give it a look. (7
  9. Group from Arkansas that is Southern. (5)
10. Not supported by other evidence but can be used in a broader contour. (14)
12. I’m having a kind of sleep-over and, starting soon, expecting to involve oneself deeply. (7)
17. Group with a sun-god. (3)
20. Group seen with Cleopatra. (3)
21. Fraction of manat has ten, and I come up with same fraction of yen. (7)
23. Finely tuned engines and happy cats may be doing so, (7)
26. Account has rising young man holding gold, yet no tail to tell of.
27. Synagogues starting school with unique learner number. (6)
28. Southern group with high IQs. (5)
30. House fly genus and small group… (5)
32. …are rising for important period (3)

Notes

E-mail your solutions of The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 414 by the closing date of 4 p.m. (EST) on Friday, July 17, 2026, to mailto:johnnolan755@gmail.com. The prize is a signed cartoon by Stephanie, or, if you prefer and live in the U.S.*, a Strip T’s shirt.

Solutions can also be mailed to John Nolan, 27 River Road, Farmington, NH, 03835.

Most answers, except proper names, appear in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary tenth edition and/or The Chamber’s Dictionary, revised 13th edition. In this "British-style" crossword, punctuation marks in clues are best ignored, as a rule. The answer to 17 ac. is not listed in Chambers but is recorded in Wikipedia, Britannica and elsewhere. 21 dn is not in Chambers, but online with Merriam Webster, Wicktionary and elsewhere. 27 dn is an alternative spelling and is listed in Chambers.

The solution to The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 414 along with the name of the winner, and everyone else submitting correct solutions, will be published on this site towards the end of July.

***P.S. The cost of mailing one T-shirt overseas has (not to mention tariffs) quadrupled in recent years and is now over $24 a pop, effectively killing the trade of small businesses like Strip T’s. 



The drawn winner of TVLPP 413 is, from the very bottom of my Hat, Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England. Congratulations, Keith and we'll get a Stephanie cartoon off to you. probably on Monday.
Other English solvers sharing the Hat this month, include William Stewart of Leicester, Derek Harrison of Pegswood, and Chris Chatwin from Kenilworth;  Ian Simpson of Edinburgh, Scotland, who (like me) will be rooting for a Scotland win this evening; Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg; Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali; and a strong U.S. contingent that includes Chris Rogers of Farmington, and Rochester residents Julie Lindsay, Randy Taylor, Larry Reynolds and Jim & Joanne Gray, all of New Hampshire; Leslie Yonce of Richmond, Virginia; Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas; Tamara Brenner of Elmhurst, Ill; Jay Miller of Pasadena, Calif.; and Laura Bradford (Florida) & Carol Williams (Texas).

Thank you all very much, for the entries, and I hope you enjoy TVLPP 414, above. 

                                                                            Notes

Puzzle enthusiasts are encouraged to visit http://www.crossword.org.uk/ Derek Harrison's resource website for challenging puzzles, links, tools, newsletter, and much besides.

Keith Williams, who has generously assumed stewardship of the Crossword Club, writes: The second Crossword Club collection (Onwards and Upwards) is now available from Amazon. Visit www.thecrossword.club for more info.


                                                    The last 24 years of winners
No. 115 - Andy Knap of London, SW20, England
No. 116 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 117 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 118 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 119 - Karen Muller of Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
No. 120 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 121 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 122 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 123 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 124 - Karen Muller of Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
No. 125 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 126 - Joan Bittrolff, Somersworth, New Hampshire, USA
No. 127 - Not posted (stress and pressure of vacation)
No. 128 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA 
No. 129 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 130 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 131 - Joan Bittrolff, Alford, Florida, USA
No. 132 - Slipped through cracks due to computer crisis
No. 133 - Karen Muller of Meadowbank, Auckland, NZ
No. 134 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 135 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 136 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 137 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 138 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA 
No. 139 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 140 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 141 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 142 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 143 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 144 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France 
No. 145 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 146 - Huguette Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 147 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 148 - Pierre Gaillard, Olemps, France
No. 149 - Reynir Axelsson, Mosfellsbaer, Iceland
No. 150 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 151 - Régine Privet, Naucelle, France
No. 152 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA

No. 153 - Barbara Winter, Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 154 - Joan Bittrolff, Alford, Florida, USA
No. 155 - Condell Lovell Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 156 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 157 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 158 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 159 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 160 - Sylvie Chauchard of Belmont Sur Rance, , France
No. 161 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 162 - Yvette Gaillard of Olemps, Rodez, France
No. 163 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 164 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 165 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 166 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 167 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA    
No. 168 - Betty Bardy of Albi, France
No. 169 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 170 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 171 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 172 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 173 - Barbara Winter of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 174 - Nancy Moony Hebert of Alton, NH, USA
No. 175 - Jim Gaudet of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 176 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No, 177 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 178 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 179 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 180 - David Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 181 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA

No. 182 - Madeleine Dupierre of Rodez, France.
No. 183 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 184 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 185 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, New HH, USA
No. 186 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 187 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA    
No. 188 - Natalie Ryder, Bremen, Georgia, USA

No. 189 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 190 - Héloïse Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 191 - Jim Gaudet of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 192 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 193 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 194 - Hugutte R.-M. Simmonds, Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 195 - Terry Towle, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA
No. 196 - Vidya Singh of Sidcup, Kent, England
No. 197 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 198 - Condell Lovell Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 199 – T. Metzger, C. Williams, L. Bradford, Westport Maine
No. 200 - Norbert Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 201 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 202 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 203 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 204 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 205 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 206 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 207 - Wayne Maricheau of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 208 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 209 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 210 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 211 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 212 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 213 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 214 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 215 - Ian Laming, Chippingham, Wiltshire, England
No. 216 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 217 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 218 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 219 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 220 - Veronique Bonnet, Images, France
No. 221 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 222 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 223 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 224 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 225 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 226 - Hugest Simmonds, Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 227 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 228 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 229 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 230 - Condell L. Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 231 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 232 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 233 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 234 – T. Metzger/L. Bradford of Topsham, Maine, USA
No. 235 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 236 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 237 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 238 - Philippe Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 239 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 240 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 241 - David Simmonds of Crawford, Dart ford, England
No. 242 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 243 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 244 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 245 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 246 - Pat Mathews of Berwick, Maine, USA
No. 247 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France
No. 248 - Paul Nyack, Rochester Hills, Minnesota, USA
No. 249 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 250 - Nigel Cowley, Cooksbridge, East Sussex, England
No. 251 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 252 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 253 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 254 – T. Metzger, C. Williams, L. Bradford, Maine USA
No. 255 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 256 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 257 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 258 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 259 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 260 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 261 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 262 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 263 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 264 - Jeanine Bonnet of Images, France
No. 265 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 266 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 267 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 268 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 269 - David Simmonds of Crayford, Dart ford, England
No. 270 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Alton Bay, NH, USA
No. 271 - Trudy Metzger on an island in Maine, USA
No. 272 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 273 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 274 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 275 - Huguette R.-M. Simmonds, Rodez, France
No. 276 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 277 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France
No. 278 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 279 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 280 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 281 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 282 - Carolyn Williams, Topsham, Maine, USA
No. 283 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 284 - Jane Cornville, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, USA
No. 285 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 286 - Rich Pardoe, San Francisco Bay, Calif., USA
No. 287 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 288 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 289 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 290 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 291 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 292 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 293 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester NH, USA
No. 294 - Joanne Gray of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 295 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 296 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 297 - Barbara Trow, Dover, NH, USA
No. 298 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 299 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 300 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 301 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 302 - Clara Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 303 - Gron Roberts, Neath, West Glamorgan, Wales
No. 304 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 305 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 306 - Laura Bradford, Venice, Florida, USA
No. 307 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 308 - Derek Harrison, Bedlington, England
No. 309 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 310 - Jane Carville, Wolfeboro, NH, USA
No. 311 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 312 - Keith Simmonds, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
No. 313 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 314 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 315 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 316 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 317 - Patricia Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 318 - David Simmonds, Crayford, England
No. 319 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No, 320 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 321 - Gron Roberts, Neath, West Glamorgan, Wales
No. 322 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 323 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 324 - Trudy Metzger of Titusville, Florida, USA
No. 325 - Brian Dungate of Brighton, England
No. 326 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 327 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 328 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 329 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 330 - Derek Harrison, Bedlington, England
No. 331 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 332 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 333 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 334 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 335 - Patricia Miga of Southlake, Texas, USA
No. 336 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 337 - Ian Laming, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England
No. 338 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 339 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy,  England 
No. 340 - Barbara Trow, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 341 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No, 342 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 343 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 344 - Laura Bradford, somewhere in Maine USA
No. 345 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 346 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 347 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 348 - Ann Holme of Salisbury, England
No. 349 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 350 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 351 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 352 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 353 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 354 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 355 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, England
No. 356 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 357 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 358 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No, 359 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, England
No. 360 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No. 361 - Matt Mitchell of Glenside, Penn. USA
No. 362 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 363 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 364 - Stephen Wortley, Tooting, London, England
No. 365 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 366 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 367 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 368 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 369 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 370 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 371 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA  
No. 372 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, Northumberland, England
No. 373 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 374 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 375 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No, 376 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, England
No. 377 - Laura Bradford of Maine or Florida, USA
No. 378 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 379 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 380 - Barbara Trow of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 381 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 382 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No. 383 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 384 - Tom Wilson of So. Williamsport, Penn. USA
No. 385 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 386 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 387 - Garth Higginbotham of Llandudno, Wales
No. 388 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 389 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA  
No. 390 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 391 - Chris Chatwin of Kenilworth, England
No. 392 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, Northumberland, England
No. 393 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 394 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 395 - Leslie Yonce of Richmond, Va., USA 
No. 396 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 397 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 398 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 399 - Carolyn Williams, Texas, USA
No. 400 - Andy Grady, Tutbury, England
No. 401 - Tom Wilson of So. Williamsport, Penn. USA
No. 402 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 403 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 404 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 405 - Nigel Cowley, Cooksbridge, East Sussex, England
No. 406 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, NH, USA
No. 407 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 408 - Michael Crapper, Whitchurch, Hampshire, England
No. 409 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 410 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA 
No. 411 - Chris Chatwin of Kenilworth, England
No. 412 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 413 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 

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