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Thanks for the replies.
The typography 'nut' / EN is a new one on me.

1a. Game swimmer diving initially into water, doing the backstroke
CHARADES

13a. Only off, it's implied, for a moment in the day
NOON

5d. Classic perhaps, ends in wonderous line, corker penned in old poet
HORSE RACE

Parses for the above please.

1. CHAR is the fish, so swimmer, SEA is water (rev) D from D(iving)

13. “No on” implies it must be off (not great)

5. HORACE is the old poet, the middle letter are all last letters of the other words.

Jono thanks for this

20d. Inclined to scoff about a lot of information in cold weather?
WINTERY

16a. Resuming at previous pace, old premier when expected to retire
A TEMPO

1d. Reading, putting ring round two references to the Queen?
PERUSAL

17d. Crazy amateur fliers heading skyward, with Charlie on board
FARCICAL

Parses for the above please.

16 O PM ETA backwards

17 LAIC RAF around C backwards

20? Inclined to scoff WRY about INTE(L)… ?

Cheers chaps.

For 1d , I *think* it's PEAL (ring) around RUSA, but I don't understand the RUSA/Queen reference.

It's just the RUS that needs explaining - the A comes from PEAL.
No idea, though!

R Regina
US as a queen might refer to herself ?