Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

frustrating ... I have the connection between the three unclued and have all the extra letters both down and up, but can't connect the two - or see what connects the pairs ...

ah! Have seen the pairings! - and that gives the extra across letters as clue ...

...have a look at the clue numbers of each pair....
google 16a.....

thanks xwordfan - penny had already dropped. Spent the longest time trying to find connections to Japanese wrestling .... very ingenious weaving of letters and numbers by the welcome new setter - chapeau to Turnstone

Got there in the end by looking up the entry for the theme word in Wikipedia. Connection with 26 just a tad obscure, at least on this side of the Atlantic.

Feeling stupid!

I observed the mirror images of across / down letters, and wondered about 'pairings' but didn't do what the hint meant.

Done now.

There is 15d.

Wonder if it started with some idea that didn't pan out fully.

This reminded me of Genius 253 by Eccles - excellent puzzle - doing gymnastics with clue numbers.

Ilippu @ 29. I had a B from that as a superfluous letter. I thought it was a cryptic definition, first pass....

sorry, I meant post No 27 on 15d