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Thanks Brummie.

Was bogged down in SW with vaguely remembered GK, and reading 'competed' as completed. All sorted.

Long list:

1d, 14a, 18d, 9a, 17a, 4d

COD: 1d

Thanks to Brummie. Was flying along but slowed somewhat by a few tricky misdirections and disguised definitions.

FOI 1d
LOI tie 25 and 22
COD 4 over 17d, 22 and 16. Also liked 17a and 15.

Thanks to Brummie for what was, for ma anyway, a very tricky Prize puzzle.

Thankfully the few longish anagrams allowed me to get a foothold.

I still can't parse 13a, although I am certain of my answer. I'm assuming the middle 2 letters are "male circle backed", but I can't get any further than that.

COD:- I quite liked the simplicity of 7d but I think 23d just edges it.

Cancel my 13a query, I saw it as soon as I pressed send!

Hi Bren, male circle are two letters (reversed) you need to discard from a six letter word for a fancy ball!
That was also my last to parse.

Thanks Jono, I got it as soon as I tried adding a "male circle" to the answer.

Oh, apologies we crossed, maybe that explanation will help others!

I'm finding 23d a bit odd. Surely it's "top" (loosely) and "sea food" without needing the "sailor finally"?
Also, why is "English" needed in 12a?

Hi Chris,

23d - is "top" in the gangster sense, and that goes around "sailor finally" to give you "sea food".

12a - I think "English" is there just to put a limit on the number of rivers we have to consider.

Ah! I've got the wrong seafood. My answer works, though - arguably better!