Sunday Times Prize Crossword 4455 Sunday October 16th 2011

[Vimto]

I see it's that nice Mr. Mayer again who's spoiling my Sunday viewing of the rugby!
I think I have made a pig's ear of the bottom right:
26 across. Clue: Great cup of tea's gulped down (10). I have ?H?N?E?I?G. CHANGELING gives me CHA for tea and THUNDERING can mean great.
3 down.Clue: My round swallowed by pub's dog (5). I have: P???H. PATCH, POOCH?
9 across. Clue: Setter's French counterpart possibly reading journal (6). I have: ?E???R. The fourth letter is the same as the third letter of 3 down, see above.
Help please so I can see the All Blacks.

[boxtops]

3 - pooch - PH is pub, a pooch is another name for a dog

[boxtops]

9a - who's the setter of the crossword please (mentioned in the clue)?

[kayakamina]

thundering

pooch

memoir

[kayakamina]

TH UNDER ING

My Thing =cup of tea

[Vimto]

k, please explain THUNDERING?

boxtops, the nice man is Dean Mayer. He ruins my Sunday's but I'm getting better with him. Be careful what you say, he reads this site and makes nice comments from time to time. I bet he's watching this!

[kayakamina]

Thing 'gulping' Under (down) = Thundering - great

[Vimto]

Thank you k. I would never have solved "my thing"--"cup of tea". I haven't had one for at least 50 years. Can't you guess? I only drink "Vimto" and beer after 6pm!

[kayakamina]

Enjoy the rest of the game. Looks like it will be All Blacks.