The times 1995 National Final

[LottieAnne]

1ac Powerful leader one should read carefully (8) 3rd letter probably 'w'
5ac Work in college (6)
10ac Walk East to America? Certain to be a tragedy. (10,5) 3rd letter 1st word probably i.
17d Guardians to be alert to trick by KCB centre (8)
(In origianl words East and Guardians in italics.)
Grateful, as usual for any help. Just can't really get stuck into this one.

[Muffet]

I would guess 10a to be 'Prometheus Bound'. Sorry it doesn't fit in with your prospective i for third letter.
If you've got down to just a handful wanted, you're doing well. Congrats.
Pleased to see that you've progressed to 1995.

[swannbaker]

Confirm Prom-e-the us-bound . So what is the clue for 2 down L A ?
Don't give up on it !

[LottieAnne]

Thank you both. 2d Middle of the road - the ground of real value to the government (5,4) - - o - - / - - - -. I had white line but that will not fit now. It also takes the w out of 1ac. No, I won't give up yet but I have a long way to go!

[swannbaker]

I believe 2d is crown land , which could make 1a dictator .This should help with 1d 3d and 4d . Bonne chance .

[Muffet]

I don't know whether you're still engaged on this one, but KCB centre could be 'man' from Knight Com(man)der, making Watchman possible, but 'Guardians' is plural, so less likely.
I look forward to whichever year you tackle next. I still haven't got round to last March's Saga crossword, nor any of them since, and I would hate to bin them.
Have fun, even if it's agonising at times.

[LottieAnne]

I was given the answers today and 17d turned out to be watchdog. I should have put guardian in the singular. Sorry! The next one is from 1989 so I may be seeking help by the end of the week. Thanks.

[Muffet]

Thanks for that. I don't understand the 'dog', but presumably lots of the finalists did.
I hope you won't mind my asking, but how do you manage to come across these old puzzles? We took up our old loft insulation material a few years ago, and came across a lot of 1939/1940 newspapers. Fascinating reading.
Don't feel obliged to reply.

[LottieAnne]

A friend of mine recently bought a book of Times Crosswords which contains one puzzle from each year that they have been published. I think they started in the 1920s. Every week he prints one out for me and it has become a light hearted competition between us to see who can finish it in the week. I don't know whether we are doing them in the order in which they appear in the book or whether he picks them at random. I have not seen the book in the shops. I know he bought it from a catalogue. In the very early ones the numbers of letters in the words were not printed. I have managed to do this week's.
I wasn't sure about the dog unless the KC was for Kennel Club?

[Muffet]

Thanks for the explanationLLottieAnne. I've seen some of the puzzles from the Finals, when the Times publishes them some time after the event, and they're very very difficult. I can only stand back and admire the people who manage to finish them within such a relatively short time limit, and without access to any reference books. Congratulations on finishing this week's. Besr ot of luck with the rest.
I've just been looking at a website relating to the puzzles. Interesting reading, if you've time,
http://www.biddlecombe.demon.co.uk/timescmp.ht ml

[LottieAnne]

Thanks, Muffet, I found the biddlecombe site very interesting.

[Muffet]

Thanks, LottieAnne. Glad you enjoyed the reading. No need to reply. I hope you'll be firing some others at us one day.