This crossword No. 23867 clues and answers were published on Sat 09 Sep 2006 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Prize Crossword No. 23867 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Coming before the bar opens is optimistic : UPBEAT
5-across – Parrot that is settled in the country : PRETORIA
9-across – The Black Prince having more intelligence : BRAINIER
10-across – Energy keeps male abstainer from segregated area : GHETTO
11-across – Art like rocket science in bright star : ARCHITECTURE
13-across – French king to have a place in the country : CAPE
14-across – Egg-laying beetle? : LADYBIRD
17-across – Where the defendant is after a drink … : ATTHEBAR
18-across – … which is simple for an ox : NEAT
20-across – Runabout hard on queen’s sticky plant in the country : JOHANNESBURG
23-across – How duck went west, taken off : ADDLED
24-across – Move through holes and tell : UNBUTTON
25-across – Example of fashionable attitude : INSTANCE
26-across – A row in direction giving name to writer of the country : NADINE
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Left the blaze spreading around one in the country : PORT
3-down – See 2 : ELIZABETH
4-down – Tease companion for involuntary movement : TWITCH
5-down – Favourable to papers’ turnabout which is exerted by one gas : PARTIALPRESSURE
6-down – Good man interrupting oaths from the 9? : EGGHEADS
7-down – Showing? About time! : OVERT
8-down – Main lines are showing Queen 3 as Sikh : INTERURBAN
12-down – Cockney scene in the country : EASTLONDON
15-down – Get struck on the shoulder, heard not seen? : BENIGHTED
16-down – A singer fellow near Oxford : ABINGDON
19-down – Cross out half of 8 in the country : DURBAN
21-down – Complete set of books, a sign to the audience : ALLOT
22-down – See 13 : TOWN
This crossword has in total 27 where 14 are across and 13 are down.