This crossword No. 26256 clues and answers were published on Sat 10 May 2014 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Prize Crossword No. 26256 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
7-across – Boat, vessel crossing a river : CATAMARAN
8-across – Bird, tit with tail of grey : BOOBY
9-across – It’s bang in the middle of classic course, unfinished : EPICENTRE
10-across – Second top, say : SPEAK
12-across – Gripping bar a hindrance for bird : LINNET
13-across – Mystic recites impromptu about love : ESOTERIC
14-across – Description of a fox eating bird in a grim manner : STERNLY
17-across – Yellow bird : CHICKEN
20-across – Orange bird? : MANDARIN
22-across – Bird’s infection : THRUSH
24-across – Strip a 17, say — a 17 won’t have it? : PLUCK
25-across – Most energetic kisser apt to get carried away : SPARKIEST
26-across – Bird — be a 17! : QUAIL
27-across – Thus screening gull eating head of moorhen is graphic : SCHEMATIC
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Asian capital I invested in record industry, primarily : TAIPEI
2-down – Knot clean for bird trainer : FALCONER
3-down – Pig bird : GANNET
4-down – Dog bird : HARRIER
5-down – Ring dove oddly dismissed as a bird : HOOPOE
6-down – In prayer, underwear is upside down — that’s annoying : ABRASIVE
11-down – Classy pitch so perfect, somewhat uplifting : POSH
15-down – Room one found in stomach for toxic element : THALLIUM
16-down – Bird’s adventure : LARK
18-down – Top cryptic is, for starters, a grand to compose : CARDIGAN
19-down – Keep an eye on Pakistani opener in cricket, perhaps? : INSPECT
21-down – Bird that is my love : DUCKIE
22-down – Bird’s a loser : TURKEY
23-down – Bird is in hide : SISKIN
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.