This crossword No. 23777 clues and answers were published on Sat 27 May 2006 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Prize Crossword No. 23777 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Poem about shop girl, third class, say : SCHOLAR
5-across – Old club gets a lot of support : BRASSIE
9-across – See 1 : GIPSY
10-across – Queen in leaderless municipality takes possession : OWNERSHIP
11-across – Spotted climber reprising cup role, a doddle : CLOUDEDLEOPARD
13-across – Poems’ author dropping would flower in Italy : ARNO
14-across – Street fighter from down under captures one like 1 9 or 25 rather than 7 or 19 22 : STANZAIC
17-across – Sleuth with refresher on a plate : TECTONIC
18-across – The advantageous side : EDGE
21-across – Service time followed by old talker, say: there’s the rub : MASSAGEPARLOUR
23-across – Nude’s ruin : UNINSURED
24-across – Joint head of church comes under it : MITRE
25-across – Poem is on solver’s rights : THYRSIS
26-across – Started again having grass about half the season : RESUMED
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Herb sap.? : SAGE
2-down – Hands apology : HOPALONGCASSIDY
3-down – Format relating to the 22? : LAYOUT
4-down – Island ways as reported : RHODES
5-down – Commonplace quality got by including gossip with literature : BANALITY
6-down – Flying first into tree on Tyneside : AIRBORNE
7-down – Poem all about zero hour for a group with effect of disuse : SOHRABANDRUSTUM
8-down – Poem edited to suit Long John recited on a volcano : EMPEDOCLES
12-down – Virtually the same horse after reindeer man’s following leader : TANTAMOUNT
15-down – It’s sweet and slow time for girls : MOLASSES
16-down – Guns providing back-to-back text : FIREARMS
19-down – Poem, not good, about tree and some deities : BALDER
20-down – A little bit of Wales is where the Queen Mother was : GLAMIS
22-down – See 19 : DEAD
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.