The Times - Cryptic - This puzzle was one of three correctly solved in a total of less than 60 mins by 14 of the 24 competitors in the Grand Final of the 2015 Times Crossword Championship - December 30, 2015

Tired of your current crossword puzzle? Try solving our daily crossword puzzles. GO TO DAILY PUZZLES!
Clues Answers
A short fat host completely alert first thing? ALARMCALL
As well to catch name of retreating Spaniard? ALFONSO
Boy collecting Times? Yes, but not taking in Sun? SIXDAY
Bud joined to tropical tree PALMETTO
Close old service entrance above stage ONONESDOORSTEP
Composed piece of campaigning: got Tory banker over WARSAWCONCERTO
Cure him for disorder involving a joint, finally? RHEUMATIC
Description of sky, perhaps, and large area of Earth, some might say AZURE
Doubts returning, so fail on and off IFS
Emptied out fake notes found among 14 old coins PFENNIGS
Figure purse contains shilling PRISM
Force to meet by day to show a variety of features? MAKEFACESAT
Go past in one's cruelty striking fellow with stick OUTHEROD
In place close to park on first half of vacation KEMPT
Jargon, unconvincing, calls for attention PATOIS
Clues Answers
Lodger needed for Michaelmas term — as one-off MASTERMASON
Lovely and sore after exercising PEACHY
Man inappropriately offers VAT adjustment OVERSTAFF
Misanthropic old Athenian doctor splitting money TIMON
Much scrap and litter FARROW
Not "big bucks" caviar? ROE
One's mum making this drama with different recordings NOTAPEEP
PIN number? DEADLEG
Play useless after peer forgets a line EQUUS
Purified of sin and severely scolded LUSTRATED
Sound to use foil maybe to protect RINGFENCE
Speeds up an hour after midday film TEMPI
Whip who is left recalling Members of Parliament OWLISH
Work something karaoke performer might assume must be endless trouble? THEMIKADO
Yank ball and point cue PROMPT