The Times - Cryptic - This puzzle was one of three correctly solved in a total of less than 60 mins by 26 of the 83 competitors in Heat Two of the 2015 Times Crossword Championship - December 9, 2015

Tired of your current crossword puzzle? Try solving our daily crossword puzzles. GO TO DAILY PUZZLES!
Clues Answers
Base for last push on peak, say, is affected in the extreme HIGHCAMP
Charlie Chan's odd parts in short moneymaker COCAINE
Charlie understood unfinished note that's dominant in the air NITROGEN
Did race around inverted groove cause extreme discomfort? TORTURE
Flag-waver who stays in touch? LINESMAN
Freed from incarceration too late? OUTOFTIME
Fringe activities of magicians, not having caught up SKIRT
Half of edge collecting another's dirt GRIME
Irish spirit penetrating through state VIRGINIA
Lead gunners into lurch? They might TOPBRASS
Magnifying decimally, I lie about area INTENSIFICATION
Metal container in two forms, good on a slope CANTING
Miss Otis, mostly, regrettably, filled with constant phlegm? STOICISM
Mushroom whorl? SPIRAL
Non-fire is wrong for this? INFERNO
Clues Answers
Not wanting waste carpet to be chucked in river FRUGAL
Persistently thought mucky over time DWELT
Piece of meat that is providing a dish CUTIE
Pound kept from Elena after working like a Trojan AENEAS
Productive period shortened for scientist associated with shake-ups RICHTER
Reason for mounting desire could be the sauciest beer BECAUSEITSTHERE
Rebel duke isn't embracing faction DISSIDENT
Refuse to move round secondary bit of Putney Heath, perhaps westward DETRITUS
Relating to a centre? Sounds like people're going to FOCAL
Reliance on facts is to divide kingdom REALISM
Stern direction gets film with last cut in trouble AFFLICT
Supporter of commercial rights? I make it up as I go along ADLIBBER
What hardworking mural sculptor feels when finished? RELIEF
Who'll deliver news — or jokes if taken in by con? MEDIA
Woman who's left something back in brasserie-hotel HEIRESS