[metal arms]

....yeah, got that, but I don't want to be greedy.... 

Yeah, well, I got yours ages ago but couldn't make a good clue...   

[john horscroft]

....yeah, got that, but I don't want to be greedy.... 

Yeah, well, I got yours ages ago but couldn't make a good clue...   

...the hardest part I think!   

[john horscroft]

Needs: a mess around french fatty. Subject to scintillation (9)

...come on chaps, this one's doing my head in....

[nik at work]

hard men grossed out by cattle owner (6)

(engrossed is the previous answer)

[johnx2]

nope. Can't do it. Any chance of a clue?

[nik at work]

Could be rewritten as:
Hard men confused by cattle owner (6)

Or:

Hard men disturbed a cattle owner (6)

[johnx2]

  however also: (6)!

[johnx2]

shepherds managed mini disaster without yours truly (11)

[grumpycrumpy]

shepherds managed mini disaster without yours truly (11)

Which word is the answer to Nik's clue  .......

[johnx2]

balls, bollocks also. Shitter now but should go quick...

shepherd managed min’s disaster (11)

[grumpycrumpy]

balls, bollocks also. Shitter now but should go quick...

shepherd managed min’s disaster (11)

Ah !! ...... Like the fule I am I was looking for a six letter word .......

[nik at work]

Sorry, I shall be returning my GCSE Maths certificate to the appropriate authorities forthwith...

[grumpycrumpy]

balls, bollocks also. Shitter now but should go quick...

shepherd managed min’s disaster (11)

When joe  , with beard but definitely no Lady, had ministers by the short and curlies ....... (5, 4)

something not too taxing for sunday night /monday morning .......

[Duma]

Sorry, I shall be returning my GCSE Maths certificate to the appropriate authorities forthwith...

Out of interest, would you have said [7], or [4,3]? Herdman is pretty obscure, and herd man is hardly a recognized phrase.

Actually surely the answer should have been herdsman - ie [8] and JX2 was right first time?

[nik at work]

Am I getting pulled up for an unusual word from Mr Obscure Sea Shanty himself?

I would say Herdman (7) rather than Herd Man (4,3), Herdsman is a more common term but doesn't work with the anagram.

[Duma]

That was johnx2! wasn't it?

Anyway if you could count I wouldn't have mentioned it...

re the missing s - I shall shut up now as my lack of skills are being exposed.

[tommytwotone]

Apologies to thread hijack but I think I'm on the brink of completing only my second ever Guardian cryptic (and it's Sat's prize one as well!) but I'm a bit scuppered on the last couple...anyone fancy helping a playa out?

I've got 21 Across left:

One passing on information concerned with French leader —  sinner, might you say? (

For letters, I've got  - E - E - - - R

Now I reckon it's probably "Redeemer", but can't really work it back through the clue?

And then that leaves me 20 Down:

Fish starts to weaken, riding on the high seas (6)

I've got - - - S - E, with the third letter an R if "Redeemer" is right.

Reckon there's an anagram in there (high seas?), but can't think of a fish whose name ends SAE or SSE etc...

Thanks in advance for any help, if I win you're more than welcome to have a look at the Style Guide, which I think is the prize!

[SA Chris]

Resender?

Ties in with passing on information, but not sure about the rest?

[grumpycrumpy]

The fish one might be wrasse ..... But that completely fucks up redeemer ......

[tommytwotone]

The fish one might be wrasse ..... But that completely fucks up redeemer ......

Good arrows - can see how that one works as well!

So that leaves the first one as:

- E - E - R - R

EDIT - just got it - it's Referrer isn't it?

RE (About) F (French leader) ERRER (sinner)

Nice one! 

[SA Chris]

Good arrows.

Now back to the main event......

[grumpycrumpy]

The fish one might be wrasse ..... But that completely fucks up redeemer ......

Good arrows - can see how that one works as well!

So that leaves the first one as:

- E - E - R - R

EDIT - just got it - it's Referrer isn't it?

RE (About) F (French leader) ERRER (sinner)

Nice one! 

Nice one youth .... Damned hard that Guardian crossword .....

[johnx2]

Quickfire round...

Leeds and Bradford International Airport’s initially hidden by pubic hair (5)


And yeah, impressive. I've never finished a gruan prize one. But then I've a very short attention sp

[grumpycrumpy]

The next clue's going to be interesting    ......

[SA Chris]

I'm scratching around

All I can think of is other daft Jay and Silent Bob Strike back Acronyms.