Our crossword champion

The crossword, with more than 800 clues, is believed to be the biggest published in a newspaper or magazine in the country, and Mr Peacock spent an hour or so a day for two weeks tackling it.

"It is something you have to keep going back to, otherwise you'd go mad," said the 67-year-old former advertising sales manager, who lives in Hurworth, near Darlington.

"I got the last answer on the closing day. It was 526 down and the clue was goutweed.

"I'd worked it out that it was ground something - alder or elder, I don't know which I'd have put, because I'm not much of a gardener.

"I came into town and went through four dictionaries in the public library to get the right answer."

The right answer was, of course, ground elder. Nearly 100 other people also got it correct as they completed the crossword, but Mr Peacock's entry was the first to be pulled out.

"Well, I'm delighted," he said, on being told.

He was helped in his quest by his wife Sylvia, a former nurse at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

"She got the odd ones for me," he said.

He was perhaps fortunate in that he lives in a house which is full of encyclopaedias and books, because he compiles a twice weekly general knowledge quiz for the Stockton Arms pub, in Hartburn.

Mr Peacock's other hobby is watching cricket. In his youth, he used to be an all-rounder for Rockliffe Park in Hurworth, but now he watches his son, Geoff and his 18-year-old grandson, Chris who both play for Wolviston in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League.

He also has a 13-year-old granddaughter, Lauren.

The only other difficulty Mr Peacock had with the crossword was its size. Although it covers nearly half of one of The Northern Echo's big pages, several readers said that they had difficulty reading the hundreds of clue numbers on the grid, and this is something we will look at addressing next year.

And here are the answers

Across

1 Puncture, 5 Slope, 8 Essay, 11 Neoclassic, 22 Pimiento, 26 Aback, 29 Avian, 32 Regarded, 38 Aboard, 39 Lacerate, 41 Rigatoni, 43 Bell-bottoms, 45 Agreements, 47 Dismount, 49 Thinking cap, 51 Tsaritsa, 52 Gnars, 53 Story, 54 Hang-ups, 55 Ellipse, 56 Eight, 57 Rupee, 58 Eraser, 60 Giraffe, 62 Gestured, 63 Slap-up, 65 Serious, 67 Anchor, 68 Recovered, 69 Falsehood, 70 Ice creams, 71 Rot, 72 Surrender, 73 Reassures, 74 Duet, 78 Crimes, 79 Stamen, 83 Barb, 84 Arrears, 86 Isosceles, 88 Tailors, 89 Picture window, 92 Lawless, 94 Assistant, 96 Tuition, 97 Shame, 98 Decry, 99 Shone, 100 Eaves, 102 Beard

103 Cedar, 105 Toast, 108 Nor, 109 Dog paddle, 112 Latch, 113 Debar, 115 Negus, 118 Plus, 119 Senator, 120 Beatles, 122 Precis, 123 Placid, 124 Arbiter, 125 Tallies, 127 Seam, 128 Pacts, 130 Delta, 132 Eaten, 133 Neptune, 134 Issue, 136 Eerie, 138 Dental, 139 Wrought iron, 141 Splutter, 142 Resonant, 143 Strobe light

145 Cassia, 146 Spurs, 147 Newer, 148 Sorrel, 150 Recess, 152 Dally, 153 Organ, 154 Usher, 155 Abdomen, 156 Callus, 158 Afeard, 159 Prolong, 160 Chute, 162 Grins, 164 Recto, 165 Test cases, 169 Incisor, 172 Ditty, 174 Milan, 176 Edible, 178 Get together, 179 Sensor, 180 Thrush, 182 East Anglian, 183 Ragout, 184 Exist, 186 Newel, 187 Tabor, 188 Rebecca, 189 Ton-up, 191 Dewey, 192 Aged, 194 Session, 196 Sloe gin, 197 Cohere, 198 Parcel, 200 Sawdust

202 Ashamed, 203 Tall, 204 Siege, 205 Notes, 206 Fight, 207 Maritime Alps, 208 Daisy, 209 Erode, 210 Pearl, 211 Ponds, 213 Cares, 216 Bairn, 218 Ruder, 221 Meander, 222 Ephemeral, 223 Inquest, 225 Rooftree, 227 Layabout, 230 Cession, 231 Menagerie, 232 Reflect, 235 Ajar, 238 Thee, 240 Head, 243 True, 244 Subjoined, 247 Relief map, 249 Press gallery, 252 Courteous, 255 Reshaping, 257 Plaits, 258 Doormat, 259 Rounders, 260 Satiable, 261 Sneaker, 262 Troppo, 263 Dryer, 265 Inner, 267 Detract, 268 Tacit, 269 Bolus, 271 Brand, 273 Toiletry, 274 Reminiscent, 275 Disloyal, 276 Hooligan, 277 Speedometer, 278 Sometime, 279 Lottery, 281 Enrapture, 284 Dressage, 287 Halo, 288 Sadden, 290 Test tube, 292 Ribcages, 295 Divert, 297 Busy, 298 Sabotage, 299 Steadfast

302 Polka, 305 Even-handedness, 311 Basement, 314 Rotten, 316 Metastasis, 319 Taxi, 321 Vested interest, 328 Lei, 330 Unexceptionable, 332 Toe, 333 Informer, 334 Largo, 335 Earldom, 336 Ocean, 337 Gristle, 338 Usage, 339 Stipend, 340 Rascal, 341 Offing, 342 Layer, 343 Cuddle, 344 Lucent, 346 Conscientious, 347 Timpani, 350 Rapid, 351 Three-day event, 353 Spacious, 354 Resilient, 356 Termite, 357 Depreciates, 359 Putrid, 360 Engage, 362 Turtle, 363 Muscle, 365 Charge cards, 370 Perturb, 372 Spectator, 376 Remember, 377 Educated guess, 380 Usurp, 382 Uncover, 384 Diesel engines, 386 Toupee, 388 Unload, 389 Paste, 390 Anthem, 392 Brunei, 393 Excrete, 395 Sward, 396 Abalone, 399 Papua, 400 Content

401 Chino, 402 Brethren, 404 Ass, 405 Higher education, 406 Roe, 407 Segregationist, 413 Tend, 415 Water-skier, 417 Kidnap, 419 Cassette, 421 Registered post, 425 Erect, 427 Heartless, 429 Malinger, 430 Aloe, 431 Adhere, 433 Espalier, 437 Upstream, 440 Guests, 443 Espy, 444 Unicycle, 448 Enchanted, 452 Drive-in, 454 Latitude, 456 Cold-hearted, 458 Soft soap, 459 Terrific, 461 Aeolian harp, 463 Carriage, 464 Apian, 465 Robot, 466 Dhoti, 467 Time lag, 468 Downs, 469 Today, 470 Rennin, 472 Balcony, 474 Evacuate, 475 Imperils, 477 Lenient, 479 Cognac, 480 Naturally, 481 Gaberdine, 482 Repercussion, 483 Epidermis, 484 Temporary, 485 Tout, 489 Pare, 491 Erse, 495 Pass, 496 Swelter, 498 Test pilot, 500 Retread

501 Deaf-aids, 503 Bullhead, 505 Enliven, 507 Recoiling, 509 Low-brow, 510 Towed, 511 Oscar, 513 Dazed, 514 Sedan, 516 Until, 517 Davit, 519 Verdi, 522 Man-about-town, 526 Grape, 527 Probe, 529 Optic, 532 Hone, 533 Fairies, 534 Denizen, 536 Ankara, 537 Friary, 538 Unmoved, 539 Insures, 541 Tuba, 542 Repel, 544 Nadir, 546 Rissole, 547 Troll, 548 Rainy, 550 Ladle, 552 Earths, 553 Melting-pots, 555 Cupola, 556 Ovules, 557 Annotations, 559 Exotic, 560 Utter, 561 Sunny, 562 Dry-eyed, 564 Sheepskin, 566 Fault, 567 Ether, 568 Tabby, 569 Adjourn, 570 Calmly, 571 Orders, 572 Capable, 573 Heart, 575 Flail, 577 Overt, 578 Planet, 580 Limpid, 583 Snake, 585 Knell, 587 Theirs, 589 Contractile, 590 Rag trade, 593 Ruthless, 596 Environment, 597 Isopod, 598 Balsa

600 Cagey, 601 Replace, 602 Ukase, 603 Hives, 605 Stale, 606 Moot, 608 Existed, 610 Orchard, 611 Cosmos, 612 Sacred, 614 Dab hand, 616 Snuggle, 617 Menu, 618 Fated, 619 Sabre, 620 Foehn, 621 Obedience, 622 Pas, 623 Refer, 624 Sight, 625 Bonus, 626 Mates, 628 Onset, 630 Count, 632 Steep, 635 Spousal, 636 Robin Hood, 637 Primary, 640 Aix-en-Provence, 644 Retreat, 645 Tea chests, 646 Take-off, 649 Lute, 652 Social, 653 Hector, 656 Soda, 657 Freewheel, 660 Seat belts, 662 Con, 663 Indolence, 665 Cerecloth, 668 Parameter, 670 Reload, 671 Recants, 672 Stroke, 673 All clear, 674 Seaweed, 675 Docket, 676 Carol, 678 Widow, 680 Sulphur, 681 Chaucer, 682 Saint, 684 Denim, 686 Slightly, 687 Service road, 688 Pastrami, 689 Suggestion, 690 Disregarded, 691 Solarium, 692 Domineer, 693 Alpaca, 694 Sundries, 695 Bring, 696 Vowel, 697 Persuade, 698 Lock-keeper, 699 Creed, 700 Elate, 701 Threaten.

Down

1 Portends, 2 No-go area, 3 Tether, 4 Ring, 6 Lees, 7 Pallid, 9 Set off, 10 Alms, 12 Edgy, 13 Chewed, 14 Ammeters, 15 Syndrome, 16 Cash dispensers, 17 Bounce, 18 Frou-frou, 19 Caress, 20 Well-bred, 21 Carpet sweepers, 22 Pedestal, 23 Muscatel, 24 Exodus, 25 Tune, 27 Baht, 28 Censer, 30 Vigour, 31 Afar, 33 Else, 34 Aprons, 35 Dutchman, 36 Diatribe, 37 Total, 40 Civic, 42 Indoors, 43 Brief, 44 Stash, 45 Archway, 46 Estate agent, 48 Tigress, 49 Thine, 50 Pulse, 51 Tenuous, 59 Rehearsal, 60 Geese, 61 Eased, 62 Goalposts, 64 Publicist, 65 Sense, 66 Seine, 67 Aesthetic, 75 Trees, 76 Ester, 77 Kebab, 78 Crisp, 80 Naiad, 81 Cider, 82 Stoat, 83 Bogus, 85 Shoes, 86 Impairs, 87 Section, 88 Tried, 90 Curator, 91 Inappreciable, 93 Shire, 94 Anxiety, 95 Tally-ho, 96 Tepee, 101 Spade, 102 Buenos Aires, 103 Conurbation, 104 Regimentals, 106 Trouble spot

107 Scut, 109 Dinner service, 110 Douse, 111 Bass, 112 Lion-hearted, 113 Democratise, 114 Rationalise, 116 Sensational, 117 Smear, 119 Stop press, 121 Seventeen, 124 Audacious, 126 Separated, 128 Pale ale, 129 Through, 131 Apparel, 134 In trust, 135 Telling, 137 Each way, 139 Wrong, 140 Never, 143 Slate, 144 Train, 149 Oat, 151 Ski, 157 Street, 158 Artery, 161 Medal, 163 Seaside, 164 Renewal, 166 Sate, 167 Cobra, 168 Strait, 170 Cochlea, 171 Snapshot, 173 Yard-arm, 174 Macaque, 175 Atoll, 177 Exogenous, 179 Semilunar, 181 Horseshoe, 183 Repellent, 185 Tenor, 186 Nisei, 190 Paean, 191 Defer, 193 Diver, 195 Noted, 196 Seven, 197 Chest, 199 Lazed, 201 Trial, 202 Adder

203 Tract, 211 Perjury, 212 Speed, 213 Cadet, 214 Sniffed, 215 Coups d'etat, 216 Bourbon, 217 Nexus, 218 River, 219 Reopens, 220 Palpated, 221 Magazine, 224 Thank you, 225 Reveille, 226 Theatre, 228 All-star, 229 Thatcher, 230 Catacomb, 233 Triplicate, 234 Denouement, 236 Eider, 237 Giant, 239 Rattle, 241 Genus, 242 Whirr, 244 Stress, 245 Dominoes, 246 Traits, 247 Rancid, 248 Pollster, 250 Shaky, 251 Recap, 252 Claimant, 253 Sneeze, 254 Way out, 255 Resemble, 256 Gruesome, 260 Struck, 263 Dragon, 264 Retain, 265 Inhere, 266 Rise, 269 Bare, 270 Sprint, 271 Bed-sit, 272 Domain, 280 Reduce, 282 Nutriment, 283 Append, 285 Ravenous, 286 San Jose, 289 Ambient, 290 Tinsmith, 291 Bete noire, 293 Integer, 294 Stiletto, 296 Reiterate, 299 Snuff

300 Eternal triangle, 301 Asphalt, 303 Labour-intensive, 304 Amendment, 306 Aim, 307 Direct current, 308 Delineate, 309 Earache, 310 Sloven, 312 Sort out, 313 Modus vivendi, 315 Opera, 317 Skipper, 318 Antediluvian, 320 Abate, 321 Vesper, 322 Spire, 323 Eye, 324 Indispensable, 325 Termagant, 326 Rescind, 327 Statue, 329 Commensurate, 331 Surroundings, 345 Throbbing, 348 Demur, 349 Creek, 352 Tyrannous, 355 Sepulchre, 358 Eleanor, 359 Press stud, 361 Aqueous, 362 Trumped-up, 364 Clement, 366 Hugging, 367 Decree, 368 Caveat, 369 Escapade, 371 Brake shoe, 372 Satsuma, 373 Proclaim, 374 Mercer, 375 Reversal, 378 Uteri, 379 Grain, 381 Puerile, 383 Copra, 385 Entreat, 387 Unhappy, 391 Hanks, 394 Coo, 397 Lepton

398 Banter, 403 Ewe, 407 Similarity, 408 Gelatinous, 409 Einstein, 410 Agenda, 411 Nelson, 412 Speedway, 414 Dormer, 416 Reactive, 418 Particle, 420 Eludes, 422 Elephant, 423 Impart, 424 Runway, 426 Recede, 428 Stem ginger, 431 Agency, 432 Hiring, 434 Spot, 435 Iron-clad, 436 Repeated, 437 Untapped, 438 Surprise, 439 Acid, 441 Solves, 442 Static, 445 Carboy, 446 Chainsaw, 447 Exercise, 449 Adore, 450 Tail-end, 451 Detect, 452 Dumps, 453 Ill-will, 455 Epaulet, 456 Canal, 457 Dozen, 458 Soldier, 460 Coddled, 461 Angry, 462 Poppy, 463 Carry on, 471 Nail-files, 472 Bleed, 473 Yahoo, 474 Energetic, 476 Split peas, 477 Liked, 478 Teens, 479 Crab-apple, 486 Twine, 487 Atlas, 488 Rigid, 489 Panda, 490 Gamma ray, 492 Entry, 493 Gourd, 494 Alibi, 495 Posit, 497 Royal, 498 Terrier, 499 T-shirts, 500 Raven,

502 Amnesty, 504 Up-to-the-minute, 506 Nanny, 507 Remount, 508 Genuine, 509 Label, 512 Rulers, 515 Wheel, 516 Undreamed of, 517 Death duties, 518 Temperature, 520 Information, 521 Malady, 523 Blood relation, 524 Whoop, 525 Kimono, 526 Ground elder, 527 Perorations, 528 Entitlement, 530 Custard pies, 531 Sauce, 533 Fertilise, 535 Naan bread, 537 Flak, 538 Undaunted, 540 Satellite, 542 Rhubarb, 543 Insofar, 545 Runaway, 548 Refresh, 549 Paragon, 551 Expense, 553 Medic, 554 Suave, 557 Alike, 558 Stunt, 563 Eel, 565 Sri, 574 Stump, 576 Lobster, 577 Old hand, 578 Personal column, 579 Ample, 581 Playpen, 582 Dress rehearsal, 584 Enchant, 585 Knights, 586 Odour, 588 Safeguard, 590 Reformats, 591 Army, 592 Reintroduce, 594 Tack, 595 Side order, 597 Ill-omened, 599 Axial, 600 Creep

604 Sabot, 605 Sleet, 607 Taupe, 609 David, 610 Ortho, 611 Chars, 613 Deter, 615 Ditch, 616 Shrew, 617 Muffs, 626 Make way, 627 Sober, 628 Oozes, 629 Treetop, 630 Caveman, 631 Tents, 632 Stead, 633 Paresis, 634 Florists, 635 Stallion, 638 Yokohama, 639 Fireside, 641 Xanthine, 642 Valuable, 643 Ecologic, 644 Roll-neck, 647 Fork-lift, 648 Man-to-man, 650 Chaos, 651 Staid, 654 Bland, 655 Naked, 657 Father, 658 Leaven, 659 Patch, 660 Stereo, 661 Status, 663 Israel, 664 Nectar, 665 Castle, 666 Hearse, 667 Swage, 668 Petrol, 669 Rotate, 676 Clue, 677 Leer, 678 Wake, 679 Wane, 682 Sole, 683 Tier, 684 Deft, 685 Moth.