Cryptic crossword No 1

Excellent first crossword! My favourites were 10d, 14a, 19a, 22a and 25a

Good inclusion of some unfamiliar words but enough in the clues to get you home . Couldn't parse 9, 25 an 26

Nice one. I liked 25A and 9A in particular

This contains some first rate stuff. I thought 9ac and 25ac were absolutely brilliant and 19ac, 2dn, 17dn and 18dn not far behind.

(Having just discovered that if you hit Return you post your comment without finishing it) I'm not sure that 13ac works, because I think the word refers to the tin in which the cake is baked rather than the cake itself. Given how unfamiliar 16ac is, the wordplay's a bit tough.

Nice crossword, good fun with with precise clues. Thanks. One or two quibbles: constructions like "initial rigidness" and "heading towards" don't grammatically mean "r" and "t" to me - but maybe I'm too fussy! I don't get 16 across - perhaps someone can explain.

What a lovely crossword - some crackers in there; COTD for me 26a mostly because it made me laugh! Thank you Raider - excellent stuff!

(SPOILERS WITHIN) I enjoyed this - particularly liked 25a, 11a, and 4d, which feels like one of those clues that has been sitting there waiting for someone to discover it. A few quibbles: in 1a, the clue indicates a plural but the answer is singular; in 21a, it feels like (1/n)

What a great crossword. As a newbie who has yet to find the courage to press the 'publish' button, I'm extremely impressed. Loved 25 across. So clever. Like something Vlad from the Guardian would write.

Well done, Raider - there are some great clues here. I feel the most successful are 14A, 25A and 17D, as the cryptic grammar was solid and the surfaces made sense. Other clues have come great ideas, e.g. '1st and 2nd place cycle to the back'. The construction of 9A is wonderful..

Very nice crossword! I had to reveal the answers to a few: 13a and 16a were new words for me. 9a is brilliant! Thanks Raider, not only for the crossword but also for the wonderful site!

Well done on 3D and 9a, but my very favourite is 18d!

Exellent work - better than many I've seen in the dailies! Favourites perhaps 10d, 14a, 19d - but hard to choose amongst so many others. Wasn't sure of 1a, had to check spelling - and unfamiliar with 16a and 13a. Looking forward to others on this site.

I’m new to this wonderful site and so enjoying catching up on the puzzles. I really enjoyed this: thank you. Started quickly then slowed. Enjoyed your clues with numbers which usually cause me to panic. Particularly enjoyed 25 when penny finally dropped.

Very misleading and quite chewy to parse. Didn't know 1A or 16A, but both gettable with a few crossers. I wasn't keen on 23A but cryptic defs like humour are always subjective, and it was a lovely surface. Not convinced 3-ish is fair in 25A

Oops hit post while scrolling. Thought that 11A and 4D both excellent, easy perhaps but elegant! Favourite clue was 9A - genuine LOL when it dropped.