This crossword No. 1036 clues and answers were published on Sun 02 Aug 2015 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Speedy Crossword No. 1036 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Fare better than all the rest : COMEOFFBEST
8-across – Willow for basket-making : OSIER
9-across – Sniped : DARTED
10-across – Pardon : REPRIEVE
11-across – Beethoven’s ‘Archduke’: famous piece written for this ensemble : TRIO
12-across – Stretch of water between the North Sea and the English Channel : STRAITOFDOVER
15-across – Establishments where alcoholic drinks are served : BARS
17-across – Introductory section of an oration or discourse : EXORDIUM
19-across – One hundred centimos : PESETA
20-across – For all to see : OVERT
21-across – Factor or action decisive to an outcome : MAKEORBREAK
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Bracing air of old; now seen as potentially toxic : OZONE
3-down – African country, capital Asmara : ERITREA
4-down – Used a strategy in a race to tire out opponents : FORCEDTHEPACE
5-down – Token of distinction in a particular field; proudly displayed wound or injury bravely taken : BADGEOFHONOUR
6-down – Herring of the east North Atlantic : SPRAT
7-down – City and former republic in NE Italy : VENICE
13-down – ‘The Rose of ——‘: song/film title featuring a town in County Kerry, Ireland : TRALEE
14-down – Patronising term for an elderly woman : OLDDEAR
16-down – Queen in the Bible unnamed except for her country; Balkis or Bilkis in the Quran : SHEBA
18-down – Extreme : ULTRA
This crossword has in total 21 where 11 are across and 10 are down.