Cryptic crossword No 2,345

Great stuff, Flashing! A couple of little references that were a bit beyond me (but that says more about me than the puzzle!) but generally a nice straightforward one as you said in your preamble. I liked especially 17a, 2d, and 6d. Nice to get a bonus Nina in there too.

A much better first effort than mine. You already know what I wasn't so keen on so instead a list of favourites; 9a, 11a, 21a,24a, 2d, 6d, 25d, and my top pick 27d. Well done flash!

Well, that's a solid start! My favourite was definitely 2d, which is incredibly good for a first puzzle. Some really nice hidden surfaces as well. I struggled a little with some obscure references, and the grid didn't help by almost separating the corners. SW was hard to get going with, thanks to that long bar. I look forward to the next one!

Well done Flashling, that’s an extremely creditable first puzzle. Mostly quite gentle but a few obscurities and the tricky grid pushed it beyond Quiptic, I’d say. Happy to provide ridiculously pedantic quibbles if you want them but, for now, just favourites: 11a, 24a, 2d, 4d, 6d and 27d.

Poacher turned gamekeeper! Or something 😁 Good to see you here. A very good debut, though I’d say a little beyond ‘quiptic’ with a couple of obscurities that slowed me down. Especially liked 13a, 24a and 15d. Spoilery comments in reply. Thanks!

Actually I'll only improve if I get good constructive criticism so please feel free folks.

The Nina by the way refers to the work of online satirist Henry Morris who wrote the diaries of a secret Tory, a secret royal and an occasional column for the Papua new Guinea courier lambasting life in the UK. A funny erudite chap well worth looking up.

Thanks Flashling & congratulations on taking the plunge. I enjoyed this quite a bit with my top choices being 11a, 24a, 29a, 2d, and 25d. It looks like Henri has done the 'heavy lifting' with feedback but I have a couple of comments to add.

Lovely to see you here, flash, and a very nice debut. Plenty to like. I had ticks, amongst others, for 23a, 24a (COTD), 28a, 2d (podium), 3d (podium) and 6d. Thanks. PM

Thanks flashling and welcome ... as Henri observed, though perhaps more gamekeeper turned poacher! Plenty to enjoy here, my faves include 11a, 23a, 24a, 28a, 2d, 6d, 25d & 27d. Spoilers ...

Loads to like here, including 10a, 11a, 24a, 2d, 6d and 15d. Your first one? Really? Hats off. Not really spoilers …