The Times - Cryptic - December 16, 2015 Crossword Puzzle Answer

The Times - Cryptic - This puzzle was one of three correctly solved in a total of less than 60 mins by 14 of the 24 competitors in the Grand Final of the 2015 Times Crossword Championship - December 16, 2015

Clues	Answers
A conspirator's right up tree	ARBUTUS
Alternative to raspberry, with half the flavour in drink	BOOZE
Artistic Frenchman has dull children rejecting university	MATISSE
Attempt to penetrate big bundle	FAGOT
Composer almost crazy within as manuscript is produced	HANDMADE
David's boy acting alone by day	SOLOMON
Doyens matter less and need to be massaged	ELDERSTATESMEN
During period of work retains cold behavioural pattern	INSTINCT
Flower you must remove from African tree in days	TAMAR
Fruit that's ace with cereal	ACORN
Good person given prize, not the first employee of club?	STEWARD
Grotesque king on view with head chopped off	RISIBLE
In statement of opinion this writer is monotonous	SAMEY
Is there so bizarre a tendency to be superior to parents?	HETEROSIS
Island's banished female star as defined in two parts	MIRANDA

Clues	Answers
It's hell facing Cavalier monarch threatening to be unfair	DISCRIMINATORY
Lots to see in this Southern capital: Rome also extraordinary	SALESROOM
Martyr at rest in furthest parts of cemetery	RIDLEY
New York's stage actors losing the way in show	BROADCAST
Plant is trodden on by horse	ARABIS
Purchase that includes divine china	BUDDY
Regret about evil old city blokes primarily in its parks?	RUSINURBE
Remarkably, it's manure giving protection from disease	ANTISERUM
Report of what is dazzling talent	FLAIR
Sent legal document with insubstantial content	DELIGHTED
Slandered in the past, wanting scrap	BACKBIT
Street woman in sort of performance that can get filthy	DUSTSHEET
The despicable people holding army officer — rulers claiming religious authority	THEOCRATS
Weapon to throw discus-style?	SIDEARM
Without hesitation, a holy book provides shocks	NUMBS