This crossword No. 22786 clues and answers were published on Mon 24 Mar 2003 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22786 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Container ship : PACKET
4-across – Pose, holding award: a form of acceptance : SOBEIT
9-across – Stygian fare : OBOL
10-across – A subject for those who have a mind to study : PSYCHIATRY
11-across – Thus a West African country becomes an East African : SOMALI
12-across – Party member who went to pot : DORMOUSE
13-across – Its members have strong links : CHAINGANG
15-across – Deep sea fish : BASS
16-across – EXCELS : CAPS
17-across – Dare to raise objection : CHALLENGE
21-across – Holy orders? : CANONLAW
22-across – Jack has a way with him in foreign parts : ABROAD
24-across – One needs capital, becoming number one in France : PROPERNOUN
25-across – It turns to face the blow : VANE
26-across – Aunt about to get a distinction in Indian dance : NAUTCH
27-across – Trial to find alternative to softwood : ORDEAL
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Piped music : PIBROCH
2-down – Alice is out to get her : CELIA
3-down – Discovering English work of intelligence : ESPYING
5-down – Processed heroin available at a price : ONHIRE
6-down – Complicated to work out : ELABORATE
7-down – Forcibly puts forward awkward truths to school head : THRUSTS
8-down – Confirmed they do lie down all over the place : DYEDINTHEWOOL
14-down – I’m ready with first-rate ad-lib : IMPROMPTU
16-down – Arching in embarrassment : CHAGRIN
18-down – Left one gainfully employed as an apprentice : LEARNER
19-down – Several flukes prevent the balloon going up : GRAPNEL
20-down – Cloth worker? : CLERIC
23-down – Show, we hear, to look back on : REVUE
This crossword has in total 29 where 16 are across and 13 are down.