| PULLAFASTONE | Influence a sprinter to cheat (4,1,4,3) |
| RIGHTONTHEMARK | Direction for a sprinter to scoot over? |
| PRESSESAHEAD | Tries to influence a school boss: keeps at it (7,5) |
| SHOTONESBOLT | First photo's a sprinter, given too much too soon |
| RULER | Item often found in a pencil-case with crayons, erasers, felt-tip pens, scissors, sharpeners etc; a term for a planet held to influence a given zodiacal sign; or, an emperor, monarch, raja or other le |
| RUNNER | A slip or slide of a sledge; a smuggler; a sprinter; or, a stolon (6) |
| OFFTOAFINESTART | Like the first sprinter to leave the blocks |
| OWNS | Has American sprinter to lack energy? |
| HEFT | Word whose various meanings include an unfenced area of grazing for a flock of sheep accustomed to shepherding themselves; bulk/weight, thus influence; a bundle of fastened sheets of paper; or, a fasc |
| BOLT | The first sprinter to win gold medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre races in three straight Olympics |
| LOBBY | Which verb means to seek to influence a politician / official body etc on an issue? (5) |
| LOBBYING | Attempt to influence a public official in favour of a specific opinion or cause (8) |
| EMBRACING | Offence of trying to influence a jury - by giving them a hug? (9) |
| BRIBES | Money or favours given to influence a person in a position of trust (6) |
| EMBRACERY | An attempt to influence a judge or jury in a corrupt manner |
| SCARE | __ campaign (use of fearmongering to influence a vote) |
| CATALYZE | Clay seat used to influence a chemical reaction (8) |
| POLITICALCLOUT | Ability to influence a campaign, perhaps |
| LOBBYIST | Person who seeks to influence a politician (8) |
| LEVERAGE | Power to influence a person or situation (8) |
