Gemini Cryptic 6860

It's been a while since I dissected a Gemini Cryptic; here's the first one for 2014 ...
This one appeared in the Monday 13 January issue of The Canberra Times. The Gemini Cryptic is a British cryptic, set by two people. More detail here. As ever, the definition is underlined (except in double and cryptic definition clues). 
ACROSS
1) He requires staff for the spring (4-7) = POLE-VAULTERCryptic definition. Nothing to do with hiring people, this guy needs a pole to spring up with!
9) Vindication of French miscreant (7) = DEFENCECharade clue. Of French = DE ('of' in French) + FENCE (a miscreant, as in someone who received stolen goods).
10) Cool courage is never shattered (5) = NERVEAnagram (shattered) of never.
11) She's not improved by the golden touch (4) = LILYCryptic definition. Reference to 'gild the lily' and a girl's name.
12) In use can turn into a problem (8) = NUISANCEAnagram (turn into) of in use can.
14) A ship wreck holds nothing for her (5) = SOPHIAAnagram (wreck) of a ship + O (nothing). Her is the definition, indicating (a little unfairly) any girl's name.
16) It checks the growth of population (6) = CENSUSCryptic definition. Nothing to do with prophylactics or population control, but checking as in recording!
18) Sense there's agreement among rowing men (8) = EYESIGHTContainer clue. You need some knowledge of rowing as a sport to get this one! Agreement inside (among) rowing men = YES in EIGHT. 
19) Call used in boxing (4) = RINGDouble definition. Call someone on the phone, or ring them. And a boxing ring.
22) Oft repeated ceremony on the third of October (5) = TRITEThe third of October = T. The third letter of October, get it? With RITE (ceremony) tacked on.
23) Royal symbols from Algeria (7) = REGALIAAnagram of Algeria. This clue is unfair, as there is no anagram indicator. A fairer version would be something like Royal symbols from Algeria in disarray.
24) Order for weapons now (7,4) = PRESENT ARMSCryptic definition.
DOWN
2) Refuse organic food? (5) = OFFALCryptic definition. Refuse is a noun here, meaning stuff that's thrown away, rather than the verb.
3) Bird from another nest (4) = ERNEHidden word, in another nest. A bird that mainly resides in crosswords nowadays, ERNE is a literary term for the sea eagle.
4) Place to meet after a drive (6) = AVENUECharade clue. VENUE (place to meet) after A.
5) They call out at court? (8) = LINESMENAn apt clue to appear during the Australian Open ... cryptic definition, referring to the tennis court, not a legal court!
6) Jobs for the boys? (7) = ERRANDSAnother cryptic definition. Errands being small jobs you might get boys to run for you (if you're lucky!)
7) Young people arranged to see Scotland (11) = ADOLESCENTSAnagram (arranged) of see Scotland.
8) It's selected by a backer (7,4) = REVERSE GEARCryptic definition. Not a financial backer, but someone who is driving backwards!
13) They share an item in a geometry set (8) = DIVIDERSDouble definition. People who share are those who divide things up. And dividers are a measuring compass, often seen in geometry sets at school.
15) PM has about a thousand in support (7) = PREMIERContainer clue. Put RE (about) + M (thousand) in PIER (support).
17) Greek ferry operator (6) = CHARONSlightly cryptic definition. Greek mythology. Refers to Charon, the old man who ferried souls into Hades, across the Rivers Styx and Acheron.
20) Mails sorted out for the Muslim world (5) = ISLAMAnagram (sorted out) of mails.
21) Site of beautiful marble mausoleum in Panama graveyard (4) = AGRAThis clue gets the 'longest definition' prize for this crossword! Hidden word clue, the answer is in Panama graveyard. Agra is where the Taj Mahal is located.