Crossword Genius

Climber, perhaps one following main course to summit, shortly (5,3)

Ross

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

8

5,3

sweetpea

'climber' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'one following main course to summit shortly' is the wordplay.
'one following' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'main course' becomes 'sweet' (sweet can mean a dessert or pudding).
'to summit' becomes 'peak' (mountain peak).
'shortly' means to remove the last letter.
'peak' with its final letter taken off is 'pea'.
'sweet' put next to 'pea' is 'SWEETPEA'.

'perhaps' is the link.

(Other definitions for sweetpea that I've seen before include "climbing plant" , "climber" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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