The challenge to compose a spoof sports report [link] was reasonably well attended, with seven entries, most of which used as many of the 1000 words allowed as they possibly could.

Reports on fictional sporting events are not a new phenomenon. During the Big-Freeze winter of 1963 in Britain, so many football games were called off due to the snow that the football pools began using a panel of experts to decide the probable results of games, enabling frozen Britons to continue gambling each week. The Forfar Dispatch, whose sports reporters were without a real match to report on, published a fictional account of a nine-goal game on being informed by the pools panel of an 'away win' for Stirling Albion's postponed fixture at Forfar Athletic.

The entries I received were of a good standard but only entry of this batch which I regarded as better than good, was `conorschild's challenging dystopia, Last Day of the Negro Hunt which entitles him to the award of a full year of subscription!

The next contest is of a poetic nature. The object is simple.

You are invited to compose a poem based on a well known painting or sculpture.

Once more, the entries which I surmise to be 'better than good' will receive their share of 12 months subscription.

Poems are to be limited to 30 lines, and entries must be posted as a link in the comments section of this article before 12 noon (EST) on Monday 1st September to be eligible.

Happy writing to you all!