INTERACTION

You're already on my list, Andrew.

Think we're up to 22 now, so ten more slots to fill. I'll post a list of all the participants, along with how to enter, soon.

Hopefully we'll do the draw on Wednesday, the eve of the competition.

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

I can PayPal you a fiver or give you it after the Circle, or you can take it out my winnings!

_________________
Ian Hunter
http://www.ian-hunter.co.uk
Editor/Publisher of Unspoken Water
http://www.ian-hunter.co.uk/unspoken-water
Poetry Editor of the BFS Journal
Director of Read Raw Ltd
http://www.readraw.co.uk

You say that every year, Ian.

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

Okay, we have 29 players - which means there are just three slots available. Get 'em while they're hot!

Here are the instructions:

1/ If you're on the list below, you're registered to play (if I've missed you, let me know asap). Please pay pal me your £5 to williamsonnl AT googlemail.com.

2/ The draw will be made as usual by Charles M Montgomery esq. This year, he'll be using a hi-tech random number generator type thing, devised by Mr Hedgecock. Don't worry, we'll give Charlie a glass of champagne and a big red button to press. He won't know the difference.

3/ The pot will be £160, which I think last time was split into prize money for the first four placed teams as follows: winner £75, losing finalist £45, third place £25 and fourth place £15. All prizes will be paid out by paypal after the final on July 13th.)

It should be fun. There will be banter.

That is all.

PLAYERS
Andy Cox
Andrew Hook
Andy Hedgecock
Max Hedgecock
Roy Gray
Jim Steel
Emma Steel
Des Lewis
Chris Murdoch
Lynda Rucker
Stephen Theaker
Ian Hunter
Neil Williamson
Emma Taylor
Rebecca Payne
Eeason Rajendra
Jeff Vandermeer
Chris Kelso
Yvonne Wilson
Norman Wilson
Ross Warren
Robert Jeffrey
Alistair Rennie
Maura McHugh
Rob Adams
Ruth Booth
Keith Brooke
Al Robertson
Chris Teague

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

Done! Forgot to include a message, but it'll probably come through as being from Silver Age Books.

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Theaker's Quarterly Fiction

Got it, Stephen, thanks.

There are TWO places left. Anyone got friends or family who want to take them up?

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

So, the plan is to make the draw at around 9 or 10 pm tonight. It'll be a lavish, black tie affair, with no expense spared.

We have 30 players on the list, so there's still time right up until the draw for another two people to take part. If that doesn't happen, I suggest that I pay the entry fee for those two slots and nominate a charity to send any winnings to. Does that sound fair?

Oh, and lastly, thanks to those of you who have submitted your fivers via paypal (or promised to give me the dosh in my hand). Those of you who haven't yet, please do so to williamsonnl at googlemail.com.

Watch this space for news of the draw later tonight!!

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

The draw has been made for the TTA Press World Cup sweep. The draw was made by the dapper, charming and frankly confused, local celebrity Charlie M Montgomery. It has to be reported that the ceremony was delayed by several hours by Montgomery's refusal to engage with this year's technological innovations, claiming stubbornly that "it's just not the same if you don't get to slip your hand into a velvet bag and have a good rummage at the balls".

Anyway, we managed to get him to press the correct button at last, and here, for better or worse, is the results (arranged by first round group so you know who you're in direct competition with for the next week or so).

Read it and (in my case, yet again) weep.

GROUP A
Brazil Keith Brooke
Croatia Emma Steel
Mexico Chris Murdoch
Cameroon Andy Cox

GROUP B
Spain Norman Wilson
Netherlands Robert Jeffrey
Chile Eeson Rajendra
Australia Roy Gray

GROUP C
Colombia Aoife Flynn
Greece Rebecca Payne
Cote D'Ivoire Al Robertson
Japan Ruth Booth

GROUP D
Uruguay Max Hedgecock
Costa Rica Alistair Rennie
Italy Chris Teague
England Lynda Rucker

GROUP E
Switzerland Des Lewis
Ecuador CHARITY
France Chris Kelso
Honduras Andy Hedgecock

GROUP F
Argentina Yvonne Wilson
Bosnia & Herzegovina Emma Taylor
Iran Ian Hunter
Nigeria Neil Williamson

GROUP G
Germany Vaughan Stanger
Portugal Jeff Vandermeer
Ghana Andrew Hook
USA Jim Steel

GROUP H
Belgium Rob Adams
Algeria Stephen Theaker
Russia Maura McHugh
Korean Republic Ross Warren

GOOD LUCK!!!

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

There's always next time.

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Theaker's Quarterly Fiction

None of that talk before a ball's kicked, Stephen! Now is the time for dreaming.

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

YES! Ghana! YES! WOOP WOOP WOOP!

(I hope the lucky winner spends my fiver wisely!)

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www.andrew-hook.com

Sorry, Neil! I suppose if Greece can win the Euros, anything is possible. And they did do quite well against England last time.

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Theaker's Quarterly Fiction

That's the spirit (it's the attitude that Scotland fans have perfected, a mix of childish optimism and "may as well make the best of it while it lasts)

_________________
Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

Yep, Scotland fans are loyal, supporting the team whether they lose or draw.

_________________
Ian Hunter
http://www.ian-hunter.co.uk
Editor/Publisher of Unspoken Water
http://www.ian-hunter.co.uk/unspoken-water
Poetry Editor of the BFS Journal
Director of Read Raw Ltd
http://www.readraw.co.uk

Pity it isn't the Cricket World Cup.