[John Whitworth]

Some of us spotted George's winner in the paddock. Spotting is not quite as good as writing alas. Let us not forget Bill and Bazza, the terrible twins, winning good place money. Well done all three.

The new competition is a writing exercise I used to set in the days when I worked for my living. I never did it though. Time to start.

No. 2706: four letter words
You are invited to supply a plausible and entertaining piece of prose written using words of only four letters (150 words maximum). Email entries, if possible, to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 20 July.

[Jayne Osborn]

My Speccie has just dropped through the letterbox and the cover this week is the most gloriously glossy paper.

I'm coming out of the closet - I am a glossy paper fetishist! I get a lovely feeling all over when I handle it. (Is there a word for this?)

The current four letter word challenge looks like a good 'un, Bazz(a), Bill, Georg(e), John, Roge(r), Chri(s), Fran(k), et al.

[Roger Slater]

This one looks too hard and time-consuming, so I'm unlikely to give it a whirl. But anyone who takes it on might find this page helpful:

http://www.scrabble.org.au/words/fours.htm

[George Simmers]

Do you reckon contractions like "she's" and "can't" are allowed?

[Roger Slater]

I reckon I don't have any idea.

[Jayne Osborn]

I reckon I haven't a clue either, but all my instincts are telling me to err on the side of caution. I reckon that means no.

Look at it this way - if contractions are permissable, those of us who don't employ them will (maybe) get extra Brownie points. Where do you draw the line? Would you say, for example, that 'ain't' counts as a four-letter word in place of 'am/are not'? I don't think it does.

Of course, my opinion could be a total load of _ _ _ _ (Substitute your own four-letter word.) What do I know?