Spectator 1937

[tenflags]

Thank you to the kind folks who provided the PDF' .. does anyone know if it is acceptable to send it in (i.e. PDF printed out and filled in of course) for the chance of being picked out the bag ? or does one have to get hold of a copy of the actual magazine or subscribe to an on-line subscription ( e.g. a bit like the times crossword club ?)
many thanks.

[JoolsTwo]

I usually send in the Generalist from a downloaded grid and have been picked out as a winner - That doesn't answer your question about the Spectator, but I would think that if it's possible to download it you could send it in. I'm sure they would have found a way to stop you doing it if it wasn't accepted. Give it a go you nothing much to lose ......... just the cost of the stamp. :-)))

[Mysterons]

I can confirm that print-outs are acceptable, and do win prizes. An A4 envelope will improve your chances.

[gen2]

. . . but remember that an A4 envelope also requires a more expensive stamp these days.

[tenflags]

Thankyou one and all.
does the A4 principle also apply to the Listener Mysterons? I thought I was pushing my luck by sending in A3 (I am aware that a print out from the times crossword club is acceptable in this instance of course ).

[Mysterons]

No, the size of envelope will make no difference to Listener entries, as these are all recorded for statistical purposes before the draw is made. However, JEG does appreciate it if the submitted grids are not folded.

[tenflags]

Thanks Mysterons .. that's very helpful.
I shall now get back to try to finish last weeks spectator - with fresh eyes - 1A and 15A are driving me nuts.
(I can however take some 'sollice' in that it seems to have had the same effect on others - different thread).

[amtaff]

I have cut out the completed grid from a printout, put it in a small envelope and received a Chambers Dictionary as a runner-up, so I don't think size matters!

[Mysterons]

I think you would need to (randomly) sample a larger number of winners amtaff in order to draw a meaningful conclusion. Intuitively, a larger envelope will stand a better chance of being pulled from a sack than a smaller one.

[jacinth]

I recall an article several years ago in the Weekend FT about the prize crosswords. Entries are placed in some sort of box file. A random entry is chosen and the winner is the entry, say, ten envelopes away. So, size doesn't necessarily matter! I'm not sure what the other papers/mags, but it seems a sensible approach.
I've been sending in Spectator printouts for over a year without success however...

[mintyman99]

My theory is that address or postmark matters most.
The Spectator favours country or especially international addresses.
But then it could be that i am a sore losing Londoner.