The other White Hare referred to was recorded from Joseph Taylor (of Brigg Fair fame) and a version was recorded by the Waterson's on "The Watersons", both of these can be found here It bears no relation to this song at all. There was another version of the same song recorded by Kidson.

I have no objection to self-penned songs, some of them are brilliant - Ewan MacColl, John Conolly and Mike Waterson come to mind. Nor is there any objection to this as a song (not especially good IMHO) but that is not the point. If dozens of people cover it like they have with "Fiddler's Green" and "The First Time Ever" then good look to Seth. I hope he makes a fortune from it.

The indignation Tim, is not from those things. The indignation is because people such as festival organisers take notice of these awards (and so they should because they ought to indicate a measure of public popularity rather than just in the folk world) to book people. Choosing this track above others forces the fifth placed artist out of the reckoning. This is not a traditional song. People may find it hard to define a traditional song and I would be one of them.

But whatever definition you come up with - something written in the past couple of years does not come into the reckoning and never has.

However the traditional the story.

Last year the winning traditional track was by John Tams and was called the "Bitter Withy". Remarkably it was the only track on that particular record not written by him.

See why people think it might be fixed?

And JL has promised to put the votes up. Are you a gambler Tim? Here is a wager. That list of votes will be the ones cast for the four finalists. You will never know which track came fifth in the traditional category.

I did make a number of those points in the recording but they were cut. I knew the format and tried anticipate his objections in advance. Some of those were edited out.

I knew he would get the last word. But for an experienced broadcaster which he is, he sounded a bit nervy.

I think it might just be more transparent next year.