Indeed, Roger Bolton did not pick JL up.

The entry criteria for Best Traditional Track, as published by the Smoothies themselves, is the best performance of any traditional song or tune on CD released during the past 12 months. This is a category designed to recognise the work of people recording traditional material. It is to be a new recording of a traditional song, from any tradition.

And the money you get from a self-written song is exactly the same as what you get for Trad/Arr.

As for a 'reputation for being vindictive', never. I should think my invitation to the Brewery this year is just delayed in the post. And the Smoothies would never exclude anyone from their forum for telling it like it is, would they?