Good lord - I was talking to somebody about the national song competition over a year ago? (Haven't been on Mudcat for a very long timne. ) Sorry Rozza, but I can't remember who you are!! (Mea culpa)
**Update since typing that, I think I may have remembered!

I can provide a few names for you ... Moe Keast won it in 1999, I won it in 2000, Marian Button won it in 2001 (there was no National in 2001 thanks to foot and mouth disease - obviously bound to affect what was the agricultural college arm of the University of Nottingham, the venue, in Sutton Bonington) .. Theresa Tooley (RIP) certainly won it - but I can't remember which year that was in. I think the winner in 2003 was Sue van Gaalen ... eventually the female winning streak was broken by a male singer whose name escapes me.

At some time some years before that I believe that Ian Russell may well have won it (but don't ask me when). Probably the best kept secret of the National ,and sadly John Hayden never kept a record of the winners each year so we may never know.... after I had won it I remember someone sitting next to me at the last session of the day asking me who had won (rather embarassing to have to say "Me"). I also remember going straight from the competition to a song session bouncing with enthusiasm and being completely ignored when it came to going round the room by an MC who was intent on asking people who he knew to sing.
That was rectified the following day by Eddie Upton asking me to sing at the final (goodbye) session in the Senior Common Room. Ah, happy days ... I really do miss the National. It was a great little festival - all power to John Hayden for organising it .