Read about Elaine Garnett's VIP trip to Wales

Dear Sharon,

I received notification via a recorded delivery letter of my win in FHM Magazine for a weekend worth more than £3,500 during October 2007. However, due to a series of events it wasn`t until last month that we were able to take our prize. I learnt of the competition through one of your competitions as I became a member of the NCA during 2007.

Our win at Celtic Manor began with my husband & I driving from Yorkshire to South Wales to the Celtic Manor Hotel. When we arrived our car was chauffeur-driven away & we checked in at reception. The receptionist showed us up to our room – the Presidential Suite, a two bedroomed, two balconied, three bathroomed suite. A fresh fruit basket with shortcake and fresh cream had been delivered for our arrival together with a box of chocolates.

The prize included an evening meal in both the Patio Restaurant, part of the Manor House, and The Olive Tree Restaurant where we also had full Welsh breakfasts on both mornings. We ate the first evening in the Patio Restaurant, the food was delicious, we knew then that we were not going to be disappointed. On the way to the Manor House where the restaurant was located were photographs of celebrities who had stayed at the hotel including Chris Evans, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas, Aled Jones, Robbie Williams, Ant & Dec, etc.

 

After a hearty Welsh breakfast on the Saturday morning we wandered around the grounds in the autumn sunshine and took in the magnificent views. We didn`t take the opportunity to have a golf lesson on the 2010 open course, although this was part of the prize, because neither of us are prolific golfers. We could, however, see the course.

On the Saturday afternoon we both visited the Forum Spa for facials and other use of the facilities – just looking at the website gives you a sense of how wonderful it is. On Saturday evening we ate in the Patio restaurant, a delicious buffet meal. We checked out on the Sunday morning after visiting the Forum Spa for our last swim feeling wonderfully relaxed. We decided to travel home through Wales and take in the wonderful countryside as I`ve never visited before which was a marvellous end to an enchanting weekend.

 

Best Wishes

Elaine Garnett

 

Dear Sharon,

I joined the National Compers Alliance in April of this year and at every available opportunity entered the many competitions listed on the MyComps website, and in the Winner’s Friend and Simply Prizes magazines. As recommended, I tried to enter at least 30 comps a week, but frequently entered more than that as there were so many advertised through my membership.

Being a bit of a motorhead (even at my age) I always searched out the car competitions first. So, back in the summer I entered a competition on the My Comps website to win A SEAT Leon FR car plus tickets to a 2008 British Touring Car Championships meeting of your choice. This competition was being run in conjunction with Casio (the electronics company) who sponsored SEAT in the BTCC.

Thanks to the website the answer was already available, however, I did google it to double check it was correct before entering my details, clicking the submit button, and then forgetting all about it…

Until September 4th, when I received an email from a lovely PR lady on behalf of Casio who contacted me to tell me I had won!!

The BTCC tickets were for Brands Hatch on the 21st September and included a full day VIP hospitality, and a mock presentation of the car was to take place during the day.

My partner Ian and I headed off for Brands Hatch and the weather couldn’t have been better! It was like a hot July day and we were treated like royalty with our access all areas pass around our necks.

The whole day was perfect with great food and drink in the hospitality lounge, milling around with the SEAT drivers Jason Plato and Darren Turner, a visit into the garages to see the racing cars and the team who work on them, a walk around on the track before the second race, and access into the main grandstand where we had a fantastic view of the whole track to watch the races.

Ian and I had our photos taken with Jason who presented me with the keys of the car.

All in all we had a terrific day and will hold that memory for a very long time. In fact it’s fired my enthusiasm for the racing and we intend to go back next year! Just a shame we won’t have the VIP passes again!!

As for the car I’ve won… well it’s a 2.0 litre TDI and I have asked for it in emocion red! Hot and sexy to go with its 150bhp! It truly is a fantastic prize and I am the envy of all my friends and colleagues who can’t believe anyone ever wins these competitions!

I am currently waiting for the car to be delivered to my local dealer for an official publicised handover in the next couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel!

Everyone from SEAT and Casio, and the PR Company Launch Group have been very friendly and helpful and I have a lot to thank them for. I also owe MyComps a big thank you because without you I probably wouldn’t have entered the competition and won such a fantastic prize.

Finally, just this week I have received a letter telling me I have won two tickets to the Harrogate House Building and Renovation Show on 7-9 November! So hopefully I shall be driving to that in my new shiny wheels…

Thanks again,

Jan

 

 

Alwyn's wonderful trip to Orlando!

“Hi Katie,

We were thrilled to be heading to Orlando in Florida. It was the result of a competition win by my brother Richard Stephens, who wasn’t able to go and kindly thought it would be a great gift for his sisters!  But don’t worry Richard did go on to win another great prize of a trip to the Beijing Olympics, if you haven’t already read his story you should, it’s just underneath mine…

It was to be the first time we’d been to the States. The flight with Virgin Atlantic was excellent and made the long trip very pleasant. A hire car was waiting for us at the airport on arrival which had much needed air-conditioning! The hotel was the Holiday Inn on International Drive, which was very central both for the parks and for restaurants and shopping. The gardens and swimming pool were beautiful too, no doubt, due to the daily outburst of warm rain lasting for around half an hour (“Not like the UK” Editor Sharon). 

International Drive was a hive of activity and clearly the place to be! The prize included three park tickets to Busch Gardens (highly recommended and so much to see and do), Aquatica (a new water park opened this year) and SeaWorld (where we saw orcas, dolphins and manatee).

We managed to find time to visit Universal Studios and the Magic Kingdom as well as the essential trip to a typical mall. Everything from food to clothing was very reasonably priced. The trip was over in a flash, but a fantastic experience! And we hope we will be back in future for a longer stay.

We would like to thank the trip organisers for making the trip so memorable.

Best Wishes,

Alwyn Marshall”

Read Richard's incredible story of a win to Beijing!

“Dear MyComps,

My name is Richard Stephen and do I have a story for you!

I’ve just returned from the Olympics in Beijing and it was, quite simply, the holiday of a lifetime.

More about that in a minute but first I need to go back to the start…

About a year ago, I decided to subscribe to the weekly MyComps service. Even though I saw the same message again and again that the more competitions you enter, the better your chances, I still decided to restrict myself only to online competitions. Looking back, I can see it was not the smartest thing to do but we all know better with some hindsight – don’t we?!

No surprises but, after a few months and no results, I was very close to the point of quitting. Then suddenly, right out of the blue, I got a message to say that I’d won a family trip for four to Orlando. I didn’t believe it, but checked it out and it was true.

There was good news and bad news on the Orlando trip. The bad news was that my girlfriend couldn’t go and so I decided that I wouldn’t go. However, before doing anything, I checked with the organisers and here’s the good news ? they said that there was nothing in the rules to say I couldn’t give it to someone else. I offered it to my sisters and they accepted, so they and my niece had a free holiday on me. Disappointed though I was for myself, being able to send them made up for it! I know my sisters plan to write something for you themselves and I’ll be very interested to read their story too.

Back to how I got to Beijing…

As for me, I’d got the bug and began comping like a madman. And wouldn’t you know it. Right on cue, I got word that I’d won another competition. This time it was a holiday for two to the Olympics in Beijing! My guest was an easy choice – I took my Kung-Fu mad, Chinese-speaking nephew, Euan.

We flew from Heathrow and 10 hours later were at Beijing airport where the hardest thing was finding our sponsor’s banner among the thousands of others being held up! When we finally got to our hotel it was the best three-star hotel I’ve seen in my life.

Right from the start, it was clear how proud the Chinese were to have the Olympics and how keen they were to help their foreign guests, it was quite humbling at times.

There are so many things I’d like to write about our trip, but the main memories were firstly the walk up to Tiananmen Square on my first night in the heat and humidity and seeing a sea of Chinese faces walking towards me.

The next memory was the Opening Ceremony which we saw not in the Birds Nest stadium itself but on a large-screen TV downtown with about 10,000 Chinese, all peacefully sitting down! An amazing experience.

There was the Temple of Heaven – an incredible monument to Chinese history and architecture – but the most amazing spectacle of all, the Great Wall of China, was quite simply breathtaking.

Of course the trip wouldn’t be complete without going to the Games themselves. It was a magical experience, one neither of us will forget. And obviously by the time Euan and I heard we were going to the Olympics at the start of July, it was no surprise that the Opening Ceremony and the 'elite' events were already well and truly sold out.

Fortunately for us however, there were still a few tickets left for some other sports and we went for badminton and handball. These would not normally have been top of our wish list but the atmosphere was electric and they were both absolutely FANTASTIC to watch! I've added them both to my list for London 2012, plus the beach volleyball!  Being there in person watching the Olympics was a dream of a lifetime for me.

The trouble with the best holidays is that they’re always over too soon. Before we knew it we were back to reality in good old Dundee with the rain! However, now we have a fantastic experience to talk about! I wonder where my next win will take me?”

Kind regards,
Richard Stephens"

From Beijing to Sue's amazing win to New York

Sometime in October last year I entered the Silvikrin Hairspray comp run by Glamour magazine which was featured on the MyComps website. At the end of November I had a phone call at work which I thought was someone wanting me to advertise with them, so I said I was busy and could they ring back later!!!   Luckily they did – they told me I had won the competition. It took a long time to sink in.

The prize included:

· Two return flights to Newark from Heathrow – but when I asked for travel from Newcastle then they included the flight down and back at no extra cost!!!

· Return transfers from Newark to The Sheraton Twin towers

· Three nights’ accommodation including breakfast, although the hotel didn't actually do that package. However, my son in Cumbria rang The Competitive Edge (who organised the whole trip) and they refunded us in full on our return

· Travel insurance was meant to be for the winner only but my daughter-in-law was also included.

· Two hair makeovers at Vidal Sassoon on 5th Avenue – worth about $110 each.

· Two tickets for Hairspray the Musical – worth $180.

· Two helicopter flights over Manhattan worth $252.

· Two tickets on the circle line Harbour 3-hour cruise tour.

· And lastly $1,000 spending money.  

Unfortunately, my husband is not keen on flying so I decided to take my daughter-in-law with me. Our travel dates were organised through Competitive Edge who were great with all the arrangements (even organising flights from Newcastle down to Heathrow for us).We finally left England for New York on May 1st 2008, leaving my son to look after FOUR children!!!!

We had a really brilliant time in New York. All four days were packed full with so much that on the last day we only managed to make it back to the hotel for the pick up by TEN minutes.

As we were boarding at Heathrow a VIP was ushered on – Stephanie Powers (recognised her as Jennifer Hart from the programm Hart to Hart – now I’m showing my age!!).

On arrival at New York we were collected by the Shuttle Bus and taken to the Sheraton Hotel – in one word FANTASTIC (wall-to-wall marble).

We had our hair makeover the next morning at the Vidal Sassoon Salon on 5th Avenue – I’ve never had a haircut that’s taken an hour to cut plus the consultation and shampooing!  They were VERY thorough and VERY good.

After collecting the tickets for Hairspray we found our seats and noticed that two rows in front and on the other side of the centre aisle there were three spare seats – what,  NOT a sellout. We should have known better, as the lights went down guess who was shown in by their bodyguards – none other than Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and their child.

Sunday we enjoyed the helicopter ride, we had the two front seats beside the pilot and great views over everything. 

On a last minute shopping trip we were heading down a side street towards Bloomingdales when we were stopped after rounding a corner – a film crew were just about to shoot a scene. It was from the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 which is due for release next year starring Denziel Washington and John Travolta.

Lastly, we had decided to go for our river cruise, it docked at 15.30 and we were being collected at 16.20, with 10 blocks to walk, it was VERY tight. Believe you me when I say that we were on the go from the minute we reached New York to the minute we left it.

We also managed to fit in a walk in Central Park and through walking miles around the city we saw such landmarks as the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Chrysler Building, Times Square and many more.

On top of everything else we had been given $1,000 to spend and not very much spare time to spend it in. It was absolutely a ONCE IN A LIFETIME experience and it was because of this that I decided it could be well worth my while to join the NCA.”

And Sue’s great news just doesn’t stop there…

“On arrival home there was a parcel containing a prize from The Baby Website of a NUK baby starter kit worth £90 (this will come in useful for my youngest son and wife who are expecting their first child in August). The only drawback is that they live in Bermuda so I now need a comp to win a trip out there!!

Thanks VERY much for showing the comp on your website and I hope to win lots more through the National Compers Alliance.

Sue Pigg

PS: Back in Newcastle my suitcase was missing a handle (a brand new Antler case was sent to me courtesy of British Airways).”

Wow!!

And then we have MyComper Jane who just keeps winning…

“Hi Katie,

Just to let you know I won a Brabantia soft close red bin (you know those very expensive bins you can buy in Debenhams worth about £70!) a few weeks ago courtesy of Now magazine. You featured this on MyComps last month.

I've had a good year so far with prizes including a weekend away at a De Vere Venue Hotel, mascara, a pot of Manuka honey, Nicky Clarke Hairdryer and straighteners, some cross stitch goodies and a trip to Frankfurt for three days with a hot air balloon trip included (I am flying out there on the 21st August). Fingers crossed my luck carries on!

Kind regards,

Jane Chambers”

And Jane again…

“Hi Katie,

This morning I received another prize of two tickets to RHS Wisley Gardens!! I'm really pleased as I have just got an allotment so I can visit Wisley free of charge for some tips!!”

And finally, here’s Jane again…

“Hi Katie,

It’s me again!

Just to let you know when I got home from work this evening there was not just one prize waiting for me but two!! I won a copy of Paul Weller biography Changing Man as featured on My Comps last month sponsored by South West Trains and crafting goodies featured in Papercraft magazine – this comp was also on Mycomps website.

And finally, my partner’s daughter Sophie (she is 11) called tonight to say she'd won an Xbox!! I am always encouraging my partner’s children to enter competitions; I am so pleased for her and think she is pretty thrilled too!!

Keep up the great work and great comps!!

Jane”

Lona's 5-star wins are certainly worth knowing about!

... and incredibly inspiring for any down-in-the-dumps comper!

You may recall, I mentioned receiving an email from Lona back in March about her incredible wins since Christmas. A £600 five-star spa break in Oxford, a £500 spa break voucher and a lunch date with Gordon Ramsay at Claridges in London… to name but a few!

Over to Lona…

“Dear Katie,

At last!! I have the pictures of our day with Gordon Ramsay, which was brilliant. It began with canapés and champagne, followed by a meet and greet with the man himself – then on to a fabulous three-course lunch with lots of wine flowing. 

After coffee we were given a tour of the kitchens at Claridges which were spotless, and of course we had a peep at the wine cellars.  Our party lunch was in one of the private dining rooms off the main Claridges restaurant.  My husband and I were a very contented pair catching the 7pm train home.  Had we booked seats on the 5pm train we would never have made it!

… Gordon Ramsay couldn’t have been more of a gentleman if he tried, we didn’t hear one swear word from him.  He was absolutely charming, had his photo taken with all of us and signed his books plus a copy of the menu for me.

Following on from that we enjoyed a three days spa break at Camden Park, Chester – again an excellent prize.  The food was sumptuous and the full body massage did me the world of good.

And then it was off to the five-star Randolph Hotel in Oxford for two nights.  The service was impeccable and we made the most of our stay by exploring the city with its wonderful colleges and spires. The hotel was of the old-fashioned style; grand and discreet – it was where Inspector Morse had been filmed.

I look forward to keeping in touch with you, hopefully to report more wins!

Good luck to all my fellow MyCompers and your good self.

Kind regards,

Lona”

What can I say – Lona’s a very lucky lady. But she deserves her success; after all she’s worked at it. It just goes to prove what entering comps can do to show you how to live the high life!

On a smaller scale, but just as important, Vicki has finally had a win and just at the point when she was beginning to believe it wouldn’t happen.

So the moral to this prize-winning story is don’t ever give up – YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!!

“Hi Katie,

I just thought I would drop you an email to say yippee I have finally won. Which, I’m so pleased about as I only said yesterday to my hubby I’m going to cancel my subscription as I didn't believe I ever would win.

I won through a Bella magazine comp, the prizes were a Barbie T-shirt, a hippo bean bag and some other bits and pieces.

Altogether its £320 worth of stuff!  I now understand what keeps all the other compers hooked!

Yours faithfully,

 Vicki”

How Donna Moore won 98 prizes in 22 months worth £16,000

Donna's story... 

" I started doing competitions in August 2006 and I love it.  In the last eight months I've won three holidays: Ibiza to see the Arctic monkeys, snowboarding in the French Alps with instruction from the UK's number one female snowboarder and recently two weeks in Cyprus with Timesonline worth £7,000. I'm off in September and can't wait. 
 
Yesterday I opened my email to find I'd won a year's supply of contact lenses!
  
I keep a list of all the prizes and a tally of the values of the prizes I've won, which helps me through the lean spells.  It amounts to just under £16,000.00 so far and a total of 98 prizes of all shapes and sizes. I'm still trying for that Ninetendo DS for my daughter. 
 
Thank you for introducing me to this fantastic opportunity to enrich my family's life - with wondrous gifts and new experiences."
 
And then there's Hazel Smith whose Mum and Auntie managed to take advantage of one her great wins...
 
"Dear Katie,
 
I wrote to you last year to tell you I had won a VIP trip to a film Premiere - what a prize! As it turns out I was unable to go on the trip due to work commitments. However, I spoke to the competition organiser, Unmissable, and they agreed to let me transfer the prize over to my Mum.
 
Both my Mum and Auntie then chose one of the alternative prizes of a week in the Bahamas.
 
 The reason I'm writing this email is to say a great big THANK YOU TO MYCOMPS because without your fantastic site this would have just been a dream for my Mum and Aunt.
 
As a result my Mum is now a confirmed comper and as for me I am permanently entering comps and winning on a fairly regular basis.  Keep up the good work.
 
Kind regards,
 
Hazel Smith"
 
 Both Donna and Hazel's stories surely must inspire you; it certainly does me! Now, not all of us have had as much good fortune from our comping experiences as Donna. However, that doesn't mean that your fellow compers like Jo and Donna Dyble aren't just as happy with their win.  We ALL have to start somewhere...
 
"Hi Katie,
 
I started comping and joined My Comps about three weeks ago, I started to enter most of the online comps weekly together with a few postcard entries, and have just also joined Winners Friend!!
 
I have certainly caught the bug! And to my surprise my first win arrived in the post last Saturday, a DVD from the Radio Times which I entered on the 2nd May via your website! I am really excited now and looking forward to lots more wins, a nice holiday win would be lovely, watch this space!!
 
Donna Dyble"
 
"Hi Katie,
 
I just thought I would share with you my winning story. I am a new comper and was a bit dubious at first. However I received my first win just three weeks after entering competitions!!
It was only a small prize of the new Enchanted DVD that is now going to be my little sister's birthday present! But it just goes to show you do really win! Just like to wish good luck to everybody else and I hope the next time you hear from me I will have won a fantastic holiday or cash prize!!
 
Regards,
Jo"

From New Zealand to loyal MyComper - Sue's amazing story!

You might not remember the comp featured in The Sunday Times in spring 2007 - it was some time ago! Well Sue Craft certainly does, since in August last year she took a phone call to say that she had won it - two return tickets from London Heathrow to New Zealand with a luxury holiday on the exotic Bay of Islands.
 
What's so amazing is that it was the first comp Sue had entered and she wasn't a MyComper - yet!
 
Sue and her husband decided to take the prize in February this year when they were guaranteed some warmer weather and plenty of sunshine and at a time of year when it's so miserable here!
 
They flew via Hong Kong and spent a night in the bustling city before arriving in Auckland and being transported to the Bay of Islands which has been described as the finest maritime park in New Zealand with its 144 islands and secluded bays containing the likes of marlin, whales, penguins and dolphins. One of the most tranquil, romantic and adventurous regions you'll probably ever come across in your lifetime.
 
As part of their prize Sue and her husband stayed in a luxury apartment where they were able to fully relax and enjoy the serene surroundings. But they couldn't resist the temptation to hire a car to explore the magnificent islands at their leisure.
 
Knowing that it was unlikely that they'd ever get to New Zealand again, Sue and her husband decided to make the most of their prize and were able to add another nine days touring the North Island.  They stayed in what is known as 'Home Stays' in New Zealand, which are basically bed & breakfast facilities in peoples own homes. Remember, houses in New Zealand have a lot more space than the average UK owner does and their quality of life is something else...
 
"We met some lovely people who made us feel so much part of their family.  We stayed in some fantastic locations and sampled some wonderful food, including kippers caught and smoked by the owners and fruit hand-picked from the orchards in their own grounds!" 
 
Sue's big win has now seriously given her the comping bug. Since Sue's great success she has become a MyComper and loves the thrill of entering comps and waiting for more great news to fall through her letterbox.
 
 "Everybody I meet says 'I have never won ANYTHING' - when I ask if they enter competitions, they say no - so I tell everybody you have to be in it to win it! Three weeks later I won an ice cream maker too."
 
Now, it might take a while for Sue to win another once-in-a-lifetime experience, but then again it might be waiting just around the corner... 
 
Carole and her £1,500 cash PLUS  a holiday!

"Dear Katie,
 
I have had a few small wins so far this year, including an Easter Egg from a local raffle, a bar of Galaxy to send to a 'loved one', a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm.
 
But this morning I was astonished to receive a letter from the magazine Take A Break telling me that I have won their Big Bonanza from the 10th March issue. From that weeks selection I could choose prizes to the value of £2,500. I opted for £1,500 in cash and a week in a cottage in Cornwall for six people worth £1,000. This is my best ever win so I am delighted. Every prize, no matter how small, keeps the motivation going.
 
What a start to the week.
 
Regards
Carole Dorran"
 
And then it's great to hear that you the success stories I publish are continuing to motivate you...
 
"Dear Katie,
 
It's lovely to hear and read the stories of others who have won competitions using the Mycomps web site. It does give me the incentive to keep trying - maybe one day I will be fortunate enough to be able to submit a winner's story as well.
 
Nicholas"
 

How Jenny found success in dieting and comping without leaving the house! She's an inspiration to us all...

"Hi,
 
I just wanted to tell you that when I got home from work last Friday I had a lovely surprise.  I received a letter from the Trafford centre telling me that I had won their online competition. It was run in conjunction with Beaverbrooks the Jewellers and if I could pop along to the store they told me I could collect my prize.  So straight in the car and off we went. 
 
My prize was a diamond and white gold necklace.  It is absolutely beautiful I couldn't have chosen anything nicer.  The staff in the shop where wonderful and treated me like a celebrity.  They even provided a full warranty and lifetime cleaning guarantee with the necklace.  As I was leaving they asked if I wanted a receipt for insurance purposes - I never thought of that (so was glad she did). It's worth a massive £550! 
 
My family were really pleased for me - I seldom treat myself, preferring to treat the kids, so this was truly amazing.  It may not be a money-can't-buy prize but it is definitely an 'I wouldn't have had the money to buy prize!'
 
The next day I won tickets via What's on TV online magazine to take the whole family to the premier of Spiderwick Chronicles which was a fabulous film and they even let us take Grandma and Grandad too!
 
And today I have found out I have won family tickets to Blackpool Tower Funzone!  So that's a trip to look forward to over Easter.
 
So, having proved comping is for the whole family I have today signed up to the NCA - the current offer is too good to miss!  I have my eyes set on a glamorous occasion or meal at a fancy restaurant so I can wear my new necklace. Oh, and the kids want a Nintendo.  I guess I will be busy and desperately in need of the free postcards that come with NCA membership!
 
Jenny Farragher
 
PS: Did I tell you my dieting tip - since joining My comps a few months ago I have found my diet is going really well.  It's simple, honestly. Each evening, instead of snacking in front of the telly, I am on my laptop and with one hand to type and one on the mouse - no time for chocolate or crisps!"

REMEMBER THE ONLY COMP YOU DID NOT WIN IS THE ONE YOU DID NOT ENTER!

From a book to the BAFTAs - Tony has won it all!

You may recall that last week I mentioned we had YET ANOTHER winner of the annual VIP BAFTA prize, Tony Tanner.  In 2007 it was MyComper Alix Ross who enjoyed the celebrity-spotting prize, and now Tony can tell us about his great experience.  
  
In fact Tony must be one of our most successful MyCompers, as he pre-empts his winning story with:
 
"After winning 10 prizes a month since I retired I had only won eight in two months..."
 
Now, let's be honest if each and every one of us compers won 10 prizes a month we would be continually grinning from ear to ear... perhaps you are?!
 
Over to Tony!
 
"Dear Katie
 
I only started "comping" two-and-a-half years ago when I retired. Naturally I was very sceptical about the possibility of actually becoming a winner - but time has proved differently.
 
 I subscribe to "My Comps", "Winner's Friend" and "Simply Prizes" as they give the widest spectrum of prizes to suit all tastes and methods of entry. I use email (with details set up under signature) and online entry forms using Roboform (which paid for itself with one win). I also enter via postcard, plain paper and entry form.
 
I have won all the standard items such as DVDs, books, tickets for Film Premiers and all sorts of other events, computer items, a diamond watch and the list goes on. They have varied from Ultimate Bug Killer Solution to a £1,500 Sonar for a boat! The most memorable has been for ten of us to spend a fantastic afternoon go-karting at the Raceway in London.
 
I had a lean time winning just eight prizes in two months but then came 'the' phone call saying I had won the VIP prize with a trip to the BAFTAs. And what a fantastic prize it turned out to be. We were given free travel to London and taxi transfer to and from the hotel to avoid struggling on the underground. We arrived the day before the event and stayed for two nights at the four-star Trafalgar Hilton Hotel where we were pampered for the whole duration. Plus, we managed to book tickets to see "Lord of the Rings" at the theatre on the Saturday evening and had fantastic seats.
 
On the day of the BAFTAs we started with a Champagne reception before being whisked away by a VIP London bus to the Opera House. There we walked up the red carpet to our special viewing point and met quite a few celebrities and all were interviewed just across from us! After the event we went to Christopher's in Covent Garden for a superb meal with all sorts of trimmings and extras to finish off our wonderful star-studded event. We found it difficult to sleep that night as the whole experience had been so outstanding, and we were made to feel so special.
 
I'm trying for the Oscars next!!
 
Regards
Tony Tanner"
 
And if that wasn't enough to motivate us in to comping 24/7, then only this morning I received this from Tony:
 
"Dear Katie
 
Without labouring the subject of wins, today I received by gold courier service a box containing two bottles of Champagne and a large box of chocolates. It's my third prize this week and certainly keeps up my thrill in comping. I let my wife open the parcels, which gives her equal excitement!
 
Regards
Tony"
 
On that note, let's get comping!!

REMEMBER THE ONLY COMP YOU CANNOT WIN IS THE ONE YOU DID NOT ENTER! 

Katie

Don't forget if you have a winning story you would like to share with us, you can e-mail katie@oxonpress.com.   Or if you would prefer to send your story in by snail-mail, including any photos please write to Katie at Oxfordshire Press, Unit 1D, Cherwell Business Valley, Southam Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 2SD. Any story we publish will receive a cheque for £15.