He was, perhaps, the only contender not to finish the race and end up in the newspapers anyway.

If those are the only contenders then Labour is really in the doo-doo.

And he was the only contender from the cave of Gammage this year.

In addition, many have apparently forgiven him for being the only contender to pass up speaking at the party's fund-raising dinner last year.

Some campaign advisers say Bush is not the only contender with a national base.

But Ford has emerged as the only serious contender.

The Panthers are the only contender facing an opponent with a winning record.

Tennessee is the only contender with a game to play.

He was the only contender to have completed the race.

A seventh victory would make him the only contender to ever to achieve such a feat.