diff --git a/common.inc.php b/common.inc.php
index 1881804f..5ae34eaa 100644
--- a/common.inc.php
+++ b/common.inc.php
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ else
 	$prependdir="";
 
 $sfiabversion=@file($prependdir."version.txt");
-$config['version']=$sfiabversion[0];
+$config['version']=trim($sfiabversion[0]);
 
 
 //make sure the data subdirectory is writable, if its not, then we're screwed, so make sure it is!
@@ -478,10 +478,12 @@ global $config;
 <div id="footer">
 <? 
 //we only show the debug session variables if we have an ODD numbered version.
-$lastdigit=$config['version'][strlen($config['version']-1)];
+$lastdigit=$config['version'][strlen($config['version'])-1];
 if($lastdigit%2!=0)
+{
+	echo "DEBUG:";
 	print_r($_SESSION); 
-
+}
 echo "SFIAB Version ".$config['version']; 
 ?>
 </div>
@@ -707,6 +709,10 @@ function outputStatus($status)
 
 function email_send($val,$to,$sub_subject=array(),$sub_body=array())
 {
+	//if our "to" doesnt look like a valid email, then forget about sending it.
+	if(!eregi('[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+\.([a-zA-Z]{2,4})', $to))
+		return;
+
 	$q=mysql_query("SELECT * FROM emails WHERE val='$val'");
 	if($r=mysql_fetch_object($q))
 	{
diff --git a/register_participants.php b/register_participants.php
index 4649fd66..d31b3670 100644
--- a/register_participants.php
+++ b/register_participants.php
@@ -306,29 +306,40 @@
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			$regnum=0;
-			//now create the new registration record, and assign a random/unique registration number to then.
-			do
+			//they can only create a new registraiton if they have a valid email address, so lets do a quick ereg check on their email
+			if(eregi('[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+\.([a-zA-Z]{2,4})', $_SESSION['email']))
 			{
-				//random number between
-				//100000 and 999999  (six digit integer)
-				$regnum=rand(100000,999999);
-				$q=mysql_query("SELECT * FROM registrations WHERE num='$regnum' AND year=".$config['FAIRYEAR']);
-			}while(mysql_num_rows($q)>0);
+			
+				$regnum=0;
+				//now create the new registration record, and assign a random/unique registration number to then.
+				do
+				{
+					//random number between
+					//100000 and 999999  (six digit integer)
+					$regnum=rand(100000,999999);
+					$q=mysql_query("SELECT * FROM registrations WHERE num='$regnum' AND year=".$config['FAIRYEAR']);
+				}while(mysql_num_rows($q)>0);
 
-			//actually insert it
-			mysql_query("INSERT INTO registrations (num,email,start,status,year) VALUES (".
-					"'$regnum',".
-					"'".$_SESSION['email']."',".
-					"NOW(),".
-					"'new',".
-					$config['FAIRYEAR'].
-					")");
+				//actually insert it
+				mysql_query("INSERT INTO registrations (num,email,start,status,year) VALUES (".
+						"'$regnum',".
+						"'".$_SESSION['email']."',".
+						"NOW(),".
+						"'new',".
+						$config['FAIRYEAR'].
+						")");
 
-			email_send("new_participant",$_SESSION['email'],array("FAIRNAME"=>i18n($config['fairname'])),array("REGNUM"=>$regnum));
+				email_send("new_participant",$_SESSION['email'],array("FAIRNAME"=>i18n($config['fairname'])),array("REGNUM"=>$regnum));
 
-			echo i18n("You have been identified as a new registrant.  An email has been sent to <b>%1</b> which contains your new <b>registration number</b>.  Please check your email to obtain your <b>registration number</b> and then enter it below:",array($_SESSION['email']),array("email address")); 
-			echo "<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"new\">";
+				echo i18n("You have been identified as a new registrant.  An email has been sent to <b>%1</b> which contains your new <b>registration number</b>.  Please check your email to obtain your <b>registration number</b> and then enter it below:",array($_SESSION['email']),array("email address")); 
+				echo "<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"new\">";
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				echo error(i18n("The email address you entered (%1) appears to be invalid.  You must use a proper email address in order to create an account",array($_SESSION['email'])));
+				echo "<a href=\"register_participants.php\">".i18n("Return to participant registration")."</a>";
+				$showform=false;
+			}
 		}
 
 	}