I have a strange feeling here... 
this is called a challenge, but there is not challenge page (and hence no written rules, and hence the above questions...)
this is a challenge and I understand and agree that it is for fun (--> no votes) but there are also almost no comments... :-(
So, I understand why Kort is uploading his entry in his gallery... but I would like to encourage people to express their opinion, totally frankly, because we are here to learn, to improve...
So, I start giving my opinion on the already submitted pictures :

• Rich's fork : totally extra-ordinary ! we all know Rich's talent... like Tom, I would suggest to post this excellent picture in your gallery
  -V8Bluebottle : nice picture but I'm not comfortable with the nearly exact division in two parts (a dark and a clear)
  -David's bench : of course, I like... LOL (but would be curious to see it in color...)
  -Tom's leaves : I'm a great fan of Tom's photographic skill but here I'm not sure the subject is the best for B&W + I don't like the green frame.
  -Olivier's fan : great creativity, excellentissime !
  -Kort's monochrome lake : Kort is THE master of IR and uses this great tool perfectly to enhance this B&W scene !
  -Tunde's cemetary statue : well seen; perfect mood in B&W !
  -Valou's bench : of course, I like...LOL
  -Valou'strange place : excellentissime ! another masterpiece for your gallery !
  -Valou's forest : I really like the "clair-obscur" effect" provided by the B&W
  -Jeroni's canaletas : very nice classical shot of the Ramblas; well composed.
  -Jeroni's charlot : great POV, well captured !
  -Jeroni's farina : amazing image, perfect in B&W. would appreciate some explanations (where ? Barcelona ? what is it ? a (kind of) battle ?)
  All in all, I think these few images already demonstrate very well the power of B&W in photography !

I really wish that others will give their opinions and advices...

"In Life, as in Photography, things look much brighter, once you remove the lens cap"