A contest of sorts is a competition that is not necessarily structured or organized in the same way as a traditional contest. It can involve any type of challenge, from physical activities to intellectual pursuits. The term 'contest of sorts' is often used to describe a situation where the participants are competing against each other in an informal setting. The crossword solution for this term is BEE, which could refer to a bee-themed competition, such as a spelling bee or a beekeeping competition.