2m UKAC - Review of 2015

The activity in the 2m UKAC continues to climb. This year the average number of entrants per session was just under 244 and exceeded 250 in six of the twelve sessions. With this level of activity, entrants frequently commented that it was difficult to find and hold a frequency.

The number of locator squares active in each session varied between 43 (in February) and 60 (in December). In total, nearly 124,000 QSOs were made during the 2015 2m UKAC. The number of stations active in each session varied between 443 (in May) and 517 (in November).

For the third year running, the club element of the 2m UKAC produced a fierce competition between last year's winners Travelling Wave Contest Group (TWCG) and the 2012 winners Bolton Wireless Club (BWC). The TWCG managed to field 22 stations this year and BWC fielded 24 stations.  BWC got off to a flying start this year and scored consistently better than TWCG for the first nine months of the year. The result was in doubt until the final session. However, the early lead established by BWC was the decisive factor and BWC emerged as the winners - by only 557 points (0.5%) - and thus regain the G6NB Trophy. 116 affiliated societies participated in the 2015 2m UKAC.

In the AL (10 Watt) section, four stations scored more than 7,600 points (out of 8,000): G0EAK/P, G0HEL/P, G4HGT/P and G4HGI. Competition was fierce but eventually Steve G0EAK topped the table by 48 points. Alan G0HEL for the second year running was the runner-up.

The AR (100 Watt) section witnessed a very close battle between G3PYE/P, M1DDD/P, M1MHZ, M0BUL/P, M0BRA ad G4IRC.  All of these stations managed to score more than 7,700 (out of 8,000) points. G3PYE/P won five sessions, M1DDD/P won one session, M1MHZ won one session and M0BUL/P won four sessions. However, to achieve success in the UKAC, consistently high performance is required and Cam-Hams G3PYE/P produced this year's winning performance amassing 7971 points, beating the runner-up, Nick M1DDD by 91 points.

The AO (400 Watt, unlimited antenna) section also produced a battle between several stations.  Three stations, G4CLA, G4FZN/P and GI4SNA all scored more than 7,300 (out of 8,000) points. However, Pete G4CLA dominated this section from May onwards and won eight of the twelve sessions to score an unbeatable 8,000 points. Chris G4FZN was the runner-up.

The AX section produced a runaway winner.  Alastair G4RUL won nine of the twelve sessions to gain an unbeatable score of 8000 points.  Jon GM4JTJ was the runner-up in this section.

In summary, congratulations to:

2m Club Championship

G6NB Trophy Winner: The Bolton Wireless Club

Runner-up: The Travelling Wave Contest Group

AL Section

Winner: Steve Hambleton G0EAK

Runner-up: Alan Nicholls G0HEL

Leading Intermediate Licensee: Andrew Power 2E0RET

Foundation Shield Winner (Leading Foundation Licensee): Rees Adams M6GZE

Leading Overseas station: Robin Burrows-Ellis F4VQT

AO Section

Winner: Pete Lindsay G4CLA

Runner-up: G4FZN/P operated by Chris Kirby G4FZN and Pauline Kirby G8HQW

Leading Overseas station: Gerard Pottier F8BRK

AR Section

Winner: Cam-Hams G3PYE

Runner-up: Nick Garbett M1DDD

Intermediate Shield Winner (Leading Intermediate Licensee): Pete Millard 2E0NEY

Leading Overseas station: Jacques Lepoil F1BHL

AX Section

Winner: Alastair Turner G4RUL

Runner-up: Jon Joyce GM4JTJ

Leading Overseas station: Patrick Dohmen DL4PD

The first 2m UKAC session for 2016 starts at 2000 local time (2000 UTC) on Tuesday January 5th

Ian G0FCT