144MHz CW MARCONI CONTEST,6th -7th NOVEMBER 2021

The number of entries this year was 48 (three in section 6O, 29 in section 6S, five in section O and eleven in section SF), including five entries from non-UK&CD stations in F, E7 (2), ON and UA. There were also two check logs.  This was 21% down on 2020 but 17% up on 2019, the most recent non-lockdown year. In addition to the two check logs submitted directly to the RSGB, an additional 325 were received via IARU R1 for checking purposes. 258 different callsigns from 18 DXCC entities (9A, DL, E7, F, G, GI, GM, GW, HA, HB9, OM, ON, PA, UA, UR, S5, YO, & YU) in 94 big squares appear in entrants' logs. The best DX worked was 926km, between M6A in IO91  and DK6AS in JN59.

Congratulations to the Section winners as follows:

Section O - G4YPC (Guildford & DARS)

Section SF - MM0C (GM DX Group)

Section 6O - G3TCU/P

Section 6S - G3XDY (Martlesham RS)

As well as number of entrants, best DX, number of callsigns appearing in logs and number of big squares worked were all significantly down on 2020, and this is borne out by entrants' comments. The most favourable comments on conditions were that they were OK or 'not the worst' but most entrants found them poor or flat. Likewise UK activity was low, although European activity was better and allowed a number of DX contacts to be made.

But on the up side, there were few comments of noise and QSB, and one entrant reported this as his first ever CW contest. Let's hope for better things in 2022....

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org