70 MHz Trophy 2013

Wow!  The tropo conditions this year were described by one entrant as the best in 30 years, and there was sporadic-E as well !  And for the majority of the UK the weather was excellent.

Sporadic-E was present for the first two hours of the contest.  In this time 247 QSOs were made into 9A, HA, I, OK, OM, S5 and SP.  Of these 83% were in the first hour and the last reported Es QSO was at 11:46.  The best DX was between EI4EY and HA5CW at 2058kms.

The troposphere conditions were excellent but did not benefit all entrants.  The more northerly stations had excellent conditions into ON, OZ and PA.  Additionally there was a north south path which allowed GM4ZUK/P to work to the south coast and into GU and GJ.  There were 107 tropo QSOs greater than 600kms.

In total there were 255 stations active in 19 countries and 66 squares.

A number of entrants have raised questions about the start time and length of this event.  Comments are welcomed.  It should be noted that 13% of contacts took place in the last two hours and that a number of entrants gained valuable multipliers in this time.

Logging standards were generally quite good, helped by the excellent conditions.  Errors were equally spread across all elements of the exchange.  The GV prefix caused particular problems with a number of people failing to log the "V".

Congratulations go to:

•  The Northern Lights CG, GD0EMG, for winning the open section and hence are awarded the VHF Managers Trophy.
•  Allan, GM4ZUK/P, for winning the single operator (others) section and, as the highest scoring single operator entry, is awarded the Four Metre Cup.
•  Tony, GW8ASD, who won the single operator (fixed) section.
•  The three sections runners up: GM4SIV/P, G4FZN/P and GM4JR
•  Richard, G4HGI as the highest placed fixed station running 25watts or less into a single antenna.
•  The leading intermediate and foundation entrants: 2E0HRO, M6NNX and M6SRZ/P.

These stations will receive certificates.

Roger - G4BVY