With the SFI rising steadily during 2022, anticipation for much better propagation in the 85th Commonwealth Contest than in recent years was high, however the A index reached 20 by Saturday morning and stayed at that level for most of the next 24 hours.  Overall QSO numbers ended up similar to 2021 but there was much more activity on both 15m and 10m.  Total submitted logs were 268, showing consistent support for this contest over the last decade.  The following call areas were active but did not submit logs: 3B8, 4S7, 7Q, 8Q, 9J, AP, VK8, ZB2, ZS1,3 and 6.

Travel restrictions, national and international, due to Covid-19 were still in place throughout the world last year in differing levels of severity, this meant very few travellers which have been a regular feature for many years adding to the variety of Commonwealth Call Areas (CCAs) available.  Travel restrictions have been relaxed over recent months but still caused some difficulty for those that ventured from home this year to activate a CCA so a huge vote of thanks to all the travellers.  As always there are individual reports of these and many more stories on Bob G3PJT'swebsite.

This contest generally has many contacts with weak signals at both ends and coupled with high noise levels now commonplace, it is to all entrants' credit that the overall error rate is usually low.  A notable exception again this year were the received reports and callsigns of the HQ stations where failing to log the 'HQ' suffix or adding it to a non-HQ station was a frequent loss of points, and once again GB5CC had many variations in the logs with 'G6HCC' being very common.

On to the trophies and certificates, the Senior Rose Bowl is awarded to the leading station in the Open Unassisted section and this year it goes to traveller Colin ZF2CA (G4CWH), with CJ3A in second place.  The highest placed 12 hour non-UK&CD station in the Open Unassisted section is Barry VK2BJ who receives the VP8GQ trophy.

The Junior Rose Bowl goes to the winner of the Restricted Unassisted section, this year it is a traveller, Mike G3VYI activating Gozo as 9H6YI, in second place is another traveller, this time to The Gambia, G3XTT as C56DF.   The RSGB John Dunnington G3LZQ Trophy is awarded to the leading UK&CD station in the Restricted Unassisted section, this year to John G4CZB, up from second placed UK&CD station last year.

The Colonel Thomas Rose Bowl is awarded to the leading UK&CD Open Unassisted station, last year it was won by the closed possible margin of just five points and it was almost as close this year.  With a lead of just ten points over Nick M5DX (G4FAL), Don G3BJ takes the Trophy for 2022.

For the third year running John VE3EJ achieved the highest Open Assisted score and is therefore awarded the Rosebery Shield.  Second place in the Open Assisted section is VE3NNT.

The leading UK&CD 12 hours duration Open Unassisted entry and Ross Carey Rose Bowl winner is Dave G4BUO.

There were eleven entrants in the QRP/5W from four different CCAs, leading the table for the second year running is Bill GM4M (GM4UBJ) with an Assisted entry.  In second place and the highest placed Unassisted entry is Alan M7R (G0TPH), Alan is therefore awarded the Lilliput Cup as the leading Unassisted station.  Joint runners-up Unassisted are GW0VSW and M1KTA, runner-up Assisted is M8M (G0JJG).  Credit to all entrants for taking part with low power and generally simple antennas.

In the Restricted single operator Assisted section the leading station is Mike G3P (G3WPH).  In second place is G3RLE.

A Commonwealth Medal is awarded to Kevin VK6LW (this year VK6T) for many years of supporting the Commonwealth Contest.  Kevin often features in logs on all five bands with a good selection of antennas for both receive and transmit.

Every year at least one Commonwealth Traveller Certificate is normally awarded to reward the achievement of activating a CCA not represented the previous year.  This year a certificate is awarded to Don C56DF (G3XTT).

The Open-Remote category was introduced in 2019 and has attracted at least one entry each year to date.  There were three entries this year from three different CCAs, George VA2EBI is the leading station with ZF2VE as runner up.

There were two entries in the Multi-op section, the leading station is VE9ML operated by VE9ML and VE9BK with VU2REC (VU2VTI and VU2XE) in second place.

Since GB5CC first appeared for the 50th Commonwealth Contest, HQ stations are now a regular feature and there were 16 active this year, five from the UK&CD, three from Canada, one from New Zealand and seven from Australia.  Once again the Australians almost managed a complete set of eight HQ stations representing all the mainland states/territories, they will try again for a full house next year.  Leading the table for 2022 is GB5CC operated by Chris GM3WOJ and in second place is ZL6HQ (Jacky ZL3CW).  The next four positions are taken by UK&CD stations, in seventh place from Western Australia is VK6WIA (Peter VK6RZ) and the highest placed Canadian station is VE7RAC (Brian VE7JKZ) representing the western-most province of British Columbia.

In the team competition, Australia 1 with a slightly reduced score from last year are the winners by a very clear margin.  After an absence of two years, the Quake Contesters were back and sweep into second place just ahead of Australia 2.  World Travellers Plus made a strong challenge but had to settle for fourth behind Australia 2.

John G4CZB