The number of entrants in this year’s NFD was, at 38, exactly the same as in 2013 & 2012 although some of the groups taking part were different. However, the balance between the sections was significantly different. The Open Section was down from 9 to 7, and the Low Power Section down from 9 to 6: this was exactly compensated by an increase in the Restricted Section from 20 to 25. Of these, 9 were in the Complex Antenna Category and 16 in the Simple Antenna Category, in contrast to 2013 when the numbers were exactly equal.    

The Open Section winner was Newbury & DARS (G3KLH/P), up from 5th last year: in the Restricted Section, Sussex Downs CG (G4FNL/P), who have been hovering just below the leaders for several years, made first place: and in the Low Power Section, Reading & DARS (G3ULT/P) win for an impressive 5th consecutive year.

Apart for the Complex Antenna Category of the Restricted Section, where there was considerable diversity (as intended!), antennas used were fairly standard. Beams for the HF bands and dipoles for LF were predominant in the Open Section, as were doublets of varying lengths in the Low Power and Restricted Section Simple Antenna Category. As for equipment, in those sections where multiple transceivers were permitted, 8 out of a possible 32 entrants chose to use them: once again the Elecraft K3 was the most frequently occurring rig, with exactly half of the entrants using one or more of them.  

Conditions were generally reported as poor with little DX appearing: for instance only 30 Oceania stations appear in all the UK logs. The LF bands, particularly 160m, were noisy. The only other band commented on specifically was 10m, where opinions varied between awful & good – but that’s sporadic E for you!

Opinions on that other great determinant of NFD, the weather, were again varied, some reporting it as glorious and others complaining of heavy rain – the latter in a majority of around 2 to 1 over the former. One frequent comment was that the rain chose to visit during set-up and take-down.

Other manifestations of Mr Murphy were well in evidence this year, with a wide range of problems: surprisingly, in contrast to the last couple of years, there were a number of reports of generator problems  - perhaps they didn’t like the wet.

Finally, seven stations were inspected by the Contest Committee or its representatives: no transgressions were observed.

73, Quin Collier G3WRR

mailto:g3wrr@rsgbcc.org