AFS SUPER LEAGUE 2017-18

The number of individual contests contributing to the AFS Super League was up by one this year at seven, resulting from the inclusion of the 3.5MHz AFS data contest. However this increase made no difference at all at the top of the table, with first place being taken by Camb-Hams, the second by Bristol CG and the third by Grimsby ARC - exactly the same placings as for the 2016-7 season. This has been a tightly fought series for the whole of its (so far) eight years of life, with first place always having being taken by either Camb-Hams or Bristol CG (four wins each). Second place has, with one year's exception, been a mirror image of first place - being occupied by either Bristol CG or Camb-Hams! There has been a little more variety in third place, with Grimsby ARC working their way up from 16th in the 2010-11 season to take second or third place for the last four years.

The Hadley Wood Contest Group Trophy is awarded to the Camb-Hams, with certificates to Bristol CG and Grimsby ARC. Certificates are also awarded to each group who entered all seven contributing events and achieved more than a quarter of the available Super League Points in each.

The number of Affiliated Societies participating this season was 85. The number had been declining gradually since 2011-12, but the 2017-18 season represented a larger drop of 18% compared with 2016-17. Conversely, a total of 585 different calls appeared in the logs, 5% up on 2016. This suggests that consolidation is taking place, with a smaller number of larger groups entering - a view possibly supported by the fact that Worksop ARS managed to field a remarkable 24 stations in the 432MHz AFS! Eight groups fielded teams in all seven contributing events, with a number of AFSs towards the bottom of the table entering a single event.

The 2018-19 series runs from October 21st 2018 to 3rd February 2019 and consists of the same seven events as 2017-18. Hope to see you then!

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org