AFS SUPER LEAGUE 2020/21

For the second year, the AFS Super League consisted of eight qualifying events and presented separate listings for General Clubs and Local Clubs. The qualifying events covered bands from 160m to 70cm and four modes (CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK63). A total of 113 Affiliated Societies (72 Local Club and 41 General Club) took part. This was five up on the 2019/20 season. Interestingly, while the number of Affiliated Societies (AFSs) participating was up, the percentage increase (at around 4.5%) was considerably smaller than the (largely COVID driven) increase in number of individual stations taking part. This is probably due to a greater number of individual entrants coming on to represent AFSs which had previously taken part.

This year's leading stations differed only slightly from 2019/20. The leading entrant in the Local Club Category, winning the Hadley Wood Contest Group Trophy and a certificate was, for the fifth consecutive year, Camb-Hams with 7963 points. Certificates are also awarded to the second placed entrant Grimsby ARS (who took last year's second place) and Sheffield & DWS, up one place to third.

In the General Club Category the leading entrant and certificate winner was Addiscombe ARC up one place from last year. Other certificate winners are in second place RSGB Contest Club (in third place last year) and in third place last year's General Club winner Drowned Rats RG.

Thirteen entrants (nine in the Local Club Category and four in the General Club Category) were able to field stations in each of the eight contributing events. Of these, nine (seven in the Local Club Category and three in the General Club Category) are awarded Certificates of Achievement.

Thanks to all AFSs and individual stations who participated, and congratulations to those gaining awards. Let's hope that easement of lockdown regulations during 2021 will allow the presence of portables for 2021/22 Super League VHF sessions to spice things up a little! Regarding the upcoming season, you may wish to note the following statement from the VHFCC -'We will not allow non-UK/CD stations to contribute to club scores in the VHF AFS contests for the new 2021 AFS series, starting Sept 2021 although they can still enter as individuals. We are not changing the UKAC rules in this respect.' This is included inhttps://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rules/21rules/frameindex.html which summarises the changes to the VHF contest rules for 2021.

That's all for now - see you in the upcoming season.....

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org