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RSGB Contest Results VHF NFD 2021   
v4.158 by G4CLA

VHF NFD - 3rd / 4th JULY 2021

After the special lockdown format for VHF NFD last year, the contest returned to its traditional format in 2021 - almost! The major difference was the need to restrict the overall number of persons per site to 30 and the number per tent (or other operating structure) to six. The number of portable stations entering VHF NFD this year was 39, 16 down on the previous comparable year (2019). These were made up of nine Open section entries, thirteen Restricted, seven Low Power, seven Mix and Match and three Multi-Single. The number of Sweepers was 62 (55 of which were located in the UK&CD). This was three up on 2019.

Before looking at individual band results, there were a number of features that were common across all five bands. Firstly, the number of entries was much lower than in 2019 - 29% down overall, varying between 21% and 55% between bands. This is rather disturbing, and it is not clear why this was so. No doubt the uncertainty about the easing of lockdown and the resultant need to limit numbers per tent / caravan etc. played a part. Let's hope that we see a more stable situation for 2022!  Secondly, activity was widely reported as poor - this was at least in part due to the lower number of entrants, but poor conditions, which resulted in a number of stations closing down early, no doubt played its part - as did the competing attraction of the football! But conversely, several entrants commented on how good it was to go out portable again.... Fourthly, conditions were generally reported as average to poor, although 6m (and to a lesser extent 4m) enjoyed an extended sporadic E opening. Finally, the weather showed a fairly similar pattern across the UK, with many stations able to set up under pleasant conditions, followed by mist or rain (with the term 'torrential' often appearing, and thunderstorms during the weekend.

The Overall Winner of the Open Section, and winner of the Surrey Trophy, scoring 3495 normalised points, is Colchester & A1 CG who were also the winner in 2019. Runner up is again Reigate ATS and Crawley ARC, with 2723 normalised points. Third place in this section is taken by Blacksheep CG with 2320 normalised points. All three were located on JO01 square. The Tartan Trophy is again won by Aberdeen VHF Group.

In the Restricted Section, the Overall Winner and recipient of the Martlesham Trophy is Windmill CG in JO01, up from third place in 2019, with 3059 normalised points. Runner up is again Lothians RS in IO74 with 2944 normalised points, again earning themselves the Cockenzie Quaich as Leading GM Entry. In third place is Goole R&ES in IO93 with 2366 normalised points, moving up from ninth place in 2019.

In the Low Power Section, the Overall Winner is again South Bristol ARC in IO81 with 1594 normalised points, taking the Arthur Watts Trophy. In second place is again Fareham & DARC in IO91 with 695 normalised points. Third place goes to Tamworth ARS with 538 normalised points.

Overall Winner in the Mix and Match Section, taking the G5BY Trophy, is Warrington CG in IO93 with 3801 normalised points - winners in the Low Power section in 2019. Runner up is Andover RAC in IO94 with 2694 normalised points, up from sixth place in 2019.  In third place is Northern Fells CG in IO94 with 2316 normalised points, down from second in 2019.

In the Multi Single Section the Overall Winner is Lagan Valley ARS in IO74 with 3000 normalised points. In second place is Oxford & DARS in IO91 with 1823 normalised points. Third place is taken by 2E1SKY/P in IO93 with358normalised points.

Individual band leader awards for portable stations are as follows:

50MHz

Open Section: GM4ZUK/P: Aberdeen VHF Group: IO86: Score 201795

Restricted Section: GM3HAM/P; Lothians RS: IO74: Score 95678

Low Power Section: G3CKR/P: Warrington CG: IO93: Score 79254

Multi Single: GI4GTY/P: Lagan Valley ARS: IO74: Score 118155

70MHz

Open Section: GM4ZUK/P: Aberdeen VHF Group: IO86: Score 45144

Restricted Section:  G0OLE/P: Goole R&ES: IO93: Score 13931

Low Power Section: G3CKR/P: Warrington CG: IO93: Score 15869

Multi Single: GI4GTY/P: Lagan Valley ARS: IO74: Score 5593

144MHz

Open Section: G4ZAP/P: Colchester & A1 CG: JO01: Score 198221

Restricted Section:  G3CKR/P: Warrington CG: IO93: Score 84491

Low Power Section:  G4WAW/P: South Bristol ARS: IO81: Score 14906

Multi Single: GI4GTY/P: Lagan Valley ARS: IO74: Score 11817

432MHz

Open Section: G0VHF/P: Colchester & A1 CG: JO01: JO01: Score 51750

Restricted Section: G0FBB/P: Windmill CG: JO01: Score 15431

Low Power Section:  G0RAC/P: Andover RAC: IO91: Score 4085

Multi Single: G8IB/P: Oxford & DARC: IO91: Score 3299

1296MHz

Open Section: G0VHF/P: Colchester & A1 CG: JO01: Score 24056

Restricted Section: M0NFD/P: Northern Fells CG: IO94: Score 12871

Low Power Section:  G0ARC/P: Andover RAC: IO91: Score 1865

Multi Single: No entry

Awards for Fixed Sweepers are as follows:

The Overall Winner is G8CUL in IO91 with 3863 normalised points. Runner-up is G3XDY in JO02 with 3784 normalised points. Third placed UK&CD entrant is G4KZD in IO91 with 1588 normalised points. Leading non-UK&CD Sweeper is PE1EWR in JO11 with 1451 normalised points.

50MHz

Section FSO (8 entrants)

Band Leader - M0NPK

Runner up - M1ABK

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - EA5IWZ

Bronze award - M0NPK, EA5IWZ

Section FSR (25 entrants)

Band Leader - G0SKA

Runner up - G4KZD

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - F1CBC

Leading Foundation Licensee - M3VBH

Bronze award - G0SKA, G3XDY, G4KZD

70MHz

Section FSO (4 entrants)

Band Leader - G3XDY

Runner up - GW4RWR

Bronze award - G3XDY, GW4RWR

Section FSR (18 entrants)

Band Leader - GW8ASD

Runner up - G4KZD

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - EA5IYL

Leading Foundation Licensee - M7TXR

Silver award - G4KZD

Bronze award - G6DOD, G8CUL, GW8ASD, MW0OMB

144MHz

Section FSO (8 entrants)

Band Leader - M1MHZ

Runner up - G3XDY

Silver award - M1MHZ

Bronze award - G0SKA

Section FSR (37 entrants)

Band Leader - G8CUL

Runner up - M0RTQ

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - F1CBC

Leading Intermediate Licensee - 2E0MDJ

Leading Foundation Licensee - M7TXR

Bronze award - G4FOH, G8CUL, G8DVK, M0RTQ, M7TXR

432MHz

Section FSO (4 entrants)

Band Leader - G3XDY

Runner up - MM0CEZ

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - PE1EWR

Bronze award - G3XDY

Section FSR (16 entrants)

Band Leader - G8CUL

Runner up - G4KCT

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - F1CBC

Leading Intermediate Licensee - 2E0JWJ

Leading Foundation Licensee - M7TXR

Bronze award - G4BRK, G4CDF, G4KCT, G8CUL

1296MHz

Section FSO (3 entrants)

Band Leader - G3XDY

Runner up - G4BRK

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - PE1EWR

Gold award - G3XDY

Bronze award - G4BRK, PE1EWR

Section FSR: (6 entrants)

Band Leader - G8CUL

Runner up - G3WJG

Leading non-UK&CD entrant - F1CBC

Gold award - G8CUL

Bronze award - G3WJG

Moving on to individual band reports...

On 50MHz, UK conditions were reported as average or worse (comments of 'mediocre' and 'dire' were received) although many stations experienced a lengthy helping of sporadic E. With one exception, intra-UK activity was found to be poor or very poor. The best DX was between GM4ZUK/P in IO86 and 5B4YU in KM64 at 3591km.

70MHz conditions were similar to those on 50MHz, being reported as average to poor although improving slightly later - and a few stations managed a small number of QSOs via sporadic E. One station noted the presence of an EA5 on FT8 - but not using SSB! Activity was very limited, with the last couple of hours reported as 'painful'. The best DX was again made by GM4ZUK/P in IO86 at the UK end, with EC7AKV in IM77 at 2185km at the other.

On 144MHz, conditions were reported as no better than average, although two stations though they were better on Sunday. The most frequent comment on activity was 'very low' - but nevertheless one entrant thought it was the most active band in the contest. But on the positive side, one station reported a sporadic E QSO with the Ukraine - and another noted that the bacon butties were good.... Best DX was between M0BAA/P in JO01 and UR5AS in KO70 at 2372km.

One entrant found 70cm conditions 'fairly good' but most of the others found them difficult with not much continental activity - although aircraft scatter was reported to help. Best DX was between M0BAA/P in JO01 and OL4A in JO60 at 885km.

Finally, 23cm was reported as 'a struggle' and 'really difficult', with very low activity and poor tropo propagation - although, as with 70cm, aircraft scatter proved useful. The best DX was between G0VHF/P in JO01 and, again, OL4A in JO60 at 859km.

'Schadenfreude Corner' is not as fully populated as usual this year, with a few miscellaneous problems arising and fixed...but also reports of one station running out of fuel an hour before the end, and another being unable to get four stacked beams (band not specified) to work and having to settle for two!

Bookings will be taken in due course for VHF NFD 2022...

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org




1 / 8
G3MDG/P (70)
2 / 8
M0NFD/P (1.2 GHz)
Very slow plus thunder and lightning Saturday evening
3 / 8
G6IPU/P (144)
Dire. Poor propagation & low activity but the bacon butties were great!
4 / 8
G0VHF/P (1.2 GHz)
5 / 8
G3MDG/P (50)
6 / 8
G2BQY/P (144)
Average conditions but reasonable activity.
7 / 8
M0NFD/P (144)
8 / 8
G3MDG/P (144)
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