The 66th RSGB Commonwealth Contest, 2003.

Despite 2003 being on the down slope of solar activity, the 66th Commonwealth Contest managed to produce one of the highest scoring contests of recent years. Coming at the end of winter in the northern hemisphere the second weekend of March often produces some good conditions. Taken with a steadily-increasing level of participation, the stage was set for some high scoring performances by the leading stations.

With the two leading stations in the Open section, Bruce ZF2NT, and Yuri, 9H1ZA, both exceeding the 10,000 point level, it is quite clear that some new standards have been set.. If you want to win Open section of this contest it looks as if you have to aim to exceed 10,000 points from now on.

OPEN SECTION:
Congratulations to Bruce, ZF2NT, for securing first place in the Open category and winning the Senior Rose Bowl. Yuri, 9H1ZA, came second also with a score above 10,000. Bruce’s margin over Yuri came about through more QSOs on both 80 and 10m. It has always been the case that it is the bands at the end of the spectrum, where the openings are often short and selective, which make the difference between the leading stations. In third place came John, VE3EJ, always amongst the leaders. VO1AU came forth, seemingly issued out on conditions on 15m and 10m. Dave, J88DR, was fifth and Brian, ZL6QH, and Kevin VK6LW, tied for sixth place. When you realise that seven different countries from all parts of the world are represented in the top 10it is clear this year was hard fought.
Congratulations to Andy, G4PIQ/P –the highest-placed UK station in 8th place. He takes the Col Thomas Rose Bowl at his first attempt! He was closely followed by Dave, G4BUO, and Clive GM3POI.

RESTRICTED SECTION:
George, 5B4AGC, takes the Junior Rose Bowl with a comfortable win over his nearest rival VE3DZ. George comments, ‘Good conditions on HF, but rotator stuck on Europe due to lightning strike!’ The leading UK station was again Peter, G3LET, who wins the Ross Carey Rose Bowl. Peter paid great attention to operating times and propagation, which clearly paid dividends. A creditable performance, as he used a single wire antenna. The Restricted section is showing steady growth in numbers, but there are nevertheless some suggestions for how this section may be improved. ‘Perhaps in the future recognition should be made for the lesser equipped stations rather than just pure operating hours?’ from Dave G3YMC, and ‘Isn’t it about time that restricted meant 100 watts?’ adds ZC4DW. On the other hand, ‘The Restricted section is a great innovation’, says VK6VZ.

HQ STATIONS:
This year no fewer than six HQ stations were active from G, VW and VK. These stations create a lot of extra interest. They provide a great opportunity for a club multi-op effort or as way of bringing new operators into contesting. GB5CC, operated by Chris, GM3WOJ and Gavin, GM0GAV, led the section. Many thanks from all of the entrants to the operators who put on these stations. We would like to encourage more HQ stations in the future. And it can be fun too: ‘Did better with the HQ call than I did last year with my own call’, said Dave, VK2DYD.

COMMONWEALTH MEDAL:
This year the committee has awarded the Commonwealth Medal to Chris, GM3WOJ, for activating GB5CC over the past few years. Many thanks for the bonuses, Chris.

ACTIVITY PAST AND PRESENT:
Table 1 shows the number of entries and scores of each of the sections – Open, Restricted and HQ – from 1999 to the present. The restricted section continues to gain in popularity. The overall number of entrants id still showing a healthy general trend upwards.
1300 different stations were in the logs this year but these included nearly 500 ‘uniques’, corrupted calls and stations not in the Commonwealth. Just over half the active stations were from the UK. Here are the 55 call areas that were contacted during the contest: 3B8, 4S7, 5G4, 5X1, 5Z4. 7Q7, 8P6, 9H1, 9J2, 9M2, 9M6, 9V1, 9Y4, G / M, J37, J88, P29, T31, VE1, VE2, VE3, VE4, VE5, VE6, VE7, VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, VK8, VK9N, VO1, VO2, VP2E, VP8, VU2, VY1, VY2, YJ8, Z24, ZC4, ZD9, ZF2, ZL0, ZL1, ZL2, ZL3, ZL4, ZL6, ZS1, ZS3, ZS6.

VIEWS FROM THE NOTHERN HEMISPERE:
Bob Whelan, G3PJT, operated as VK1MJ and writes ‘This year I had the chance to operate from VK1. People had said that this should be a good one for ‘BERU’ as VK1 was a rarish bonus. I operated from the shack of Mike, VK1MJ, and he allowed me to use his callsign and thus avoid the need to visit the ACA for license purposes. Conditions were rather mixed, I thought, and were not helped by a big thunder storm in the last few hours. This knocked a hole in my 15m score. Still it is very quiet during the day in VK – I could easily have had a few hours sleep. However, some keen competition from Kevin, VK6LW; Barry, VK2BJ, and John, VJ4EMM, kept me awake. Some outstanding signals from the UK: Andy, G4PIQ/P, was very strong during the first few hours on 15m. As Mike, VK1MJ, does not operate CW many of his friends called in to congratulate him on his new-found skill! And thanks to all the VK’s for great hospitality during our trip.’
Steve Ireland, VK6VK, comments, ‘Good conditions, but reflected the decline of the dollar activity – much shorter openings into the UK an 10/15m during VK6 night-time. However, 40m and 80m conditions were better, with a very nice opening into the UK on 80m around my sunrise which lasted for an hour. Great fun as always and a great weekend.’
Bob continues, ‘Apart from myself, others went on DXpeditions and added greatly to the fun. Dave Cree, G3TBK, as J88DR, was very active again.’ Nigel Cawthorne, G3TXF, noted, ‘The call VP2EN was first issued to me 30 years ago and was reissued in March 2003. Great fun doing BERU with 100 watts from Anguilla. Best bit was working over 50 UK stations on 80m with a low dipole.’

ADJUDICATION:
Harold, G2HLU, retired last year from this post deserving a well earned rest. He spent an enormous amount of time cross-checking QSOs, compiling results and producing the reports over many years. I know because, as your new adjudicator, I have burnt a very considerable amount of midnight oil working on this task for the first time.
Computerised cross-checking was carried out. This meant keying in over 40 paper logs and I am grateful for some help in this by G4CZB and G4DJZ. The cross-checking software did not convert all logs successfully and much manipulation using spreadsheets and some re-typing of logs was need to get them all to the cross-checking stage.
As a result of the considerable work involved in getting all the logs to the standard required I would like to make a plea to those of you who intend entering next year’s ‘BERU’. If at all possible please seriously consider using the logging program CTJ written by Jeff Morris, 9H1EL. This is like CT and is designed for this contest (and others). It works extremely well with cross-checking software. CTJ is free. The latest version 1.18 can be downloaded over the internet from www.g3ab.net/ctj.htm. But please send in paper logs if you can’t take advantage of this offer. We can sort ‘em out! Finally thanks to those who sent check logs. These can easily be included in the computerised cross-checking and are most welcome.
Also many forgot to enter their band-call area total in order to qualify for the special certificates. Next year we will only be send you a certificate if claim one on your summary sheet.

NEXT YEAR:
The 67th Commonwealth Contest will take place on 13/14 March 2004. You will need 67 band-ca;; areas or more to qualify for a certificate.

Derek Cox, G3KHZ.

Open Secion
+ = Senior Rose Bowl.
++ = Col Thomas Rose Bowl.
=   = Certificate of Merit.

Restricted Secion
+ = Junior Rose Bowl.
* = Certificate of Merit.

BCA's = Band Call Areas.

Checklogs:
G2FSR, G3RDQ, G3XNG, G4KNO, GW3SB, ZL1ALZ, ZA1AN.