5th Backpackers Contest September 2025

Regrettably, only 10 stations submitted entries (together with two checklogs) for the last event in the series, equalling the lowest ever total for any Backpackers contest in the last 20 years.  This may have been due in part to the clash of dates with the National Hamfest.

There were mixed fortunes with the weather, but propagation and activity were much improved on last month with 164 stations from 11 DXCCs outside of the UK (DL, EA, EI, F, HB9, OE, OK, ON, OZ, PA and SM) appearing in the logs.  There were two ODX's greater than 750km, the best being G4XZL/P with DR9A at a distance of 900km.

In the 5B section, Andrew G4XZL/P headed the table for the first time this year and, in the Hilltoppers', Martin, G4GFI recorded his fourth win of the series, having secured his place in the top spot last month.

Please note that the provisional contest calendar for next year shows the first outing of the Backpackers and Hilltoppers Contest starting on Sunday 3 May at 1100.   Hope to hear you all then.

73 Graham G0NBI