144MHz CW MARCONI CONTEST, 5th /6th NOVEMBER 2022

The write-up of last year's 144MHz CW Marconi Contest ended with an expression of hope that things would be better in 2022. In terms of probably the most important factor - number of entrants - this proved not to be the case, with entries down by 18% on 2021. However other significant numerical aspects were up (numbers of big squares worked up by 27% / DXCC entities worked up by 39% / calls appearing in entrants' logs up by 72% / best DX up by 122%).

The number of entries this year was 39 (three in section 6O, 28 in section 6S, one in section O and seven in section SF). These included two non-UK&CD entries, one each from OK and SP. In addition to two check logs submitted directly to the RSGB, an additional 285 were received via IARU R1 for checking purposes. 443 different callsigns from 25 DXCC entities (9A, DL, E7, EI, F, G, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB9, I, LY, LZ, OE, OK, OM, ON, PA, S5, SM, SP, UA2, YO, & YU) in 111 big squares (21 intra-UK&CD, and 90 outside) appear in entrants' logs. The best DX at 1872km was between G4LOH in IO70 and 9A4V in JN95.

There were two comments that conditions were good in a particular direction or average, and another from a Cornish entrant who found a two-hour ionoscatter opening on Saturday afternoon. However, the majority view was that conditions were poor or worse, with many stations reporting marginal contacts and requiring repeats. There were also reports on multipath distortion and possibly a trace of aurora. Nevertheless aircraft scatter did come to the assistance of a few entrants. Activity, in the UK at least, was generally reported as 'poor', 'awful', or a euphemistic 'uninspiring' although one entrant found reasonable UK/EU activity on Sunday morning. The weather appeared to be ganging up with the conditions and activity with many reports of cold, wet and windy conditions.

All in all, rather a mixed bunch and perhaps not a vintage year - but hope springs eternal, so let us (again) hope for better things next year!

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org