144MHz Trophy 2012

After the appalling weather in 2011, entrants this year were rewarded with benign summer weather.  Conditions were generally reported as fair to good with a number of people commenting that conditions were better on the Sunday.  In total twenty three countries appeared in the logs in one hundred and twenty four locator squares which included thirty UK squares.  One entrant managed to work 101 squares and nineteen countries.  There were twelve contacts greater than 1000 km.  Five of these were a private lift from G8XVJ/P into CT3 and EA8.  One Italian station was worked and the other QSOs greater than 1000 km were into EA and OK.  The QSO totals by the leading stations were well up on the corresponding totals in 2011.

The numbers of entrants fell slightly, bizarrely in the fixed station sections.  Portable activity showed a slight increase.  Again, sadly, many entrants commented on the poor level of activity from the UK.

This year the four leading stations in the open section lost less than 2% of their claimed scores.  While logging accuracy is generally continuing to improve, many entrants continue to lose points though basic errors.  The main errors are locators which are not even in the country of the station worked and an ongoing failure to log /P on portable stations.  All elements of the exchange are checked during the adjudication which also identified significant numbers of incorrectly received signal reports and serial numbers.  

There were few reported equipment problems and only one report of poor signal quality.

Congratulations go to:

•  The Parallel Lines, G8P, who won the open section for the seventh year running to retain the Mitchell-Milling Trophy.
•  Erik, G8XVJ/P, for winning the single operator (others) section and as the highest scoring single operator is awarded the Thorogood Trophy.
•  Pete, 2E0NEY, who won the single operator (fixed) section.
•  The Clyde Coast Contest Club, GM6MD/P, who won the six-hour (others) section.
•  Richard, GD8EXI, who won the six-hour single operator fixed section for the third year running.

These stations together with those identified in the results tables will receive certificates.

Roger - G4BVY