50MHz CW CONTEST - 23/6/24

The rather downbeat report on last year's 50MHz CW Contest concluded with the words 'let's hope for better things in 2024!' It is pleasing to report that the 'better things' definitely made their presence felt this year based on nearly all the measurable characteristics.....

The total number of logs submitted for 2024 was 37 (34 UK&CD and three non-UK&CD) plus three check logs. This was 86% up on 2023: the distribution between sections showed an increase in the Open and Low Power sections at the expense of Restricted entrants. The number of callsigns appearing in entrants' logs was, at 131, 108% up on 2023. The total number of DXCCs worked (CT, DL, EA, EI, G, GM, GU, GW, I, LA, OK, ON, OZ, PA, S5, SM and YL) was 17, 70% up on 2023 and the number of big squares worked by entrants was 59, a remarkable 295% up on 2023. Best DX was between GM3POI in IO88 and EA5BM in IM99 at 2122km, one of four contacts at over 2000km.

Given the fact that 61% of entrants had best DX contacts at over 1000km, it is rather surprising that the comments on Es were far from euphoric, varying from 'No Es' and 'little Es' via 'very patchy' to 'some towards the end'. Similarly conditions on tropo were not described as better than average.

Be that as it may, this year's event was much more successful than that in 2023 - and let's hope the gods of Es come up with the goods again in 2025....

Thanks to all the entrants and congratulations to the certificate winners in each section.

Quin G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org