The Christmas Cumulatives have long been referred to as 'fun' contests - but that's not really correct.  To do well in the overall(in effect 16 contests spread over 4 days) you really need a station capable of operating on all 4 bands and the skills necessary to work out when to be on which band.  This will be made more difficult for the 2020 event because multi-op stations will no longer be permitted (and the requirement for RSGB membership is also dropped).  And it was made particularly difficult in 2019 because the gods which determine conditions decided to roll the dice - and Es appeared on 6m and 4m, and significant tropo on 2m and 70cm. For those not interested in the overall I award loads of certificates for these contests (48 this year) - so pick your band and section carefully and it may well deliver a certificate to folk who would otherwise struggle to get one.

I don't normally set out ODX for these contests but these QSO's are exceptional for late December.  On 50MHz GW8ASD worked SQ9IAU at 1654km, on 70MHz G4VFL worked SQ6RMA at 1498km, on 144MHz 2E0VCC/P worked SK7OA at 1308Km and on 432Mhz G7LRQ worked F5ICN at 942km.

The standard of log keeping was good - with some days/bands having no bad QSO's.

There were 108 entrants (121 in 2018).  This contest is currently scored as PPQ (point per QSO) with multipliers.  It would be straightforward to score it as PPK (points per kilometre) plus multipliers - so as to line these contests up with the Activity Contests.  Would this be a better way to do this ?  Might it encourage more people to enter ? Comments to VHFCC please.

Overall

AO - First place was G3PIA with G3NPI in second.  Leading Overseas Station was PE1EWR (as in 2018) and leading intermediate was 2E0UDB.

AR - First place was G8GYX and second place GW8ASD.  G8LZE (who was leading station running 25w or less to a single antenna as last year. Leading overseas station was F1FPL.  A certificate was also awarded to 2E0VCC/P (leading intermediate).

AL - First place was G1PPA with G3SQQ in second.  Certificate was also awarded to 2E0WHQ/P (leading intermediate).

Band Leader/Runner Up Certificates have been awarded for each band/section plus leading overseas, leading intermediate and (where appropriate) leading station using 25w to a single antenna.  There are 36 of these so I am not going to list them individually - but congratulations to all of them (you will find them at https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contestid=xmasfun&year=2019).

Particular recognition to 2E0VCC/P for whom the conditions were especially favourable and who is band leader in AR on 144MHz as well as having ODX.

Stephen Purser GW4SHF