As always, lots of entries (100 logs and 24 Society teams) and activity for this contest and, as always, no special conditions to tempt anyone to turn their radio on if it wasn't for the contest. There were a few fleeting lifts which provided many of the best dx figures, but these distances were exceptions in all almost logs.
The winner's positions were clear cut, with Martlesham entries winning both sections and overall. Second place overall was very closely contested with only about half a percent between Chesham A and Colchester A teams. In the single operator section, G4DHF put in a very creditable first entry from his new home.
Thanks to everyone for joining in and entering and congratulations to the leading stations in each section. G0APZ wins the 25W/single aerial award, PA0GHB is once again the leading overseas entry and there are also certificates for the leading entries from each zone (you have to put this on your coversheet to qualify). At the bottom of the single operator section, there's a group of entries from those who are not set up for regular contest activity, presumeably persuaded to join in to make full use of the five logs which count for a team entry. Some of these stations are probably getting their first taste of contesting so, as a small incentive, there is a certificate for the leading station using a vertical aerial; well done David, G4YJQ.
On a sadder note, for the first time since joining the VHFCC I've applied a penalty to an entry - in this case for contravention of the 'dx cluster self spotting' rule.
Finally, it's soapbox time. The vast majority of entries came in as disks or by e-mail, and these are marked * in the tables; it is immediately obvious what a great help this is to us. Quite a number of the rest were computer generated but sent as printout, which is a bit frustrating. I hope it's clear from the tables that no-one suffers by sending a file entry, wherever you are in the results most of your competitors have sent log files in.
To those who write their logs by hand, I can assure you that there is absolutely no question of not accepting such logs. On the other hand, if you have access to a IBM type computer of any vintage you might like to consider trying the free logging software which we provide; typing in and neatly writing a log take about the same time and your scoring, multipliers and duplicates are checked automatically, while we get the benefit of the entry on disk.
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