432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest 2000

There were similar numbers of entrants to this contest compared to the 1999 event.

Although it was generally agreed that conditions were slightly above average many entrants reported limited activity North of the Midlands. Notably apart from four contacts logged with GD4IOM, GI6ATZ, MM1ATY (IO85) & MM1CXE (IO86) no other stations were recorded in IO74, 75, 76, 84, 85, 86, 93, 94, 95 and only four stations were worked in IO83. There is an opportunity for affiliated societies in Zone A to enter next years' contest and get some certificates for the club and increase activity from the North. The same applies to Zones E, F and G. G0VFW reported that he had to go out and check that he still had an antenna when he did not hear any stations for 45 minutes. Despite this apparent gloom there was some very good dx about such as the best dx of G8OHM at 710km and eleven entrants logged stations at a distance of 400km plus with another 8 making contacts at 300km plus.

First place in the single operator section was fought out between two amateurs who have previously been chairman of the RSGB VHF contest committee namely John Quarmby, G3XDY, and Bryn Llewellyn, G4DEZ. John had a magnificent winning margin by scoring more than twice the number of points of his rival. John's entry was also the Martlesham Radio Society winning AFS entry. The South Birmingham Radio Society station, G8OHM, repeated last years win in the Multi-operator section and together with the rest of their team took third place in the affiliated societies contest behind runner up Chesham & District ARS team, Roger Piper G3MEH, John Hall G0ODQ and T Thirwell G0VFW . Ken Punshon, G4APJ, reported that domestic QRM took out the middle of the session but it still did not prevent him winning the certificate as leading station operating using 25 watts or less to a single antenna. Congratulations to all certificate winners who include 2E1GUA, leading novice, PE1EWR, leading overseas station.

Ian L Cornes. G4OUT.

2*	G3WHK	C	5907	63	91VH	24el	100	DF2VJ	556
3	G3OLX	C	4180	54	91VH	21el	25	G0WJR/P	300