This was the first contest following the resumption of portable activity. Many entrants commented that they were glad to be back out in the field. A number of groups who do not normally enter this event used it to relieve their frustrations of inactivity! Some groups were forced to use alternative sites due to ongoing foot and mouth restrictions.
Conditions were assessed as fair to good with some reasonable DX being worked. Conditions deteriorated on the Sunday. Activity was generally regarded as low, in particular in the UK. However, in general, QSO numbers and scores were comparable with those in 2000 and the number of entrants was only slightly down. Two entrants tried, unsuccessfully, to boost their scores by claiming large numbers of multipliers! Logging standards were generally high.
There were the usual equipment issues with blown receivers and generator problems.
The Parallel Lines Group returned to the event this year and recorded a huge winning margin to take the Mitchell-Milling Trophy. Mike, G8TIC, chose Kent rather than Cornwall this year to win the single operator open section and hence the Thorogood Trophy with a score that would have placed him third in the multi-operator section. A closely fought single operator fixed section saw Dave, G7RAU, recording a narrow victory. G4DBL was the leading low power entrant and 2E1GUA the leading novice. These stations, together with the leading overseas entrants DL2KK and PE1EWR and the section runners up will receive certificates.
Roger, G4BVY
Section M Call Locator QSOs Score Power Ant ODX Call ODX Loc ODX Kms Group 1* G8P JO01QD 813 326776 400 6 * 17 ele EB1FSU/P IN73TA 1002 Parallel Lines CG 2* G5B JO03CE 523 210315 400 8*12 + 4*16 DK0IL/P JN57CI 961 Five Bells CG 3* DL2KK JO30EP 645 187562 400 4 *10 ele OM/S57C/PKN09CE 1002 4 G0VHF/P JO01HW 431 139083 400 2 * 15 ele SK7MW JO65MJ 902 Colchester CG 5 MD6V IO74QD 315 115935 400 8*9+4*9+2*17 DK0UKW JO31OM 846 Northern Lights CG 6 G0FBB/P JO01LD 339 102493 400 5WL m2 F8NSC/P JN12EK 974 7 G4BRA/P IO91PK 232 73117 400 17ele DL0GTH JO50JP 808 Bracknell ARC 8 G8EVY/P JO02CE 219 54321 200 2 * 17 ele F9IE IN86WW 607 Cambridge & DARC 9 M0S IO81XQ 203 54041 400 2 * 17 ele DK0FY JN49PU 822 Swindon & DARC 10 G3YNN JO00EU 120 26258 70 12 ele DK0FY JN49PU 642 Herstmonceux Megacycles CG 11 G0DLR JO01EI 146 25850 350 15 ele GM4ZUK/P IO86RW 649 Culverstone CG 12 G7RIH IO91RR 101 22989 50 17 ele DF0LBO JO53CT 759 Dacorum ARS 13 G3ZTT IO83QE 79 17605 400 17 ele DM1CG JO31IC 677 Mid Cheshire ARS 14 M1PIA IO91IN 51 15481 25 17 ele TM1Y JN36BP 768 Harwell ARS 15 G4ADV IO70LK 19 1948 400 8/8 G8P JO01QD 458 Newquay & DARS Section SO Call Locator QSOs Score Power Ant ODX Call ODX Loc ODX Kms Group 1* G8TIC/P JO01KJ 573 194558 400 2 * 10 ele SK7OA JO65RJ 944 2* GM4ZUK/P IO86RW 244 110771 400 4 * 13 ele DK3OS JO30EM 922 3 GW8ASA/P IO81FP 171 41580 200 10 + 5 ele DK0HN JO31PP 747 4 G6FFB/P IO81TL 158 32257 100 2 * 17 ele DF0GVT JO40BC 753 Yate CG 5 GM4WLL/P IO85NR 69 21324 25 14 + 8/8 ON6ZT/P JO10UU 696 6 GW8ZRE/P IO83JA 55 12836 10 7 ele DL2KK JO30EP 709 Section SF Call Locator QSOs Score Power Ant ODX Call ODX Loc ODX Kms Group 1* G7RAU IO90IR 194 63528 400 2 * 9 ele HB9MS JN47PH 859 2* G3MEH IO91QS 230 60454 400 2 * 10 ele DL0NT/P JN48TO 809 3* PE1EWR JO11SL 99 36628 60 10 ele OL1C JO60UQ 715 4* G4DBL IO91HC 80 24246 25 12 ele TM1Y JN36BP 739 5 G4PIQ JO01MU 58 22458 400 4 * 15 ele SK7MW JO65MJ 882 6 G4JTJ IO92SD 63 18299 60 9 ele DK0FY JN49PU 728 7 G4DEZ JO03AE 55 15611 400 13 ele DF0OL JO40BP 621 Mudhoppers 8 GW4HBK IO81KP 45 10115 200 9 ele GM4ZUK/P IO86RW 590 9 M1DUD JO02QC 45 10112 2 7 ele DL0WAE JO42DC 472 10* 2E1GUA JO01FS 42 10101 10 13 ele GM4ZUK/P IO86RW 606 11 G1KHX IO81MI 33 8603 80 9 ele GM4ZUK/P IO86RW 621 12 G3YJR IO93FJ 24 5623 2 9 ele PI4GN JO33KK 558 13 G4XPE IO92GU 23 5556 25 10 ele F5CUA JN19KR 460
Entrants comments
2E1GUA
The contest was good for me and I had a lot of fun taking part. It was great to work Scotland, a new square for me.
DL2KK
Somewhat better conditions on Saturday evening but path to G was generally poor. "Dawn lift" in evidence to east at about 3.30 GMT. New pa blew transverter gasfet before start so had to use backup kit
G0DLR
Condx. fair, not very much UK station activity
G0FBB/P
Not a contest that we would usually enter but with f&m this is the only time that the group has been out this year. An opportunity to test new equipment.
G0VHF/P
Late start due to Birds. Could have done with more aerials and a few more volts. Weather kinder than threatened. Good to get back in the field! Though fewer countries and fewer squares than last year - more than 2000 more points!
G1KHX
Fairly good.
G3YRJ
Conditions generally good and nice to hear some portable stations again.
G3ZTT
The first contest we have done from the Club location in a long time. It was quite enjoyable if a little hard work - Our station is OK but the location not so in some directions! Some QSB and our rotator was 15 degrees out!
G4ADV
Operated Sunday only, good club get together
G4BRA/P
Good fun was had by all; back portable at last!
G4DEZ
Reasonable DX for antenna only 10 feet above the ground.
G4DBL
Very few stations seemed to give their locator when calling CQ - is there a reason for this? Some would have worked me rather more quickly if they had! Was hoping for some early morning propagation enhancement, but conditions seemed almost at their worst, then! There was an interesting period around 16:30Z on Saturday, when quite a few German stations seemed to come up nicely.
G4PIQ
Just a little casual operating this year - no time!
G4XPE
Disappointed no 6 hour section this year. Some nice DX to be worked even though condx not particularly good.
G5B
Conditions only fair with occasional DX.
G6FFB/P
Good weather, plenty of activity from home and abroad.
G7RAU
Condx flat of course!
G7RIH
Few UK station some good contacts in to Ireland
G8EVY/P
Average conditions, no lifts noticed, where were all the portable stations?, low activity. We had fun though.
G8P
Conditions above average on Saturday. Some good distances worked and 94 WWL's. Not so good on the Sunday, with QSO getting very difficult to find on Sunday afternoon. Nice to be back though!
G8TIC/P
Moderate to fair at the start with reasonable signals from southern Germany and mid France. 400 QSOs by midnight was good but conditions next day significantly worse and hence slower. Felt that number of G portable stations was low and that F portable stations up on previous years. F/G8MBI was a big signal for only 30W. Nearly didn't get on air due to generator failure (brushes on alternator) - luckily had service manual and lashed up make-do-and-mend temporary fix 20min before start of contest.
GM4WLL/P
Conditions were fair, but activity weak, probably people still getting used VHF contests running more more.
GM4ZUK/P
Condx above average throughout contest but activity both in the UK and mainland Europe very poor.
GW8ASA/P
Nothing special in the way of propagation, in cloud and rain for most of contest.
GW8ZRE/P
One for the bottom of the table main entry is in Backpackers contest cold and wet in the clouds all day.
M0S
Low level of G activity! Different (lower) location due to foot & mouth risk !
M1DUD
A very good start to the contest, with 26 contacts in the first five hours. The England vs Germany game and Formula 1 racing I think played their part in the lack of propagation'! I was very pleased to work Wales for the first time on 2m, despite deep QSB.
M1PIA
Not many G's. Why is there no 6 hour section in this contest?