50MHz Trophy 2009

Some people call 6m the `magic band', and it certainly lived up to that description for this weekend! Extended lifts/openings in all directions for all of the 24 hours contributed to some very high QSO counts; passing 1000 contacts typically happens every 5-10 years at VHF, so it's a very rare event for two stations to do it in one contest. The results table shows the number of valid contacts with the `raw' numbers being 1219 for GW6YB/P and 1038 for G8T, the former believed to set an all time record for a VHF contest. [Update August 2009 - I'm told that G4APA/P once went over 1300 in a May 144MHz contest].

Large numbers of contacts, with high average points/QSO make the basic scores high. Add the effect of multipliers and the final totals read like telephone numbers. Northern stations, especially in Scotland, suffered with fewer multipliers with both GM4ZUK/P and GM8OEG losing places at the top of the tables despite their better distance and average km/QSO scores.

Comments in the logs are full of superlatives, most would probably agree with a simple summary from G0HVQ - "Fantastic condx best I've experienced in a 6m contest in 20 years on the band".

In the Open section, Blacksheep CG's good westerly take-off brought them `pileups' of W1/4 which boosted their km/QSO to put them ahead of Bristol CG and win the Telford Trophy.

The Six Metre Cup is awarded to the highest scoring UK Single Operator entry, and so is retained by G4DEZ.

Section SO has generally been poorly supported in recent years, and this year's two logs run to only 4-5 hours operating each so might reasonably belong in section 6O.

Congratulations and certificates to all the section winners and runners-up, additional certificates to M0BPQ as the highest scoring low power/single aerial entry, M6ZAC as the leading Foundation licence entry (given that M3YAJ is a full licensee in disguise) and EA3LA as the leading overseas entry.

Thanks to all who took part and to G3WRR for his checklog.

Steve G8GSQ