The first organized radio contest was called the Transatlantic Test, and was
a DX contest that ended when the first group of American ham radio signals
was received across the Atlantic -- if I remember right, in Ireland. This
event had both official start and stop dates, and results were published.
There were other, earlier, events known as Transcontinental Relays, but
these were cooperative events usually intended to acquaint incoming American
presidents with the American amateur radio capability. Occasionally, two
"trunklines" raced in these events, with the winner completing the
transcontinental relay first. But these were not technically contests.
The competition for the first Transatlantic two-way contact was also an
exciting contest. But there was no official start date announced for this
contest. Instead, it was implied by technological advancement. The winner
was a contact between the US and France. Old timers have told me that this
was the most important and most widely contested operating event of its day,
and was clearly a contest in the minds of the operators of the day.
At some point, the big contest occurred. This was known as the DX Century
Club - and was a gruelling contest lasting many months and involving both
contacting the foreign station and exchanging QSL confirmations. Thousands
competed, and the texture of the amateur bands was forever changed beginning
on the announced starting date of the competition.
Later, the ARRL Sweepstakes (domestic) contest, and the predecessor to
today's CQ Worldwide DX Contest became the first regularly scheduled
(yearly) contests. Both of these contests began as weeks long events.
After World War II, the "postwar" DX Century Club contest began as an
open-ended event. Contests proliferated, and the modern age began evolving.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cooper, Stewart" <coopers@odl.co.uk>
To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:34 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Early Contests?...
Can anyone help with some research? When was the first amateur radio
contest? Does anyone have any details of early contests? Reply direct.
Many thanks and 73,
Stewart
GM4AFF
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