CONTEST CATEGORIES vs. HIDING PLACES - de N4KG
Sub-categories have been criticized as "hiding places for wimps".
The Olympics have been cited as an example of good competition.
The Olympics have MANY events (categories).
If the Olympics were limited to individual entrants ( single operator )
and unlimited team competition, there would only be 2 events:
MARATHON - may the best man (operator) win
WAR - may the best team win....no holds barred
Anything in between is for wimps... no 100 yard dash for those who
can't run past the end of the block, no ..... etc. (you get the idea).
Every event (CATEGORY) gives some people a chance to compete
where they are most able to compete. The common thread from
several writers / participants is that they want to see how they fared
compared with similarly equipped / handicapped stations. Each
participant strives to do the best he can with the station / location
he has.
IMHO, no one sub-category has any more or less validity than any
other. If sufficient numbers of people are interested in competing
in a new category, then let them. Participation levels will determine
the ultimate validity of the category.
Do new categories detract from the existing categories?
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Would all the QRP entrants continue to submit logs if they were
thrown in with ALL single operator (high power) entrants?
Would the single operator winners get even more satisfaction
knowing they stomped a group of QRP'ers in addition to all the
other high power entrants?
The CQ WW DX Contests have several interesting categories
for single operator and multi-operator multi-transmitter entrants.
It is a BIG step from single operator to even Multi-Single (with
multiplier station(s) ).
Creation of a Multi-operator ONE-transmitter category would fill
the gap for many who are not willing or able to compete as a
single operator for 48 hours. Such a category may even attract
participation from those who have abandoned serious contesting
because they no longer wish to compete as single operators and
do not have the wherewithall to compete in the large Multi classes.
Such a class has no more and NO LESS validity than SOA or M/S.
I did find it interesting that many of the serious (2 radio) SOA
participants expressed strong displeasure with the idea of having
to compete with a team of fresh operators at a multi-operator ONE
transmitter station! Everyone wants their own niche. If there is
sufficient participation in each niche, what's wrong with that?
de Tom N4KG
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