[CQ-Contest] Level playing fields, heads of pins, and so on

[Trent and Lorraine Sampson]

Hi Team,

I can only concur with Martin VK7GN (and this is not VK's hijacking the argument). I coach field hockey, A1 Men's and women's squads of varying ability and our local association is one of the most progressive in the world producing many Australian players, (5 of the current Australian side) Our competition is based on survival of the fittest...Close to here is a small town that 15 years ago produced an exceptional crop of juniors who went on to state and national level. A new committee introduced weighted teams and deleted the club structure. A player who dominated was moved to weaker sides etc.. Sort of like making extra categories...Today this once proud and dominant association struggles to field teams ..whereas Toowoomba has gone from strength to strength.

There is a big bad world out there and healthy competition does bring out the best and worst in us all.

Categories for me ? SOAB Single Band MS M2 or MM  no others,  no rookie, no Tribander wires, no Left handed Pygmies' Pirate division..

BTW thanks to all who worked VK4TI in the CQWWSSB and VK4WIL in the Oceania DX test Phone  

Regards
Trent VK4TI

 Trent and Lorraine Sampson
| PO Box 1647 | Toowoomba QLD  | 4350| Mobile 0408 497550
Ham Radio Call Sign : VK4TI

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Martin Luther
Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2007 8:16 AM
To: Cq-Contest
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Level playing fields, heads of pins, and so on

Scott (NE1RD) claims that more categories increase participation. I have been in this game of radio contesting for 40 years and have seen many changes to categories etc and they all claim they are going to increase participation. None do so in any significant way. They just move people from one category to the other.

 

Tribander and wires is a good example. It was conceived for the average home station but, of course, equally encompasses portable contestpeditions! So the geographical location triumphs again.

 

We cannot sell contesting to the newcomer on the premise that they will win, or even gain any recognition in their first few years. We can however, promise them a lot of fun and the camaraderie of the contest community. 

 

There are two categories that, rightly, get most of the kudos. Single op all band and multi/multi - everything else is practice classes! Of course geographical variables trump most other considerations. 

 

 

 

 

Martin VK7GN

 <mailto:VK7GN at Bigpond.com> VK7GN at Bigpond.com

 

 

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