[UK-CONTEST] A Gentlemanly Contest ?

[Bob Henderson]

<M0RNR at btinternet.com> wrote:

However, As someone had posted a comment on the cluster during the contest
implying CQ was being called on 2 frequencies, I feel I have to put finger
to key and clarify the whole issue, so there can be no ambiguity. I was the
person calling CQ on 10m whilst GM2T was also running on 20m! It was a
genuine mistake, and I'm also man enough to stand up and admit it, rather
than covertly implying it in snide comments on the cluster or contest
reflector. The issue started at 09:01 GMT and lasted until 09:11 GMT a huge
total of 13 QSO's (none of which were islands) on 10m. We had two stations
back to back at opposite ends of the room and there was a misunderstanding
as to who was running and who was on S&P, as soon as I saw the spot, which
was posted at 09:08hrs I checked with the other station and stopped, and I'm
sure the team would be more than willing to wipe all 13 QSO's from our score
if everyone feels that strongly about it. However if that's cheating then
shoot me!

Well it seems the person who spotted you, implying (appropriately as it
turned out) that GM2T was CQing on two bands simoultaneously, did you a
favour.  Without that, you may well have continued running on two bands
indefinately.  (Heaven forbid.) Of course, the possibility that GM2T was
running on two bands simoultaneously at other times in the contest must also
exist, as you openly acknowledge lack of controls to prevent it. Had other
incidents occured they may have continued uninterupted, merely because
comments drawing your attention to it weren't posted to the cluster.

I feel sure your team will want to leave those 13 Qs in the log but score
them at zero points.  Not because anyone here feels strongly, one way or
another, but simply because that is what the rules require.

The Pafos Radio Club made a Multi-op entry from here as C4EU.  We had two
stations.  One of them was the Run station and always the Run station.  The
other was the Mult station and always the Mult station.  This permanent
designation ensured no CQing took place from the Mult station, though 4
non-multiplier contacts were inadvertently made.  Post contest, these have
stayed in the log but are scored at zero points, as prescribed.

What you did may not be cheating as "cheating" implies intent to breach
rules.  However, breach rules you did and that leaves you exposed to
possible sanction by the adjudicating committee, just as it would if you had
intended to do it.  That's not to say there will be sanction against you but
there might be.  After all, it would be utterly unreasonable for the
adjudicators to have to prove malintent as well as rule breaking.  Their job
is tough enough.  Of course, when your team mates ensure that all
contentious Qs are zero pointed, it will be obvious to the adjudicators that
these were genuine mistakes and as such no punitive sanction would be likely
to be invoked.

All seems fair enough to me.

I'm glad to know you had a good weekend with your mates.  I agree, that's
what multi-op contesting is about.

73

Bob, 5B4AGN, P3F