[UK-CONTEST] BERU Team Contest

[Peter Hobbs]

Hi all,

Subscribers to this forum will have noted Bob G3PJT's welcome initiative to sponsor a one-off Commonwealth Team Contest (rules at http://uk.geocities.com/beru2004@btinternet.com/07team.htm), to coincide with the 2007 BERU Contest and the 2007 Cricket World Cup, both of which will be held next March.  Starting to think about strategies 6 months ahead might appear overkill, but planning a winning team entry for this innovative event could be less than straightforward.  

In 2006 (2007 will be another low SSN year) we would have had the following result, assuming that each captain had 20-20 hindsight in selecting the optimum team (unlike e.g. AFS where the team self-selects after the event). Here, the 11 team members have to be registered with the umpire (Bob) in advance of the event and must indicate their team affiliation in their BERU entry log:
1  Rest Of World 49,996
2  Canada 49,277
3  Australia 43,878 (includes southern hemisphere multiplier)
4  UK 42,939
5  New Zealand, etc. (incomplete team) 24,359 (includes southern hemisphere multiplier)

On the face of it, this looks as though the UK is on a hiding to nothing, with our main advantage being this forum, which should be ideal for initial recruitment.  Although the RoW would likely steal this event if they got their act together, team organisation might be a challenge, barring a co-ordinated exodus of ex-pats to the colonies in March.  

Otherwise, the real threat must come from Canada, especially if Roger RBP and one or two of the others are able to bring a wider appreciation of the concept of this event to the main body of VE's.  However E-W propagation suffers in low SSN years and this has adversely affected the general level of VE scoring in the past, compared to UK, African and Caribbean entrants.  The VK's have more scope for improvement (because of the multiplier) but conditions in 2007 are unlikely to be much in their favour.

There's also a potential conflict between the interests of individual team members (some of whom may plan to enter the Restricted Section and/or the 12 hour category) and the team event itself (which will be best served by full-time, Open Section entries), thereby further complicating the selection of an optimum team.

Nevertheless, we must go for this one-off opportunity, which includes "prizes" for the winning team!  Just need some public spirited soul to emerge as prospective captain for the UK 'A' Team.  Let's have some volunteers/nominations??

73, Peter G3LET