[UK-CONTEST] Fw: GB5HQ

[Peter Bowyer]

I think your suggestion is along the right lines. Consideration has to
be given, though, to the logistical issues of arranging a GB5HQ entry.

Were we in the happy situation of having stations ready-built for
qualified candidates to rock up and operate, we'd be in clover. But
we're not.

The GB5HQ organisers have first to find stations. As has been pointed
out here recently, the most likely candidates are fixed stations which
have infrastructure ready - these will likely be personal or
small-group stations. Then there's the contest stations - Don G3XTT
posted recently about the unsuitablility of 'field-day' stations for
the task, which I would agree with - what I don't agree with is his
categorisation of  MD4K as such a station, but that's for another
discussion...

Having found the station, it's unreasonable to expect the owner to
give way to a bunch of strangers who come along to operate just
because they won some domestic contests. It's natural for the station
owner(s) to want to field a 'home team' - and probably more
productive, too, if the goal is to do well in the contest. And the
high scorers in (say) RoPoCo might not be the right people to field in
IARU Champs - that would be like using the 100m as a qualifiying event
for the marathon - both involve running but you're not likely to find
someone good at both.

So it's not quite so simple. What I hope we'll see is some
constructive debate about how to a) be more inclusive and imaginative
in station selection, and b) how to optimise the manning of those
stations to trounce the opposition.

Careful readers might note that my view on these issues has softened a
little over the past few weeks - that's no coincidence, since my last
posting on this subject generated two invitations to operate GB5HQ
this time round, one of which I accepted and enjoyed hugely (tnx
G6PZ). A view from both sides of the fence is very enlightening...

Peter G4MJS

On 14/07/06, douglas.maxwell at virgin.net <douglas.maxwell at virgin.net> wrote:
> What is your solution to this apparent disinterest in contesting?
>  Mine is to offer the chance of representing your country someday when you meet XYZ criterion. Currently this criterion is unclear and has no published metric. What a wasted opportunity...instead of inspiring contesters to perform with this as a prize, the RSGB has chosen to pack it off to a private group to do with as they please. It's no wonder people aren't interested and don't bother to get involved.
> Doug
> GM0ELP
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-- 
Peter Bowyer
Email: peter at bowyer.org