[UK-CONTEST] Fw: GB5HQ

[douglas.maxwell at virgin.net]

There seems to be two discussions getting confused here:
1) Winning IARU Champs.
2) The health of contesting in the UK.
My agrument is that to inspire contesters and to encourage normal club members to participate in contesting there must be a desirable goal with a clear path of achieving it. One such goal might have been to represent one's nation in an international contest i.e. IARU champs. I have never advocated that inexperienced ops or casual contesters take part, quite the opposite in fact, let there be a clear criterion for participation and some publicity surrounding the selection process. Not a bad thing?
Maybe a place in each station should be reserved for someone who has won an RSGB contest that year. It is after all the RSGB that you will be representing.
If winning the IARU champs is the only desire with no regard to the effect on the contesting community or it's future, then we are probably doing the best we can.
I would like there to be some improvement on no2 with regards this particular contest. It's too big an opportunity to waste.
Doug GM0ELP
Doug GM0ELP