[UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support

Fri Jul 18 09:36:50 EDT 2008

There are other ways Rob. It is virtually impossoble to expect to enter 
a contest and expect to win without some experience and pedigree in that 
event. Look at the range of contests and see which you think you would 
like. Choose as selection for the year and home in on those.  Send in an 
entry and see where you come, then set a target for improvement for next 
year.

I did just this many years ago. I found I liked the RSGB 1.8MHz contests 
in Nov and Feb. I just kept entering, then eventually I made the top ten 
so I realised I must be doing something right! I then started to analyse 
what I was doing and if I could do it better. Obviously the antenna is 
the most important so I found sites where I could set up for the 
weekend. I looked at station ergonomics, ie positioning of equipment, 
chair comfort. This was the days of paper logging so I evolved a 
technique to roll the pencil around my fingers to enable me to send on 
the keyer without putting the pencil down. Not relevant now but the 
principal remains the same. I studied the techniques of the competitors 
ahead of me. Eventually top 5 came and then it got harder. I eventually 
top 3 and I was getting certificates, and then the trophy. It was a long 
slog but enjoyable and rewarding.

Another way is to go head-to-head with someone. I did this a few years 
ago with G4IIY in CQWWCW. The Old Fart with a better station and more 
experience versus the young Whippersnapper. Yep, he beat me! We emailed 
our scores every 6 hours. He's a crafty young blighter, said he was 
going to bed at 2200 and therefore I did the same. Actually he stayed up 
and got some more mults!

Look for contests you can do well in. Keep at it, you will get there!

Chris G3SJJ

Rob - G4LMW wrote:
> Oh....... don't think I qualify
>
> Perhaps I could invent my own contest for single HF CW operator, 100w with a
> single element antenna, who has been licenced at least 25 years and never
> won anything. With only one entrant, I might have a chance!
>
> ;-^)
>
> 73, Rob
>  G4LMW
>  http://www.G4LMW.co.uk
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Roger G3SXW" <g3sxw at btinternet.com>
> To: "UIK-Contest" <UK-Contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 12:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support
>
>
>   
>> WPX has a Rookie category. See: http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm
>>
>> f) Rookie (ROOKIE)**: To enter this category you must have been licensed 
>> as
>> a radio amateur three (3) years or less on the date of the contest.
>>
>> 73 de Roger/G3SXW.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Rob - G4LMW" <g4lmw at btconnect.com>
>> To: "Richard Newstead" <g3cwi at btconnect.com>
>> Cc: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 11:49 AM
>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support
>>
>>
>>     
>>> Thanks Richerd
>>>
>>> Maybe I am being to choosy in my contests!
>>>
>>> At my age and level of fitness, I was looking for (HF) contests I can do
>>> from home. My original question wasn't so much around "contests for
>>> beginners" - rather than prizes for newcomers within existing contests.
>>>
>>> A glance at all the results will show the "usual suspects" at the top of
>>> the
>>> pile, and I would not wish to deny them their rightful place (I hope to 
>>> be
>>> there with them someday). But perhaps a certificate for any operator who
>>> has
>>> never had a top 10 finish or "best newcomer" (whether top 10 or position#
>>> 347!). It is like so many things these days. A lot of people don't take
>>> part
>>> 'cos they fell they can never win.
>>>
>>> I often wonder why Tottenham Hotspur continue to enter the premier league
>>> each year.
>>>
>>> 73, Rob
>>> G4LMW
>>> http://www.G4LMW.co.uk
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Richard Newstead" <g3cwi at btconnect.com>
>>> To: "Rob - G4LMW" <g4lmw at btconnect.com>
>>> Cc: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
>>> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:53 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:48:37 +0100, Rob - G4LMW <g4lmw at btconnect.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> Perhaps they were poorly supported because no one knows about them?
>>>>>
>>>>> Which contests are they? I have had a good look around the "Sport 
>>>>> Radio"
>>>>> pages and can find nothing targeted for "newcomers"
>>>>>
>>>>> Am I looking in the wrong place?
>>>>>           
>>>> Rob
>>>>
>>>> They are the Backpackers series of contests. The 2m ones are especially
>>>> suitable for beginners and are described as such in the rules. The 
>>>> "Sport
>>>> Radio" pages refer to them this month.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>>
>>>> Richard
>>>> G3CWI
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
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>>>       
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>>     
>
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