[UK-CONTEST] What is contest competiton for?

[Peter Hobbs]

<snip>
I wonder how many people have even been disqualified for a rules violation?
<snip>

Perhaps we shouldn't immediately assume that disqualification for violating 
contest rules happens too infrequently.  In case you should disagree, 
consider the following example from the late 1980's:

These were stll the good old days of those printed contest cover sheets that 
you had to buy, along with a supply of blank log sheets, from RSGB.  When 
making one particular entry, I apparently neglected for whatever reason to 
enter my "Power Declaration".  There were no power sections in this event 
so, having declared further down that I had operated in all respects within 
the terms of my licence, this was just an issue of one of the boxes on the 
precious cover sheet not having been filled.

A couple of days after the closing date, the adjudicator called me on the 
phone and asked if I'd like to withdraw my entry, the alternative being that 
he would have to recommend to "The Committee" that my entry should be 
disqualified.  I offered to mail an amended cover sheet, without changing 
any other aspect of the entry.  Sorry, old man, the closing date is now 
past, I can't etc. (withdrawal of course was quite OK!).   I therefore asked 
the guy to explain to his committee that this was just an oversight and 
perhaps they could see their way clear to accepting my verbal assurance that 
I hadn't exceeded my licensed power, nor was my setup capable of doing so. 
Whether or not he felt able or inclined to do so, some 7 months later G3LET 
was shown as disqualified in the published results.

I think only one guess is needed at which committee this could have been.  I 
have never sullied their post (or email) box since . . .

73, Peter G3LET