[UK-CONTEST] Feedback from RSGB Contests Committee Annual Meeting

[Ray James]

--- On Thu, 30/4/09, Don Field <don.field at gmail.com> wrote:


> UKAC Contests

> It was confirmed that the new process of normalisation used
> for the UKAC contests was producing a better spread of scores and tended
> to reward consistent performance in several events rather than
> outstanding performance in only one or two.


VHF Calendar and Rules
====================

As well as matters covered in this note,  other changes to the VHF calendar
are still being considered, so please do check the website when planning a
contest entry for 2010.
*********************************************

I certainly hope there is more on offer to regenerate VHF+ contest activity than a bit of self congratulation regarding "normalisation" and some proposed calendar changes.

The CC will be very well aware of my previous UKAC comments on non-UK square multipliers, zonal multipliers/awards, novice and intermediate licensee certificates, communications with club secretaries etc so I'll not boil my cabbages twice.

We are only 4 months into 2009 and the writing is already on the UKAC wall.

2m UKAC: 4 monthly events published so far.
Restricted Section
178 entrants but 55 of them only appeared for 1 session.
Open Section
25 entrants. 12 only appeared 1 session and only 1 station has entered all 4 events.

70cm UKAC: 3 events published so far.
Restricted Section
61 entrants but 21 only entered 1 month and only 12 have entered all 3.
Open Section
13 entrants of which 7 to appeared for only 1 month.

National UK Result = Apathy, little interest, rubbish rules/multiplier basis, doesn't encourage UK activity.


If its still Ian G0FCT doing the year end write up then we can expect the same "never mind the quality, feel the width" statement like the 2008 result round up. "This series of contests continue to grow in popularity. Overall, 257 stations have entered the twelve sessions. The Single Operation Fixed Station (SF) is the most popular section with 190 stations entering it. The Open section attracted 67 stations. On average nearly 95 stations entered each session".

Let me throw a little realism into that report.
Of the 67 Open Section entrants, almost half of 'em only came on for 1 solitary month out of the total of 12.
Of the 190 Single Fixed entrants, 41 of 'em only appeared for 1 month and a further 13 bothered a second month.

The UKAC isn't working however much the figures are glossed up.
The rules require a full overhaul and an appreciation that we need to encourage all corners of the UK to participate and also get the interest of newly licensed as well as old hands to establish the opportunities to be gained on 2m/70cm away from FM or D Star repeaters and get onto weak signal modes for contesting and DX'ing. 

I await with interest to see the final notes but early indications do not look good. If this is all the chairman and committee are going to come up with following the review then serious questions will need to be asked of their competence, whether appointed or volunteers, to turn around the contesting apathy and decline we've been subjected to over the last 10 to 15 years in the UK despite the numbers of licensees increasing dramatically over the same period. It also begs the question why the VHF Manager is allowing the rot to continue? David has years of contesting and DX'ing experience and has been at the RSGB VHF helm during this decline as 2m and 70cm become void of use. He must also observe what everyone else (Don's silent majority) see and realise that contesting is just one of his ace's in the pack that can used to make amends. We need a serious action plan formulated to carry out this task and I hope Colin will take note.
The UKAC's are the perfect monthly contest to make a start and that means having rules and a multiplier basis that encourages rather than dissuades UK activity and stops the current apathy in its tracks.

73 Ray GM4CXM