[UK-CONTEST] Ethics & Financial restraints?

[Peter Hobbs]

AFS already has a maximum radius requirement for participants.  Although 
one could argue how many members expect to travel 50 miles (or often 
considerabley more by road!) to a club meeting, this limit has been in 
place for a very considerable time and it would probably be unreasonable 
to change it now. 

There is however no such limitation in the HF CC events, which were 
initiated specifically to develop contest interest and participation 
within local clubs; location restrictions may have been overlooked when 
the rules were first drawn up.   There are already some overseas 
entrants who claim to be "members" of local UK clubs and there is 
nothing to prevent any club or society from creating a "contest only" 
membership category on an honorary basis. 

We are already into the 2010 season, but I suggest that this aspect 
might be considered by the Contest Committee for next year.

73, Peter G3LET

Ken Eastty wrote:

>> 2010/1/10 Roger G3SXW <g3sxw at btinternet.com>:
>>    
>>
>>>Giles - I hope this is a wind - up. These 'contest clubs' are
>>>simply groups of like-minded individuals whose local radio clubs
>>>sometimes have no interest in contesting (or even in HF for that
>>>matter). DX and Contest Clubs flourish throughout the world -
>>>except in the UK. Odd that! And BTW, we have the same financial
>>>restraints as any other group but we choose to prioritise
>>>contesting, entirely with our own resources. Instead of criticising
>>>contest groups you might consider congratulating them for breathing
>>>sorely-needed fresh energy into our hobby. 73 de Roger/G3SXW.
>>>      
>>>
>
>I'm pleased that none of the major 'Contest Group' players appear to 
>have objected
>to my suggestion that the small groups of top operators who come 
>together solely for
>the purpose of entering contests should be classified separately from 
>local clubs who draw
>their contest teams from within their membership, the results speak for 
>themselves.
>I expect that most top operators first gain experience as club contest 
>operator and not as part
>of a C.G. which consists only of experienced operators. Rather than 
>encouraging new operators
>to contesting C.G.'s may well discourage operators of club entries who 
>find that they can't compete
>with these groups of very experienced operators.
>
>I very much doubt that all amateurs have the same financial restraints, 
>this is one of the beauties
>of the hobby, there are amateurs who live in areas where there are 
>swimming pools, tennis courts
>& helipads in the back 'gardens' & others who live in 'two up two down' 
>cottages.
>There are plenty of amateurs using equipment costing many £k's and 
>others whose entire station is
>probably only worth a few hundred pounds. Assuming equal antennas (which 
>of course is determined
>by the size of garden & maybe value of the property) if the second chap 
>is a good operator he may
>well do better than the first, however if someone has spent £k's on an 
>amplifier which enables him to
>run considerably more than the legal power limit as some people have 
>suggested that's another matter
>and one which the HFCC should consider as grounds for disqualification.
>
>73....
>
>Ken
>
>G3LVP
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>UK-Contest mailing list
>UK-Contest at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>
>  
>