[UK-CONTEST] Happy Contesting

[Gordon Brown]

I am getting sick and tired of people on this group moaning and groaning about 
contest scoring etc.  I have been entering contests under a number of call signs 
for over 50 years and I haven’t entered one with the sole purpose of winning, 
the main purpose is to enjoy operating although I have had some success 
stories.  I use a modest rig – an IC706 to an aerial that doesn’t draw too much 
attention to itself – a 40 m dipole up 37 feet.  A beam, even for VHF, would 
have at least one neighbour knocking at my door.
If I don’t think the rules of a contest give me a fair chance, like IOTA where 
single band entries are not allowed, then I just join in to give some points 
away.  If I merely wanted to win then I would buy a 2 kW amplifier and enter the 
QRP  or LOW or even the high power section but where is the satisfaction in 
that?  Trying to stay awake for 48 hours isn’t fun especially as one rapidly 
reaches 70 years old and is not particularly fit but I do it because I enjoy 
operating under contest conditions so much.  If I didn’t enjoy it I would 
quickly find another hobby to fill my time – yes it is a hobby and if I won a 
big lottery prize then I would find an ideal spot for HF and VHF, buy an 
amplifier for the maximum power I can run and have the best station in the 
country but as I don’t do the lottery I will remain happy with my lot.  One 
contest I really enjoy is the RSGB Club Contest where I can pit myself against 
other local amateurs with similar stations and try to beat them – it’s a 
friendly rivalry and encourages us all to improve our operating standards.  Oh 
how I dream of the old days when I pitted my homebrew 6V6 TX, converted 
broadcast rx and paper logs and check sheets against the world in contests.  I 
never won but even now I remember the excitement. 

In short – if you don’t enjoy it don’t pester me and fill up my mailbox with 
your gripes.
CQWW this weekend 7MHz Low Power I’m excited already.  Wife – pour me another 
double single malt please.
The happiest amateur on the planet.
Gordon G3MZV G1N.