[UK-CONTEST] 70MHz UKAC - G3PYE/P

[Robert Chipperfield]

Hi all,

Just a quick report from those of us in the flat-lands of Cambridgeshire...

After catching M0NUT/P briefly during the 6m event last week, they 
reminded us it seemed to be between us and them in the restricted 
section of the 4m event, so the race was on this Tuesday...

A slightly late arrival in Flossie <http://www.camb-hams.com/flossie> 
(it took longer to buy the custard-topped mince pies than we 
expected...) bought us on site for about 1930, so it was all hands to 
work - initially Lawrence M0LCM, Gav M1BXF and myself, but soon joined 
by Joe, M0ZRN. Moderately strong winds meant that we deployed the guys 
and ran one section lower than maximum, but thankfully didn't cause us 
any real problems.

With the mast still pumping up at 1958, we cut the start a little fine, 
but made it on for a very nice start to the evening - 15 stations in the 
first ten minutes. This proved to be something of a pattern - some good 
runs followed by quiet periods. GI4SNA and GM4JR were most welcome 
additions to the log around half an hour into the contest, and we 
managed a steady stream of new squares throughout, ending up with 17, 
certainly a best for us in a 4m contest.

We caught up with M0NUT/P shortly before 2100, and waited with baited 
breath for his serial number - were they thrashing us, or did we have a 
chance? Amazingly, we sent and received the same number!

So things continued, with a quick detour into FM land later in the 
evening to work those who didn't have SSB kit available, but then back 
down the band for a few more before the end. Just when we thought we'd 
worked as many as we were going to, GM4ZUK/P called us in CW - at which 
point I must apologise, Allan, if you're reading this - my difficulties 
weren't through your lack of signal strength, but my poor CW skills! 
Many thanks for your patience! That's definitely on my list of "things 
to improve" for next year. A quick QSO with G7HAH just made it into the 
log before the clock ticked over to 2230, and we were done.

A few moments later, we found M0NUT/P for a quick chat and swap of 
scores after the contest... we claimed 166k, they 119k. But I'm not sure 
that's enough to do it for us over the year! It's going to be very, very 
close indeed. Whatever the result, thanks guys - it was great fun!

Thanks everyone who we've worked over the course of the year, whether 
6km or 600km away. Thanks to everyone who has said hello to Flossie - 
David, GI4SNA, I just wish I'd taken a photo when you told Gav to give 
her a kiss the other week. It's be a great year on all the bands, and 
fantastic to see such high activity levels all around the UK, something 
which seems only to be increasing with every passing month.

73,
Rob, M0VFC, team G3PYE/P