[UK-CONTEST] Eu Sprint SSB

[Lee Volante]

Hi all,

There have been some comments about why UK participation was a little sparse 
this time around.  A few of the regular entrants have given their reasons 
why they weren't available, and a number of these are specific to the 
abnormal weather.  However, there wasn't a very large difference in UK 
support in earlier events, although a few extra may have been gained due to 
the inclusion of EU Sprint into the RSGB HF Championship event list.

But on top of this, participation generally in the EU Sprint has been on the 
wane for a few years.  Go to http://www.eu-sprint.com  and look at the 
results.  Building to a peak around 2005, when 100+ entrants would be seen 
on both modes, it has fallen and the most recent results are some of the 
lowest ever, around 50% of the peak.

It's difficult to say why this is.  Perhaps the lack of most recent results 
on the one website is one factor. The 1 hour movement in the start time 
during the last few years maybe?  The sad passing of Paolo I2UIY must have 
been a big loss to the small organising team. Even popular events need some 
degree of marketing and up to date results to keep them ticking over. So 
kudos to all contest organisers for their work behind the scenes, and I'm 
sure Dave G4BUO and the new additions to the EUSprint team will do good 
things.  I've said before that 'market forces' are a large player in the 
success of contests, in that the entrants decide through their submitted 
logs which are the most enjoyable and most supported formats. Only up to a 
point though, otherwise we'd gravitate towards an 'everyone works everyone' 
contest most weekends - some variety must be maintained.

Sprints aren't for everyone, but I don't necessarily agree with the reasons 
given that they are an anathema to a 'real' contester who is 'born to run.' 
Enough with the pscho-babble - it's still about making QSOs and having fun, 
just that the VFO needs to be given a nudge every so often...  They're far 
more accepted in the US with many leading contesters regularly taking part.

Open UBN's and logs from all entrants aren't a brand new addition to 
EUSprint - they did exist from at least 2003 to 2008.

73,

Lee G0MTN