[UK-CONTEST] NFD June 2012

[John Warburton G4IRN]

Due to the reasons already documented on this reflector, the 'Radio Ga 
Ga' team @ G4IRN/p (G0KBL, G0OPB, G4ERW, and G4IRN) will *not* be 
competing in the RSGB NFD contest this year. However we will be 
operating that weekend, just for fun.

In the period following the announced changes on 20th March, a 
considerable amount of money and time was spent preparing for the new 
rules. Despite the blow of the subsequent rule changes on 12th April, 
we've decided to carry on working to the 20th March rules, although we 
aren't able to deploy a 22m mast!

The Contest committee will not be receiving our entry, nor a check log 
as a protest against:

a) the very late announcement of the first set of rule changes,

b) the audacity of the CC to change them again just a few weeks later.

If anyone wants to join us this year in working to the 20th March rules, 
please let me know and we can have our own contest 'just for fun'.

If any changes are planned for next year's event, we ask that the CC 
announce the changes prior to the end of this year, otherwise there will 
be even less groups participating. Our thinking is that the contest's 
entire format needs re-thinking in order to cater for the traditional 
clubs (with their family and BBQ events) and the 'contest-teams' that 
wish to try out WRTC style contest techniques. Not an easy task and the 
lack of an over-arching strategy for RSGB contesting makes it all the 
more difficult. However we do agree with the removal of 
cluster/RBN/skimmer etc. assistance would like to see this carried forward.

73 John G4IRN and team.