70MHz CW, 2005

The level of entries fell slightly compared to 2004 but more stations, 32 in total, were active from G, GW and GM. Activity fell off in the last hour but the appearance of two new stations caused some rapid contacts to take place. Conditions were average during the contest with the usual 4 metre QSB causing some entrants to lose significant proportions of their scores. An aurora prior to the event caused some excitement but it faded out just before the contest started !

This year’s event sees another new winner, congratulations to Phil Catterall G4OBK. Roger G3MEH takes the runners up position due to a more accurate log. Congratulations to Clive O’Hennessy GM4VVX/P who wins the open section from his lonely remote location.

Roger, G4BVY

G3JYP
QSB was a real pain otherwise I think conditions were average.

G3MEH
A bit slow going.

G3TCU
Conditions about average but activity slightly disappointing down a bit on last year.

G3UKV
Usual deep QSB. PA needs replacing - tired like the operator ! Postcodes caused some confusion.

G4OBK
Average conditions, worked all stations heard, new low loss coax in use! Disappointed no activity from EI GI GD this year. Glad to work GM4VVX/P, GM4DIJ and GW3HWR. Last hour was very quiet

GM4DIJ
High Band noise, average condx. G3UKV a struggle

GM4VVX/P
Went out /P for this one. Not able to get to the field that I usually work from due to new drainage ditches across the track. So worked from the crofters farm yard, which seemed to give him immense pleasure from the big chuckle every time he past. Likely he thought I was nuts !

Started the geni' at 0845utc and got a earfull of 5 9 AURORAL signals from the Angus and Buxton beacons. YIPPEEEEEeeeeeeeeeee......Now I will show those sassenachs what a real contest is like ! Heard and worked G4OBK at 0850, promising to work again in contest. Then the bloody aurora faded out ! SODs LAW ! Nobody up there loves me ! And other wails of woe. No trace of auroral signals during the contest.

Got strong signals from G3JYP very early so better condx than normal. Angus beacon 5&5 with Buxton 5&5 QSB. Only got 3 QSO (2 more than last year). Heard G3MEH several times but could not get his attention, also G3UKV for 3-4min again no QSO.. Copied no other callsigns at all

WX was overcast, 8c, with light winds. Several strong bursts of solar noise around midday.

GW3HWR
We had a nice aurora in the morning which finished about 0830z here, I worked GM4ISM and OZ2LD but I did not hear any poor notes after 0900z, stations further North may have been luckier. This is an important contest for me, I find CW much more effective over the long distances most of my contest QSO's require. Didn't hear any EI, GI, GD, GM; I understand there were GM and GW active but I failed to hook up with them; this is the first contest I can remember on any band where I got no country multiplier. There is a lot of interest in 70MHz in Western Europe and cross-band contacts take place across the North Sea using 50 or 144MHz for the return path; please consider awarding half points for cross-band QSO's (as we do on microwaves).