74th Commonwealth Contest 2011 ... Results
In the week before the contest weekend HF conditions were just amazing and everyone was hoping for excellent activity on 15 and 10m. Unfortunately a sudden solar event almost killed 10m propagation except for north-south paths, Canada to the Caribbean was pretty good at times and even from the Caribbean to Mike VP8NO We must hope for better in 2012. This must have been one factor in the reduced entry (see the analysis here). Participation was down in the Open Section, by UK stations in particular and elsewhere in VK/ZL. The VU Team were decimated as a result of a major VU7 expedition in which most of the leading lights were involved. VU2PTT decided to act as HQ station which was a good call. They should be back in 2012.
This graph shows the pattern of propagation from the Caribbean to the UK (tnx J88DR,VP2V/G3PHO,8P6DR,J68PJ, VP2MXF). There were no 10m QSOs.
With a score of 10595 from 883 QSOs, John, VE3EJ, strengthened his grip on the Senior Rose Bowl with another
convincing win in the Open section. John had a
big lead over fellow Canadian, Ron, XL3A, (8645, 729 QSOs). John's ability to
wring out more bonuses out of the bands accounts for much of his
success over the years. He managed 309 to Ron's 250. 
Leading
UK station in 12th place was again Gerry, GI0RTN, (6120 from 320 QSOs) operating G6PZ and
thus he retains the Col.Thomas Rose Bowl. 
Overall
winner of the Junior Rose Bowl by a good margin was Yuri, 8P9AA
(VE3DZ). Yuri ran 100 watts from a K3 to a 43' vertical fed via a 4:1
balun. A very simple set up. Here is Yuri (right) with Peter, 8P9NX (left) and the base of the antenna. But just look at that sea view!.Yuri's score of 7900 from 608 QSOs would
have placed him 5th in the Open Section! It just goes to show that the
old adage 'location, location, location' really applies! 
With 7005 from 561 QSOs and in second
place was Bob, J68PJ, who used a similar set up, a K3 and 100 watts to
a vertical doublet for HF and a sloper for LF from a site on the cliffs
at the north end of St Lucia. 
Peter VP3V/G3PHO, was 3rd with 6560 from 588 QSOs. 
The highest
placed UK station, Peter, G3LET, was 5th (4785 from 221 QSOs). Peter wins the John Dunnington Trophy by being the highest placed UK station who has not won the trophy for the past 2 years. Here is the shack, BiggIR and long wire skyhook. The 250 ft invisible sloping wire antenna used on LF is supported by the 150ft sequoia to the right and fed in the shack against 6 radials, each 40 ft long, which are laid out in the direction of interest.
The award for the highest placed
non-UK station who operated for 12 hours, the VP8GQ award, goes to Mike, 5H3EE. The Ross Carey Rose Bowl goes to Bob, MD0CCE, as the highest placed UK
station who operated for 12 hours. 
Some 10 entrants travelled to Commonwealth countries specially for the
contest or were on DXpeditions at the time. This year the award is made
to Peter, VP2V/G3PHO. This was Peter's first BERU DXpedition. Like many of
the travellers he used 100 watt to wire antennas but from a specially
selected site on the BVI. We know he enjoyed the trip and so
we hope he will do it again!
