March 144/432MHz 2001 

This contest traditionally suffers from appalling portable conditions. 
However, this year's event was the first victim of the foot and mouth outbreak 
with portable activity being suspended just before the event.
A number of regular portable entrants commented on the advantages of creature 
comforts at their home locations such as warm beds.
The event still produced a healthy crop of 24 entrants. Conditions were generally 
described as poor with deep fading though a number of stations still managed to 
work some quite reasonable DX. The Scottish and Welsh alliance were caught out by 
the lack of portables to work from their remote location. A number of stations 
resorted to using 144MHz to arrange contacts on 432MHz to overcome the lack of
activity. 

Congratulations go to:

     The Five Bells who risked TVI to repeat their overall win in 2000 as well 
     as winning both bands. 
     Roger G3MEH for repeating his win in the single operator section though it
     was a closely fought battle with John, G4ZTR [Web Ed:Colchester Contest Group]. 
     John, G3XDY for repeating his overall win in the six-hour single operator 
     section .
     The South Birmingham Radio Club and G7ULL for their joint win in the six-hour 
     multi operator section. 

Roger Dixon, G4BVY G4BVY@rsgb.org.uk 


Section SF                                                                              
Pos     144MHz  432 MHz Total   Call/Group      
1  *    941     875     1816    G3MEH                                           
2  *    1000    661     1661    G4ZTR - Colchester CG                                          
3       524     1000    1524    PE1EWR                                          
4       580     521     1101    G0HAS                                           
5       376     172     548     G4HGI                                           
6       174     0       174     M1DUD                                           
7       173     0       173     M1MOD                                           
8       143     0       143     G3FIJ                                           
9       141     0       141     2E1GUA                                          
10      64      0       64      G6FFB