Winners of the Terry Dunsford Award, Jean Fletcher Award and DX Challenge 2016

The club has an awards system and annually at our Christmas Party, up to 4 awards can be presented.

This year the Terry Dunsford and Jean Fletcher awards were presented to members along with the DX Challenge certificate.

The Terry Dunsford Award

This is presented to the member who in the opinion of the club's Technical Officer taking into account both the complexity of the project and the experience of the member has produced the best "Home Brew" construction.

This years award went jointly to Eddie M0LJT and Gary 2E0HCC for their continued development of the "Holy Grail" of baluns. The Mark VII version is the best to date but further development may take place in 2017.

Eddie M0LJT receiving the Terry Dunsford Award from Pearl Dunsford

Gary 2E0HCC receiving the Terry Dunsford Award from Pearl Dunsford

Eddie M0LJT with Gary 2E0HCC and Pearl Dunsford

The Jean Fletcher Award

This is presented to the member (excluding officers and members of the Committee) who in the opinion of the Committee has given the most support to the Club in the last year.

There were a number of people who deserved honourable mentions in dispatches: Gaive 2E0GOB for his work sorting out the internet and Gary 2E0HCC for his sterling work on the Club 2m beam immediately before VHF Field Day. However this years award went to John 2E0VTT for his support of the Special Event and contest stations through the loan of his caravan. It should also be noted that John's wife attended both days of VHF Field Day which is more than some members endured!.

John 2E0VTT receiving the Jean Fletcher Award from Pearl Dunsford

The DX Challenge Certificate

Each year the club holds an operations contest. The rules are simple, each person is allowed a fixed and equal amount of time on the clubs equipment (rigs, antennas, ATU). In that time they must try to work the best crow-fly distance from the clubs QTH. The person with the longest distance contact wins.

The objective is to provide as level a playing field for all operators as possible and removing the benefits of over familiarity with the equipment by ensuring all operations are from the same location using the same antennas and equipment making it as true a test of the operator as possible.

This year Mark M0SKV worked the longest distance on the evening of the contest.

Mark M0SKV receiving the DX Challenge Certificate from Pearl Dunsford