What is it?
One of the objectives of SOTA is to encourage new people to enter
and enjoy the hobby of amateur radio. The SOTAbeams Challenge aims to
encourage young people to participate in the hobby.
..and the Challenge is?
The Challenge is open to anyone 18 years old or younger on 31st
December of the calendar year. The objective is simple; activate as
many SOTA hills as you can in the calendar year (1 January to 31st
December). Each activation must be a scoring SOTA activation and
must conform with the SOTA rules.
The person with the most SOTA hills activated will win a
SOTA
Beam SB270 (2m version).
The Runner Up in the SOTAbeamsChallenge will win a
WaterLog.
To qualify entrants must send:
Entries must be received at SOTA Beams before 15th January following
the year of activation. Please see our safety note below.
The winner will be announced on this web site. Winners will be not be allowed to enter the Challenge another
time. The decision of SOTA Beams will be final, no correspondence will
be entered into.
NEW - 2007 Winner - Thomas M3OOL
Fourteen year old Thomas M3OOL along with his dad Rick M0RCP
started activating in February 2007. Dogged determination has kept
them activating throughout the year with Thomas achieving 46 hilltop
activations. They have become regulars on 2m FM and SSB in the
Northwest of England and Thomas' win is well deserved! Well done.
Thomas wins a 3 element SOTAbeam complete with feeder support
pole and guying kit.
Runner up - Timothy 2E0KEA (12). Timothy did amazingly
well with 29 activations logged. Amazing? Yes, because Timothy is
based in Suffolk - just about as far from any hills as possible!
A special mention must also be made for Jordan M3TMX who just
missed out on a prize this year. Try again Jordan - see you in 2008.
2006 Winner - Jimmy M3EYP
Jimmy Read broke all previous records in 2006 with an amazing 84
summits activated. He combined this achievement with walking the
Pennine Way - the UK's longest long-distance path. The picture below
shows Jimmy on Cross Fell NP-001. Jimmy is now concentrating on
Uniques. Great work Jimmy!
No runner-up this year - just one contact would have secured
another entrant the second prize. Let's have more entries for 2007.
2005 Winner - Sam, 2W0UPT
Sam put in a great entry with 34 summits activated in 2005. Sam
is 15 years old and lives near Chester giving him easy access to
many summits. Well done Sam!
2005 runner-up was Nicola, 2E0DNB
Nicola comes from a SOTA family with dad M0SGB and sister M0DNC
(winner last year) both keen participants in the SOTA award
programme. Nicola activated 15 summits in 2005, narrowly beating
Jimmy, M3EYP. Good effort both of you.
Nicola with her Waterlog
2004 Winner - Bobbie, M3DNC
Bobbie managed 24 activations between August and December -
brilliant!
Bobbie with her new SOTA Beams equipment
2004 runner-up - James M3OZE. 20 Activations. Well done!
2003 Winner - Josh, MW3EPA
Josh managed to get in 14 activations done in 2003 making him a
worthy winner. Well done!
13 year old Josh with his new SOTA beam and pole
*****Safety*****
WARNING - THE HILLS CAN BE DANGEROUS
The safety of activators must at all times be the first priority.
Younger activators should not go into the hills alone but should
always travel with an experienced adult. If there is any doubt about
your ability to undertake an expedition safely, then you MUST NOT GO
AHEAD WITH IT.
In participating in this challenge, activators and those
accompanying them accept full responsibility for their own
actions. SOTA Beams does not take any responsibility for accidents,
death or other loss caused by participation in this Challenge.
