CQWW USA: K5ZD, K1BX IN LINE FOR 2007 DOUBLE

By Jamie Dupree NS3T, radio-sport.net 

After claiming the high scores in their respective categories for the CQWW SSB contest, Randy Thompson K5ZD and Art Hambleton K1BX could be on their way to the same result in the CQWW CW test.

Thompson posted a score of just over 6.5 million points in high power, while Hambleton is in the lead at 2.1 million in the low power section.

Thompson has already won the US Single Operator All Band CW category 8 times in his contesting career.

"There was a lot of competition for SOAB HP USA this year," said Thomspon. "I was worried about K1DG, W1KM, and K4ZW all weekend. Kept me motivated to keep pushing all the time."

Thompson worked DXCC on 80, 40, 20 and 15 meters, netting 3,478 contacts in all.

"I don't remember ever getting 4 band DXCC before as a single op," said Thompson. "Funny part was that 15m was my last band to get to 100."

For now, the US SOAB HP top five looks like this:

K5ZD - 6,574,984

K1LZ - 5,865,561

K3CR (LZ4AX) - 5,608,749

K1DG - 5,331,260

W1KM - 4,712,296

Among those chasing Thompson, Ken Claerbout K4ZW had hoped to give K5ZD a real run for his money, but tower problems at the QTH of N3HBX outside Washington, D.C. put an end to that effort.

"I knew by early Saturday morning I was not going to be fully competitive with the top guys," said Claerbout, who still claimed 4.1 million points.

"Even with a full arsenal, I wouldn't have been able to match K5ZD's effort. But, my goal was to try and close the gap from last year and try to hold off others chasing him," Claerbout added.

Equipment troubles though proved too much, as the 15 meter tower wouldn't function properly and more, forcing K4ZW on to other bands.

"I spent more time on 20," said Claerbout. "That was a killer. I also lost the 80 meter Lazy H so that hurt to directions outside of Europe. And the multiplier tower was stuck south."

In the US low power category, Hambleton K1BX made a strong statement with a 2.1 million point effort that was highlighted by 846 contacts and 100 countries on 20 meters.

A top finisher in the Assisted category the past two years in the US, Hambleton's decision to switch minutes before the start of the SSB test could net him victories in both ends of CQWW this year.

For now the US SOAB LP top five looks like this:

K1BX - 2,124,577

K1PT - 1,744,234

N5AW - 1,572,365

N4TZ/9 - 1,572,365

N2MM - 1,522,256

In second place in low power is Paul Tibbets K1PT, who ran up over 1.74 million points.

Tied for third are two stations - Terry Zivney N4TZ and Marvin Bloomquist N5AW - they both claimed 1,572,365 points, trying their best to overcome the East Coast DX Contest advantage.

"I could have had 2 million and a possible USA low power win if everything had come together," said Bloomquist, "but (it) did not happen."

While Bloomquist said he found conditions generally "not as good" as during CQWW SSB, the Texas ham managed to work "over 100 countries on 40 meters for the first time in a contest."

N5AW also had a "personal high for number of countries worked on 80 meters," getting 75 into his log.

In other categories, Charles Fulp K3WW has the US lead in the Assisted section with 4.8 million points. Fulp told radio-sport.net he only operated 45 hours because of the down solar conditions.

"Strategy as usual was to run on the fastest band and pick up as many extra mults as possible without spoiling a run," said Fulp.

The veteran contester said he started on 40, but didn't make much headway. "I couldn't even get a slow run going so went to 80 where it was pretty decent."

During the day, Fulp said he found himself thinking back to CQWW SSB and last year's CW test, when 15 meters was in better shape.

"I tried to force runs on 15 meters and settled for several sub par hours when 20 was pretty good."

"At the moment it looks like if anyone passes me it will be a first time CQWW SOA winner, which is always nice," Fulp said.

Last year's US and world Assisted winner KI1G was unable to put in a full effort in 2007, claiming a score of 3.2 million points.