Not Going To Dayton? Then Maybe Try Out The Manchester Mineira All America Contest

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted May 11, 2010

While amateur radio enthusiasts from all over the world are gathering in Dayton, Ohio this weekend, maybe you are one of the many opeartors who won't be traveling and would rather turn on the radio and work a contest. In the Americas, one option is the Manchester Mineira All America CW Contest.

"It's the biggest CW contest conducted only among the Americas," says Ed Fonseca PY4WAS, President of the Grupo Juizforano de CW, also known as CWJF, which is celebrating its 25th year of sponsoring the MMAA test.

The contest is open only to operators in North and South America, but that is about to change.

"It will be the LAST year to be carried out only between the Americas," Fonseca told radio-sport.net, as "from 2011, it will be world-wide."

The change comes despite some recent success in getting more hams from the United States to join in the CW-only contest.

Back in 2006, 177 American stations joined in. Every year since then, a record has been set in terms of U.S. participation, hitting 663 in 2009.

And organizers hope that goes over a thousand as this contest turns into one that's open to everyone in 2011.

"We have some goals as 1000+ USA and 300+ VE participants," said Luc PY8AZT, who has been helping to drum up interest among contesters as well.

The history of this contest has been one of constant growth. It began as a CW test only for stations in Brazil. Then in 1997, it was extended to all of South America.

In 2006, the contest was made into one for both North & South America. Next year it will be extended to all.

Last year's overall winner was Andre Sampaio PY0FF, who ran up 1.7 million points from Fernando de Noronha.

The Manchester Mineira All America CW Contest runs from 1500z Saturday May 15 through 2359 Sunday May 16. Get more information at the CWJF web page.