By Jamie Dupree NS3T 

After questions were raised about competition boundaries for club members, officials of the Potomac Valley Radio Club announced Friday that they would forfeit the 2006 Sweepstakes Gavel narrowly won in the Unlimited Club Competition over the Northern California Contest Club.

In a note to members on the club's reflector, PVRC President Jim Nitzberg said leaders agreed "this was the best course of action consistent with our high ethical standards as one of the finest unlimited contesting clubs."

Nitzberg said the PVRC Board of Trustees voted 8 to 4 in favor of the forfeit after several days of deliberations.

"It is important to point out that we were not officially challenged or requested to forfeit" said Nitzberg. "We made this decision on our own."

The issue revolves around the ARRL's definition of a club competition boundary - basically it is a circle of 350 miles in diameter - and your club members must be inside that circle.

Nitzberg told his club membership that when the "out of 350 mile diameter" scores were subtracted, the PVRC lost the Sweepstakes gavel to the NCCC by "a wide margin."

NCCC President Bob Tellefsen, N6WG said he was "stunned" by the PVRC decision.

"Jim Nitzberg was very gracious in conceding the Sweepstakes gavel for 2006. I hope we can be as gracious in accepting it" said Tellefsen.

While PVRC members were disappointed, many made clear on the club's reflector that the forfeit was the right move.

Fred Laun, K3ZO called it a "difficult but correct decision."

The NCCC's Tellefsen said he looks forward to a rematch next year. "We really enjoy contesting with the PVRC, because they are a top quality competitor."

"When you think you have won a contest, it is heartbreaking to lose due to some rule infraction."

(Read the PVRC President's letter to his members at http://pvrc.org/2006_ss_gavel.html .)