BARC and the CQ World Wide DX Contest!

What an incredible weekend! The Bracknell Amateur Radio Club (BARC) recently had the fantastic opportunity to participate in the CQ World Wide DX (SSB) Contest (check it out at https://cqww.com).

This amazing event was generously hosted by Nick M0NPK and saw a brilliant turnout from members of both Bracknell Amateur Radio Club (BARC) and the Reading and District Amateur Radio Club (RaDARC).

Contesting for Everyone

The weekend was all about getting involved, no matter your experience level. We had a great mix of operators, from those with many years of contesting under their belt to members who had never attended a contest or even seen a contest station in operation. This was a hands-on opportunity, and with support from the more experienced members, the confidence of the newcomers soared! By the end of the event, we’re sure we’ve created a new group of members who are hooked on contesting and eagerly anticipating the next one.

Operating under Nick’s contest callsign M6N, the team put in a phenomenal effort. By the time the contest wrapped up, we had clocked in the region of 3,028 contacts and earned a whopping 3.5 million points! This massive score gave so many people that invaluable hands-on experience.

A Weekend of Fun and Food

More than just a contest, the weekend was a brilliant social event. Everyone had the chance to engage, operate, and “have a go” at whatever level they felt comfortable with.

We owe a special Thank You to Nick M0NPK and his wife Jo for their outstanding hospitality! Jo provided a lovely feast on Saturday evening—we were still enjoying the chilli, rice, and baked potatoes (and the leftover sausages!) well into Sunday morning! The weekend was also fuelled by bonfires, beer, crisps, cakes, cheeseboard… and a bit more cake and beer! It was a truly awesome event that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

A huge thank you again to everyone who attended and made this contest weekend a success! We can’t wait for the next one!