Exclusively for DxCoffee, Dave Lawley, G4BUO has given an interview about his participation to the World Radiosport Team Championship 2010 in Moscow.
Dave will be Team Mate (TM) of the only English team participating, his Team Leader will be Andy G4PIQ. Both are savvy contesters having shared in the common experience of contest station M6T. Behind them are at least 20 years of experience from around the world with excellent results and many victories in the bag. Dave has participated in the WRTC since 1990 and it’s therefore simple to understand what his wealth of knowledge will bring with him to Russia.
We asked him some questions, also to clarify some background about the variation of an Italian team.
F: It’s very hard to participate in WRTC. How many years did you spend to obtain this opportunity?
D: Well, I was very keen to go to WRTC 2010 but I just decided to enter the regular set of contests that I enjoy – CQWW, ARRL DX, etc. I don’t like WAE now they allow packet for all single ops so I did not bother with that one. I nearly made enough points, and after one of the Italian Team Leaders pulled out I was offered a Team Leader place which would have meant two teams from UK, but by that Time Andy G4PIQ and I had made our plans to be a single team.
F: Those WRTCs you’ve attended – how many things have changed?
D: It was a huge honour to go to the first WRTC in Seattle in 1990, and to meet giants of contesting including Russians such as George UA1DZ. The regime was only just opening up in Russia and it was the first time those guys had been able to come to the west. That was also when I met Paolo, I2UIY. Once met, never forgotten! Steve G3YDV and I had a pretty poor location, but we gave it our best shot and achieved seventh place – the highest for a UK team – so far!
I went to Slovenia with G3SXW in 2000, and we had a blast. The S5s put on a great show, but still there were big differences between locations. In Finland in 2002 I was a referee and the OHs also did a great job, with a lot of effort put into equalizing the stations. I had the enormous luck to be the on-site referee for K1TO/N5TJ, who scored their third win in WRTC. Watching those guys do their stuff was an amazing experience.
F: What are the difficulties encountered during this event? The successes?
D: Technology keeps moving, and there are some new techniques that we have to get our heads around. You need experience of SO2R and you need to be very proficient on phone and CW. It will be an interesting experience!
F: What will be your role? TL or TM? Can you explain the differences?
D: Andy G4PIQ is the Team Leader, because he got enough points from his contest performances in the last three years to qualify. I was keen to go and very happy for him to choose me as his Team Mate. We have operated together a lot at M6T/G0KPW and we have a lot of respect for each other’s abilities.
F: What abilities must you have to be competitive in this championship?
D: As I said above, you need to be very good both on phone and CW. You need to be flexible about which bands and modes to operate, and never let the rate drop! You need the ability to listen in the other ear to what your partner is doing and you need to stay awake and alert at the radio for the full 24 hours!
F: Could you make a prediction? What are the strongest teams for you?
D: Oh that is really difficult. I do not like to tempt fate. Teams from North America have dominated the top spot up to now but there are many strong teams from Russia and many parts of Europe. Harry and his team are doing a great job and the locations will be the most equal as can possibly be arranged, with all stations operating from within a few kilometres with identical antennas. Let the best pair win!
