AFS SUPER LEAGUE - 2023/24

As usual, the 2023/24 AFS Super League consisted of eight qualifying events with separate listings for the General Club and Local Club categories. The qualifying events provide a good spread of frequencies and modes, covering bands from 160m to 70cm using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK63.

Perhaps the most obvious observation on this year's overall Super League results is how very similar the overall results are to those of the 2022/23 season. A total of 105 Affiliated Societies submitted entries - exactly the same number as 2022/23. Of these 61 were from Local Clubs - one down from last year - and 44 from General Clubs - correspondingly one up. Across the whole series a total of 360 team entries were received involving a total of 503 callsigns. 24 clubs (25% of the total) were able to enter more than one team of four entrants - and one club (Norwich ARC) were able to enter four teams in two of the sessions.

In the Local Club category the leading entrant and winner of the Hadley Wood Contest Group Trophy is Camb-Hams, who have been Local section winners in each of the five years since separate Local and General Club categories were introduced. They earned 7940 points (0.5% down on last year's score) and won five of the eight sessions. Second place is taken by Grimsby ARS (who have taken second place for the fifth consecutive year) and third place by Chesham & DARS for the second year.

In the General Club category the leading entrant for the fourth consecutive year is Addiscombe ARC with 6780 points (4% down on last year's score). In second place is Harwell ARS (who also took second place last year) and in third place Finningley CG who were non-entrants last year.

Certificates are listed below. In addition to the three position certificates in each section, Certificates of Achievement are awarded to nine clubs (five in the Local Club category and four in the General Club category) which were able to field stations in each of the eight qualifying AFS contests and in addition gained 250 or more Super League Points (SLPs) in each. A further two clubs entered all eight sessions but were not able to gain the necessary SLPs.

Congratulations to those gaining awards, and thanks to all participating Affiliated Societies and individual entrants - including those who didn't make it into their club's 'top teams': their entries are important too!

That's it for the 2023/24 season - hope to work you in 2024/25.....

Quin Collier G3WRR

q.g.collier@btinternet.com