04/20/2016
The results[1] of the United States 16th national championships[2] of Amateur
Radio Direction Finding (ARDF), held earlier this month in Central Texas, are
now in the record books. Stateside winners of these championships, as well as
medalists from the 2015 championships[3] in Colorado, are being considered for
ARDF Team USA, which will travel to Albena, Bulgaria, for the 18th ARDF World
Championships[4] in September.
"The categories for men between over age 40 and women over age 60 already have
a full slate of team candidates," ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, said,
adding that "uncontested openings" on Team USA exist for younger men and women.
A maximum of three competitors in each age/gender category may be on a nation's
team.
Moell said ARDF fans came to Texas from all over the US to see who was best at
finding radio transmitters hidden in the woods. An optional training day kicked
things off on April 6. The next day was devoted to foxoring[5], a combination
of radio direction finding and classic orienteering on 80 meters. Friday, April
8, was the formal 80 meter sprint[6] event. Classic 2 meter and 80 meter
competitions took place Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Category winners of gold medals were (in alphabetical order): Vadim Afonkin,
KB1RLI (M40 2 meters, 80 meters); Dick Arnett, WB4SUV (M70 2 meters); Natalia
Bondarenco (W35 sprint); Ruth Bromer, WB4QZG (W60 2 meters, sprint, foxor); Bob
Cooley, KF6VSE (M70 80 meters, sprint, foxor); Joseph Huberman, K5JGH (M60 2
meters, sprint, foxor); Lori Huberman (W21 2 meters, 80 meters, sprint, foxor);
Dale Hunt, WB6BYU (M60 80 meters); Illia Ivanko (M21 2 meters, 80 meters);
Iurii Kolesnykov (M50 foxor); Karla Leach, KC7BLA (W60 80 meters); Norbert
Linke (M21 sprint, foxor); Nicolai Mejevoi (M50 2 meters, 80 meters, sprint);
Alla Mezhevaya (W35 2meters, 80 meters, foxor); Patrick Sears, AK4JE (M40
foxor); Evghenii Vorsin (M40 sprint) and Zhonghao Xu (M19 sprint).
Lead organizers, hosts, and course planners for the event were Jennifer and
Kenneth Harker, W5JEN and WM5R, who are veteran ARDF competitors and medalists.
Members of the Austin Orienteering Club assisted. The International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) sets ARDF championship rules. Participants are divided into
11 age/gender categories[7].
In classic ARDF events, competitors start in small groups composed of different
categories, just as the first transmitter comes on the air each cycle. "As they
seek the hidden transmitters, they navigate through the forest from the
starting corridor to the finish line, a distance of 4 to 10 kilometers," Moell
explained. "They plot their direction-finding bearings on orienteering maps
that show terrain features, elevation contours, and vegetation type."
Contact[8] Moell for more information on ARDF and on attending or participating
in the World Championships this September in Bulgaria. Moell stressed that ARDF
participants do not need an Amateur Radio license. Visit Moell's Homing In[9]
website for additional information on ARDF.
[1] http://www.texasardf.org/usa2016/results.shtml
[2] http://www.texasardf.org/usa2016/
[3] http://www.homingin.com/farsnews.html#colo15
[4] http://ardf2016.com/
[5] http://www.homingin.com/sprints.html#foxoring
[6] http://www.homingin.com/sprints.html
[7] http://www.homingin.com/intlfox.html#categories
[8] mailto:k0ov@homingin.com
[9] http://www.homingin.com/
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