Despite the low sunspot activity, the level of interest in the HF Challenge remained strong again this year, with more than fifty stations from 20 DXCC entities on 5 continents participating by posting their scores on the Club Log HF Challenge page.  The scores reflect the continuing decline in HF conditions as we move further into this solar cycle minimum, with overall results this year showing a whopping 15% decrease in DXCCs worked on all bands vs. last year’s results. 

This year’s Challenge is the last one to be completed under the original rules, in which DXCCs are counted without regard to mode, with FT8 QSOs mixed in with CW, SSB and RTTY QSOs.  Under rule changes announced by the CDXC Committee at the end of the year, separate categories for CW/SSB and Machine Generated Modes (MGMs) will be tracked from 2019 forward.

Martin MØBCT was this year’s winner with 137 DXCCs, while David MW0CRI chased him hard with 122 DXCCs.  Andrew MØNKR was the winner of this year’s third place salver, with 114 DXCCs logged.

Individual Band salver winners were Martin MØBCT for 15M and 10M, Norman 5B4AIF for 12M, and Gordon G3PXT for 6M.

Certificates of Merit have been awarded to 5B4AIF, G5LP, G4AYU, G7BXU, G4OWT, F5KVT, and A92AA.  Trophies and salvers will be presented at the next CDXC AGM in May 2019, while certificates will be e-mailed to winners shortly. 

Congratulations to all the winners!