I received this beautiful plaque in the mail today, sponsored by the Northern California Contest Club for winning USA Zone 3 in the 2018 edition of CQ WPX CW.
This award is very special to me for several reasons:
- Zone 3 is extremely competitive with so many great operators that are ready to play hard when the clock hits 00:00z.
- It’s a large area that encompasses the entire west coast including British Columbia, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah.
- Last, but definitely not least, is the countless hours of practice it took to improve my CW skills to a point where winning the zone is even possible.
That last point deserves elaboration. I freely admit that my CW skills will probably not catapult me to a WRTC win, but it sure is fun being in the game. Hard work, a little luck, and friends to cheer you on – priceless.
Thanks again to the NCCC for sponsoring this beautiful plaque and acknowledging stand out performances in our region!
73, Mitch, K7RL
