USA ARDF Championships

Hidden transmitter hunters from across the nation are making plans to visit Texas in May. This, with hopes of going to Korea in the Fall. And its all in the name of radiosports. Amateur Radio Newsline's Joe Moell K0OV tells us why.

Registration is now open for the biggest annual on-foot transmitter hunting event in the Western Hemisphere.

The Eighth USA ARDF Championships take place Thursday, May 8 through Saturday, May 10 at Bastrop State Park near Austin, Texas. The best radio-orienteers in the USA will be there, but the courses will also be open to anyone, from any nation, at any radio foxhunting skill level. There will be practice sessions, a big two-meter hunt and another hunt on 80 meters, following standard international rules. Excellent maps by the Houston Orienteering Club will be given to competitors before they set out on the course. Deer, raccoon and armadillo make their home among the tall pines in this park, as well as over 250 bird species.

National ARDF Championships are for individuals only. No teaming or assistance on the course is permitted. If you're a senior, don't worry about trying to compete against teenagers. Equal medals will be awarded in five separate
age categories for OM's from under 18 to over 60. There are four similar age categories for the YLs.

Anyone with reasonable physical abilities can participate. You must be able to run or walk through the forest and carry your DF gear for five to ten kilometers. You might win a medal, and maybe even a spot on Team USA, which will be traveling to South Korea for the World championships in September. We can only send a maximum of three people in each age category to Korea, so our national championships determine who gets the invitations.

For everything you need to know about the USA Championships, including schedules and registration forms, point your Web browser to the official site. For a jump-start into the sport of ARDF, with equipment ideas and news of the World Championships in Korea, go to www.homingin.com

As far back as the earliest days of Amateur Radio, direction finding has been a part of the hobby. And one can only wonder what the earliest T-hunters would say if they were here now to see the way in which their favorite past time has matured into an international radiosport.

Joe Moell, K0OV
Amateur Radio Newsline