SARL's 'Worked All ZS' awards programme

Four trophies have recently been awarded to the top achievers in the South African Radio League's Worked All ZS awards programme.

WAZS requires contacts with 100 South African stations.

Since 1959, over 300 certificates have been issued to all continents except Asia. Endorsements are provided for single bands or modes and for multiples of 100 call signs.

In 2001, Pretoria Contest Club, ZS6Z, undertook to donate trophies to the first three applicants to reach 500 confirmed call signs. It took almost nine years for the third applicant to make the grade.

The biggest factor in the sudden rise of the popularity of WAZS has been the introduction of SA-QSL, the Web-based electronic QSL system that Richard Seddon, ZS2CLI, built on the SARL Web site. This system has greatly increased both participation and the number of call signs that can be achieved.

In past four years, over 150 WAZS certificates have been issued. This number is more than the number of certificates issued between 1970 and 2006!

The first WAZS-500 was won by Chris R. Burger, ZS6EZ, in 2002.

At the time, the closest contender was Harald Pfeffer, OE6HPD, with more than 400. Unfortunately, Harald has to date not achieved the 500 level.

Jan Botha, ZS4JAN, applied in 2007, with the third applicant being Gerhard Coetzee, ZS3TG, in May 2009.

Jan Botha has continued increasing his score, and passed the 1 000 level in November 2009. Jan has a score of at least double those of any of his peers.

The WAZS-500 trophies are handsome plaques, with an enamel design mounted onto a dark wooden base.
The WAZS-1 000 is similar, but much larger. Its size and design are intended to reflect the magnitude of the achievement.

The plaques have been sponsored by Superb Flight Training, a Pretoria-based flight training school.

Their Web site is at pilots.co.za.

The South African Radio League