[FoxHunt] Second USA ARDF Championships Concludes Near Atlanta

[foxhunt@mailman.qth.net]

USA has completed its second national championships of on-foot hidden 
transmitter hunting, also called radio-orienteering and ARDF.  The event took 
place near Pine Mountain, Georgia, hosted by hams in the Georgia Orienteering 
Club.  Primary organizers were Laurie Searle KG4FDM and Sam Smith N4MAP.

About two dozen of our country's best fox-finders went into the deep woods of 
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, trying to be first to find up to five 
transmitters and then navigate their way to the finish line.  They were 
seeking medals and places on our country's team that will travel to the ARDF 
World Championships in Slovakia this coming September.

The championships included two complete courses on consecutive days, first on 
two meters (April 20) and the second on 80 meters.  In addition, GAOC 
provided a practice day before the two-meter hunt with picnic supper 
afterwards, plus a spaghetti dinner and social time after the two meter hunt.

Best ARDF performance overall was by Gyuri Nagi KF6YKN.  He averaged 19 m
inutes per fox on two meters and an amazing 15 minutes per fox on 80 meters.  
Gyuri, whose other call is HA3PA, is a part-time US resident who learned the 
sport in his native Hungary.  He competed in M21, the prime age category for 
men, requiring him to find five foxes on a six kilometer forest course.  Gold 
medalists in other age and gender categories (listed in alphabetical order) 
were Jerry Boyd WB8WFK (M40-2m), Martha Carr (F50-2m & F50-80m), Bill Farrell 
(M60-2m), Valerie Meyer KG4QWE (F21-2m & F21-80m), John Munsey KB3GK 
(M60-80m), Debbie Pendley KD5LOK (F35-2m & F35-80m), Charlie Siler KO4NO 
(M50-2m & M50-80m), and Jack Stump KD5OEO (M40-80m).

Photos and complete results, including running times and number of foxes 
found for each competitor, are at GAOC's 2002 Radio-Orienteering 
Championships Web site.  URL is 
http://www.gaorienteering.org/Radio-O/Radio.htm

More information about the sport of ARDF and upcoming events, including the 
2002 World Championships, can be found at www.homingin.com

Joe Moell K0OV
ARRL ARDF Coordinator