Andre Saunders GM3VLB SOTA Award results 2022

[MM0FMF]

Andrew Saunders GM3VLB was a keen island activator. On his death he left a legacy to our radio club (Lothians Radio Society) which was to be used to promote radio activity from Scottish Islands.

The award has now run for its 1st year and the winners are now available.

First place goes to Colwyn Jones MM0YCJ who activated 15 GM/SI summits in 2022.
Second place goes to Matthew M5EVT who activated 8 GM/SI summits in 2022

A total of 29 different people were active from GM/SI in 2022 and special mention goes to Rob, VE3RXH as the activator who was activator farthest from home.

Both Colwyn and Matthew will receive receive a commemorative Quaich and engraved plinth to keep. More details to follow.

The award is running again in 2023 from January 1st to December 31st.

You can read about the rules here.

Andre Saunders GM3VLB SOTA Island Award

Andre Saunders GM3VLB was active in many countries as GM3VLB, G3VLB, 5Z4KL (5Z5KL) from the 60s onwards. In later years he became very keen on IOTA activating Scottish Islands and went on with the IOSA (Islands of Scotland Award) and finally The Scotia award scheme run from his final home in Kelso, Scotland. If you search the internet you will find plenty of material about island operation and his antenna designs produced for just such purposes. I first met Andre at one of the Scottish radio ra…

Please note that this is an award run by the Lothians Radio Society with the approval of the SOTA MT.

[M5EVT]

This was a nice surprise for a dark January evening. My trip that covered the eight summits is here:

Can of Egg Rum

Or rather, Canna Eigg Rùm. Day 1 6k 300m I had a window of opportunity of one week to head off with my backpack, tent and radio. Scotland is my first place to start planning. However, I was without a car for the trip, it had to be possible by train. I had some plans but at the last minute decided there was still too much snow on the high hills for an enjoyable backpacking trip. So I focused my attention to a trip based around the (to me) mystical Rum Cuillin traverse. I spent all of Saturday …

Operating from islands by a boat trip, with a backpack and radio taps into my inner childhood adventurer that (thankfully) never grew up. For mortals with full-time jobs, there is a lifetime of fun to be had on these islands with SOTA without ever needing to revisit a summit. Undoubtedly, you could gain more points, more easily, elsewhere. But for me, the spirit of adventure and fulfillment can’t be beaten on these islands.

The Kilda summits represent the pinnacle of island adventure. I am fairly confident I have the skills to climb them (having on-sighted E3 rock climbs and also got my fulmar initiation badge (if you know, you know)), however, dropping everything for a weather window in September/October with the associated costs makes it problematic. But, it wouldn’t be as rewarding if it was easy…

[MM0YCJ]

Thanks Andy,

Yes, as Mathew states a very pleasant surprise. I was helped by friends finishing their round of Munros and Corbetts on Mull and Arran. I had a trip to Islay and Jura with good results and then two visits to Skye where I have done all of the 4 and 6 pointers. Beautiful hills in beautiful places and all highly recommended.

With over 200 summits my total should be easy to beat next year?

73

Colwyn