WIRELESS CONTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22329, 1 August 1934, Page 5

WIRELESS CONTEST

SHORT-WAVE TRANSMUTING RADIO UNION TROPHY DUNEDIN AMATEUR’S SUCCESS Mr J. C. Callander, of 124 Richardson street, St. Hilda, who owns and operates station ZL4BT, has received advice that he has been successful in winning the 1934 senior transmitting contest for the British Empire Radio Union challenge trophy. Cabled advice from Great Britain in February last stated that Mr Callander, with a lead of 180 points over an English competitor, was then in a practically unbeatable position, but it was not until last week that the final results were definitely known, and it was announced that ho had won the coveted award. Mr Callander, by scoring 1234 points in this year’s competition, has performed a noteworthy feat, as is indicated by the fact that the score of the runner-up (Mr J. Miles, station GSML, Coventry, England) totalled 1020. Last year’s winning total was 1019 points. ■The first British Empire Radio_ Union contest was held in 1931, and it now

ranks as’the most important competition in amateur radio circles throughout the world. The first contest was won by Mr Evans, of Australia, Mr Miles, w-ho was runner-up this year, winning the cup in 1032. Mr G. G. Samson (station ZL4AI), of Dunedin, was successful last year, and in view of the fact that the suggestion to hold an event of this description was first put forward to the Radio Union by Mr Neville Shrimpton, who, ft few years ago, w r as one of the most prominent radio amateurs in Dunedin, it is singularly appropriate that the handsome trophy, which has come to be recognised as the premier award in the amateur radio world, should have come to Dunedin two years in succession. So far no notification has been received as to the number of entries for the 1934 competition, but last year there were 119. Of these, 54 came from Great Britain, 18 from Australia, and 17 from New Zealand, other countries taking part being India, Ceylon, Iraq, Arabia, Hongkong, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Egypt, Tanganyika, and Jamaica. It is known, however, that there were at least 100 competitors from New Zealand and Australia,in this year’s contest. Sir Callander is a comparative newcomer to amateur transmitting circles, as it wag not until 1930 that he first became associated with Mr N. Shrimpton and commenced to take an interest in wireless. He was educated at the Allanton School and at the Otago Boys’ High School.