The UKSMG Contest Page
The UKSMG organises three contests throughout the year, primarily to increase activity on Six Metres, and to demonstrate propagation possibilities on the "Magic Band".
In addition, contests can be great fun, and can help improve station performance and operating skills. In the three contests offered by the UKSMG, entry is open to everyone (yes, it is free !), and we encourage you to submit a log. You may be surprised at the propagation possibilities even during the depths of the Solar Cycle.
For these contests, certificates are awarded and a prize of 12 month free Internet membership for Marathon winners.
We ask all entrants in the UKSMG Annual Table and Marathon events to be considerate of other operators when working DX. If you need a rare DX station for the current year but you€™ve already worked it in previous years, please consider holding back if there are others calling. It may be an all-time new country for them.
For further information on any of the UKSMG contests, please contact Dave Toombs, G8FXM
A. UKSMG Summer Contest
Please send your contest pictures to the Six News Editor. We would be happy to include them in Six News magazine.
The UKSMG organise a 24-hour Summer contest on the first weekend in June each year, and the aim is to work as many stations as possible in the 24-hour period. In 2026, the next contest starts on Saturday 6th June at 13:00 UTC and finishes on Sunday 7th June 2026 at 13:00 UTC.
This weekend is shared with HF Field Days across Europe, and is an ideal opportunity to put a Six Metre station on and join in the Summer Contest, to give operators experience of the Magic Band.
The rules for the Contest can be found here UKSMG Summer Es Contest Rules.
B. UKSMG Marathon Events
The UKSMG organises Summer and Winter Marathon events to promote activity on the Six Metre band. The aim of these events is to work as many grid squares as possible. These contests are easy to enter and only require an ADIF file export from your logging program to be uploaded to the UKSMG website.
UKSMG Summer Marathon Event
The Summer Marathon runs between the first Saturday of May (3rd May 2026 at 00:00 UTC)
and the first Sunday of August (2nd Aug 2026 ending at 23:59 UTC) on the Six Metre band.
and the first Sunday of August (2nd Aug 2026 ending at 23:59 UTC) on the Six Metre band.
Further information can be found on the UKSMG Summer Marathon page, and the full rules are available on the UKSMG Summer Marathon Rules page.
UKSMG Winter Marathon Event
The Winter Marathon runs between the first day of December 2025 and the last day of January 2026 on the Six Metre band.
Further information can be found on the UKSMG Winter Marathon page, and the full rules are available on the UKSMG Winter Marathon Rules page.
RSGB Contests
The RSGB run a number of contests on 50MHz throughout the year, notably the Backpackers and 50MHz Trophy during the Summer and the 50MHz contests in Spring and Autumn. They also have a 50MHz UK Activity contest which takes place on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 2000 to 2230. Rules and a full calendar of VHF contests can be obtained from the RSGB VHF Contest Committee web site.
Other Contests
Marathon Leader Tables
|
Winter 2025 Marathon - Top 5 Legacy Modes |
||
| 🥇 | M1ABK | 11 Grids |
| 🥈 | G8ONK | 11 |
| 🥉 | EI8KN | 9 |
| 4 | MM0ULL | 1 |
|
Winter 2025 Marathon - Top 5 Digital Modes |
||
| 🥇 | ZL1RS | 240 Grids |
| 🥈 | G0MBL | 138 |
| 🥉 | M1ABK | 125 |
| 4 | OE4WHG | 91 |
| 5 | G0CER | 74 |
|
Summer 2026 Marathon - Top 5 Legacy Modes |
||
| 🥇 | IK7LMX | 180 Grids |
| 🥈 | M1ABK | 81 |
| 🥉 | G0NMY | 66 |
| 4 | IK3TPP | 48 |
| 5 | DK6OC | 48 |
|
Summer 2026 Marathon - Top 5 Digital Modes |
||
| 🥇 | M1ABK | 420 Grids |
| 🥈 | G0MBL | 406 |
| 🥉 | G0CER | 386 |
| 4 | OE4WHG | 326 |
| 5 | GM8IEM | 248 |
Country Leader Tables
|
Summer Contest Results
2025 Summer Contest
Took place on the 1st/2nd June 2024
The results of the 2025 Summer Contest may be found here.
_____________________
© ℗ UKSMG Unless otherwise stated, all content copyright UKSMG. This Web site is published on a strictly non-profit basis but please note that UKSMG is not a registered non-profit organisation. The opinions expressed are the opinions of the authors alone and not that of any associated organisations or employers or hosting Internet service providers. No material may be used in other media unless full credit is given to the UK Six Metre Group or the credited original source of the material.