Kenneth E. Harker
2005 IARU Region II ARDF Championships


Jen and I competed in the Third IARU Region II ARDF Championships held August 1-6, 2005, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. This was only the third ARDF meet we've attended, so we still have a lot of room for improvement. Jen took home the gold in both the two meter and the eighty meter D21 categories.

These photos are copyright © 2005 Kenneth E. Harker. All rights reserved.


All of the competitors from around the world were housed on the campus of the University of New Mexico near the center of Albuquerque. Some of us stayed in this new "apartment" style dormitory (the Redondo Village Apartments,) while others stayed in an older dormitory (Santa Clara Hall) a few minutes' walk across campus.
This is the entrance to Hokona Hall, where the opening ceremony took place on Tuesday morning, August 2. After the opening ceremony and competition briefing, the afternoon was spent in equipment checkout. The actual competitions were held on Wednesday (144 MHz) and Friday (3.5 MHz) with a rest day in between when most of the competitors went sightseeing.
At the opening ceremony, Jerry Boyd WB8WFK, Dale Hunt WB6BYU, and Mike Pendley K5ATM are hanging one of the banners in the front of the room.
Competitors begin assembling for the opening ceremony and competition briefing.
Joe Moell K0OV, the ARRL ARDF Coordinator, says a few words as things get under way. In addition to being the IARU Region II ARDF Championships, this competition also qualified as the USA national championships, and one of the qualifying meets for Team USA representation at the World Championships in 2006 in Bulgaria.
Jerry Boyd WB8WFK, who set both courses for the competition, describes the SportIdent system that competitors will be using to punch in at controls and the finish line. Other highlights of the orientation program included what to do when attacked by bears or cougars, and suggestions to avoid the prickly pear cactus and yucca on course.

144 MHz Competition, Wednesday, August 3

The 144 MHz competition day involved a bus ride into the mountains east of Albuquerque. Everyone fit into one bus. The bus made a short stop at the finish area (where a restroom facility was located) before driving a little further up the road to the start area, where a trail crossed the road.
Mike Pendley K5ATM offers a few last-minute directions before the competitors exit the bus. The 144 MHz competition was at the Oak Flat Recreational Site in the Cibola National Forest, ten miles southeast of Tijeras, New Mexico.
Dale Hunt WB6BYU (M50), waiting for his time to start on the 144 MHz course. Dale is the IARU Region II ARDF Coordinator. Dale works with the national radio societies and other groups and individuals to promote the sport of ARDF in IARU Region II.
Richard Thompson WA6NOL (M50) and his son Jay Thompson W6JAY (M21). Jay was the Amateur Radio Newsline 2003 Young Ham of the Year. Jay was also a member of Team USA at the 2004 World Championships in Brno, Czech Republic. This was Jay's first meet in the M21 category.
Dick Arnett WB4SUV (M50) and Nadia Scharlau (D35) getting ready for their runs. Both were members of the 2004 Team USA in the Czech Republic, where Nadia had the best performance of any American ever at the World Championships (6th place worldwide on 144 MHz in D35).
Brach Schwegman (M19) and Matthew Robbins AA9YH (M21). Matthew was a member of Team USA 2004.
Winnie Hennigan KA6OFZ (D50) adjusts her headphones while chatting with Jen Harker W5JEN (D21).
Marvin Johnson KE6HTS (M60) gets ready to compete for the first time in several years. Marvin helped organize and host the 2004 USA ARDF Championship in southern California, has been a juror at World Championships, and is a past member of Team USA.
Scott Moore KF6IKO (M40) looking calm before the big race.
Two of the international guests at this meet, Alexandr Kocherghin UN7JR (M50) and Bryan Ackerley VK3YNG (M40) examine Bryan's antenna. The antenna elements are made from RG-58 shield braid over fiberglass rods with heat shrink outer coating. Over half of the competitors used Bryan's Foxhunt Sniffer Mk4 receiver.
Mike Pendley K5ATM, one of the organizers in the Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club and Albuquerque Transmitter Hunters that hosted this event.
Karla Leach KC7BLA (D50) waiting for her turn in the start area. Karla was a member of the 2004 Team USA.
Dick Arnett WB4SUV (M50) requires special glasses to read the map, but does not need them to see where he's going. Or so he says.
Several people in this photo - from left to right: facing away from the camera, Bryan Ackerley VK3YNG (M40), Scott Stevenson KC5VVB, one of the organizing committee members, Harley Leach KI7XF (M60), Vadim Afonkin (M21), Alexandr Kocherghin UN7JR (M50), and Natalya Kocherghin, who did not compete. Vadim was a member of Team USA in 2004. Alexandr and Natalya traveled all the way from Kazakhstan to participate in this event.
Jiří Suchý OK1WAY (M40) and his daughter Karolína Suchá (D19) traveled to this event from the Czech Republic.
Winnie Hennigan KA6OFZ (D50) and Jay Hennigan WB6RDV (M50) came to the event from the Santa Barbara area of California. Jay was a member of the 2004 Team USA that competed in the Czech Republic.
Some of the terrain that surrounded the start area. Most of the trees were either oaks, pines, or scrub junipers.
Bob Cooley KF6VSE (M60) facing away from the camera, and Bob Frey WA6EZV (M50) begin getting mentally focused for their runs. Both were members of Team USA in 2004.
At the start area, Karolína Suchá (D19) checks in her radio equipment at the impound table.
Some of the 144 MHz equipment in the impound. All the receivers with the blue faces are VK3YNG Foxhunt Sniffer Mk4 receivers. The remainder are mainly of eastern European design and manufacture.
Dale Hunt WB6BYU (M50) has both a serious hat and a serious hydration system to make it through the high desert mountains to the finish line.

3.5 MHz Competition, Friday, August 5

Mike Pendley K5ATM calls roll on the bus to make sure everyone is aboard before it leaves campus for a location in the mountains east of Albuquerque near Sandia Park, New Mexico.
Some ominous clouds loomed overhead when we got off the bus. Brian DeYoung K4BRI (M40) shows his daughter Emily DeYoung (D19) how he plans to keep his receiver dry if it rains.
Joe Moell (K0OV) in the center chats with Winnie Hennigan KA6OFZ (D50) and Jay Hennigan WB6RDV (M50).
Marvin Johnson KE6HTS (M60) and Bryan Ackerley VK3YNG (M40). Bryan traveled from Melbourne to New Mexico just to compete in this event.
A group shot of all the competitors on the morning of the 3.5 MHz competition.
Ardee Fox, the mascot of Team USA, was on hand for the event at the finish area. He brought along his friend, Hamlet.
After completing his run on the 3.5 MHz course, Jason Payne KC5HIM (M21) demonstrates how the 80 meter radio equipment works to his wife, while their young daughter sleeps in his lap. Jason was called out of town on business at the last minute and could not compete on the 144 MHz course on Wednesday, but was able to return in time for the 3.5 MHz course on Friday.
This pretty meadow was near the bus at the finish of the 3.5 MHz competition.

Banquet and Awards Ceremony, Friday, August 5

A table full of medals for the competitors. There were so many because medals were awarded for both overall placement in the event, and for IARU Region II placement in the event, and medals were given for every place, even those beyond third place. This means that almost every USA competitor got four medals.
One of the tables before dinner was served.
Jen Harker W5JEN receiving a gold medal for 144 MHz D21. Presenting the medal is Bill Weatherford KM5FT, ARRL Section Manager for New Mexico.
Jen Harker W5JEN receiving a gold medal for 3.5 MHz D21. The medals actually came in little plastic bags. The one she is wearing is the 144 MHz medal awarded earlier.
Ardee Fox and Hamlet, now with another ARDF Championship medal and a spiffy new ARDF Team USA headband. The koala was a gift from Bryan Ackerley VK3YNG.

Last Updated 26 June 2020
wm5r@wm5r.org