WRTC2014 Names Final Team, Alternate Referees, Grand Marshal

WINDHAM, NH Issued March 26, 2014… WRTC2014, Inc., host of the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) is pleased to announce the final team, alternate referees, and the Grand Marshal that will participate in the WRTC2014 event in New England, July 8-14, 2014.

Team 59” team took their name from not only being the 59th team named, but also due to it being the highest signal strength possible. The sponsor has named George Demontrond, NR5M, and John Crovelli, W2GD, as the operating team. George is a well-known and very active contester from Houston, TX. Active since the 1970s, George has built a very capable contest station which is often operated in the Multi-Multi category in most major contests. John is a veteran contester and has been a competitor in three WRTCs. He had held numerous records in many different contests, often set from his contesting home-away-from-home, Aruba, where he uses the callsign P40W.

To insure that we have sufficient resources on hand to cover all 59 teams, the WRTC2014 organizers have invited six alternate referees to be part of the event. The alternates will be available to replace any referees that are unable to attend. The alternate referees named are DL1NX/PY2SEX, G5LP, K3EST, LZ5VK, OM6NM, and W6RGG.

WRTC2014 Chairman, Doug Grant, K1DG, explained the additions; “The referees play a critical role in confirming a fair competition. We want to make sure that we will have qualified referees available even if someone is unable to attend at the last minute.”

Rich DiDonna, NN3W, Team Leader for selection area NA4E has withdrawn from the competition due to family reasons. Under the published guidelines, the Team Leader spot has been offered to the next qualifier in the selection region, Nathan Moreschi, N4YDU. Nathan has elected to retain Kam Sirageldin, N3KS, as the Team Mate for the NA4E team. More information on the policy for replacing team members is available at http://www.wrtc2014.org/qualifying/team-selection-policies/

Edmund Giambastiani, N4OC, has been named as the Grand Marshal for WRTC2014.  Ed is retired from 37 years of service in the United States Navy. He reached the rank of admiral and served as the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for three years. As Grand Marshal, Ed will preside over the Opening Ceremonies and administer the Oath of Sportsmanship to all competitors. More information about Giambastiani’s distinguished career can be seen at http://www.usna.com/document.doc?id=639

There are less than 4 months remaining until WRTC2014. For information about WRTC2014, contact WRTC Chairman, Doug Grant, K1DG, via e-mail at k1dg@wrtc2014.org.

 

About WRTC2014

The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) is held every four years and consists of 50+ two-person teams of amateur radio operators from around the world competing in a test of operating skill.  Unlike most on-the-air competitions, all stations are required to use identical antennas from the same geographic region, eliminating all variables except operating ability.  Previous WRTCs have been held in Seattle (1990), San Francisco (1996), Slovenia (2000), Finland (2002), Brazil (2006), and Russia (2010).  More information is available at www.wrtc2014.org or contact WRTC Chairman Doug Grant, K1DG, via e-mail at k1dg@wrtc2014.org.