If you thought the world SWL (Shortwave Listening) is a quiet activity only for a few enthusiasts, the February results of the VERON SLP Competition 2004 will convince you otherwise! The exciting battle for points and first place among listeners from all over the world brought unexpected surprises and significant differences between the leaders and the rest of the field.
Jan Mandos (NL997) appeared in the lead with an overwhelming lead, having collected an incredible 23,463 points after the second race, consolidating his position as the SWL champion. Behind him, the tension is increasing: Paul Lemeire (ONL3058) with 6,783 points and Alfredo Locatelli (CX-N020) with 5,824 points have shown that they are able to compete with the experienced leaders. Even veterans like Richard Frank (DH2URF-swl) and Jozef Marcincák (OM3-0001) stayed at the top, while the difference between the top five is only a few hundred points.
There are also exotic names from far corners of the world - Achraf Chaabane (3V4-002) or Alexander Kolotov (R0A-73) prove that the globalization of SWL racing is a reality. The performance of Gabriele Antonielli (I5-1990), who changed the dynamics of the middle part of the table, is also a surprise.
The results after two races are not only a mirror of precise technique and patience, but also proof that SWL can be exciting, strategic and full of battles for every point. Who will move to the top in the next round and can surprise everyone? Follow our review to see how this fascinating world of SWL competitions is developing.
| Order | Name | SWL ID | Points |
| 1 | Jan Mandos | NL997 | 23463 |
| 2 | Paul Lemeire | ONL3058 | 6783 |
| 3 | Alfredo Locatelli | CX-N020 | 5824 |
| 4 | Richard Frank | DH2URF-SWL | 4343 |
| 5 | Jozef Marcincák | OM3-0001 | 4278 |
| 6 | Achraf Chaabane | 3V4-002 | 3280 |
| 7 | Alexander Kolotov | R0A-73 | 2144 |
| 8 | Brian King | ZL2001-SWL | 2010 |
| 9 | Gabriele Antonielli | I5-1990 | 1980 |
| 10 | Patrick Martinet | NL9954 | 1056 |
| 11 | Jeroen Reijerkerk | NL12339 | 540 |
| 12 | Ries de Leeuw | NL13054 | 480 |
| 13 | Antonio Martinez Mendoza | EA2-5412v | 198 |
Ranking of VERON SLP Competition 2004 after 2 races
| SWL | SLP1 | SLP2 | Points |
| NL997 | 3124 | 23463 | 26587 |
| ONL3058 | 6180 | 6783 | 12963 |
| OM3-0001 | 4732 | 4278 | 9010 |
| I5-1990 | 6800 | 1980 | 8780 |
| DH2URF-SWL | 4131 | 4343 | 8474 |
| NL7403 | 5916 | – | 5916 |
| CX-N020 | – | 5824 | 5824 |
| 3V4-002 | – | 3280 | 3280 |
| R0A-73 | 1078 | 2144 | 3222 |
| EA2-5412v | 2688 | 198 | 2886 |
| NL12339 | 1938 | 540 | 2478 |
| OK1-35783 | 2275 | – | 2275 |
| NL10133 | 2257 | – | 2257 |
| ZL2001-SWL | – | 2010 | 2010 |
| NL9954 | – | 1056 | 1056 |
| NL13054 | 30 | 480 | 510 |
| YY5-106-SWL | 132 | – | 132 |
