Sounds like the rest of the pilots were short on friends. I have had planes picked as pilots choice and not know more than one or two people at the contest. A couple of years back another fellow had to bring the award by because I had left a half day early.
[quote]ORIGINAL: hellcat56

I have run countless contest of all types

Dont worry about attendance the first couple of times you hold the event
It will take a little time to build up a following

Have as many awards as you can
People who get something will think highly of coming back next year

Only one award I will never give out again

Pilots Choice--This does not usually reflect the best of anything just who has the most friends
The straw that broke me was when a local hot shot got his friends to vote for his sons airplane (definately not anywhere close to the best plane of the event)
after that I said never again. Everyone else got one maybe two votes-as everyone voted for his plane.