Each year, in an effort to promote, encourage and support cave exploration within the Peak District, we give away a whole load of SRT rope to the cavers and divers who find the most new cave at a single site. 200m of Beal 10mm Antipodes free to the caver or team who find the most new cave from a single non-diving dig site, and the same for the diver or team who find the most new cave from a single dive site, in or beyond a sump impassible to non-divers).

The Rules

Photo: Keith Slatcher in the 2009 Water Icicle Close Cavern extension - Simon Brooks 12th December 2009

In 2008 the divers prize went to John Taylor and Simon Cornhill for their incredible effort connecting Bagshawe Resurgence Cave to Bagshawe Cavern. The diggers prize went to S.U.S.S. (Sheffield University Speleoligical Society) for their discovery at the top of Donatella's Aven in Peak Cavern's Far Sump Extension.

The 2009 competition started early! On the 4th of January Rob Eavis and Robbie Shone broke through the choke at the end of the Titan Streamway with a final surveyed length of 271.29m. John Taylor and Simon Cornhill continued with their usual underwater antics in Bagshawe pushing the Far Drought Sump another 60m. The rest of the year produced little in the way of new cave until, November. Then it all happened at once! Members of the Eldon PC made a significant find in Gautries Hole, with a surveyed length of around 185m and potential for more. On the 5th December the Orpheus CC had a major breakthrough in Water Icicle Close Cavern with an immediate surveyed length of 297m, soon extended to 317m with potential for more in the near future. See www.peakdistrictcaving.info for more on these discoveries.

2009 Final Results:

Diggers:
The Orpheus CC: Water Icicle Close Cavern, 317m.
Rob and Robbie: Titan Streamway, 271.29m.
The Eldon PC: Gautries Hole: 185m (approx).
The Orpheus: Bottle Pot, 59.9m.

Orpheus CC diggers Keith Slatcher and Pete Collins with their 200m of Beal Antipodes. Photo: Karen Slatcher.

Divers:
John Taylor and Simon Cornhill: Far Drought Sump, 60m.

John Taylor collecting their 200m of Beal Antipodes and promoting divers health. Simon was missing because he's using a broken arm as an excuse for not going caving.