Derbyshire Caving Association Information Circular 2002/3, April / May 2002

NEXT DCA MEETING

DCA Council Meeting: Saturday, 20 July at 10am at Monyash Village Hall

The Hall will be open from about 9.30am with tea, coffee and biscuits on tap. The Old Smithy Cafe, next to the Pub, does an excellent breakfast from about 9am.

Meetings for the rest of the year - all at 10am at Monyash Village Hall

• DCA Council - Sat. 2 November 2002
• DCA AGM 2003 - Sat. 22 February 2003

GIANTS HOLE - DEATH OF TOM WATSON

We regret having to announce the death of Tom Watson of Peakshill Farm, Derbyshire, the owner of Giants Hole, who died suddenly on Tuesday, 7th. May. The funeral service took place on Wednesday, 15th. May at Castleton Parish Church. Our sympathies are with his wife, Betty, and family. Cavers will want bear this in mind when calling at the farm. Giants is open to cavers but in view of the fact that, following Tom's death Betty Watson is going to be busy particularly during this the lambing season, if she is not at the farm when calling to pay, please put the usual fee (£2 per head) in the pot by the door.

CONSERVATION / ACCESS

If you have any queries or problems relating to access or conservation in the region, contact DCA Conservation & Access Officer, John Taylor: access @ theDCA.org.uk. Alternatively, contact Iain Barker the Access Officer: iainbarker @ peakland.freeserve.co.uk, or Dave Mycroft the Conservation Officer: dmycroft @ beyondthenet.co.uk.

Caves Closed during Lambing
At present JH, Long Rake (Bradwell Moor) and Rowter are closed during lambing but should re-open after 20th. May.

Jug Holes
Repairs will shortly be carried out to the ginging in the roof of the Jug Holes Adit, further into the mine than the area restored in the autumn. Notices will be placed indicating the areas where you need to pass with care and the work is being co-ordinated by Dave Webb.

Eyam Dale House Cave
Following the damage in the cave last year by persons unknown who hacked out some flowstone, the lock on the gate has been changed and the Residential Home now has a Log Book for you to sign when you call for the key. Please keep a look out if you visit and report any further damage immediately.

DCA TRAINING EVENTS FOR CLUB LEADERS

Workshops for Club Leaders
DCA Training Officer Nigel Atkins has arranged a series of caver training events this summer and early autumn. They are designed for club leaders and club training officers. All are one-day events and will take place at Pindale Farm Outdoor Centre under the guidance of CIC holders. If you are interested in any of these sessions, please contact Nigel direct: Tel. 01283-210666 or e-mail. training @ theDCA.org.uk. There are 12 places on each one-day course and the charge to each individual will be £20 per day.

• 1. Sunday, June 30th. 2002 - Vertical Caving Workshop for Club Leaders (non SRT);
• 2. Sunday, July 28th.2002 - SRT workshop for Club Leaders;
• 3. Sunday, Sept. 22nd.2002 - Cave Leaders workshop for Club Leaders;
• 4. October 2002, date to be arranged - Cave Rescue workshop for Club Leaders run by a CIC Holder and Cave Rescue Team. - For this event, contact Mik Starr, (EPC Training Officer), 7 Darwin Ave., Buxton. SK17 6NF.

DCA/NCA Training Workshop - February 2003
Nigel is already beginning to organise the traditional "Cavers Workshop" at Pindale Farm in February next year. Topics: Cave Rescue, SRT, Advanced SRT, Ladders Lines Abseiling with groups and Self Rescue, Cave Video, Mines History, Cave Formation & Development & Conservation. Further details to come.

EQUIPMENT NOTES

Sadly Mark Wright, the DCA Equipment Officer newly elected at the AGM in February, has had to stand down due to the pressure of work. For the time being, please refer problems relating to bolts, fixed aids, etc. to Jenny Potts: Tel. 01335-370629 or E-mail. equipment @ theDCA.org.uk.

Oxlow - Fixed Ladder Removed
Now that the pullthro' on the climb leading up from the West Antechamber to Pilgrim's Way in Oxlow has been set up the old fixed ladder has been removed altogether. A 35m rope is needed for the pullthro'. Three suspect eco-anchors have been replaced by Matt Ryan, one on the climb below the 1st. pitch and two on the 3rd. pitch. As always, although the old anchors had been reported as being apparently slightly "loose", it took a lot of force to remove them.

Suicide Cave Bolted
Suicide Cave now has a full set of Eco-anchors installed by DCA, making it a useful training site. Thanks to Ralph Johnson for doing the job.

Giants Hole
The crucial eco-anchor on Garlands Pot had been reported as "loose" and this has been replaced by Matt Ryan. Note that this is the one where you often find ladder AND lifeline rigged to the one bolt!

NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR OFFICERS

In order to simplify contacting officers and to avoid delays when someone is away or has changed their personal e-mail address, we now have 4 "permanent" e-mail addresses for officers. (Thanks to Paul Johnson, the DCA Webmaster, for organising this.) These will always forward to the officer concerned or, if they are away, to someone who is standing in for them. Please use these in future, rather than personal e-mail addresses - they are nice and easy to remember:

• dca @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Secretary and general enquiries
• access @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Conservation & Access team
• equipment @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Equipment Officer
• training @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Training Officer

DCA WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING AGAIN

The DCA website is back up and running again after a brief period off-line because of problems with our service provider.

FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD

www.theDCA.org.uk