Brickworks Dig, Penwyllt, South Wales

We started pumping operations at 12:45 and the pumping went very well indeed. Everything performed as we had predicted/hoped for and we were shifting the water at over 6 gallons per minute.

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Present: KEd, BMa, ASt & CWe + Thomas (a relative of Adrian's)

OFD 1, Penwyllt, South Wales

The standard round trip in OFD 1 to introduce feature writer Sarah to the joys of underground exploration.  Her article appeared in the Express and Star on Thursday 26th October.

Did she enjoy her caving taster trip?  Has she been put off for life?  What did she think of caving and cavers?  Read the paper to find out!

Emma in Gothic passage.

Emma and Sarah at The Step.

Sarah crossing one of the pots in the streamway.

Keith Edwards on Lowes Climb.

See more OFD 1 photos here

Present: MCl, KEd, BMa & EPo + Sarah Lefebve from the Express and Star

Otter Hole Near Chepstow

A over-tide trip to the camp beyond the Hall of Thirty for members that had not visited the cave before - so why was Keith on the trip?  Well the 4th place was reserved for Jason, but in order to get out of the trip Jason deliberately broke a finger karate chopping a piece of wood.  What some people will do to get out of a caving trip.  A very enjoyable, but very exhausting trip.

Present: CJe, KEd, BMa & CWe

Rescue Practice, Huglith Mine, Shropshire

An evening/night time search and recovery operation to practice communications which in spite of the dense woodland, trip wires, pitch black and pouring rain went very successfully.

Present: PAn, MCl, KEd, AGr, MNo, EPo, GSm, JSm & ASt + Loads of members of SMCG

OFD 1, South Wales

The usual round trip with the addition of a visit to the Railton-Wilde Series.

Present: KEd & BMa + Colin Hayward and Dave Hounslow from WMCEG

Cwm Dwr, Penwyllt, South Wales

A trip to the Upper Smithy Series, a new location for all members of the team.  There is still one area left to visit but it was decided that a hand line would be useful to protect the climb, so a return visit is planned.  During the trip Brendan (Rockefeller) Marris got up to his usual tricks.

Keith in a section of well decorated passage.

See more Cwm Dwr photos here

Present: KEd & BMa + Colin Hayward and Dave Hounslow from WMCEG

Ogof Tarddiad Rhymney, South Wales

A relatively recent discovery (1996) so you won't find this one in the South Wales guide book.  It is situated in a disused quarry, a three-mile hike across the mountains.

The cave has 1.5km of mainly walking sided passage with low interconnecting crawls.  It ends in a low muddy streamway.  It was well worth us popping our heads into and is another one to tick off.

Mike Clayton in the main passage.

Emma Porter in the main passage.

Emma Porter viewing formations.

See more Ogof Tarddiad Rhymney photos here

Present: MCl, KEd, BMa & EPo