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Competition Winners 2011

Scroll down for Arthur Butcher Award, Tratman Award, Giles Barker Award, Conference Team Credits

This is a list of prize-winners at Hidden Earth 2011. The three 'salons' - Art, Video Media and Photography - feature the concept of 'distinctions' and 'merits' instead of second and third prizes. The First Prize winners and the winners of a Distinction received a small memento. All the salon winners will receive a certificate.

BCRA's Arthur Butcher Award

BCRA awards the Arthur Butcher prize annually for contributions to cave surveying. The judges consider projects brought to their attention during the year, as well as all surveying work that is on display at the Hidden Earth conference. This year the award goes to Kevin Dixon and the Mulu Team for the Lidar Survey of Sarawak Chamber. This project involved an impressive combination of several factors: dedication to the subject, enormous hard work on the ground, publication of high-quality results, and the marshalling of an impressive budget. The work was not directed at new exploration, but has produced results with huge and lasting public-relations value, which is important outside the caving community as well as within it. Kevin receives the Arthur Butcher trophy to keep for one year. He has asked that the £100 cash prize from BCRA be donated to the Mulu expedition.

Citation by Wookey, on behalf of the judges Wookey, Ed Waters, Julian Todd

GPF's Tratman Award

The prestigious Tratman Award is awarded annually to a caving-related paper-based publication in memory of E.K. Tratman, who died in 1978, to recognise excellence and encourage future improvement. It is administered by the Ghar Parau Foundation, but is judged under newly clarified rules by three independent cavers - for 2010 these were Chris Howes, Alan Jeffreys and Martin Mills.

The judges considered a wide range of publications, including both books and club journals. From among the many the final shortlist became: Matienzo, edited by Juan Corrin and Peter Smith, this being an amazingly packed book devoted to the exploration of this area of Spain and including maps and data on CD-ROM, Is That So? , compiled and edited by Rob Taviner in support of the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive, Wookey Hole by Jim Hanwell, Duncan Price and Richard Witcombe, being both a superb book as well as a club-based publication, and the Red Rose CPC Journal (10) edited by Paul Swire.

It is worth noting that although the latter journal bears a 2009 imprint, its publication was delayed until 2010 and thus it was eligible for consideration this year. It is an excellent example of a general rise in production quality of club journals, both in design and printing, which the judges noted across the board and which we hope will continue.

All these titles are therefore commended but the final decision to decide upon a winner was, it must be stressed, an extremely difficult and close one to make with Matienzo and Wookey Hole competing for the award. Thankfully, as there was no award made in 2009, the Ghar Parau Foundation committee offered to support two prizes in 2010, so both editorial teams were asked to accept awards at Hidden Earth in September, on behalf of the many cavers who had input into the respective projects. Congratulations go to all involved.

Citation by Chris Howes, on behalf of the judges, Chris Howes, Alan Jeffreys and Martin Mills

Giles Barker Award

Giles Barker lost his life while caving in Spain in 1992. An accomplished cave photographer, Giles was a member of the Red Rose CPC and Morgannwg CC. These clubs have annually, since 1993, funded and presented the Giles Barker Award in his memory. The annual award is made to a cave photographer in recognition of excellence in any aspect of cave photography and is announced at Hidden Earth each September. For 2011 the award, a hand-crafted statue of a cave photographer made by Ceris Jones, goes to Brendan Marris. Brendan has become known for a consistently high standard of underground photography and, since 2008, publishing regular updates on his website at ogof.org.uk. As part of a personal online project, he is documenting the caves of South Wales, logging the results against digital maps. Both the quality of his work and his comprehensive approach make Brendan a worthy winner.

Citation by Chris Howes, on behalf of Morgannwg CC and Red Rose CPC

Conference Team Credits

Conference Manager - LES WILLIAMS

Technical Team Manager - LES WILLIAMS
with Dave Appleing, Basher, Bean, Buddy, Mike Clayton, Claire Cohen, James Collings, Paul Dold, Firas Fayad, Cave Ferret, Mark Helmore, Mark Kellaway, Tony Littler, Andy Morse, Mike Peters, Simon Richardson, Dean Scott, Fraser Simpson, Slug, Ian Timney, Frank Tully, Stu Waldren, Jed Waldren, Tim Watts, Tim Webber, Chris Williams

Administration Team Manager - WENDY WILLIAMS
with Lou Biffin, Wendy Bollard, Jo Diamond, Martell Linsdell, Sarah McPhee, Grace Stewart, Becky Varns, Sarah Watts, Jenny Williams.

Events Team: Lecture Secretary - EMMA PORTER

Competitions Team: Secretary - JACKY ANKERMAN

Sponsorship & Publicity - ELSIE LITTLE, KAY EASTON

Bar Manager - ANDY CULVER
Bar Staff - Sue, Paul, Jane, Mushroom, Dave, Hamish, Spike, Amy, Angus, Gareth. Aided by Tony & Tufty

Site Team Liaison - DAVE JUDSON
Leisure Centre Staff - Andrew Jones & his Team
Catering Staff - Faith Jones, Josse Worgan and their Team

Thanks also to the lecturers and the session chairs, and also to the traders, sponsors, and to all delegates from the UK and overseas, who all contributed to making the event a success

British Cave Research Association (UK registered charity 267828) and British Caving Association.
The Old Methodist Chapel, Great Hucklow, BUXTON, SK17 8RG
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