RESCON British Cave Rescue Conference 2019

The 2019 British Cave Rescue Conference will be hosted by Mendip Cave Rescue at Priddy on the 6th – 8th September.

This event, a regular, biennial, one in the caving calendar, is being held on Mendip at Ebborways Farm, Pelting Road, Priddy, BA5 3BA. Participants in the gathering of British cave rescue volunteers (and others with an interest in caving and cave rescue techniques and equipment) will have the opportunity to attend lectures on rescue techniques as well as join in surface and underground practical workshops including specialist techniques such as cave diving (for divers and non-divers), vertical hauling and gas monitoring. Saturday night will include a bar, hog roast and music.

Programme:

Friday

The ResCon site will be open for conference attendees to arrive and pitch tents from 18:00, and the on-site bar will open at 18:00 for the sale of refreshment.

The opening session will start at 19:30, with a welcome from the local Wells MP James Heappey, the BCRC Chairman Peter Dennis and the MCR Secretary Martin Grass. This will be followed by a showing of a number of archive films featuring Mendip Cave Rescue, along with a Ploughman’s buffet.

The bar will close at midnight.

Saturday

Breakfast will be available from 08:00, along with tea and coffee (which will be available through the day).

The presentations will start at 10:00, followed by a number of practical sessions. There will also be a series of sessions held in Wookey Hole, aimed at cave diving rescues, which “dry” cavers will be welcome to attend. Lyon equipment will be holding a number of demonstrations, allowing people to discuss the use of various items of equipment.

The on-site bar will be open from 12:00 noon for the sale of refreshment.

At 17:00, the Wessex Challenge will be held. This is a team obstacle course race that is held every couple of years, as a social occasion between Mendip Caving Clubs. This year the challenge will have a rescue theme, and visiting rescue teams are encouraged to take part.

During the evening there will be a hog roast (and vegetarian alternative), followed by music from a local band Seatrees.

The bar will close at midnight.

Sunday

Breakfast will be available from 08:00, along with tea and coffee (which will be available through the day).

The presentations will start at 10:00, followed by a number of practical sessions. There will also be rescue practice, with the rescue of an injured diver from beyond sumps in Wookey Hole, to be run with both diving and non-diving rescuers. Lyon equipment will be holding a number of demonstrations, allowing people to discuss the use of various items of equipment.

The on-site bar will be open from 12:00 noon for the sale of refreshment, and will close at 17:00.

Booking

Tickets are now available, priced at £50 for the weekend, with a reduced price if you are in full time education. Tickets include camping, food, tea & coffee – basically everything except drinks at the bar. Tickets are now available from through Eventbrite. Tickets for just one day, or just the Saturday evening, are also available.

The British Cave Rescue Council has successfully applied for government funding to cover part of the costs of this event. Ticket prices have been reduced by this and attendees can also claim back some of their travel costs. For more information on this, go to this page. The BCRC treasurer will be on hand throughout the weekend to help with expenses claims.

For further information go to the Rescon website.

Correspondent: Estelle Sandford.