25th-26th Nov: CHECC PDF Print E-mail
Log book

CHECC stompThe 5th Annual CHECC Seminar this year went to the Mendips. We hired the Belfry, Wessex and Shepton for accommodation inside and camping outside. 

Over 180 students descended on Mendip on Friday evening with most making their way to the Hunters for a few drinks and the fancy dress competition. There were a lot of strange outfits that night including most of Cardiff Uni club having raided the local sex shop!! Manchester however stole the crown for best dressed club with their ‘caveman’ themed outfits. Then it was back to the Shepton and the Belfry respectively for more beers. 

The New Inn in Priddy put on breakfast the next day for those who made it down and most groups disappeared underground or went for SRT training in the Blue School sports centre with Andy Sparrow and Chris Binding. Several trips were arranged to St. Cuthberts and other ‘leader’ caves in the local vicinity with many groups also being independent. I’m fairly sure than more people actually went underground this year than any other year and this must be partly due to the help of the local cavers who led trips. 

Whilst many cavers were busy enjoying themselves the rest of us prepared for the Saturday night stomp at the Belfry by putting up a second marquee, arranging braziers for fires and getting the BBQ ready. At about 7pm the ‘beer pong’ kicked off in the main room and the BBQ was lit. It wasn’t long till the beer was flowing, the music pumping and the clothes coming off in a typical CHECC ‘semi-naked party’ style. Matt Wire and Mad Phil took turns DJing and we must also thank Ivan Sandford for the disco kit. The music was moved inside at 12.30 to keep the neighbours happy but that didn’t stop the party and people were still dancing on the Belfry table at 6am! 

Sunday was a later start as might be expected but many groups still managed to get underground. We had a short CHECC meeting at midday and elected next years committee then split into groups to tidy up the hut. By the middle of the afternoon the place looked like it normally does, hangovers were starting to clear up and we could relax.  

'Mad' Phil - DjingAll in all this years event was one of the best we’ve had and CHECC would like to thank the Mendip clubs which hosted us. In particular the BEC members who really rallied round to support the event and who without it couldn’t have happened. Finally we must also thank the Hunters Lodge and the New Inn. 

In attendance this weekend were Cardiff, Southampton, Reading, Sheffield, Manchester, Kent, Exeter, Aberystwyth, Cambridge, Huddersfield, Portsmouth, Queens (Belfast), Nottingham and Bristol. With more people attending this year than any other year (and about the same number of clubs) it just goes to show that CHECC really is having an impact on the number of young cavers.
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