Sunday 19th July 2026

 John Cooper, Michael Kousiounis and Lee Venning. MK and LV to begin with, got started around 1100. We ran the extractor for 20 minutes whilst setting up. LV then went down to clear and use the breaker. 18 heavy loads cleared and we stopped for lunch around 1330. JC showed up and help with surface support whilst MK and LV set a charge. 4 holes @ 32mmx600mm, all filled and fired fine. Done for 1500. Mike.

Tuesday 14th July 2026

 Joe Bidie, Mike Kushy and Alessio Sancetta. MK did all the set up with AS spectating and JB surface assisting. 6 holes drilled @ 12x550mm. All fired fine, quieter than previous charges. Drill went through to void in the floor after 250mm again. Mike.

Sunday 12th July 2026

John Cooper, Trevor Hughes, Mike Kousiounis and Lee Venning. Hot, 28°C and sunny but a cooling breeze. Mike at the bottom clearing existing spoil with John hauling and Lee and Trevor emptying. After 30 loads removed the breaker was sent down and another 20 loads hauled out, 50 for the day. Depth measured at 15.35m. 2 hours. John.

Today's total. Photo LV.

Start of session. Photo MK.

End of session. Photo MK.

Sunday 5th July 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning arrived on site at 11am. The weather was overcast but the sun soon put in an appearance. After adapting the extractor fan to use the new 2 inch air pipe MK headed down equipped with the breaker and got to work removing loose rock and mud from the floor and walls. After LV had winched twenty-four loads to the surface we decided to stop for lunch; this was about 1pm.

Once lunch was done MK and LV went down again and got to work drilling holes. Trevor Hughes and John Cooper arrived about 1:40pm but JC didn’t hang around as there wasn’t much for him to do.

We drilled 5 x 500mm holes and 1 x 250mm hole, all 12mm diameter (The 1m drill bit entered a void after about 250mm and this void continued the remaining 750mm of the drill bit). MK then supervised LV who did the set-up, with TH providing surface support. Once the set-up was complete, we retreated to the surface and the holes were destroyed.

Depth measured at 15m.

We all left site at 3:15pm. 4¼ hours. Lee.

Today's haul. Photo LV.

Looking South. Photo MK.

Sunday 28th June 2026

John Cooper, Trevor Hughes, Mike Kushy and Lee Venning. MK and LV to begin with, we arrived at 11.00. First job was to take out all the fixed ladders and redid the set up so everything is flush and all fastened with slings and maillons rather than polycord. We finished and had lunch around 1300, TH arrived around 13.30. MK went down the hole to clear just as JC arrived. Lots of buckets cleared, then the breaker came out. The floor is made up of calcite and is very holllow so lots cleared. TH took over from MK after 41 loads hauled out and continued to end of the session. Still more breaker work to do. We also removed the large frail 4 inch pipe used for ventilation and replaced it with some new 2 inch pipe. 60 buckets cleared. Done for 17.00. Mike.

Rehanging ladders. Photo LV.

Start of clearance session. Photo MK.

End of session. Photo MK.

Load count for session. Photo LV.

Sunday 21st June 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning arrived on site at 11am, the weather was already rather warm. LV headed down cave equipped with the breaker and got to work removing loose rock and mud from the floor and walls (the mud is so hard that it also required the use of the breaker). After MK had winched twenty loads to the surface, we decided to stop for lunch, this was about 1pm and by this point the heat was bloody ridiculous.
Once lunch was done MK went down cave and got to work with the breaker, in the meantime Trevor Hughes arrived, this was about 1:40pm.
A further eight buckets were winched to the surface by TH with LV emptying the buckets. MK returned to the surface and TH and LV went down cave to drill holes and set up.
We drilled 5 x 500mm holes and then TH supervised LV who did the set up. Meanwhile on the surface MK had a visit from John Cooper. Once this task was completed, we retreated to the surface and the holes were destroyed.
We all left site at 4:15pm, 5 ¼ hours. Lee.

Today's total. Photo LV.

Tuesday 16th June 2026

Sam Hill and Mike Kushy. MK arrived at 1645, emptied the dumper, ran the extractor down Templetwin for 15 minutes, tied the white pipe onto the ladder and lowered the telescopic ladder down. MK went down and found a good footing for the ladder (which is a perfect height) and filled 1 bucket up. MK came to surface and winched the bucket up. SH arrived at 1730 and went straight down the hole and with MK winching 36 loads were cleared. The breaker was brought out and SH had first go for 20 minutes or so. MK then went down the hole with SH winching. 55 buckets in total. Lots of mud to clear and more breaker work to be done. Finished at 1945. Mike.

All photo's MK.

Looking North, before clearing.

South before clearing.

Facing South and looking at the floor, before clearing.

South after clearing.