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Matienzo celebration at Dalesbridge

Date(s): 11th - 13th June 2010 - Written by: Nigel Dibben


The Matienzo expedition was started by MUSS in about 1970 so 2010 is the 40th anniversary of the first real expedition and also 50 years since caving started seriously in the valley. To celebrate this, we went to Dalesbridge near Clapham in Yorkshire for a weekend of fun and frivolity mainly focused on the Saturday when there were talks, a raffle, a meal, live band and a great deal of drinking.A number of members arrived on the Friday to set up tents and caravans or take up B&B and bunkhouse places. In total, there were nearly twenty DCC members or partners. On Friday, the first task was obviously to set up the rocket (what else would the DCC do?). This was up by late afternoon and soon attracted the curiosity of the other campers. Amazingly, none of them drove into the wall on their way to the main camping field. After most had arrived, we hit the bar at about 8 and were told it was closing at 9 so the party continued outside and everyone had a drop or two more than perhaps they should have (see picture right).Any way, all settled down later and most people were up at a reasonable time for a slow start to the events on the Saturday. First, there were practice runs through the squeeze machine and on Steve's Splat The Bat game just to get in the mood and then at 1100 the bar opened and at 12 there was the first talk by Juan on the prospects in Matienzo for 2010 and future years.
There were four talks on: the area by Juan; diving by Phil; the geomorphology by Andy Quin; and the archaeology by Steve and Pete. Between these, there were suitable breaks for lunch, looking at the displays, buying raffle tickets and so on. After the first talk, there was a demonstration of the Earby pump used to drain siphons. This was turned by Tony into a giant washing machine which Steve found useful to clean his overalls. After the talks had finished, seven hopefuls watched as Jane judged the tortillas and decided that Lank's was best (he cheated by using garlic) followed by our own Sue.
The evening started with a meal of sorts laid on by Mr Grumpy and his mates followed by the welcome (???) return of the Fluffies after nearly 17 years, their last appearance being at Pindale at the Cavers' Fair. Granville's place was taken by Paul who did an admirable job of leader while the team was infiltrated by Bolton member Steve. For reasons best known to the choreographer, her husband was kept well out of the way! Lugger kept himself busy trying to get a picture up Steve's skirt but he needn't have bothered if he had just followed the team round to the rocket. Use this link to go to the Fluffies page where the videos of Pindale and Dalesbridge can be viewed.
After the Fluffies appearance, the evening turned into the stomp with the two-piece folk and blues band who did two sets up to about 11 pm. During the interval, the raffle was held and the quiz was scored. Many fantastic prized had been donated, no that's a bit of an exaggeration, various lofts had been emptied and we won some prizes including Nigel getting back a bottle of whiskey he had been trying to get rid of. The evening went quickly and it seemed (to me at least) that people drank a bit less than the night before so there was no party in the field. This probably wasn't helped by Mr Grumpy running out of all draught beer by the end of the night - something it seems he has a habit of doing (Matienzo Gold ran out by about 8.30).
The next morning, Sunday, saw people starting to leave and the rocket coming down to go back into its box until next time. The Dingle's van seemed to suffer some sort of mishap but was left happily wrapped in plastic. Tony and Allan threatened to actually go caving which meant that they might get to Bernie's before midday for once.All in all, it was a great weekend and well worth attending. A particular mention should be made of the Alderley miners who made the trip despite not knowing all that much about Matienzo but mainly so that they could support the Fluffies.If anyone wants to know more, we have pages about Matienzo on this site or go to Juan's excellent expedition site.
Picture 1: The Rocket

The Rocket
Picture 2: Strange behaviour after dark

Strange behaviour after dark
Picture 3: Sheryl tries to splat the bat

Sheryl tries to splat the bat
Picture 4: Kieran nearly stuck at over 9 inches gap

Kieran nearly stuck at over 9 inches gap
Picture 5: Andy Pringle opens  the conference

Andy Pringle opens the conference
Picture 6: Juan talking about potential  caves in Matienzo

Juan talking about potential caves in Matienzo
Picture 7: Phil talking about dives in Matienzo

Phil talking about dives in Matienzo
Picture 8: Testing the Earby pump  in a closed loop

Testing the Earby pump in a closed loop
Picture 9: Steve doing washing his dirty linen in public

Steve doing washing his dirty linen in public
Picture 10: Jane judging  the tortilla contest

Jane judging the tortilla contest
Picture 11: Sue winning a bottle of wine for her tortilla

Sue winning a bottle of wine for her tortilla
Picture 12: The Fluffies under the  leadership of Paul

The Fluffies under the leadership of Paul
Picture 13: Posing by the rocket ...

Posing by the rocket ...
Picture 14: ... and showing off their assets

... and showing off their assets
Picture 15: Andy getting into the mood

Andy getting into the mood
Picture 16: Juan reading out the  answers to the quiz

Juan reading out the answers to the quiz
Picture 17: The grand raffle, some lucky  person wins a stethoscope

The grand raffle, some lucky person wins a stethoscope
Picture 18: Andy continues with Keith  when the music resumes

Andy continues with Keith when the music resumes

Type of entry: Club (social)

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