User:Goydenman

Background
Started caving when I was 17 (1976) in the Peak District Derbyshire. Worked at the Peak Cavern and Pooles Cavern show caves so was fortunate to have all year round access to both caves. Soon got into the digging scene often on my own. Once digging in Winnats Head I met Keith Bentham 'Ben' and we each left our digs to work together on another lead and broke into Cornwall Avenue and Fox Chamber. Doubled the length of Black Rabbit Cave Pindale, opened up the Mam Tor Engine shaft and other minor projects. Went on quite a few courses at the Whernside Manor Caving Centre.

Went to college in London and founded the Goldmiths Underground Speleological Society (GUESS). Organised numerous caving trips whilst there and introduced several people to the delights of caving.

Worked in South Wales for a time and spent many hours exploring caves such as OFD; LLygad Llwchwr, Porth-yr-ogof and others.

Moved to Masham North Yorkshire and became passionate about the Goyden system. Became obsessed with opening up dry links between all the caves there. Co-founded the Black Sheep Diggers with my mate Paul Baxter as digging together was too slow and tiring. The club has opened up new entrances including Bax pot, Church pot, Limley pot and Frog pot. We have linked together Manchester Hole and Goyden pot and also linked together Frog pot and New Goyden pot (plus new non-SRT entrance to New Goyden pot, Thrope Pot). Leads are being pushed to link Frog pot to Goyden thereby linking the whole system to provde a 10k system.

Now living on the edge of Leeds but still travel to dig within the Goyden system. A member of the Upper Wharfedale cave and Fell Rescue Association.

Black Sheep Diggers
Black Sheep Diggers