BCRA issues several annual caving awards, and there are other awards that have appeared from
time to time. Information is given below. (If you came here looking for information about awards
of grant money for research projects, please try bcra.org.uk/research-fund).
| Arthur Butcher Award |
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The Arthur Butcher Award is presented by the BCRA for, broadly
speaking, "excellence in cave surveying". It was first awarded in 1988. It comprises a cash prize
of £100 plus a trophy to keep for one year. This award is usually presented at the
Hidden Earth annual conference.
Rules and list of past
prize-winners | Hidden Earth Competition
Results
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| Tratman Award |
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The Tratman Award is awarded annually for a caving-related
paper-based publication in memory of E.K. Tratman, who died in 1978, to recognise excellence and
encourage future improvement. Initially administered by the Ghar Parau Foundation, when it was a
sub-charity of BCRA, it was first awarded for the publications of 1979. In 2019, the award's
management was passed to the British Cave Research Association. It is still judged by a team of
independent cavers (convened by Chris Howes of Wild Places publishing and Descent magazine) who
make their recommendation for the award to BCRA's committee for ratification.
Rules and
list of winners on Wild Places web site | Hidden
Earth Competition Results
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| BCRA Premier Trophy |
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The Premier Trophy is BCRA's prize for cave photography, which was first
awarded in 1975. It comprises a cash prize of £100 plus a trophy to keep for one year. The
prize is part of BCRA's Photo Salon event, which usually takes place at
Hidden Earth, the national caving conference.
List of past
prize-winners | Hidden Earth Competition
Results
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| Giles Barker Award |
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The Giles Barker Award is not a BCRA award, but it is listed
here because it is one of the national caving awards presented each year at Hidden Earth. It is
given jointly by Morgannwg CC and Red Rose CPC in recognition of excellence in any aspect of cave
photography. It was first awarded in 1993. The award comprises a lifetime trophy. Contact
Chris
Howes for further information.
Rules and list of past
prize-winners | Hidden Earth Competition
Results | List on Red Rose Caving Club web
site
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| Bryan Ellis Award |
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NO LONGER AWARDED. From 2000 to 2007 the BCRA's Bryan Ellis
Award was given by Pauline Ellis in memory of her late husband, Bryan Ellis, a former BCRA
chairman and Administrator. In 2008 This award was merged with Arthur Butcher award and is
therefore no longer awarded.
Rules and list of past
prize-winners
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| The CREG Award |
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NO LONGER AWARDED. From 2001 to 2007 the CREG Award was
presented by the BCRA's Cave Radio & Electronics Group for
achievement in that field. Although the award has not been formally been withdrawn, it has not
been awarded since 2007.
Rules and list of past
prize-winners
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| Alex Pitcher Award |
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NO LONGER AWARDED. In past years, the Ghar Parau Foundation (a
sub-charity of BCRA) has issued this award. Alex Pitcher was a young caver who became lost on an
expedition to the Gouffre Berger in the late 1980s. His memorial fund was established to support
young cavers going on their first expedition. It was usually put towards training costs for such
individuals, for example in SRT. One or two awards were made each year, of the order of £100
each. For the current status of the Alex Pitcher Award, please contact
GPF.
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| BCRA Young Researcher of the Year |
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NO LONGER AWARDED. In past years, this award of £500 was
presented by the BCRA for the most exciting research project completed by a young person. The
results of the research must have been reported, and an article on the work produced by the
author, for publication by BCRA. This award has now been replaced by the BCRA / Hidden Earth
Cave Science Bursaries. For further information see BCRA Research
Fund.
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