Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 23 August 1941
Shot-Firing Competition
Interesting Manvers Main Innovation
Yorkshire’s first shot-firing competition, the final of which was held by Manvers Main Collieries at their Barnburgh Pit on Sunday, was won by Stephen White, a young Wath shot-firer who is a keen student of his job, and although only recently introduced to shot-firing work, secured 180 out of a possible 206 points.
White is one of the new type of young mine workers who combine scientific study with practical knowledge. He has taken advantage of local technical training facilities and in addition to being a practical pitman has availed himself of every opportunity of mastering the science of mining. The object of the competition was to bring to perfection snot-firing in the Manvers Collieries’ mines, and there were six finalists on Sunday out of an original entry of 63. A skilfully devised reproduction of the conditions in which the shots would have to be fired had been erected in a large building on the pit top.
Conveyor, props, bars, and girder work had all been used to make the scene of the competition as realistic as possible, and the setting represented an admirable combination of practical knowledge and imaginative make-believe. The result was that the competitors had a reasonable chance of showing their capabilities under working conditions, and the spectators were able to follow the finer points.
The competitors were closely watched by a company of officials, workers, and Major H. J. Humphrye, Divisional Inspector of Mines, and other inspectors. Another inspector, Mr. T. Gawthrope, was judge, and clad in blue overalls and steel helmet, he conscientiously accompanied the contestants along the “coal face” and clambered with them over the conveyor and into the many awkward places which they had to examine.
The atmosphere had been so well created that when a scattering of plaster rattled on to the false roof there was a stir among the spectators, followed by a general laugh when someone remarked. “Look out! Top weight coming on.”
The test was searching, and the men had to be on the alert all the time. They had to make their own choice of apparatus and Mr. G. C. Payne, manager of Barnburgh pit, and Mr. E. J. Kimmins, manager of Manvers, deliberately offered them faulty and unsuitable tackle including insecure lamps, short cables, stemming made of coal dust (instead of sand and clay), and scrapers made of iron (Instead of copper). Quite apart from this apparatus handed out with bland impartiality by the managers, traps were numerous, but on the whole the competitors quickly spotted them and the standard was very high.
Mr. J. Bell, agent of the Collieries, presided at the presentation of the silver challenge cup and replica after the competition. He said they could not claim to be the first in the field with this type of competition, but had taken a leaf out of the book of the Manchester Collieries in this matter. They were pleased to welcome the inspectors, and to note the considerable interest which they had displayed in the competition. He thanked Mr. Payne, Mr. Kimmins, Mr. F. Hall, the Safety Inspector, and Mr. Steer for all they had done in arranging the competition and preparing the setting for the final. He also extended special thanks to Mr. Gawthrope, who was so interested in the competition that he delayed his departure on holiday in order to participate in it.
Major Humphrys congratulated the Manvers Main management on their enterprise in holding such a contest, which was the first of its kind in Yorkshire. Shot-firing was a most important subject in mining and he mentioned that no fewer than 8,000,000 shots were fired in Yorkshire mines last year consuming 3,500,000 pounds of explosives. He emphasised the responsibility of the shot-firer, and mentioned that last year shot-firing had produced only 20 accidents (one fatal) in Yorkshire mines, and the first half of this year had produced ten such accidents (one fatal). The cause of all these accidents was neglect to take adequate shelter. It was the shot-firer’s duty to see that everyone near the shot was in a place of safety before firing.
Mr. Gawthrope said he did not think so many points would have been gained under the conditions, but the competitors had done extremely well, and if they carried on in this manner he did not think they would get any explosions from ignitions of fire damp during shot-firing. He commended the men for the careful tests for gas made just before firing the shot, and remarked that a dangerous practice with many shot firers was to carry out these tests minutes before the actual firing, leaving time for the conditions to change in between the tests and the shot.
Among those who attended were Mr. F. Houston (Senior Inspector of Mines). Mr. H. Storey (Junior Inspector of Mines). Dr. L. Phillips, and Mr. Jones (Sheffield Mines Research L a boratory)). Mr. B. Wilson (Mexboroligh Technical Institute)). and Mr. F. Hall (Manvers Main Safety Inspector).
Results.-1. S. L. White (No. 3 Pit). 180 points; 2. A. Cadman (No. 6 Pit). 178; 3, T. Foster (No. 6 Pit), 167; 4. S. Phillips (Melton Field). 166: 5. T. Holmes (No. 3 Pit). 148; 6, T. Palfreyman (Melton Field). 138.
In addition to holding the Challenge Cup for a year, the winner received a replica, and the other finalists will all receive medals.