Members of the team are pictured here with MCPA, VA Post 7 and Virginia Energy officials with their respective trophies in each of the competitions. Members of the Wellmore team include Joey Fuller, Captain; Anthony Grizzle; Johnny Branham; Jordan Curry; Chris Turner; Todd Ward, BO; Johnathan Little; and Josh Diles. Chris Turner is the team trainer.
Wellmore Coal Co. took two first place mine rescue contest wins recently, capturing the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) 37th Annual Governor’s Cup and the VA Post 7 Overmountain titles following the conclusion of the joint contests held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Va.
The Wellmore team also won the best overall title for the two days of competition, awarded by Virginia Energy.
The Governor’s Cup and VA Post 7 contests, combined for the first time this year into one three-day event in Abingdon, also saw winners named in the Bench, Pre-Shift, Team Tech and First Aid individual skills contests.
Buchanan Minerals took second place in the Governor’s Cup; and Metinvest Affinity’s team took third place in the Governor’s Cup. Iron Synergy took second place in the VA Post 7 contest; and Arch Mountain Laurel took third place in the VA Post 7 contest.
Iron Synergy won second place in the overall two-day competition; and Buchanan Minerals won third.
The events were hosted by MCPA, VA Post 7, Virginia Energy and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Next year’s mine rescue contests will be held June 10-12.
