July 2, 2024 - Wellmore Coal Company took two first place mine rescue contest wins last week.

They captured the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association 37th Annual Governor’s Cup and the Virginia Post 7 Overmountain titles at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

The Wellmore team also won the best overall title for the two days of competition, awarded by Virginia Energy.

The Governor’s Cup and Virginia 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 Laural took third place in the VA Post 7 contest.

Winners in the individual skills contests were as follows:

BG-4 Bench: first, Brad Hawkins, Paramont Contura; second, Robbie Middleton, Paramont Contura; and third, Eric Lewis, Iron Synergy.

Biomarine: first place went to Josh Chambers, Arch Coal.

Pre-Shift:, Joey Sykes, Paramont Contura, won first place; Frankie Moore, Paramont Contura, second; and Robbie Middleton, Paramont Contura, third.

Team Tech: first place went to Adam Phillips and Joey Sykes, Paramont Contura; second, Anthony Harvey and Andrew Altrey, Metinvest Affinity; and third, George Smith and Justin Harvey, Metinvest Affinity.

First Aid: first place went to Paramont Contura; second went to Iron Synergy; and third, to Wellmore Coal Company.