The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.

Sports

December 22, 2006

Bridge Day participants honored

At this year’s Bridge Day™ rappel safety briefing, five individuals received the New River Gorge Bridge Day Rappel Eagle Award. The following were first time recipients:

-- Jim Kovach, research;

-- Robert Handley, oldest rappeller;

-- Mike Claywell, transportation;

-- Lucian Dean, high line; and

-- Bruce Smith, safety.

Bridge Day Rappel Coordinator Benjy Simpson recognized these individuals for their service, performance and achievement. Simpson, who has coordinated the rappel for 15 years, says, “Too often, we forget to say thank you and overlook all that someone has done. Not this year. While there are many we need to thank, this year we are starting that process and recognizing several as ‘eagles’ who have done more than they had to with regards to Bridge Day and rappelling.”

Kovach was recognized for his work with research. For years, he and his colleagues have petitioned Simpson to allow them to do research about different rappelling off the New River Gorge Bridge. Kovach’s research has become presentations at national conventions and published articles. His research about bottom belays from the bridge received an award for “Best New Research” at the 2003 International Technical Rescue Symposium. Kovach is a member of the Born Rescue Riggers. He is from Ohio. His website is www.allaboutrope.com.

Handley is the oldest person to rappel from the New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day. He is 78 years old and has been a member of the VBats rappel team the last several years. Handley is from Renick.

Claywell was recognized for his role in Bridge Day transportation. Claywell, who is employed by Passages to Adventure, has been shuttling the rappellers, BASE jumpers and media for 15 years. Simpson notes that often Claywell is the last bus making the Fayette Station shuttle. A former coal miner, Claywell lives in Summersville.

Dean was recognized for his work with the high line. The first Bridge Day high line was in 1994. This year was the seventh Bridge Day in which Dean and his team rigged the high line. Dean, who is retired from the US Army, is from Ridgeley.

Smith was recognized for his role with safety. For the last ten years, Smith has been the safety officer for the Bridge Day rappel. Smith is coauthor of On Rope, universally recognized as the authoritative book on single rope techniques. He owns and operates On Rope 1, a company that trains, educates, manufactures and markets custom rope climbing equipment. He is from Tennessee. His website is www.onrope1.com.

For information about the Bridge Day rappel and high line, go to www.passagestoadventure.com. Click on Bridge Day under Special Events, then click currents.

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