They say that in war the first casualty is the truth. In the sport of caving, it's always your pants.

We've all been in situations where your pants go 'missing', but usually you never get to see them again. However, if you're a caver you actively hope to never see them again. Not any more.

As a service to Reading University Caving Club rucavers.co.uk now hopes to reunite you with those smalls that you thought had gone for good. In a recent clear out of the hut we had to resort to employing special Speleolabs Underwear Decommisioning experts to very carefully go through the hut and render harmless all the unwanted keks that you thought you would never see again.

The thing is, we don't know who the owners are. So we thought we'd run an exciting new competion - NAME THOSE PANTS! If your pants are listed below, own up using the comments section on the main page of the site and win a Speleolabs Precision Hydration Receptacle!

Better still, if you can identify someone else's pants and they confirm ownership we will throw in a load of Fruity Pops as well.

This service is brought to by rucavers.co.uk. Note that other caving clubs don't offer this level of service (and believe me I've checked).

UPDATE: John W has claimed four pairs, as he's clearly rather careless with his pants. John K has (indirectly) claimed the sporty pants. The special pink lady pants have gone unclaimed.

So without further ado (cue rustling of pants):
     
UPDATE - 26 February 2006. Two new pairs!
     
  Who would wear a pair of pants like these? Do you like paisley? Or are these 'less than best' pants that were scarificed for the good of caving?
     
  Ah, the classic Primark 'Essential' gentleman pants. A pant cheaper than a pint, and not lasting all that much longer. Were these purcahsed especially for caving or are you always this cheap?
     
The Original Selection
     
  Whose pants are these? Looks to me as if they have some life in them yet. Note the cutaway panels for extra ventilation. And what exactly happened down the cave to get them like this? We want to know!
     
  Special pink lady pants. Possibly. My bet is that they are Henry D's as I have heard his gold lame pants story. And really wish that I hadn't.
     
  Authentic gentleman's pants. These look in reasonable condition, as if they've never been caving. So what are they doing in the hut? You tell us...
     
  Similar pants to those above, but considerable more distressed. It looks like we have a serial pant leaver (with limited shopping experience) in our midst. Are all your pants the same? Or do you share with a friend?
     
  Dad pants! These fetching cross cross blue numbers must have an owner. I'm guessing the owner shops at Marks & Spencer. Is it you?
     
  Sporty pants! These little lycra numbers suggest an active lifestyle.