Drilling Update

19 May 2011 07:00

Hambledon Mining plc

("Hambledon" or "Company")

Latest drilling results from Sekisovskoye Underground Project, Kazakhstan

Hambledon Mining plc (AIM: HMB), the Kazakhstan gold producer, today provides an update on the latest set of drill results received from its substantial underground drill programme at Sekisovskoye.

Results from the drill campaign during March and April 2011:

Seventeen drill holes completed to date, all have intersected gold mineralisation Over 2,730 metres drilled of planned 25,000 metre operation Key mineralised intersections include: Hole D66 - 18m at 3.66 g/t Au Hole D133 - 15m at 4.0 g/t Au Hole D67 - 1m at 10.9 g/t Au

The results from completed drilling continue to show increases in overall width of mineralisation when compared to the drilling undertaken in the 1990s and historically by the Soviet exploration programmes. These width extensions lead to an increased volume of economic mineral resources.

The recent drilling has been aligned to the mine planning work for stope definition. This information is to be used by Golders Associates ("Golders") in their current geological modeling of Sekisovskoye at 1.0 g/t Au cut off grade boundary. This modelling forms the basis for the detailed mine engineering that is also being undertaken by Golders. The result of both studies is that later in 2011 Hambledon will be in a position to update its mineable reserve statement. The analytical works were carried out in the Altai Ken-Bayitu laboratory with independent assay verification undertaken by the Alex Stewart Group in Karabalta, Kyrgyzstan.

The Sekisovskoye deposit comprises approximately ten large mineralised zones intermingled with an additional 190 narrow and sinuous mineralisation zones. The zones of mineralisation show wide variation in thickness from 0.35 metres to 30 metres with an average of 2.2 metres and localised pinch and swell structure, with variable gold and silver content.

Tim Daffern, CEO, commented:

"Our positive progress in the drilling programme has resulted in gold mineralisation in line with management expectations. We hope to update shareholders before the end of the June with the next batch of underground drill results. To date, 17 drill holes have been completed and the results have confirmed the geometry of the resource and validity of the current resource model"

Appendix 1

Sekisovskoye 2011 - Drill result summary as of May 2011, hole 9 (complete) to hole 17.

?		HOLE		COORDINATES										DEPTH						GOLD MINERALIZATION_ore intervals
				X		Y		Z		AZI		DIP		drilled		core		total		FROM		TO		LENGTH		AA-AKB LAB, AU, g/t
9		D125		7617.3		6757.22		322.95		225		-30		189.8		189.8		189.8		3.00		4.00		1		7.32
																				11.00		15.00		4		2.38
																				37.00		70.00		33		4.5
																				91.00		92.00		1		1.32
																				109.00		110.00		1		1.78
																				123.00		124.00		1		1.38
																				145.00		147.00		2		2.16
																				170.00		171.00		1		1.5
																				177.00		178.00		1		1.29
10		D135		7613.814		6640.819		327.047		41		0		75.1		75.1		75.1		15.00		16.00		1		1.59
11		D136		7611.787		6639.246		325.657		230		-68		164.1		164.1		164.1		38.00		53.00		15		1.52
																				98.70		99.70		1		1.37
																				158.00		159.00		1		1.52
12		D67		7449.712		6930.709		324.24		225		-46.4		209.4		209.4		209.4		17.00		18.00		1		1.26
																				30.50		31.50		1		1.14
																				38.70		39.80		1.1		5
																				135.00		136.00		1		10.9
																				170.70		171.40		0.7		1.17
																				174.80		176.00		1.2		2.11
																				205.00		206.00		1		1.33
13		D139		7586.18		6614.071		326.905		227		0		175.6		175.6		175.6		71.00		72.00		1		1.26
																				124.00		126.00		2		2.29
14		D66		7453.59		6934.41		324.56		49		-43		70.5		70.5		70.5		7.00		8.00		1		1.7
																				12.00		13.00		1		1.88
																				17.00		18.00		1		1.06
																				22.00		34.00		12		3.66
																				37.00		43.00		6.00		2.87
																				64.00		65.00		1.00		4.82
15		D137		7609.407		6637.11		324.849		224		-33.1		91.9		91.9		91.9		4.00		5.00		1.00		1.34
16		D134		7564.42		6649.838		325.01		230		-41		61.5		61.5		61.5		3.00		4.00		1		1.85
																				29.00		30.00		1		1.3
																				36.00		37.00		1		1.38
17		D133		7564.67		6650.032		324.145		226		-78		123		123		123		8.40		9.40		1.00		1.34
																				20.80		21.80		1.00		4.65
																				24.80		25.80		1.00		2.13
																				30.70		31.60		0.90		1.29
																				40.30		41.30		1.00		1.12
																				48.00		49.00		1.00		1.24
																				50.00		51.00		1.00		1
																				55.00		56.00		1.00		1.48
																				69.00		77.00		8.00		1.15
																				87.00		88.00		1.00		3.93
																				93.00		108.00		15.00		4
																				111.00		112.00		1.00		1.62
																				114.00		115.00		1.00		1.14

Qualified Person

Information in this report relating to the exploration results is based on data reviewed by Timothy Daffern, BEng, MBA, FIMMM, MIMMM, MCIM, Chartered Mining Engineer, Chief Executive Officer of Hambledon Mining plc. Timothy Daffern has in excess of 21 years experience in mineral project development and evaluation including exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM Rules.

ENQUIRIES:

HAMBLEDON MINING:

Telephone +44 (0)207 233 1462

Charles Zorab

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