Bellhaven Hires Vice President of Exploration Dr Jeffrey Brooks to Guide Bellhaven's Growth

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/18/11 -- Bellhaven Copper & Gold Inc. (TSX VENTURE: BHV) ('Bellhaven' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Brooks to the position of vice president of exploration, effective immediately.

Since May, 2010, Dr. Brooks has assembled, trained, and managed a team of 38 junior, project, and senior geologists as well as an additional 20 support personnel for Torex Gold Resources at their Morelos gold project in Guerrero, Mexico. This team was responsible all of the geological aspects of an 11-rig drilling program at the Morelos gold project in Mexico for Torex Gold Resources. In addition to the development work at the El Limon, Guajes Este and Guajes Oeste skarn deposits, Dr. Brooks implemented a greenfield exploration program at Torex's 29,000-hectare Morelos Norte concession. From February 2007 to October 2009 Dr. Brooks was the chief geologist for Colombia Goldfields. During this time he supervised and trained over 30 Colombian geologists and directed a 12-rig, 46,000-m drilling program at the Marmato gold project, Colombia. Prior to these recent positions, Dr. Brooks worked for Barrick Gold at Bald Mountain, Nevada; BHP-Billiton (responsible for world-wide porphyry copper exploration); BHP Tintaya (increased mineral resources by 101% at Tintaya Cu-(Au, Ag) mine and 30% at Coroccohuayco Cu-(Au) prospect); Pegasus Gold in Nevada, and Santa Fe Pacific Gold in Nevada. Dr. Brooks received his doctorate in geology in 1984 from Washington State University (Pullman, Washington).

Paul Zweng, Bellhaven's Interim CEO and Director, commented as follows:

'I first worked with Jeff in the 1990's at BHP's Tintaya operation, Peru. He quickly became one of my most valuable and productive exploration geologists. His work culminated in the doubling of the mineral resources at Tintaya. After these successes, BHP assigned Jeff to lead BHP's porphyry copper exploration worldwide. Jeff understands exploration and how to find ore. He is very familiar with Colombia's Middle Cauca belt (where Bellhaven's La Mina is located) after working there for almost three years. His history of success, passion for exploration, and porphyry experience make him the ideal person to guide Bellhaven's exploration programs and growth in Colombia and Panama. I am delighted to be working with him once again.'

Grant of Incentive Stock Options

The Company also announces that it has granted in the aggregate 250,000 options at a price of $0.570 per share to certain consultants, employees, officers and/or directors of the Company. The options are exercisable for a five-year period from the date of grant. The options may include vesting restrictions as per the Company's stock option plan.

Mr. Thomas J. Drown, P.Geo., has read and approved the technical information in this news release. Mr Drown is Bellhaven's exploration manager for Panama and is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Bellhaven

Bellhaven Copper & Gold Inc. is a Canadian-listed (TSX VENTURE: BHV) exploration company exploring for gold and copper in Panama and Colombia. The Company's objective is to become one of the best gold-copper companies operating in Panama and Colombia by discovering, acquiring, and developing high-quality resources in a safe and responsible manner to the benefit of all of its stakeholders.

The Company's principal assets include the La Mina porphyry gold-(copper) project in the Middle Cauca belt of Colombia, the Pitaloza and three other high-sulphidation epithermal gold-(copper) and porphyry copper prospects located on the Azuero Peninsula in Panama.

For more information regarding Bellhaven, please visit our website at www.bellhavencg.com.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Paul L. Zweng, CEO & Director

BELLHAVEN COPPER & GOLD INC.

Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Corporate Contact in North America:

Bellhaven Copper & Gold Inc.

Paul Zweng

CEO/Director

1-808-377-1947
pzweng@bellhavencg.com


Corporate Contact in Panama:

Bellhaven Copper & Gold Inc.

Julio Benedetti

President/Director

Int'l No: 507-226-3967
www.bellhavencg.com