Lantoom are proud sponsors of the Cambourne School of Mines Mining Games Team.

What is the Mining Games?

The games are comprised of six events, each testing the skill of the modern young miner in the field of the old techniques. The games are an opportunity for mining students around the world to not only learn the old ways of mining, but to network with each other and meet people from all corners of the globe. Competition is fierce and the standard of the teams competing has only grown in the last decade. National pride is on the line for many during the games, so training for the competition often starts early. Cambourne School of Mines (CSM) is the the only team from the UK. 

History.

The competition started in 1978 as an act of commemoration to the 1972 Sunshine mine disaster that sadly claimed the lives of 91 workers. It was the worst hard rock mining disaster in the US since 1917. The competition was set up not only to remind us of those who fell at Sunshine but to all those who have lost there lives in mining.

Team Great Britain.

North America, Canada, India, Mexico and Australia have all been represented in the International Mining Games (IMG). Last years hosts were The Western Australia School of Mines (WASM) They are currently the Mens world champions. There are three divisions in the games: mens, womens and co-ed. CSM have yet to put forward an all-women's team, but the co-ed team can boast being the current world champions! The Men's teams have also grown in strength and although they didn't quite bring home a medal last year they have grown a reputation for being one of the stronger teams in the IMG. Each team comprises of 6 members, each event has a maximum of 5 members competing at one time, with the exception of surveying and Jack leg drilling, which can only have 2.

The 2016 IMG will be held in the spring at Butte, Montana, USA. The games are now in their 38th year and its expected to be another excellent show of skill.

Events.

Mucking: Fill a 2 tonne muck cart full of muck and run it down a 25 meter stretch of track as quickly as possible.

Handsteel:  A 7/8 inch diameter steel of varying lengths that is used to drill into a block of concrete, 10 minutes per team, 2 minutes per team member, deepest hole wins.

Survey: With a known starting point, report the coordinates of a finishing point using an old fashioned peice of surveying equipment.

Swede saw: Saw through 5 sections (as a team) of a 6x6 block of timber using a bow saw. Quickest time wins.

Trackstand: Construct and take down a five metre section of track, including sleepers, rail, and fishplates as quickly as possible, but be wary of penalties.

Jack leg: A Pneumatic Airleg drill used to drill into a concrete face, the aim is to drill as many straight holes in a set time and space.

Gold pan: The aim is to find five flattened lead or copper ball bearings in a pan full of muck.

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