Hundreds of spectators battled appalling weather conditions to cheer on 45 teams at the 47th Intercollegiate International Mining Games (IMG) at King Edward Mine Museum (KEM) on March 21 and 22.

The event saw Camborne School of Mines (CSM) crowned the overall victors in both the Women’s and Men’s events, in the face of fierce competition from teams who had travelled from the USA, Canada, Australia and Germany.

The competition consisted of seven events derived from traditional mining: jackleg drilling, track laying, hand mucking, swede saw, gold panning, hand drilling and surveying.

On day one, the quality of the CSM women’s team’s winter training made the accuracy of their surveying the best of the whole competition. Montana Tech Orphan Girls took second place and Colorado’s Women’s team came third.

The Co-ed competition leader board was topped by South Dakota Hammerschlagen 2.0, who drew the biggest crowds to watch them drill over five metres into concrete in three minutes using a Holman 303 airleg drill. Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Rangers came second and the University of British Columbia took third place.

Day two saw the CSM Men’s team take first prize in the mucking and surveying events, and achieve the best time for the track stand (under four minutes). The Western Australia School of Mines’ Wombats Men’s A team came second, The Mackay Muckers from Nevada third.

The Alumni event was won by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, with two CSM alumni teams, Anchored by Britannia and Cousin Jacks, in second and third place.

“All the early morning starts, aching legs and frozen hands paid off in this fantastic result for Cornwall,” said KEM trustee Carol Richards. She paid tribute to CSM students, KEM volunteers and the competitors, supporters, sponsors, organisers and spectators who helped to make the event a success.