Sponsorship Proposal

BACKGROUNDOn May 2nd, 1972 fire broke out in the Sunshine Mine, near Kellogg, Idaho, USA. At the time 178 miners were working in the mine. Carbon Monoxide, heat, and smoke spread quickly through the tunnels, hampering efforts of rescue workers. Initially, 85 miners escaped safely and two more were rescued seven days later. On May 13, the last of the 91 victims were brought out. The tragedy was America’s worst hard rock mining disaster since 1917. A miner’s day ceremony is held on the second day of May each year to honour the men who died at the Sunshine Mine.

The International Collegiate Mining Competition started in 1978, more than 25 years ago, in honour and remembrance of the fallen miners from the Sunshine mine as well as all miners who have perished in the line of duty.

INTRODUCTIONThe professional and local involvement in the International Mining Competition is substantial. Mining and service companies, along with professional bodies such as the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) and the Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM) sponsor the competition each year.

The competition is attended by anywhere from hundreds to thousands of people each year, depending on the location and promotional efforts of the hosting university.

Each year there is media coverage ranging from local papers to nationally televised news programs and professional journals.

2007 saw the first entrant from Great Britain to the Competition since the early 1990s.

The team’s participation is self funded through support and sponsorship from companies involved in the mining industry and other appropriate service suppliers alongside each team member raising their own personal funds.

The International Mining Competition Council have awarded Great Britain the honour of hosting the competition in 2012.

THE EVENTThe goal of the competition is to keep the old-fashioned mining techniques alive, as well as strengthen the camaraderie of the mining students of today. Being the largest event of its kind in the world, it is highly competitive and there is a great amount of prestige for the winners.

In the past, universities and mining schools from all over the United States of America, Great Britain, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Germany, India and Australia have been represented in the competition.

The competition is historically held over the Easter weekend.

The seven events consist of:

• air-leg drilling• gold panning• hand mucking• hand steeling• suede sawing• surveying• track stand

The goal of the three-day competition is to keep the traditional mining methods and techniques alive, as well strengthen the bonds between international mining schools and their students.

Regarded as the premier contest in the Mining world it is highly competitive, and there is a great amount of prestige for the winners and participants.

There are three divisions entered in the competition; Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Co-ed Division.

Points are assigned to each team in every event according to place of finish, the lowest cumulative score at the end of all seven events is the overall winner. Plaques are awarded to the top finishes in each event an a travelling trophy is awarded to overall first place.

There are a variety of additional travelling trophies for the first placed teams in individual events. In the past the competition has been dominated by teams such as the Mackay School of Mines (2007 Champions, Reno, NV), Missouri-Rolla (Rolla, MO), Montana Tech (Butte, MT) and the Western Australian School of Mines (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia).

TEAM GREAT BRITAIN2007 was the first year since the early 1990s that a British team has been entered into this competition. The

results received for the 2007 Men’s Team and Co-ed Team have secured our position as an up-and-coming team.

Due to the success of the entry it has been agreed to enter two teams, one of which is possibly co-ed, with the

further possibility of a women’s team in the future.

We hope to improve our training and techniques so we may increase our standing with the ultimate goal of

entering the top table. With this aim we have initiated design and construction on a training area at the Camborne

School of Mines Test Mine. The area requires a set of rail tracks separated by an extra-large rubber tire to enable

training for both Hand Mucking (where 2 tons of gravel and sand is shovelled into a mine cart) and Track Stand

(where two pieces of rail are laid and connected to a line of track) events. Construction of a Gold Panning tank,

Hand Steeling deck and Suede Saw stand will also be necessary to improve our training.

Training is carried out once a week, however this will be increased next term to maximise fitness and improve

technique.

Each team must carry their own PPE (personal protective equipment- steel toe capped boots, hard hats, gloves

etc), their own Hand Steeling Hammer and are expected to have a team kit/strip.

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATIONThere are a variety of ways that companies/individuals may support the 2008 entrant. Sponsorship may be received through financial means, equipment purchase or expertise donation and any help would be greatly appreciated.

All support will be put towards the high travel costs (airline tickets, team transport in America), entrance fee to the competition, training area construction and Team Kit (Team Competition Top and Team Competition Shirt). The cost per person is estimated at £600.

All sponsors will have their logo printed onto Team Competition Tops, Team Banners and Flyers, and be mentioned (with permission) in all news/journal correspondence. Team Competition Shirts may be selected as an individual sponsorship if required. Hard Hats will also convey the sponsor’s logos.

MINING GAMES 2012 COUNCILThe Mining Games 2012 Council has been created to initiate plans and provide support for the hosting of this prestigious event. We would like to encourage the participation of companies through organisation, funding, and help in supervision. There are a variety of aspects that will be required for the competition to occur and we hope that together we can create an exceptional international event.

We are looking for a location to host the event (for example a quarry or un-used mine area etc), preferably close to Penryn, which is where the Camborne School of Mines is now based. Accommodation costs for the traveling schools are traditionally born by the host team, alongside transport to the competition site. At the end of the competition a Miners Ball is held with the presentation of plaques, medals and trophies. In total there is the potential for this event to be outstanding and a real date for your calendars.

We would like to invite your company to participate on the council to give your professional input into the making of these British Games. Organisation is commencing shortly with a list of requirements being drawn up for the attention of the council.

Since there will be a number of international schools attending (over 150 participants), this is an ideal opportunity to present British industry and potential careers to future mining professionals. We want this event to be the best there has been yet and this is the ideal time for Great Britain to shine!

If you would like any further information or to support Team Great Britain and join the Council please contact:

Henry Chalcraft, Team Great Britain FXU Office, Tremough Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ

Tel: 07776 182 197

Email: htbc201@exeter.ac.uk