With a 130-year legacy, it is no surprise that sporting success from Camborne School of Mines continues to this day. Following Combined Universities in Cornwall and the following creation of the Students’ Union, 12 of the affiliated sports clubs continue to hold the CSM brand and coat of arms.
CSM Sport: A force for good
Sarah Redman (FXU President Student Experience) and Joe Rigby (CSM Rugby President)
With a 130-year legacy, it is no surprise that sporting success from Camborne School of Mines continues to this day. Following Combined Universities in Cornwall and the following creation of the Students’ Union, 12 of the affiliated sports clubs continue to hold the CSM brand and coat of arms.
The clubs currently CSM-branded are Football, Badminton, Hockey (mens and ladies), Lacrosse, Netball, Rugby, Shinty, Squash, Tennis, Cricket and Sea Swimming – they have a combined total of 564 members. They are driving positive change across the two universities and the local community by fundraising, volunteering, and supporting and raising awareness of mental health and the LGBTQ+ community.
In November alone, Men’s Hockey and Rugby joined forces to raise £2,378.00 for Movember, the UK’s leading charity that addresses male cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. With concerns around student mental health at the forefront of the Higher Education sector, CSM clubs work hard to provide a safe and nurturing space for members. One rugby player commented: “I suffer with depression and mental health issues and [taking part in] CSM Rugby is my way of keeping active, taking my mind off things and for the community/family vibe”.
The Rugby and Netball clubs are also continuing the fundraising trend with Rugby adopting Man Down, a Cornish men’s mental health charity, and Netball adopting Cancer Research UK. Lacrosse, Rugby and Ladies Hockey also participated in multiple charity sport tournaments this term for Coppafeel, a breast cancer awareness charity, and raised £273.60. CSM has also funded a trophy to make this an inaugural, annual part of CSM sport for years to come.
CSM is leading the way for inclusivity in sport across the Students’ Union. Marie-Alix Bluff, CSM Lacrosse player, sits on the FXU Sports Committee as the Participation and Inclusion Officer, supporting widening participation students in taking part in sport. Jed Scoles, Joe Rigby and Daniel Draper also all sit on the committee, and are all CSM sport players.
With the annual varsity match taking place from 22-24 February 2019, the long-awaited return of the charity haircuts is dawning. In 2018, Rugby raised £2,117.16 for the Matt Hampson Foundation by getting comedy haircuts – last year’s legendary styles included the Pineapple, the Old Man and the Moustache.
Max Stirling, CSM Rugby Captain, said: “This year we intend to raise even more for a local mental health charity, which affects us all in some way. It’s good to have a laugh during the haircuts but also to give back to others”. The clubs are also planning to wear rainbow laces from Stonewall UK in support of the LGBT+ community.