The Cambridge University Punting Society, or "CUPS", is an undergraduate student society in the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 2010,[1] and holds official society status in the University of Cambridge.[2] It exists to promote the ancient pursuit of punting, i.e. boating on a river using a flat-bottomed punt propelled by means of a pole. The society's constitution enshrines and promotes the regulations and guidance of the Conservators of the River Cam.[3] It operates on the River Cam, and its upper reaches, known as the River Granta, which flows from Grantchester down to Cambridge. In its initial incarnation, the society was named the Granta Rats, after this stretch of the river. The Society succeeded the Dampers Club, a punting society which disbanded in the late 1980s.[4]
The club insignia consists of three golden cups on a Cambridge Blue background, representing the social connotations of the Tarot Three of Cups, and also the three disciplines of punting, outdoor swimming and sculling. One cup is bigger than the other two, as punting predominates in the society.
The Granta Rats insignia of a Rat holding a flagpole with the legend "Live to Live!", on a sky blue background, is still retained for some of the social functions of the society. The motto derives from a fireplace in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.