Dundee and Abertay set to duke it out once again

Published On Tue 11 Mar 2014 by Grant Hill

Photo opportunity: 4pm on Wednesday, 12th March at Institute of Sport and Exercise, Old Hawkhill. Representatives of both sides will be facing off ahead of next week’s challenge.

Around 500 sportsmen and women from Dundee’s two universities will once again go head to head next week when they compete for the Tay Varsity Challenge Trophy.

This year the event has been sponsored by Microsoft Windows, which has allowed greater participation from both Universities and more sports to be involved in the event.

Teams from the University of Dundee and Abertay University will contest the seventh annual challenge – the largest to date – on Wednesday, 19th March. The Games feature contests across sixteen different sports, and will take place at Dundee’s Institute of Sport and Exercise, Riverside playing fields, and Scotscraig Golfing Society.

Twenty contests will take place on the pitch, court, course and gym over the day, which concludes with the Men’s basketball match at 4pm in ISE. This showcase event is sure to attract a healthy crowd from both sides, including Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University of Dundee, and Abertay Principal Professor Nigel Seaton. The presentation of the Trophy will follow this match.

Dundee Sports Union President Grant Murdoch said, “The event always served as a celebration of university sport in the city. The Windows Tay Varsity Challenge is a great opportunity for the two universities to work together and come together in friendly rivalry. We are determined to hold onto the trophy for another year.”

Abertay Sports Development Officer Alison Bell said, “The Windows Tay Varsity Challenge is a real highlight of the sporting calendar and a great example of the vibrancy and high standard of competition currently on show within University sport in Dundee.”

Whilst the rivalry is very much of the friendly kind, competition for bragging rights is sure to be fierce with Abertay determined to extract revenge from Dundee, who are the current holders of the trophy.

After the dust settles, the teams will meet up for some well-earned refreshments and to celebrate the friendship between the two universities. Immediately after the prize giving ceremony, the “Varsity Afterparty” will kickoff at Dundee University Students Association (DUSA), where teams and supporters from both sides are welcome.

DUSA TV will film the Varsity games, and a highlights programme will be screened at the union throughout the evening.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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