16 February 2011
Make-or-break time of season for student sports teams
The next couple of weeks will see no fewer than 16 sports teams from the University of Dundee reach the business end of their season as the knock-out stages of the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) competitions begin
Having won through from their domestic league competition, Scottish sides will now meet their counterparts from England and Wales in the BUCS Championship or Trophy competitions.
The ultimate aim of all student teams is to make it to Sheffield for the BUCS Championship Finals on 18th-20th March. This event, involving around 6000 student athletes in 19 different sports, is the biggest sporting event to take place in Britain this year.
Dundee sides have done exceptionally well on the competitive front this year, with a record 16 teams making it to the knock out stage. They are: men’s and women’s volleyball; men’s and women’s badminton, women’s fencing; women’s rugby; netball, women’s basketball; women’s football; men’s hockey, trampoline, ultimate frisbee, karate; swimming, women’s squash, and men’s tennis.
The success of university sports teams is a reflection of the positive changes that have taken place since the formation of Dundee University Sport. This partnership between the University’s Institute of Sport and Exercise and Dundee University Sports Union enhances the provision of sport for students and staff.
Paul McPate, Assistant Director of ISE, said there were many benefits to the arrangement and the partnership was now beginning to bear fruit.
'It is a fantastic achievement for so many teams from Dundee to reach this stage of the BUCS Championship, and we hope to see several of them qualify for the finals in Sheffield,' he said.
'We are sure they will do us proud, and the more success they have, the more students and staff will be inspired to take up sports and realise the benefits of doing so.
'I think the success reflects what’s been happening since Dundee University Sport was formed. The partnership has seen more efforts invested in the clubs, including the increased provision of coaching staff; dedicated strength and conditioning sessions and increased allocation of facilities time for team training.'
The university regularly fields around 50 teams in 24 different sports. These teams are supported by over 2000 sports club members at the university.
The high degree of team preparation was highlighted last week with a briefing of all those involved in the BUCS Play Offs. Aspirations and competition targets were discussed with team captains, and those present were given an insight into some key factors for competitive success by Gil Stevenson, former coach to the Scottish Women’s Rugby Team.
Gil’s experience of leading Scotland to a Rugby World Cup provided the student captain’s with some inspirational advice on what factors might make the difference between success and failure on the sports field.
The next fortnight will see Dundee teams play against some of the best student sides from across the UK.
Sports Union President Graeme Spowart said, 'Our teams have put in a great deal of hard work this season, and these games are their rewards. They deserve this opportunity to test themselves against the best of the rest of the UK.
I am sure they will all do the university proud and fly the flag for Dundee. I wish them all the best of luck and am sure they will all benefit from the experience.
Hopefully we can have a good few teams in the University red and black down in Sheffield representing us in the biggest sporting event of the year.'
Notes to editors:
Dundee University Sport is the partnership between ISE and Dundee University Sports Union.
They have joined forces to maximise the strengths of each partner in enhancing the provision of sport for students and staff.
The Sports Union represents some 51 member and associate clubs, ranging from archery to volleyball. Several University teams have enjoyed success at a national level in recent years, and many sportsmen and women from the University have gone on to represent their country and achieve individual glory in their chosen field.
The leading-edge facilities and expertise available has seen ISE designated as an accredited training venue for both the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
After a £4million extension in 2007, ISE can boast the most extensive range of sport and exercise facilities in Tayside, including several fitness studios, specialist facilities for a range of sports, and a regional strength performance centre (SPC).
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
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
