10 March 2011

Varsity sports teams set to go head to head once again

Photo opportunity: 3.30pm at ISE on Friday, 11th March. Graeme Spowart (Dundee Sports Union President) and Peter Burgon (Abertay Sports Development Officer) will pose with the Tay Games Inter-Varsity Challenge Trophy that they will be competing for next week.

The sporting elite from Dundee's two universities will once again go head to head next week when they compete for the Tay Games Varsity Challenge Trophy.

Around 380 sportsmen and women from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay will contest the fourth annual challenge on Wednesday, 16th March. The Games feature contests across nine sports, and will take place at Dundee’s Institute of Sport and Exercise, Riverside playing fields, and Monifieth Golf Club.

The two universities will face off on the pitch, court, course and gym in Gaelic football (men’s), hockey (men’s and women’s), football (men’s and women’s), rugby (men’s and women’s), netball, basketball (men’s and women’s), volleyball (mixed), badminton (men’s, women’s and mixed), and golf.

The Games will conclude with the showcase men’s basketball match, which takes place at 4pm in ISE, and is sure to attract a healthy crowd from both sides. Professor Pete Downes, Principal of Dundee, Ian Simpson, Acting Director of Operations at Abertay, and Lord Provost John Letford will attend the match. The presentation of the Trophy will follow this match.

Dundee President Graeme Spowart said, 'The event always served as a celebration of university sport in the city. The Tay Games Inter-Varsity Challenge is a great opportunity for the two universities to work together and compete in the environment of friendly rivalry. We are determined to hold onto the trophy for another year.'

Abertay Sports Development Officer Peter Burgon said, 'The Tay Games 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 have emerged triumphant in each of the past three years.

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, ‘Varsity off the Field’ will kickoff at Dundee University Students Association, where teams and supporters from both sides are welcome.

The Varsity games will be filmed by DUSA TV, and a highlights programme will be screened in the Liar Bar from 7.30pm.

Graeme Spowart and Peter Burgon will be meeting at Dundee University’s Institute of Sport and Exercise at 3.30pm on Friday, 11th March to see the trophy they will be competing for.

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