12 March 2013

Dundee and Abertay set to compete for bragging rights once again

Photo opportunity: 5.30pm on Wednesday, 13th March at Institute of Sport and Exercise, Old Hawkhill. The trophy will be presented to the winning team.

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

Teams from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay will contest the sixth annual challenge - the largest one to date - on Wednesday, 13th March. The Games feature contests across twelve sports, and will take place at Dundee's Institute of Sport and Exercise, Riverside playing fields, and Crail Golfing Society.

Eighteen 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 Dundee, and Professor Nigel Seaton, Principal of Abertay. The presentation of the Trophy will follow this match.

Dundee Sports Union President Andrew Smart said, "The event has 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 come together in friendly rivalry. We are determined to hold onto the trophy for another year."

Abertay Sports Development Officer Alison Bell 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 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 throughout the evening in DUSA.

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