Photo opportunity: 3.30pm, Wednesday 3 December, Institute of Sport & Exercise, University of Dundee, Old Hawkhill, Dundee.
Some of the UK's most promising sporting talents will be honoured at the University of Dundee on Wednesday 3 December when the Excel Sports Scholarship and Royal and Ancient (R & A) Golf Bursaries squads 2003/2004 are announced.
The 23 students supported by the two programmes will see their sporting and academic ambitions enhanced over the next year through access to training and competition facilities, sports science support, sports psychology and nutrition advice, sports medicine treatment and financial support.
The two squads contain no less than 16 junior or senior international athletes already competing at Scottish and Great Britain/UK level, including eight students supported by the Scottish Institute, Central Institute and Tayside and Fife Institute of Sports.
The University's TEAM Dundee Coordinator Kirsteen Cruickshanks, said, "This is the fourth year that the Excel sports scholarship programme has been in operation and it looks to be our most successful yet. Our reputation for developing sporting excellence ensures that we continue to recruit world class athletes.
The biggest challenge that the Excel athletes and R & A golf bursars face is balancing their academic and sporting commitments. This involves training before lectures start and studying late into the night, whilst spending their vacations at training camps or in competition. Their dedication and will to win will drive them to success in both arenas."
The Principal of the University, Sir Alan Langlands, said, "Scholarships such as these are highly valued, not just by students but by the University as a whole. The University of Dundee is committed to recruiting the best students as one of our key strategic objectives. The Excel Sports Scholarship and R & A Golf Bursary programmes play an important role in attracting those students.
Once here, our students' dedication to achieving success in both the academic and sporting arenas also enhances the university's reputation for excellence across all aspects of student life.
The partnerships that have been built with the Scottish Institute of Sport, the Area Institutes of Sport and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews ensure the University's place at the forefront of developing Scotland's sporting champions."
The two programmes have produced 22 international athletes across 11 different sports including five Scottish and British University champions.
2002/2003 saw two of the Excel athletes competing against each other in the Six Nations Rugby championships as they represented the Scottish and Irish U/21 teams respectively. Four athletes have been included in Commonwealth Games squads, and the reigning Scottish Ladies Amateur golf champion is a former University of Dundee golf bursar. The programmes are rated at the forefront of scholarship and bursary developments in the UK.
This year's recipients typify the high standard of applicants. Alasdair Dickinson, Neil McComb and Mark Scott are members of the Scottish U/21, Irish U/21 and Irish U/19 rugby squads respectively and will compete in the Six Nations championships next year. Joe Symonds won a senior GB vest for Fell Running and represents the University in athletics with fellow national athletes Morag Maclarty (Scottish U/20) and Kristian Forster.
Swimmer Karen Rigby is currently ranked number 2 in Scotland for 50m butterfly and has been crowned British Universities champion for the same distance. Mairi Crawford (Alpine Skiing) was runner up in the British University downhill ski championships losing out to fellow Dundee University student Louise Hartley. Having a critical mass of outstanding athletes helps to strengthen the University Sports clubs and benefits all University of Dundee students by enhancing the sporting culture.
The R & A golf bursary squad is strengthened with three golfers included in national squads - Frazer Bone is supported by the Scottish Institute of Sport and Scottish Golf Union, Kirsty Wells and Laura Aitken are included in the Scottish Ladies Golf Association national squad.
Editors' notes.
TEAM Dundee - Scholarships and Bursaries
Excel Sports Scholarship Squad 2003/4
Joe Symonds, Fell running
Kristian Forster, Steeplechase, cross-country
Karen Rigby, Swimming
Neil McComb, Rugby
Mark Scott, Rugby
Andrew Clarke, Fencing
Alasdair Dickinson, Rugby
Linsey Thomson, Hockey
Carmin Dow, hockey
Emily Paterson, Hockey
Laura Paterson, Hockey
Mairi Crawford, Alpine skiing
Morag McLarty, Athletics
Royal and Ancient Golf Bursary Squad, 2003/4
Frazer Bone
Mark Cameron
Mike Clinch
Andy Keir
Barry Dewar
Peter Goudie
Laura Aitken
Kirsty Wells
James Milne
Gregor Caine
By Esther Black, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, e.z.black@dundee.ac.uk