24 February 2004

Sporting talent

Photo opportunity: Wednesday 25 February, 2pm, DISC (hockey), and 6.30pm, University of Dundee Squash Courts (report to the Institute of Sport & Exercise, Old Hawkhill, for directions).

Staff and students will be taking part in a range of sporting activities on Wednesday 25 February with the revival of a traditional squash match, and tournament games in hockey and rugby.

Nine squash players will take part in a staff versus students match. The game used to be a regular annual date on the sporting calendar, and has now been revived with both sides working hard this year to improve performance.

On the same day, the University Women's Rugby team will be playing in the evening against Durham University in the BUSA (British Universities Sports Association) Championships and the Men's Hockey team will be playing against Edgehill in the BUSA plate competition.

Dundee's women's rugby team is particularly strong this year with four players in the Scottish Universities Representative Team at the Scottish Universities versus Scotland U/23 at Peffermill, Edinburgh, earlier this month.

The University Gaelic football team recently came third in the BUSA Championships in Birmingham, picking up 23 points and bringing their total to 87.

Andrew Clarke, fencer and Excel scholar, has just picked up a gold medal in the Scottish Universities championships, and Neil McComb, rugby player and Excel scholar, is competing for the Irish U/21 in the Six Nations championships.

Kirsteen Cruickshanks of the Institute of Sport & Exercise said, "These sporting achievements are evidence of our students' commitment to perform at the highest level of their potential and desire. Individually these successes are outstanding, but more importantly, collectively, they create a vibrant sporting culture within the University and Dundee as the revival of the staff versus student squash match indicates."

For more information, call Dundee University Sports Union President Beth Gibson on 07866 690795.

By Esther Black, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, e.z.black@dundee.ac.uk