18 March 2004

Top sporting students receive their colours

Photo opportunity: 5.20pm, Thursday 18 March, Ustinov Room, Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee.

University of Dundee Principal, Sir Alan Langlands will present awards to over 50 of the University's top sporting achievers at the 2004 Blues and Colours awards on Thursday 18th March. This year's sporting achievements have seen Dundee jump into the top thirty of 142 in the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) League.

The most coveted awards of sportsman and sportswoman of the year are awarded as follows:

SPORSMAN OF THE YEAR goes to Neil McComb from the Rugby Club for the second year running. Only 19 years old, Neil has displayed outstanding performances in his international appearances and is currently touring with the Irish U21 international Six Nations championship team. His international appearances have been accompanied with the most positive compliments from the National and International press. "Neil continues to be one of the most positive players for the Dundee University Rugby Team this year and is also a key member of the Dundee High School FP Rugby 1stXV, SRU club of the year for 2003", explains Beth Gibson, Sports Union president.

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR goes to 19 year old Karen Rigby from Broughty Ferry, Dundee of the Swimming and Water polo club who won Gold in the 50m butterfly at the British University Short Course Championships in November, and Bronze in the BUSA Long Course in February. Karen has just won double gold in the Scottish Championships in 50m and 100m butterfly held at Tollcross, Glasgow. She slashed over 1.5 seconds from her personal best at the BUSA Championships and has qualified for the 2004 Olympic trials.

The 2004 ALISTAIR SANKEY MEMORIAL award for the best first year athlete goes to Mairi Crawford of the Ski and Snowboard Club. Currently competing at the BUSA Alpine Championships in France, Mairi is member of the Great Britain Ski team and Scottish Universities Alpine Ski Champion.

Professor Sir Philip Cohen, University of Dundee's leading scientist and Director of Research at Wellcome Trust Biocentre is to be presented with an Honorary R & A Golf Bursary Award for his outstanding performances and commitment to golf over the years. Philip has won the University's Dow Putter competition an impressive three times since joining the University in 1971.

The Club of the Year and Most Progressive Club awards will be announced at the ball.

For further information please contact Beth Gibson, Sports Union President on 01382 201 029

Notes to editors

Blues and Colours awards, 2004, full listing:

Full Blues

Brendan Skelly - Gaelic Football
Aaron Mills - Mens Hockey
Neil McComb - Mens Rugby
Fiona Ritchie - Womens Rugby
Louise Hartley - Ski
Karen Rigby - Swimming

Half Blues

Randi Diestel - Womens Basketball
Richard Wilbraham - Fencing
Brian Goode - Gaelic Football
Neil Dymock - Mens Rugby
Martin Hennesy - Mens Rugby
Jonny Hyndman - Mens Rugby
Beth Gibson - Womens Rugby
Nicola Baird - Swimming
Douglas Flockhart - Swimming
Richard McNeill - Taekwon Do
Nicola Baird - Waterpolo

Colours

Kevin Williams - Mens Basketball
Alistair Black - Boat
Wendy Conway - Boat
Thamsanqa Sheze - Boxing
Paul Geoghegan - Cricket
Anish Muriekan - Cricket
Edward Turner - Cricket
Jon Barber - Fencing
David Maloney - Mens Football
Sharon Dudgeon - Womens Football
Shelley Gilmour - Womens Football
Michael Coughlan - Gaelic Football
Rachel Love - Ladies Hockey
Ewan Clark - Mens Hockey
James Dorling - Mens Hockey
Chris McLean - Mens Hockey
Laura Birrell - Netball
Heather Cowie - Netball (tbc)
Richard Holmes - Mens Rugby
Danny Slavin - Mens Rugby
Eilidh Barr - Womens Rugby
Sarah Bell - Womens Rugby
Sharon Smart - Womens Rugby
Allana Thomson - Womens Rugby
Michael Babington - Sailing
Gillian Malcolm - Sailing
Sally Johnston - Ski
Alan Smith - Squash
Scott Tulloch - Squash
Catriona Wardrop - Tennis
Gemma Craigie - Trampoline
Laura Hubbard - Trampoline
Laura Ritchie - Trampoline
Sarah Williams - Trampoline
Sarah Mercer - Volleyball
Elizabeth Poggioli - Volleyball
Richard Grace - Volleyball
Peter Li - Volleyball

Merits

Jillian Gray - Womens Basketball
Anna Anderson - Boat
Fiona Ross - Ladies Hockey
James Dorling - Mens Hockey
Malachy Ryan - Hurling
Paul Storan - Hurling
Saira Ghafur - Netball
Gillian Malcolm - Sailing
David Fadipe - Sailing
Alan Smith - Squash
Alex Doerr - Trampoline
Richard Grace - Volleyball

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585,