Aberdeen University Sports Union (AUSU)
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Aberdeen University Sports Union (AUSU) is an elected body responsible for the running of all organised sport at the University of Aberdeen. Confusingly however it is not responsible for facilities and rents time for its clubs from Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation. Season 2006/07 saw Aberdeen University ranked 29th in Britain for university sport, down 6 places on 2005/06.
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| Established | (as Athletics Association (AA)) |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of Aberdeen |
| Location | Aberdeen, Scotland, UK |
| Members | c. 13,760 total |
| Affiliated to | British University Sports Association, Scottish Universities Sport |
| Homepage | www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion |
Contents |
[edit] History
University of Aberdeen Sports Union was created when in 1999 there was an almalgamation of three perviously separate student bodies to create the Aberdeen University Students' Association. At this point the ancient Athletics Association, as it was known, ceased to exist. At first the new sports body was called Sports Council but in 2002 this changed to Sports Union due to confusion over the number of councils at the university. This new body was now identical in set up to its sister Aberdeen University Societies Union.
[edit] Facilities
The current facilities can be seen at facilities.
There are various different facilities providing sport at the University of Aberdeen run by Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation (SRS).
Kings Pavilion built in the 1930s contains the 20yrd swimming pool, performance gym, performance suite and away outdoor changing rooms.
Butchart Recreation Centre was constructed in the 1950s and contains the Sports Union Offices, Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation offices, Sports Development Team, four squash courts, one four badminton court games hall, a smaller single badminton court gymnasium, the fleet of vehicles and underground club storage.
Kings Playing Fields has two rugby pitches, a cricket wicket and lacrosse pitch. Away changing is done in Kings Pavilion and home changing in Butchart Recreation Centre.
Hillhead Centre is just up the road opposite Hillhead Halls of Residence. It houses Grampian Institute of Sport, bar and conference suite. It has a flood lit full size grass football pitch and sand based flood lit full size hockey pitch.
Balgownie Playing Fields is further up the road from the Hillhead Centre and consists of a flood lit rugby training area, club storage, bar and club room, changing rooms, flood lit ranning track, flood lit football pitch and numerous other football, rugby, gaelic football and shinty playing fields.
Aberdeen University Boat House is found on the River Dee housing all the universities rowing boats.
Other facilities currently used by the Sports Union to house clubs include Zeste Dining Room, Hillhead Games Hall, Aberdeen Council Aultons Football pitches, Aberdeen Council Torrie games hall and Aberdeen Council Jesmond games hall.
[edit] Clubs
University of Aberdeen Sports Union currently has fifty-eight affiliated clubs, the second largest in Scotland. Between these clubs are 99 teams who travel weekly around Scotland and Britain competing against other universities and clubs. Many tour further abroad annually. The full club list can be seen at the bottom of the page.
The clubs are for social and competitive members with many clubs competing in regional, Scottish Universities Sport (SUS) or British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) leagues. All Aberdeen University British Universities Sports Association leagues can be found at BUSA.
[edit] Committee
Currently the Sports Union Committee of 19 elected members led by a Vice President of Sport coordinate the clubs, events and 3,500 Sports Union members. This committee of 19 further divided into five executive members, Vice President, two Junior Vice Presidents, A Blue Secretary and a Treasurer. All are assisted by a full time Sports Administrator, Corrina Mackenzie.
[edit] Executive
| Year | Vice President of Sport | Junior Vice President of Sport Ball | Junior Vice President of Sport Intra-Mural | Treasurer | Blues Secretary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/09 | Gordon Cox | Chris Browne | Niamh Moloney | ||
| 2007/08 | Gordon Cox | Niamh Moloney | Chris Browne | Nicola Reid | Keith Barclay |
| 2006/07 | James Fairwood | Angela Frasor & Tom Stewart-Moore | - | Nicola Reid | Nikil 'George' Ninan |
| 2005/06 | Iain 'Chuckie' Morrison | Gordon Cox & James Fairwood | - | Nicola Reid | Fergus Johnson |
[edit] Normal Members
| Year | Events | Secretary/ SDO/ Website Manager | Mini-bus maintenance | Mini-bus convener | First year representative | First year convener | Safety Officer | Publicity & Sponsorship | Intramural rugby | Intramural football |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/2008 | Rick Thornley & Tom Ogilvy | Nikhil Ninan | Tom Swiscoe & Helen Mackey | Caz Beveridge | Euan Bell | Fiona Thompson | Richard Glover | Gareth Trail | Mark Machado | Euan Carghill & Phil Edgley |
| 2006/2007 | Niamh Moloney, Michael Bowles & Hannah Teirey | Gordon Cox | Tom & Simon Winstanley | Alison Filshie | Tom Swiscoe | - | Kirsty Thomas | Keith Barclay & Rustam | - | Suz Morrison & Tim Loosley |
[edit] Events
University of Aberdeen hosts some of the largest university events in Scotland. These range from those for the avid university sports person to providing a fun day for students of less athletic ability or interest.
[edit] Superteams
Superteams is normally the second weekend of March and is currently one of the flagship events attracting approximately 480 students to compete and 60 student volunteers. It is the largest one day event of its kind in Scotland. This event is made up of teams of seven with no more than four from the opposite sex, the team must also nominate a Superman and Superwoman. The event in 2004/05 was down to just 49 participants and had a re-birth in 2005/06 when the Vice President of Sport Iain Morrison with the help of committee member Kirsty Douglas worked tirelessly to turn it into the event it is today. This is a fun event and separated into many bases, some of which over the years have included; Go-Karting, Abseiling, Tug of war, Sprints, Sumo Wrestling, Bungee Runs, Paintballing and Orienteering.
[edit] Blues Ball
The Sports Blues Ball is traditionally the first Thursday in February and it the annual recognition of sporting achievement at the university where the five Sports Trophies are awarded along with the Blues. It is the largest all seated sports ball in Scotland and had become the most sought after social event of the year with tickets being hard to get. This has been boosted in past years by guest speakers such as Jimmy Hill, Jason White, Ally Macoist, Clive Tyldesley and Gordon Smith.
[edit] The Boat Race
The annual boat race between University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University (RGU has been competed for since 1995. Only once won by RGU in 2006 it is traditionally sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management.
[edit] Granite City Challenge
One of the largest varsity events in Britain competed annually in the week before the Easter holidays in March. All sports are competed against in traditionally on the Wednesday of the week. Since its conception in 1996 University of Aberdeen remain unbeaten against their city rivals Robert Gordon University.
[edit] Kings Rugby Sevens
Boasting one of the oldest rugby teams in the world, formed in 1875, it is not surprising that the university also hosts one of the largest university rugby events in Scotland. The tournament is usually hosted on the last weekend of April or the first weekend after the Easter holidays.
[edit] Kings Football Sixes
Not to be outdone by the rugby club, Aberdeen University Football Club is older than Aberdeen F.C. formed in 1889. The success of the rugby sevens is rivalled by that of the football and is normally the weekend after the rugby.
[edit] Intra-Mural
University of Aberdeen has a strong Intramural sports tradition with strength in three football leagues all of ten teams, two are eleven-a-side leagues played at Autlons Council pitches whiek the third league is six-a-side played on the Cage at Kings.
2007/08s Winter term saw a large expansion with Rugby tens on Kings, Indoor Cricket sixes in Butchart and Squash threes In Butchart. The Summer term will see Hockey sixes and first year Football fives and Badminton all based at Hillhead.
All leagues together combined bring together 650 students weekly. The second largest intramural programme in Scotland.
All Intra-mural leagues.
[edit] Future
University of Aberdeen is currently investing heavily in Sport with the construction of a new £28 million sports facility, work started November 2007 and completion is expected May 2009. It will be in partnership with Aberdeen Council and sportscotland. It is an exciting opportunity for sport at University of Aberdeen to catch up with other Scottish institutions.
More information about this projext can be found at aberdeensportsvillage.
[edit] Affiliated Clubs
The following clubs are current members of Aberdeen University Sports Union.
Aberdeen University Akido,
Aberdeen University Archery Club,
Aberdeen University Athletics Club,
Aberdeen University Badminton Club,
Aberdeen University Basketball Mens Club,
Aberdeen University Basketball Womens Club,
Aberdeen University Boat Club,
Aberdeen University Boxing Club,
Aberdeen University Canoe Club,
Aberdeen University Cricket Club,
Aberdeen University Curling Club,
Aberdeen University Fencing Club,
Aberdeen University Field Sports Club,
Aberdeen University Football Mens Club,
Aberdeen University Football Womens,
Aberdeen University Gaelic Football Club,
Aberdeen University Gliding Club,
Aberdeen University Golf Club,
Aberdeen University Gymnastics Club,
Aberdeen University Mens Hockey club,
Aberdeen University Hockey Womens Club,
Aberdeen University Ju Jitsu Club,
Aberdeen University Judo Club,
Aberdeen University Karate Club,
Aberdeen University Lacrosse Mens,
Aberdeen University Lacrosse Womens Club,
Aberdeen University Lairig Club,
Aberdeen University Lifesaving Club,
Aberdeen University Mountain Bike Club,
Aberdeen University Netball Club,
Aberdeen University Orienteering Club,
Aberdeen University Polo Club,
Aberdeen University Riding Club,
Aberdeen University Rifle Club,
Aberdeen University Rollerhockey Club,
Aberdeen University Rugby Football Club,
Aberdeen University Rugby Womens Club,
Aberdeen University Sailing Club,
Aberdeen University Shinty Club,
Aberdeen University Ski & Snowboard Club,
Aberdeen University Skydiving Club,
Aberdeen University Squash Club,
Aberdeen University Sub Aqua Club,
Aberdeen University Surf Club,
Aberdeen University Swimming/Water Polo Club,
Aberdeen University Table Tennis Club,
Aberdeen University TaeKwon-Do Club,
Aberdeen University Tai Chi Club,
Aberdeen University Tennis Club,
Aberdeen University Trampoline Club,
Aberdeen University Triathlon Club,
Aberdeen University Ultimate Frisbee Club,
Aberdeen University Underwater Hockey Club,
Aberdeen University Volleyball Club,
Aberdeen University Weightlifting Club.
[edit] Links and Affiliations
Aberdeen University Sports Union (AUSU)
British University Sports Association (BUSA)
Scottish University Sports (SUS)
Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation Services (SRS)
Aberdeen University Students Association (AUSA)
