Durham University Athletic Union

Team Durham Logo

Durham University Athletic Union is a student-run organisation responsible for sport at Durham University. In 2006, the Athletic Union was rebranded "Team Durham" to signify a more modern approach to sport at Durham. In contrast to most British universities, it is a separate organisation with the status of a students' union, rather than a part of Durham Students' Union, the primary student representative body at Durham University.

The Athletic Union is responsible for the administration of the largest intramural sports programme ^[1] in terms of percentage participation in the United Kingdom. The league sports administered are Badminton, Basketball, Cricket (Indoor and Outdoor), Football (11aside and 6aside), Hockey, Netball, Rugby Union, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis and Ultimate Frisbee. One off tournaments are also arranged in Athletics, Volleyball, Sailing, Swimming and Water Polo.

The Athletic Union hosts 3 charity events per year ^[2], the Rugby Charity Challenge , Durham Fun Run and Twenty:20 Charity cricket. These events raise money for Sport Action in Zambia^[3], Team Durham's official charity.

The Union is affiliated to British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), formerly BUSA, and was ranked 5th across all sports in 2005's BUSA rankings, 8th in 2006,^[4], 6th in 2007^[5] and 4th - its highest ever finish - in 2008. Durham's women's Hockey 1st team won the BUSA Championship in 2007 and Durham is also the current BUSA rowing Victor Ludorum, keeping the title won since 2004.

DUAU awards the Palatinate, Durham's equivalent of the University Sporting Blue. Famous recipients of a Full Palatinate include cricketer Nasser Hussain, triple jumper Jonathan Edwards and rugby player Phil de Glanville.

Durham University Athletic Union Personnel

Director of Sport - Peter Warburton

Assistant Director of Sport - Quentin Sloper

Permanent BUCS Administrator - Diane Thomas

Alumni & Relations Officer- Richard Warburton

DUAU Student Executive 09/10:

DUAU President - Katie Sykes, Treasurer - Andrew Gardner, Senior College Sport Officer - Katie Ford, College Rugby Secretary - Veryan Boscawen

Affiliated clubs

Durham University Athletics and Cross-Country (DUAXC)

DUAXC is a student-run sports club, affiliated to DUAU and open to any member of Durham University. It has approximately 150 active members. Athletes at the club have the option of 15 sessions a week with most occurring at the University athletics track at Maiden Castle (also home to Durham City Harriers).

DUAXC has two coaches, Peter Coates, a world double decathlon gold medalist, and Bryan Mackaye, a former 51 minute ten miler.

Durham University Boat Club

Durham University Boat Club is a student-run sports club, affililated to DUAU and open to any member of the University. They are current BUSA Champions.

Durham University Rugby League Football Club (DURLFC)

Although Durham has always been synonymous with Rugby Union, the hard work and dedication of those involved in DURLFC over recent years has raised the profile of Rugby League in Durham to an unprecedented high. In the 15 years since formation, the club has made a considerable increase in both its prominence within the University sporting community and the Student Rugby League. DURLFC in 2009 reached the national semi finals of the British Universities Plate, reinforcing Team Durham and the University as a leading name in rugby league from the North East.

DURLFC is without doubt one of the closest-knit clubs within the University which always welcomes new members. It gives those both with and without prior Rugby League experience the chance to enhance new skills, and aim to represent Durham at the hardest hitting contact sport in the world.

• Durham University Rugby League

Durham University Table Tennis Club (DUTTC)

DUTTC is a student-run sports club, affiliated to DUAU and open to any member of Durham University. It has approximately 50 active members. There is the opportunity to train three times a week at Hild Bede East Gym. Coaching is available for advanced players who, in turn, can offer tips and advice to beginners and those looking to improve.

Durham University Association Football Club (DUAFC)

DUAFC is a student-run sports club, affiliated to DUAU and open to any member of Durham University. DUAFC represents the elite of Durham University's vast number of footballers (individual colleges have many teams, the most being Collingwood with 9, with no other college having more than 6) and has two teams (competing in BUCS Northern Conference 2B and 3B respectively) and has approximately 35 active members. Players at the club are expected to train twice a week and play matches each Wednesday, many players also player for local non-league sides at weekends, most noticeably Brandon United, to whom DUAFC is linked.

DUAFC has two coaches, Adam Furness and Rich Allman, who are both are former players. Whilst Furness has completed his UEFA B license and is awaiting assessment for his UEFA A license (the highest available to coaches not at professional clubs), Allman is currently working towards UEFA B.

In September 2008, DUAFC will host Siberian Federal University in a friendly to be watched by representatives of the Russian Consulate.

Durham University American Football Club (Durham Saints)

The Durham Saints American Football programme was founded on 2 November 2006. The team was granted associate membership to the BCAFL on the 24th of March 2007 and full membership to the BUAFL later in the same year.

The team has had fifty registered members since its foundation and finished fourth in the 2007- 2008 BUAFL Northern Division, setting a record for a team in its first year.

References

1. ^ TeamDurham.com - About College Sport
2. ^ TeamDurham.com - Major Fundraising Events
3. ^ TeamDurham.com - Sport in Action
4. ^ 2005-2006 - BUSA
5. ^ Championships - BUSA

External links

• TeamDurham.com
• Durham University Rugby League
• Durham University Athletics and Cross-Country
• Durham University Table Tennis Club
• Durham University AFC
• Durham Saints American Football Club