Aberdeen University Sports Union

Aberdeen University Sports Union (AUSU) is an elected body responsible for the running of all organised student sport at the University of Aberdeen. It is a constituent part of Aberdeen University Students' Association. It is not responsible for facilities and rents time for its clubs from Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation. Season 2007/08 saw Aberdeen University ranked 26th in Britain for university sport, up 3 places on 2006/07. In Scotland they finished third.

Infobox Students Union
name = Aberdeen University Sports Union


motto =
established = (as Athletics Association (AA))
institution = University of Aberdeen
vice president of sport = Gordon Cox
sports administrator = Corrina Mackenzie
location = Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
members = c. 13,900 total
affiliated = British University Sports Association, Scottish Universities Sport
free =
homepage = [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion]

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.

Facilities

The current facilities can be seen at [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportandrec/facilities/index.php 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 City Council Altens Football pitches, Aberdeen City Council Torry games hall and Aberdeen City Council Jesmond games hall.

Colours and Playing Strips

The traditional colours of the Athletics Association were gold and royal blue. These colours were carried into the new organisation. There was never any strong regulation on what teams wore and it was not unusual to see the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rugby and football teams turn out in 6 different colours and styles of kit. It was not until session 2007/08 that Vice President of Sport Gordon Cox was granted a considerable sum of money from the university Secretary Steve Cannon to address the issue of playing colours. Controversially, with this funding a three year deal was signed with Kukri and £40,000 worth of kit ordered to cover 23 sports teams, over 3,000 pieces of clothing. The Sports Union went into partnership with the universities Campus Services to sell the Sports Union clothing in their stores.

It is hoped that a brand identity and marketable image will stimulate investment and hopefully a corporate sponsor.

The concept chosen was specially designed with all sports teams named 'Kings' after the name of the founding college at the university; this now sounds like some American univerisites e.g. the Philadelphia Panthers: now Aberdeen University Kings Football etc. It was created using the four colours of the university crest royal blue, gold, red and white, the design was based loosely on the quarters of the university crest and the previous rugby 1st XV strips. The traditional colours of royal blue and gold had to be supplimented due to Heriot Watt University carrying out a similar project several years previously and their colours also being royal blue and gold. The away strip was opposite with read as the main.

Clubs

University of Aberdeen Sports Union currently has [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/clubs/ 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 [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/resultsandleagues/ BUSA] .

Committee

Currently the [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/committee/ 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. The President of the Students' Association is a member as well. All are assisted by a full time Sports Administrator, Corrina Mackenzie.

Executive

Normal Members

Events

University of Aberdeen hosts some of the largest university [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/events/ events] in Scotland. These range from those for the avid university sports person to providing a fun day for all students regardless of athletic ability or fitness.

uperteams

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.

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 [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/blues/ 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.

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.

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.

Kings Rugby Sevens

Boasting one of the oldest rugby teams in the world, [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/clubs/clubinfo.php?id=35 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.

Kings Football Sixes

Not to be outdone by the rugby club, [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~aus033/history.htm 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.

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 [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/intramural/leagues.php Intra-mural leagues] .

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.

More information about this projext can be found at [http://www.aberdeensportsvillage.com/ aberdeensportsvillage] .

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.

Links and Affiliations

[http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportsunion/index.php Aberdeen University Sports Union (AUSU)]

[http://www.ausa.org.uk/ Aberdeen University Students Association (AUSA)]

[http://www.busa.org.uk/ British University Sports Association (BUSA)]

[http://www.susport.org.uk/ Scottish University Sports (SUS)]

[http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportandrec/ Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation Services (SRS)]