Aberdeen University Sports Union
All are assisted by a full time Sports Administrator, Corrina Mackenzie. University of Aberdeen hosts some of the largest university events in Scotland. This new body was now identical in set up to its sister Aberdeen University Societies Union. 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.In Scotland they finished third. 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. SUS also takes responsibility for a lot of the sports BUCS does not recognise such as rifle, shinty, gaelic football and curling. 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 Floorball 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, The 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. .
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. formed in 1889.
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.
BUCS is responsible for the organisation of the majority of university sport and claims to set more sports fixtures than any other sports organisation in Europe. Aberdeen University Sports Union (AUSU) is an elected body responsible for the running of all organised student sport at the University of Aberdeen.
Between these clubs are 99 teams who travel weekly around Scotland and Britain competing against other universities and clubs. Season 2007/08 saw Aberdeen University ranked 26th in Britain for university sport, up 3 places on 2006/07.
Every sport that is recognised by BUCS is allocated points towards it. 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.
It is not responsible for facilities and rents time for its clubs from Aberdeen University Sport and Recreation. These range from those for the avid university sports person to providing a fun day for all students regardless of athletic ability or fitness. 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.
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. 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. 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.
All Aberdeen University BUCS leagues can be found at BUCS. 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. 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.
These colours were carried into the new organisation. 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 & College Sports (BUCS) leagues.
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.
The tournament is usually hosted on the last weekend of April or the first weekend after the Easter holidays. 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. Since its conception in 1996 University of Aberdeen have only been beaten once by their city rivals Robert Gordon University, in 2008. Not to be outdone by the rugby club, Aberdeen University Football Club is older than Aberdeen F.C.
The success of the rugby sevens is rivalled by that of the football and is normally the weekend after the rugby. 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. 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. The traditional colours of royal blue and gold had to be supplemented due to Heriot Watt University carrying out a similar project several years previously and their colours also being royal blue and gold.
It is a constituent part of Aberdeen University Students Association. The University of Aberdeen has lost only twice, in 2006 and 2009.
Rex being the Latin for King. University of Aberdeen Sports Union currently has fifty-eight affiliated clubs, the second largest in Scotland. 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 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. This has been boosted in past years by guest speakers such as Jimmy Hill, Jason White, Ally McCoist, Clive Tyldesley, Doddie Weir and Gordon Smith. The annual boat race between University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University has been competed for since 1995.
SUS runs a lot of the sports events and fixtures on behalf of BUCS in Scotland, in particular the British University Games (BUGS). The second largest intramural programme in Scotland. All Intra-mural leagues. 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 August 2009.
The away strip was opposite with read as the main. In 2008 the elected captains and members of the Aberdeen University Sports Union Committee voted on a shortlist of 8 different themes for sport at Aberdeen University to be branded. 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.
Many tour further abroad annually. It will be in partnership with Aberdeen Council and sportscotland.
It houses Grampian Institute of Sport, bar and conference suite. Aberdeen Asset Management annually sponsor the event. One of the largest varsity events in Britain competed annually in the week before the Easter holidays in March.
These are compiled and at the end of the season all institutions are ranked for sport. The University of Aberdeen affiliates to SUS annually. 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. 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. But with a move to the new Sports Village, the facillities will be changing The traditional colours of the Athletics Association were gold and royal blue.
One third voted for a King after Kings College the name of the campus, playing fields, pavilion, street on which the new sports centre is off and the founding name of the University of Aberdeen in 1495 before it merged with Marischal College in the 19th century. In 2009 a Lion King mascot costume was purchased and named Rex King . At this point the ancient Athletics Association, as it was known, ceased to exist.
It is an exciting opportunity for sport at University of Aberdeen. More information about this projext can be found at aberdeensportsvillage. The University of Aberdeen affiliates to BUCS annually. All sports are competed against in traditionally on the Wednesday of the week.
