As always, there was an exceptionally strong field of candidates, and competition was fierce. The winners of the awards are listed below, and videos of all the winners receiving their awards can be found on the Sports Union website.

Lillywhite Shield for best club:

Swimming & Water Polo and Women’s Hockey      

Ian Stevens Alumni award:

Orienteering Club

Neil Campbell Shield for outstanding sports organisation and services:

Andrew Leith (Cycling)

Pavilion Association Cup for best publicity record:

Women’s Football Club

Captain S.T. Garner Trophy for most outstanding first-year contribution to University sport:

Sarah Adlington (Judo)

Colonel R.B. Campbell Award for most improved club organisation, admin and performance:

Boat Club

Eva Bailey Cup for most distinguished female athlete:

Corrie Scott (Swimming & Water Polo)

Vancouver Quaich for most outstanding male athlete:

Callum Smith (Nordic Skiing)

Livingstone Trophy for most outstanding expeditionary achievement:

Cycling Club

Executive Committee Awards for major services to club and/or University sport:

Ben Warrington (Basketball), Emma Bird (Swimming & Water Polo), Leo Brown (Trampoline), Zachary Janes (Shukokai Karate), Cathy Comerford (Equestrian), Sarah Tullie (Orienteering)

For anyone interested please check out our Facebook group and get involved, all welcome! (www.facebook.com/groups/EUOC.Legends/)

The game will again be played at Richmond Athletic Ground, on Saturday 27 September (kick-off 6pm), and will be the fourth consecutive year in which the derby match has been contested at the home of London Scottish.

Former Scotland internationalists and alumni of the universities, Jonny Petrie (St A) and Simon Taylor (Edinburgh), helped launch the fixture in the grounds of the iconic St Andrews Cathedral.

St Andrews currently hold the Cup, after recording a 24-15 victory in last year’s game, the first time they had managed the feat since the derby upped-sticks and moved to London.

St Andrews captain, and last year’s man of the match, Danny Clink, said: “We always look forward to the varsity match to kick start our season, yet are fully aware that Edinburgh [University] are a talented team and will come at us hard. We don’t often get the chance to play Edinburgh, as they compete in the league above us, so it’s a great opportunity to test ourselves and one that I know a lot of boys will relish. There was a great buzz around the game last year, with the crowd of over 1400, and we would love for more of the same this year.”

Head of Men’s Rugby at Edinburgh, David Adamson, agreed with this saying: “The event is growing year on year and we are already in discussions to bring the game to Edinburgh next year so that there will be a greater student involvement. We see this as the next step in the event evolving. On the playing side, we are desperate to put in a good showing following last year’s defeat. We had a number of 1st years playing last year, so they will be a year older and hopefully a bit wiser come the 27th September!”

In addition to the men’s game, the inaugural women’s varsity match will take place in the form of a sevens game, played during half-time of the main event.

Freya Gannon-Burns, a member of the Edinburgh University Women’s squad, said: “There’s a real excitement building around our squad at getting the chance to feature as part of the Scottish Varsity event. The women’s game is growing in popularity, especially in the wake of the recent World Cup, and this is a fantastic opportunity not only to showcase women’s rugby, but the talent coming through the university system. Our squad featured in the national BUCS sevens late last season, and exceeded expectations by getting to the semi-final, so we are confident going into the game.”

Both universities firmly encourage all alumni to come along and back their old colours.

Tickets for the game are free and will be available on the door, on matchday.

For further information, visit: facebook.com/ScottishVarsityMatch

SCOTTISH VARSITY MATCH IS SPONSORED BY

Our Volunteer

Douglas L Jardine, from Peebles, Scottish Borders is an Archer who studies an MA in Business Management and will graduate in 2017.

Have you volunteered at many events before?

As an active member of the University’s Archery Club, I volunteer my time to help with routing novice coaching and hosting student league matches and National championships. I also work closely with Scottish Student Sport as a brand ambassador where I go to various events to represent SSS and help them run as well as they can, and as the Archery Chair, I’m responsible for the SSS League, Championships and Head2Head events, as well as its continued development. In the past I have also been part of EUSU’s publicity committee (before it re-launched as the media house) and finally, I have recently applied to sit on the performance and membership committees of Scottish Archery who are undergoing a great resurgence after a period of uncertainty.

Why did you want to volunteer at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games?

I compete as an archer and as my sport sadly wasn’t included in Glasgow 2014 I decided I had to be involved somehow, so I decided to volunteer.

Where were you placed as a volunteer and what were your day-to-day roles and responsibilities?

I worked two days at Ibrox for the Rugby 7s and five days at Hampden for the athletics. I was part of the hospitality team looking after the private and corporate hospitality clients who visited the games. Our day-to-day role was complete service from when they arrived bringing them in through security, making sure they had the best time at the games and then making sure everyone made the last train home.

How has being involved in sport at the University of Edinburgh helped?

Without Edinburgh University Archery Club, everyone at EUSU and the Performance Sport Programme I would never have found such a passion for sport that has driven me to compete for Scotland, and meant I simply had to be involved in the best Commonwealth Games ever.

What were the highlights of the Commonwealth Games?

It’s hard to pick highlights from such a wonderful week at the games, as an ex-rugby player (and Rangers fan) seeing Ibrox full for the Rugby 7s was a great start to my games. Then moving to Hampden for the athletics meant I was in the heart of Glasgow 2014. While working I saw David Rudisha, Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson compete which confirmed to me that these games are important, competitive and relevant. All the while working with a group of people I am now privileged to call my friends. Perhaps most of all was the sense that the volunteers at the games got real recognition for their efforts, I felt like I gave a lot to Glasgow 2014 and was valued every moment I was involved.

What are your plans with volunteering in the future?

I will continue my work with EUAC and SSS hopefully for the duration of my student life and beyond, and I’m always excited by new challenges. I would like to work with EUSU again and possibly with BUCS in the future.  I also owe a huge amount to the Scouting Movement so I hope to return to that at some point in my life.

Our Performer

Jo Richards, originally from the outskirts of London, is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and personal trainer, and graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a BSc (Hons) Applied Sports Science in 2004.

Why did you want to perform at the Commonwealth Games?

I’d been selected by Dance Base as their ambassador for the Delhi 2010 Handover Ceremony. It was such a phenomenal experience I jumped at the chance to audition for the ceremonies for Glasgow 2024.

Have you performed for events on this scale before?

Delhi was the biggest scale event I’d ever performed in, both in terms of cast and audience. There were 350 cast members flown to Delhi and on the night there was a capacity of over 80,000 in the audience as well as a global audience watching on TV. For Glasgow there were over 40,000 in the stadium and in my particular section of the performance (I was in Kingdom of the Scots, the section with John Barrowman and Karen Dunbar, I’m proud to say I was a teacake!) there were only 100 performers.

I’ve had amazing opportunities to perform in the best theatres in Edinburgh and London and have performed in multiple Edinburgh Festivals, stadium shows, TV work and was part of Team Scotland for a competition in the USA. But performing in Scotland for the Commonwealth Opening was something really special.

How long did you have to rehearse?

Altogether we had around 16 rehearsals of varying lengths in the run up to the opening. All were done outside come rain or shine – we rehearsed in every weather condition possible!

Is it possible to determine your highlights?

There are so many! My main highlight was my team. So many enthusiastic, devoted volunteers all coming together to create something so memorable and in our own way represent what Scotland is all about. As a Choreographer it was also an amazing opportunity to view how mass choreography and stadium ceremonies are created. How they devise the concept, create the choreography and relay their vision to such a large cast.

What do you do now?

Lots of things! I’m a blend of art and science. On the one side I’m a Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer. On the other I’ve been a Personal Trainer for nearly 10 years. I also work on various freelance projects in dance, education and fitness.

Do you think your performing experiences at University helped you in your path?

Absolutely! When I was studying I ran the Modern Dance Society for 3 years and we took part in the annual performance in March which is still going strong today. This gave me the opportunity to hone my teaching and choreographic skills which have proved invaluable. I feel the annual performance is a wonderful opportunity to showcase all of the talent we have at Edinburgh, some of my fellow alumni are now also Dance professionals. It’s also fantastic to see the provision of the MSc in Dance Science, I wish this was available to me at the time of my studies.

Do you plan to perform on this scale in the future?

I certainly hope so!

If you’re interested in Personal Training with Jo or finding out about any of her other services visit her website here. 

Our Competitor

Sean Doherty from Glasgow plays Table Tennis for Scotland, alongside studying Applied Sports Science at the University of Edinburgh.

How long have you been playing Table Tennis and how long have you been playing for Scotland?

I’ve been playing in total for 10 and a half years and have been representing Scotland in my age category for 9 years. I’ve been in the Senior Squad for 4 years and in the first team for 3 years.

How long has the Commonwealth Games been on your mind?

For about 6-7 years. I was listening to the announcement on the radio when it was made. After it had been made we received more funding and I decided to give up all other sports to focus on table tennis. By the time I was 17 (in 2010) I was the best junior in Scotland but I knew I’d have to step up to make the senior team so I moved to France to compete and train full time with professional club Levallois for 2 years. In 2012 I moved back to Scotland and have been training with the National Squad while studying in Edinburgh. For the last 6 years I have been on a training schedule where I train 4-6 days a week and when I was full time that was mostly twice a day.

How has the University of Edinburgh supported you in your sport?

I made the decision to come to Edinburgh because my national training was based in Edinburgh but also because I knew of the University’s rich history in performance sport. When I heard what was included in the Individual Performance Programme it was really an offer I couldn’t refuse. They’ve helped me loads over the last couple of years, with financial support and also when exams and competing have clashed. Without FASIC I wouldn’t have made it to the Games in one piece and the Performance Gym is a world class facility. I feel like I’ve been well looked after since I’ve arrived in Edinburgh and it’s a great set-up for any aspiring athlete who is looking to combine their studies with their sporting commitments.

When did you find out you had been selected for Glasgow 2014?

I got a phone call mid-May to say I had been nominated and then I got a phone call confirming my selection and what events I had been selected for at the start of June.

Can you summarise the experience of a home Commonwealth Games?

I had been focusing on this one competition since I was a young teenager and it was my dream to compete in Glasgow 2014 so the first time we walked out at Scotstoun to the Scottish crowd was incredible. We weren’t sure what the atmosphere would be like at the table tennis since it’s a minority sport in Scotland but the crowd were amazing and the cheer we got when we walked in was just the best feeling. I loved the village and I felt pretty used to it very quickly. Because of our good preparation in the build up to the Games, we were eased in to those sorts of living conditions. After our prep camp in Stirling it actually felt sort of normal, but it was still a great place to be.

Is it possible to identify any highlights?

The team match against Canada was definitely the highlight of competing. It was only the first day and our second match but we got a really bad draw which meant we knew we had to beat Canada to have a realistic chance of getting to the quarter finals which was our goal. Canada were 5^th seeds and we were the 8^th. The match went on until about 10.45pm but we eventually won. It was balanced on a knife edge the full time. Me and Craig Howieson (a former UoE athlete) won the doubles 11-9 in the fifth set (3-2) which was our best ever doubles win, and for me (in terms of ranking) is my second best win ever. I think the team result against Canada is Scotland’s best ever team result as well, it definitely is in the Commonwealth Games anyway.

The opening and closing ceremonies were also amazing. I was only able to march straight in and out at the opening ceremony because we were competing early the next day. I’m a lifelong Celtic fan so to get to walk out the 40,000 people at Celtic Park was a dream but getting to walk out there for my country was even more special. I had to fight back the tears a little at the start because it was completely overwhelming and there was a sudden realisation of what I’d achieved and how long I had waited for that moment.

You’re still a student, what are the plans next?

I still have two years left on my course so in terms of University I intend to carry on as usual and get my degree. The build up to the Games has been so long so now that they’re over I’m enjoying a little holiday (even though I’m currently studying for a re-sit!). However the new season starts in a couple of weeks and I have league matches mid-September and then the European Championships are in just over a month so it will be back to business as usual. Commonwealth Champs are in India again next year so we’ll be building to that over the course of the season but my long-term goal is Gold Coast 2018. After the once in a lifetime experience of Glasgow 2014 I’d love to experience a Games away from home as well and what better place to do that than the Gold Coast of Australia!

We flew into Reykjavik and picked up our hire cars-three Dodges, each equipped with a 5.7L V8 engine- and let rip on the long open roads to our hired holiday house nestled in the outback.

We came to ride bikes however, and we spent the following four days doing just that. In four days we were able to sample a myriad of different trails, from the super tacky volcanic rock at Maradalur underneath the mountain of Hengill, to deep ash on top of the now infamous Eyjafjallajokul, which was followed by the best singletrack anybody on the trip had experienced.

We found that Iceland really was a world of it’s own, we spent the majority of the week trying to adjust to the constant daylight and completely failing-eating dinner at two in the morning just felt right. Iceland truly is the place of the uncommon, wild and perfect for mountain biking.

The club retained the Boat Race for the first time in the modern era of the race, hopefully the second win of a long run to come. EUBC won six of the seven races on the day, losing out only in the women’s first VIII’s event after an equipment failure, albeit to a very strong Glasgow crew. Edinburgh also won both alumni events for the first time in several years.

Edinburgh were also very successful at the Scottish Championships, where as well as picking up numerous medals also achieved the real goal of getting sixteen athletes selected for the Scottish Rowing team for the Home International Regatta in Cork, Ireland in the summer. This is the most athletes from one club in the senior team that anyone in Scottish Rowing can remember.

Finally, EUBC were well represented at Henley Royal Regatta, where two crews raced in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (Intermediate 4x) and the Temple Challenge Cup (Student 8+). Unfortunately both crews were knocked out on the Thursday; the quad, who were all lightweights, to a very strong Tideway Scullers School heavyweight quad, and the eight to eventual finalists from Brown University, USA, having beaten Trinity College Dublin the day before.
The quad’s race was given extra significance by the large number of EUBC alumni who row for TSS, and there were lots of divided loyalties on show on the bank.

Finally, there was a great turnout at the alumni reception on the Saturday afternoon, where one of the most successful EUBC crews ever, from 1989, met up with their 2014 counterparts.

EUBC are looking forward with great excitement to an even bigger and better 2014-15 season!

We have built upon our competition experience, taking part in events across Scotland as well as south of the border. There are some fine shots to be found in our current team, and we’re anxious to build on our current lineup with a fresh intake of members in September. Hence we’re currently planning an extended recruitment program for fresher’s week, with taster sessions a-plenty. This fresh approach, coupled to a renewed focus on coaching and the development of more sophisticated gun handling techniques should, we trust, prove a recipe for competitive success.

Speaking of competitions, we were delighted to host our first home competition earlier this year in the second semester. This, as our co-competitors would hopefully tell you, was a resounding success, and we were encouraged enough by the experience to plan another event for next February, with the date lodged in everyone’s diaries early. We plan to extend our links to other universities in the coming year in order to enlarge our competition, so that it may, with luck, become a regular fixture in the University sporting calendar.

Within the club, we’ve enjoyed a busy and varied social scene this year, and this has been one of our strongest attributes. We remain a fairly compact and friendly group, and I know that many significant friendships have been created via the medium of club and our various events. Looking forward again, there are many ideas afloat at present for some fun party themes this autumn and onwards; all I can say is watch this space!

All told, the club finds itself with a clean bill of health heading towards this coming year, and I hope I speak for all our members when I say that that I cannot wait to see how it will grow in the future.

However, the end of the season has not signalled a break from korfball for Ella Paul, Elliot Samson and Jean Fourie. They are hard at work training for the Fifth European Korfball Championship at which they will be representing Scotland. The Championship is taking place in Portugal from 25th October to 2nd November 2014 and we will keep the alumni posted about their progress.

The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all members that are leaving us this year for their dedication to EUKC . Thank you Cathy, Elliot, Fern, Helena, Jamie, Jena, Jill, Kris and Max! We wish you the best of luck for the future and hope that you keep on korfing!

The day was split into two parts; short sessions led by our coaches to showcase our current training, and a competition between members of the different eras of our club. The competition was kicked off with mixed Kata, dominated by current BUCS Intermediate Kata Champion Joe Farrimond with former Coach Eva Morris as runner up.
For Kumite, the competitors were teamed up according to their time in the club: Team Big Bang with members from the 80s and 90s,Team Jurassic from the early 2000s, Team Neanderthal with our most recent alumni and the Space Cadets, comprised of current members. After a number of hard-fought bouts, Team Neanderthal came out as winners in the final against a strong Team Jurassic.

After this sport-filled day everyone was happy to rest their feet during the dinner in Teviot – before setting out for some dancing. The weekend was a huge success, old friends meeting again and making new ones, and we are all looking forward to our next big alumni reunion in five years!

A competitive match in which the Uni where on top for long spells until Dan Gerrard broke the deadlock in the 78th minute with a strong header at the back post from a Dan Ward cross. The win
caps of great year for the 1st XI, a year in which they reached the BUCS semi-final and would have won the league if not for a technicality. Having received confirmation of EUAFC’s entry into the Scottish Lowland Football League a month earlier it has been a great end to a wonderful season.

EUAFC’s U21s lifted their SERYFA Division 2 trophy at Penicuik Park on Sunday 25th May after their cup final match against Tynecastle. A superb season for the ‘youngsters’ of the club who have not only won the league but also reached two cup finals. Unfortunately the 21s could not make it a double on the day losing 3-1 to Tynecastle in the William Johnstone Cup Final. A hard fought game in which the 21s struggled to play their free flowing football on a well weathered pitch, the highlight of the game being Callum Cant’s exceptional finish on the turn to equalise just before half time.

The U21s also won the Stuart Brown Memorial Trophy the following Sunday sealing their double and rounding off a fantastic season for the squad. A Grant Loftus penalty was the difference between the two teams at Penicuik Park with the Uni boys coming out 1-0 winners in a closely fought game. The league and now cup champions have consistently won games and shown superb technical ability throughout the whole year and fully merit the trophies and plaudits they are now receiving.
The future of the club looks bright.