News
On this page, you will be able to find information about past members' news and successes as well as up-coming events. If you have any news you would like to have added to this page, please contact us at eusu.alumni@ed.ac.uk .
University Graduates Open Irish Surfing School
Good
luck to Lee Wood and Duncan Halliday, two former members of the Edinburgh
University Windsurfing and Surfing Club, who have just opened a surf school in
Dunfanaghy, a picturesque coastal town off the north coast of Ireland. Their
school provides beginner lessons as well as scenic walks, yoga week ends and
surf fit classes. For more information, please visit
www.narosalife.com
(01/10/09)
Former University Bursar Joins British Freestyle Snowboard Team
Congratulations
and good luck to Dan Breen, a recent Graduate of the University of Edinburgh and
member of the Edinburgh University Snowsports Club, who has become a full-time
member of the British Freestyle Snowboard Team. Having already competed for the
University in the Winter Universiades in Turin in 2007 and Harbin in 2009 and
won a couple of British Universities titles, hopes are high that Dan will make a
successful mark on the global Snowboard scene. All the best to Dan and we will
update you when we hear more about how he does.
Additionally, Dan's professional snowboarding career is self-funded - if you are interested in supporting him, please contact him at danbreen84@hotmail.com
(15/09/09)
Grainger Wins Silver At World Championships
Congratulations
to Katherine Grainger, the Association's Patron, for obtaining a superb Silver
medal at the World Championships. Having recently announced she would carry on
rowing until the 2012 London Olympics. Katherine's performance was part of a
brilliant overall GB performance which collected 4 silver medals. For more
information, please visit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/martingough/2009/08/how_good_was_great_britains_si.html
(01/09/09)
Jamie Redman (EUAFC) Signs For Arbroath
Former
Football Club Captain Jamie Redman is the latest University player to join the
semi-professional ranks. Jamie, who has recently completed a degree in Chemical
Engineering, has signed for Scottish Football League side Arbroath.
In 2008/2009, Jamie was the captain of the University's First XI, as well as its
top goal scorer. He also captained the Scottish Universities football team.
Jamie is the third University player to join a league club in the last 12
months. Former player Scott Bennett currently plays for Stenhousemuir, and
Andrew Cook signed for Raith Rovers.
While Jamie played for several Scottish clubs at youth level, he came to the
University thinking that his chance of playing football professionally had gone.
However, the coaching provided by the University helped lift his game to a
higher level, he said. "The coaches at the University were perfect for me. They
believed in me from the start, and really helped me and improved my game."
Now, Jamie - a hard-working central midfielder - will try and establish himself
in the Arbroath first team. He has started training with the Arbroath squad, and
scored in the team’s recent pre-season friendly against Queen of the South.
[From www.ed.ac.uk]
(16/07/09)
Hare & Hounds 120th Anniversary
To
celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Edinburgh University Hare & Hounds Club,
the Club is going to hold a reunion celebration on the 6th of March 2010.
The day will hold the annual KB5 road race, possibly with the addition of a KB10 race. The race will be followed by a formal dinner, Ceilidh and evening entertainment.
For more information about the day, please get in touch with Hannah Edwards (H.M.Edwards@sms.ed.ac.uk) or join the Facebook group.
(27/06/09)
News Sports Union Executive Committee
Welcome
to the Sports Union's 2009-10 Executive Committee who will take up office on the 1st
of July. The full new Committee is listed below:
President: Laura Hayward (Equestrian)
Hon. Treasurer: Sarah-Jane Bolt (Boat)
Vice President: Chris Henning (Swimming & Water Polo)
Vice President Intra Mural: Rachel Falconer (Women’s Hockey)
Hon. Secretary: Brittany Fayette (Ultimate Frisbee)
Publicity Officer: Pete Forbes (Athletics)
Sponsorship Officer: Hannah Saunders (Equestrian)
Alumni Officer: Lucy McGrath (Korfball)
Intra Mural Co-ordinator: Stephen Maxwell (Men’s Football)
Intra Mural Co-ordinator: Charley Hamman (Cricket)
To view past Committees, please click here.
(27/06/09)
Congratulations
to this year's recipients of Blues, Half Blues and Colours. With the amendments
carried forward to a number of constitutions this year, the bar for receiving
the awards was even higher than usual.
The ceremony took place at the Old College on the 4th of June in the presence of the Principal, Professor Sir Tim O'Shea, the Vice-Principal Professor Chapman and Gregor Townsend, who was present to be inducted into the University's Sports Hall of Fame.
To view this year's recipients of Blues, Half Blues and Colours, either look at your Club's page or check the full list of Blues and Colours.
(27/06/09)
As part of the Sports Union and the Alumni Association's efforts to reconnect with its past, we would love to hear personal stories from our past members. Be it an amusing anecdote, an embarrassing event, an impressive result or an informative snippet, we would love to hear your memories from your time playing sport at the University.
This summer, we are beginning a contest - "Stories and Glories From the Past"! The premise is simple: Graduates, be they members of the Association or not, send in their short stories (around 500 to 600 words maximum) to eusu.alumni@ed.ac.uk.
We will post them on the website with the best ones being published in the upcoming Grandstand issues! Please get writing - we look forward to hearing from you!
(27/06/09)
New Inductees to University's Sports Hall of Fame
Congratulations
to the four new inductees to the University of Edinburgh's Sports Hall of Fame.
Initiated in 2008, the first four inductees were Andy Irvine (Rugby), Katherine
Grainger (Rowing), Alison Ramsay (Hockey) and Eric Liddell (Athletics).
This year's impressive inductees were Julie Fleeting (Football), Sir Chris Hoy (Cycling), Graeme Randall (Judo) and Gregor Townsend (Rugby - see photo). Congratulations to all of them! To find out more about the athlete's impressive achievements and how to nominate other athletes, please click here.
(27/06/09)
Grainger Wins in World Single Sculls
In her first race on the world
stage in the Single Sculls, Katherine Grainger - the Association's Patron and
triple Olympic medallist, convincingly won gold. In Banyoles, Spain, Great
Britain won 9 out of 14 Olympic class races with Katherine achieving one of the
best results of the team. Leading by 4 seconds with 500 meters remaining,
Katherine said of her success: "I’m absolutely delighted. I wanted to try the
single as a personal test but I didn’t dream of winning. It wasn’t the strongest
field but you can only race the people who are here. I’m ecstatic to have won
and could not have asked for more". To watch her race, please click on this
link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/rowing/8075948.stm
(10/06/09)
Alumni Association Launched in Style
The
Sports Union was delighted to announce the official Launch Event of its Alumni
Association on the 16th of May 2009! Founded in 2008, the Association aims to
celebrate the Sports Union’s rich history, which dates all the way back to 1865,
as well as reunite former members, keep them informed of current developments
and successes and to increase links between Alumni and present Club members.
The evening began with a speech from Simon Messenger, the Chair of the Alumni
Association, in which he initially welcomed the guests and thanked the Sports
Union committees for their hard work this year, which has resulted in a
successful first year with the Association looking to sign its hundredth member
soon. Katherine Grainger, Patron of the Association, then took to the stage. A
triple silver Olympian, 4 times World Gold medallist and former Boat Club
President, Katherine wooed the crowd with a passionate and witty speech about
her time at the University and how, despite having never rowed before coming to
University, sport had played such an important part during her studies, and how
it set the path for her career. Katherine congratulated the Association upon its
launch, saying it was a fantastic development and wished it all the best success
for the future.
(20/05/09)
EUSUAA Event: Musselburgh Races, 11th February
The
Alumni Association’s first event will take place on the 11th of February down
at the Musselburgh Racecourses! All members and their friends are welcome to
attend. The entry price is £13 (£10 concessions). The first race takes place
at 1.50pm and the last race is at 4.50pm. For more information, please contact
Chris Henning, Alumni Officer, at
eusu.alumni@ed.ac.uk.
(15/01/09)
Graduate Hoy Made Knight of the British Empire
Edinburgh
University Graduate and quintuple Olympic Gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy was
made a Knight of the British Empire in the Queen's New Year's Honours. Having
already been made an MBE in 2005 for services to Cycling, it is a fitting
tribute to his outstanding career that he should be recognised in such a
manner.
(15/01/09)
Hoy Wins BBC Sports Personality Of The Year
Edinburgh
University Graduate and quintuple Olympic Gold medallist Chris Hoy was last
week end crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He beat other outstanding
athletes such as Lewis Hamilton or Becky Addlington to be the first cyclist
since Tommy Simpson in 1965 to win the award.
Hoy, who received a standing ovation from the crowd as he collected his award, said that "to win this award this year is so special as British sport has enjoyed such a hugely successful year. It's been incredible." With 283,000 votes (almost twice as many as runner-up Hamilton), Chris Hoy thanked the public for supporting him in his achievements "After the year I've had and the whole team has had, to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year, it just means so much. This is the big one and this is just unbelievable. Standing here holding it in my hands, looking at the names on this trophy, it's quite incredible. The first person, or the first group of people I have to thank are the public who voted for me because I'm just overwhelmed."
(20/12/08)
Edinburgh
University Graduate and triple Olympic medallist Katherine Grainger was last
week made a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta, while still being active in
international competition - a feat that previously only Steve Redgrave and
Matthew Pinsent had achieved.
A few weeks ago, Katherine, the Alumni Association Patron, was also honoured by the E.U. Boat Club, which she captained in 1996/97, by having their newest boat named after her.
Having obtained a silver medal in the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics, Katherine also announced this week that she will be going for Gold again at the London 2012 Olympics. Speaking to the Scotsman, she said 'I'm not going [just] to experience the Olympics. It's about getting the best result. I've have been incredibly lucky to be in fantastic boats at the last three Olympics and get fantastic results. I knew I could only do it again, realistically, if I was at the peak of my abilities. It's not a decision I've taken lightly. One of the people I talked to was the head doctor and physio to see if physically it was possible. Everyone's come back very positive, and the level I need to be at is very achievable.'
We wish her all the best.
(20/12/08)
Clyne Wins First PSA Tour Title
Scotland's Alan Clyne clinched
his maiden PSA Tour squash title in sensational style in the US state of South
Carolina - first upsetting the third seed, then the second, and then the
favourite to win the Merrill Lynch Pegasus Partners Charleston Challenge in
Charleston. The 22-year-old from Edinburgh was competing in his first Tour event
of the year after reaching the quarter-finals of the World University
Championship in Egypt last month.
Seeded five, Clyne despatched third seed Gilly Lane, from the USA, in the
quarters before taking out second-seeded Canadian Robin Clarke in the semis. In
the final - his first in only his fourth appearance on the Tour - Clyne faced
English favourite Jonathan Harford. The match was a genuine see-saw of emotions
and control of the game. Clyne, ranked 142 in the world, won the first in a
gritty 20-minute battle as the two players searched for chinks in each other’s
armour.
Harford, 25 from Leeds and ranked 80 places higher, won the second and - now
wearing the name of his country across his back in large letters - took the
third for just three points. However Clyne reappeared after the two-minute break
donning a navy blue shirt with the word ‘Scotland’ emblazoned across his back in
white - and the change into his national colours seemed to rejuvenate the
underdog. Clyne took the fourth in a game of almost 30 minutes. In the fifth the
Scot was rampant, as Harford - despite brave resistance early and late in the
game - was unable to find an answer to the ubiquitous Scot.
"It was a rip-roaring, roller-coaster of a five-game final, that included
amazing squash, heart stopping gets and ferocious attacks and an extraordinarily
sporting contest that, despite a very hot court, included few lets and an
integrity which was exemplary," exclaimed tournament organiser Richard Millman
after Clyne's 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-3 victory in 79 minutes.
"I have been watching, teaching and playing this game for more than 30 years and
I can rarely, if ever, remember seeing a finer contest," added Millman.
Final:
[5] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [1] Jonathan Harford (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-3
(79m)
From http://www.squashinfo.com
(19/10/08)
Gliding Club 50th Anniversary - 22nd November 2008
Founded in 1958 by Ron Kille, a lecturer in Zoology, the Edinburgh University Gliding Club is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. A celebratory reunion will be organised on the 22nd of November and the Club is keen to see as many former members as possible attend. To find out more about the event, please get in touch with Martin Ling at m.j.ling@ed.ac.uk
Silver At World Universities Games For Team GB
Captained
by Alan Clyne of Edinburgh University, Team GB finished second in the recent World
Universities Squash Championships Final on the 29th of August 2008. In the group
stages, Great Britain beat the USA and the Czech Republic 3-0 without dropping a
set with Edinburgh Graduate Clyne beating Alexander Charles George of the U.S.A.
11-2, 11-4 and 11-5 and Pavel Sladecek of the Czech Republic 11-4, 11-4 and
11-3.
In the semi finals, they were drawn against the second seeds Malaysia and once
again won 3-0. Alan sensationally came from two sets down to beat world number
63 Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 3-2 (13-15, 10-12, 13-11, 11-7, 11-2) and set up a final
against the favourites Egypt. Having already won the Men's Individual title and
the Women's Individual title, the Egyptians were hot favourites and lived up to
their expectations taking the final and leaving Great Britain in the runner-up
spot. Drawn against world number 4 Ramy Ashour, Alan would have needed to play
the game of his life and unfortunately went down 8-11, 8-11 and 7-11. It was
nonetheless once again an outstanding performance for Alan who will undoubtedly
climb the world rankings in the next few years.
(30/08/08)
Clyne Reaches World Universities Quarter Finals
Edinburgh
University 2008 Graduate and former Sports Bursar Alan Clyne has been competing
in the World Universities' Squash Championships this August in Egypt. The
British Universities 2007-08 Individuals Champion put a strong display on and
lost in the quarter-finals to the eventual runner-up Tarek Momen of Egypt.
After a bye in the first round, Alan, world ranked 128th, defeated Richard
Colburn of South Africa in three sets (11-7, 13-11, 11-4) in the second round to
go on to play Markus Schwartz of Germany who had beaten a world top 200 player
in the previous round. This was of no concern to Alan who romped to victory in
21 easy minutes 11-4, 11-6, 11-2. In the quarter-finals, Alan was drawn against
Tarek Momen of Egypt, the world ranked 48. Despite putting up a brave and
impressive battle, Alan was struggling to get up to the speed of the game and he
was pressured into mistakes by the quality of the drops and length coming from
the Egyptian. He eventually went out in three sets 5-11, 7-11 and 10-12. Tarek
then went
all the way to the final where he was to lose 3-1 to Ramy Ashour, also of Egypt.
Congratulations Alan on this impressive result! Alan is currently playing on the World Professional Circuit and it is a testament to the University's Bursary Programme that he has gone from being ranked ~280th in the world 10 months ago to 128th nowadays.
(26/08/08)
First Grandstand Now Available
The
first edition of the Alumni Association's newsletter, Grandstand, is now
available to all Members. In it, amongst else, are updates on the Sports Union
and its Clubs' latest news, a summary of the sporting year, a review of the
Sports Union's year, a brief history of the Sports Union and its Clubs, Ian
Stevens' memories of his tour of Kenya and many other stories. To view the
newsletter, all you need to do is to
sign up!
Please click on the picture to view this edition's front cover.
(24/08/08)
Jon Duncan Wins World Orienteering Championships
Jon
Duncan, former Sports Bursar from Edinburgh University and Male Athlete of
the Year in 1996-97 and 1997-98, has recently got in touch with the Sports
Union to update us on his recent success: "It has been a while since I have been in touch, but I wanted to let you and
E.U.S.U. know a bit of news.
In July, we won the World Orienteering Championships relay - GBR's first ever
relay gold and only the 3rd ever gold in 25 world championships.
I ran the 2nd leg (of 3) and changed over to Jamie in the lead. He held on
during a dramatic last leg to give us the Gold medal! A fantastic day and the
culmination of 20 years of dreaming! In 2003 we won the bronze medal in the
relay - that was great, but this time the feeling was too great to put into
words!"
This is a fantastic result and underlines the strength of the Sports Union's
Orienteering Club. Congratulations to him and his team!
(21/08/08)
Three Golds & One Silver for UoE at Olympics
Chris
Hoy, who graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1999, became the
first Briton in 100 years to win 3 gold medals in one Olympic Games after some
outstanding performances at the Beijing Olympics. Hoy is Scotland and
Edinburgh University’s most successful Olympian, having already won a gold in
Athens in 2004, in an event (the 1km) which got dropped from this year's
Games, and a silver in Sydney, in 2000. In Beijing, Hoy won gold medals in the
Team Sprint, the Keirin and the Individual Sprint. You can read his reaction
on the BBC website by clicking
here.
Katherine Grainger, who graduated in 1997, won the silver medal in the quadruple sculls and was only just beaten by the Chinese team in the last 50m of the race. These are the third Olympics Games in a row where Katherine wins a silver medal. You can view the final by clicking here.
In the other events, Euan Burton was very disappointed not to win a medal in the Judo 81kg weight category. You can read more about his thoughts on his exit by clicking here.
In the Men's Hockey tournament, graduate Alistair McGregor and current student Stephen Dick finished third in Group B behind Netherlands and Australia and will be playing South Korea on Saturday the 23rd of August in the 5th/6th place match (Update: They won 5-2 and finished 5th).
Congratulations to all of them - If Edinburgh University were a nation, we would have been ranked 27th!
(21/08/08)
Edinburgh University Alumni Go To Beijing
The University of Edinburgh is proud to have a number of distinguished
athletes competing at this year's Summer Olympics in Beijing, which open
today. In addition to Stephen Dick, a current Physical Education student at
the University and a member of GB's Hockey team, four Graduates will be flying
the University's flag high over the next few weeks.
Chris Hoy MBE graduated in 1999 and got awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2005. Having already won Olympics Golds and Silvers in Cycling, Chris hopes to bring at least one medal home from this year's Olympics.
Katherine Grainger MBE won Olympic Silver medal in 2000 and 2004 and will hope to go one step further this year. Having only started Rowing at the University, Katherine is Britain's most successful Olympic female rower and has been a World Champion four times.
Alistair McGregor is GB's Men's Hockey goalkeeper. Alistair graduated in 2003 and has 82 Caps for Scotland and a further 22 for Britain.
Euan Burton studied for one year at the University and is going to his first Olympics. Having beaten the 2000 Olympics' Gold medallist Gieuseppe Maddaloni to qualify, he too has high hopes of winning a medal.
The University is very proud of these outstanding athletes and the Alumni Association would like to take this opportunity to wish all of its athletes the best of luck for the Games!
(08/08/08)
Edinburgh University Feeding Scottish Football League
The Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Sports Union and the
Association Football Club are delighted to announce that goalkeeper Scott
Bennett and full-back Andrew Cook have this summer made the step
from the University of Edinburgh Association Football Club to senior Scottish
Football League sides Stenhousemuir and Raith Rovers respectively.
Upon his recent graduation from the University, newly qualified P.E. teacher
Andrew has signed a contract with the Kirkcaldy based Rovers after 2 fantastic
seasons with E.U.A.F.C. and more than deserves his opportunity to perform in
Scotland's 3rd tier. A powerful-running competitor comfortable on either side
of defence, Andrew's trademark strength and willingness to get forward made
him one of the first names on the 1st XI teamsheet after joining from East of
Scotland rivals Kelso United in the summer of 2006 and he played a major part
of the team's historical Scottish Cup successes in seasons 2006-7 and 2007-8
and the 2nd place achievement in the East of Scotland Premier Division in the
season just passed for the first time in over 4 decades.
The same can be said for Scott whose ever presence in goals for the past 4
seasons has provided manager Douglas Samuel with the strongest of foundations
to build the squad which has accomplished so much particularly in the past 2
years. Having graduated also in PE Teaching in 2005 Scott was to become one of
the 2 non-students allowed to represent the 1st XI in East of Scotland
football alongside player/assistant manager Neil Irvine and he has been one of
the most consistent performers in the University jersey, and East of Scotland
football in general, during that time culminating in a call-up for the
Scottish semi-professional squad for the summer games of 2008. Signing for 3rd
Division Stenhousemuir is a move which Scott richly deserves and the
University's loss is most definitely a huge gain for 'Stenny'.
Both players join a growing list of recent names to have made the move from
University football to Scottish League sides, in doing so highlighting the
quality and standard of player that the club can help produce under the
excellent coaching of Douglas Samuel and his staff. At the end of season
2006-7 striker Andrew Howat joined Cowdenbeath - the 1st team's
conquerors in their history making appearance in the Scottish Cup 2nd Round in
2006 - before moving on to Berwick Rangers, where he currently remains, in
January 2008. Previous to Andrew, Tommy Lennox graduated and then
joined Albion Rovers in the Scottish 3rd Division in 2004 and Stew Fowlie
and Dan Gerrard have both left to join East of Scotland heavyweights
Spartans in recent times. This pattern of movement is testament to the amount
of work that the football club and Sports Union have done in raising the
competitive standards of its teams at the top end of performance and to see
players go on to the next level is a very satisfying reward for everybody
involved. EUAFC and the Sports Union are sure Scott and Andrew will flourish
in their new environments and, with the Alumni Association, wish them all the
best for their futures, and long may success stories like this continue for
many years to come.
(06/08/08)
It
is with great sadness that the Alumni Association can report the passing of Dr
Andrew Ross, Honorary President of the Men's Association Football Club, who
passed away on the 26th of July 2008.
A life-long ecumenist and a tireless fighter for human justice, Dr Ross was a Senior Lecturer in Ecclesiastical History (1966-1998) for the University of Edinburgh and has been an Honorary Fellow since his retirement. Dr Ross was Dean of the Faculty of Divinity (1978-84) and Principal of New College (1978-84). He also served as Associate Director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World (1986-98).
A former Hare & Hounds Club Captain (1955-56) and Blue (1949-50, 1950-51, 1951-52 and 1955-56), Dr Ross has been heavily involved with the Football Club for over 30 years, many of which as Honorary President, and will be greatly missed by all involved with the Sports Union and the Club.
(05/08/08)
Jim Aitken (C.S.E. Director) receives the A.D. Munrow Award
It
is with great pleasure that the Sports Union's Alumni Association can relay the
information that Jim Aitken, Director of Sport and Exercise at The University of
Edinburgh, has been awarded a major award at the University of College Sport (U.C.S.)
AGM in London on Friday 13 June.
The A.D. Munrow (named after the pioneering Director of P.E. at the University
of Birmingham from 1929 to 1970) is awarded by U.C.S. to "the individual who is
deemed to have made a significant and distinguised contribution to the
profession over a period of time".
This is the most prestigious award in the Higher Education (H.E.) Sport sector
that colleagues across the UK can confer. It is in recognition of the
outstanding contribution which Jim has made within higher education and outside
the sector in the world of sport.
It reflects in particular the role which Jim played in helping establish
Scottish Universities Sport (S.U.S.), which is advancing pioneering sport,
physical activity and professional development programmes for students and staff
in Scottish universities, as well as serving as the single voice for HE sport in
Scotland. Jim Aitken has been a primary advocate of S.U.S.' unique united
approach and has, for 3 years, served as the inaugural Chair of S.U.S.
The A.D. Munrow award to Jim reflects very positively, therefore, on Scottish
Universities Sport, Scottish Higher Education and the University of Edinburgh.
The Sports Union is delighted that his influencing skills, advocacy combined
with his drive, energy and boundless enthusiasm have been recognised and
rewarded. The Sports Union would like to take this occasion to congratulate him
upon receiving this exceptional award.
(Adapted from S.U.S. website: http://www.susport.org.uk)
(17/06/08)
Older News:
| Printable version |