Sports stars from the University of Aberdeen are among the nominees at this year's Aberdeen Sports Awards.
The annual event, taking place on October 3rd, celebrates the wealth of sporting achievements and contributions made by local athletes, volunteers and clubs.
This year the University is sponsoring the Performance Coach of the Year Award, and there are a host of athletes and coaches with connections to the University – either as current students, alumni, or staff – nominated across a range of categories.
The Aberdeen University Netball Club (AUNC) has been nominated in the Club of the Year category, in recognition of its success on and off the court. Last season the club had two teams in the Scottish Conference Cup finals – a tournament for all Scottish Universities, where the AUNC first team won the cup final and ended the season as Scotland’s number one.
Off the court, the club has been recognised for its outreach work in the community. Its volunteering activities include the ‘Bounce Back to Netball Club’ that takes place at St Machar Academy, as well as support for Ashley Road Primary School’s netball teams.
There is individual recognition for University athletes Eilidh Prise and Kim Beattie, both of whom are nominated in the Student Achiever of the Year category.
University Sports Bursar Eilidh is ranked in the World’s Top 40 Modern Pentathletes, and represents Ireland at international level.
An MSc in International Business and Finance student, Eilidh enjoyed success earlier this year when she scooped an individual silver medal earlier at the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Modern Pentathlon Championships in Reading, narrowly missing out on gold.
After winning last year’s Student Achiever of the Year Award, Kim Beattie is nominated in the same category following a successful season in which she took gold in the Open Female double mini trampoline (DMT) competition at the Scalabis Cup, held in Portugal.
Kim, who was representing Great Britain, was up against stiff competition from around the world, including teams from Canada, Spain and Portugal. Nonetheless, the Electrical and Electronic Engineering student won her individual final while helping Great Britain claim a team gold.
Commenting on the nominations, Vice Principal Alan Speight, who will attend next week’s ceremony on behalf of the University, said: “I am delighted that so many athletes and coaches with connections to the University are nominated in this year’s Aberdeen Sports Awards.
“I’m also pleased that we are showing our own support for the event through our sponsorship of the Performance Coach of the Year Award.
“Sport is such a big part of University life, and through our investment in Aberdeen Sports Village and support for student athletes through our Sports Bursary programmes, the University is playing its part in promoting participation and development for our students, and the wider community in Aberdeen.
“I congratulate all of our University nominees, and wish them the best of luck ahead of the Sports Awards taking place on October 3rd.”