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RGU announces new sport scholar roster

RGU: SPORT, Robert Gordon University’s £11million state-of-the-art sports facility, has revealed the latest recipients of its annual sport scholarship scheme. A total of 21 top sporting students from a range of academic and athletic disciplines have been selected this year.

The sport scholars represent the up-and-coming elite in a range of competitive sports, many having already achieved both national and international success over the last year.

Now in its sixth year, the RGU: SPORT scholarship scheme provides recipients with a number of measures aimed at supporting their athletic and academic careers. This includes sports coaching, conditioning advice, physiological and performance testing, expert guidance on nutrition, sports science, performance and lifestyle management. Financial assistance is also awarded to support travel, training, equipment and competition expenses accrued during the academic year.

Joining the scholarship for the first time is hill runner, Scout Adkin. Originally from Peebles, Scout (18) took up running aged 10 and, approximately three years ago, came to realise her talent for long distance and cross-country running.

The physiotherapy student’s dedication has propelled her up the ranks in recent years, and saw her awarded the 2011 Great Britain selection for the U20 European uphill mountain running championship. In 2010 she was titled the U20 UK Mountain Running Champion and the British & Irish Hill Running champion.

Returning to the scheme for the second consecutive year is Stonehaven archer, Emily Blake. Currently holding a staggering 28 Scottish records and ranked eighth Junior Lady in the UK, Emily (18) has been involved in the sport for five years. She has a busy competition schedule ahead of her in 2012, beginning with the Northern Area Indoor Championships on 29 January and the Scottish Senior Indoor Championships shortly after on 5 February.

Commenting on the scholarship support, Emily, who is in her second year of an Applied Social Sciences honours degree, highlighted the strength and conditioning sessions which she says have improved her posture and stamina.

She continued: “The programme has also motivated me further to succeed and improve. Knowing that I can access a sports psychologist and physiotherapist, should I need it, is a welcome additional benefit, especially around competition time.”

Other budding sport stars joining Scout and Emily include: golfer Jane Turner; rugby players Geoff Dunne and Caitlin Sedgeworth; Olympic cross-country skier PJ Barron; basketball star Ciara Newell; footballer Odmar Faeroe; and table tennis player, Aurelie Bernadet.

Flying the flag for the scholarship on a global level is swimmer, Hannah Miley, who has been a sport scholar since joining RGU in 2009 to undertake an honours degree in Applied Sports and Exercise Science. The Garioch swimmer (22) has led a tireless campaign in recent years and has risen to claim some of the top global titles including Commonwealth gold and a World Championship silver, both in the 400m individual medley.

With the London 2012 Games rapidly approaching, the scholarship scheme has never been more important to Hannah, whose training schedule is increasingly demanding. She said: “The next eight months will be some of the most challenging and exciting in my life and athletic career so far. It’s fantastic to have RGU’s support in helping me to achieve my full potential.”

Filippo Antoniazzi, Director of Sport at RGU, founded the scholarship in 2006 following the opening of the sports facility. He said: “The scholarship continues to go from strength to strength, encouraging some of Europe’s finest young athletes. This year’s intake features a lot of fresh and talented young sports men and women and we are looking forwarding to working with them to hone their abilities.”

The RGU: SPORT Scholarship programme works regularly with public and private sector bodies who have offered guidance and financial support.

Filippo continued: “Corporate funding is an important source of support for the programme. As such, we remain open to conversations with companies looking to invest in sport and the next generation of the nation’s top athletes”.

To find out more about the sponsorship opportunities offered by the scholarship scheme please contact Filippo Antoniazzi by phone on (01224) 263769 or by email at f.antoniazzi@rgu.ac.uk.

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