Thursday 28th September 2023

In an exciting development for the student sporting community, Scottish Student Sport (SSS) is thrilled to announce the successful purchase of seven brand-new table tennis tables through its Special Projects Fund. This initiative is a significant step forward for the organisation and demonstrates a commitment to enhancing the student table tennis experience in Scotland.

Special Projects Funding: A Brief Overview

The Special Projects Fund is a cornerstone of SSS’s mission to support student athletes and foster sustainable sporting initiatives. This fund allocates resources to projects that have a lasting impact on the student sporting community and align with SSS’s core values. Projects eligible for funding can receive up to £5000, enabling them to create a meaningful and sustainable difference.

Seven New Tables: A Game-Changer

The acquisition of seven new table tennis tables marks a milestone for student table tennis in Scotland. These tables boast a consistent design and a key accessibility feature—making them wheelchair-friendly. This inclusivity aspect is a testament to SSS’s commitment to ensuring that sports are accessible to all, regardless of physical abilities.

SSS’s strategic partnership with Table Tennis Scotland played a pivotal role in securing these tables. This collaboration not only facilitated a smoother acquisition process but also resulted in additional discounts, ensuring that the funds were stretched even further to benefit the student sporting community.

These new table tennis tables will find their home at Heriot-Watt University’s Oriam facility. Oriam is rapidly evolving into a hub for racket sports, including table tennis. The addition of these tables will further establish Oriam as a premier destination for athletes across Scotland.

Pictured; Cameron Hussain (TT Scotland), Jess Baillie (SSS), Max Tuma (HWU TT Club)

In October of this year and in the years to come, students from across Scotland will have the opportunity to use these tables to participate in Centralised BUCS League Fixtures. These tables will provide a dedicated and high-quality venue for competitive matches, elevating the student sporting experience in the region.

SSS has ambitious plans to collaborate with Oriam to make it the home of the Scottish Student Table Tennis Championships, hosted annually in February. This move promises to bring Heriot-Watt University into the spotlight during the prestigious Scottish Student Games weekend.

Alisa Khalid, Scottish Student Table Tennis Chair, highlighted the significance of these new tables, stating, “These additional table tennis tables are more than just equipment – they represent the growth and development of student table tennis in Scotland. Their purchase will help provide a dedicated venue for our Centralised BUCS League matches and, we hope, the Scottish Student Table Tennis Championships. They will help Heriot-Watt University’s Table Tennis Club develop too by creating an inviting environment for competitive play – inspiring new students to join the sport for both its social and competitive aspects.”

Richard Yule, CEO of Table Tennis Scotland, expressed his excitement about the development, saying, “We’re absolutely delighted to see seven brand new Table Tennis tables delivered in collaboration between Scottish Student Sport and Table Tennis Scotland. It’s an exciting time for student Table Tennis, and these new tables will provide yet another venue for competitive fixtures and a space to further grow the student community.”

The impact of these tables will be felt for years to come, fostering growth and development in student table tennis while providing a dedicated space for both competitive fixtures and training. As SSS continues to invest in special projects that align with its values, the future of student sports in Scotland looks brighter than ever.

If you’re interested in submitting an application for a Special Project please contact the SSS Business Manager, Julia Stenhouse, at julia@scottishstudentsport.com.

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Wednesday 6th September 2023

Whether you’re a new student or staff member at a college or university in Scotland, we’re excited to have you as part of our community. Scottish Student Sport (SSS) is committed to promoting and supporting sport and physical activity among students. Here’s a guide to help you understand how to interact with Scottish Student Sport:

Welcome to Scottish Student Sport!

Joining a Club at Your College or University:

One of the best ways to get involved in the Scottish sports community is by joining a club at your college or university. Here’s how to do it:

Explore Club Options: Start by exploring the list of clubs and sports available at your institution. Most universities and colleges have a dedicated sports and recreation department or website where you can find information about the clubs they offer.

Contact Club Representatives: Reach out to the club representatives or captains for the sport you’re interested in. They can provide you with details on membership, practice schedules, and upcoming events.

Attend Taster Sessions: Many clubs host taster sessions or welcome events at the beginning of the academic year. Attend these sessions to try out the sport and meet fellow students.

Signing up for a Scottish Student Sport Event via Our Website

SSS organizes various events and competitions throughout the year. Here’s how to sign up for these events:

Explore Events: Navigate to the “Events” section to see a list of upcoming events. Click on the event you’re interested in to access more information.

Registration: Follow the registration instructions provided on the event page. This typically involves creating an account on Playwaze and submitting your details.

Getting Involved with Our Leadership Academy

The SSS Leadership Academy offers valuable development opportunities for students. Here’s how to get involved:

Check Academy Offerings: Explore the Leadership Academy section on the SSS website by clicking here to learn about available programs, workshops, and leadership development opportunities.

Apply: When you find a program that interests you, follow the application process provided on the website.

Participate and Learn: Once accepted, actively participate in the academy activities and make the most of the leadership training provided.

Keeping Your Eye Out for Coaching and Training Opportunities

We’re running loads of different training and coaching opportunities this year, like our Reffin’ Brilliant program that focuses on training new officials. Here’s how to stay informed about opportunities:

Visit the coaching and officiating Page: Explore the training section on the SSS website for information on coaching courses, training sessions, and development programs by clicking here.

Keep your eyes peeled: Look at our social media pages regularly.

Register and Attend: Sign up for the courses or training sessions that align with your interests and goals. Attend these sessions to enhance your coaching and training skills.

Volunteer with Scottish Student Sport and Join Sports Development Groups

Volunteering is a great way to contribute to the student sports community and develop your own skills. Here’s how to get involved:

Explore Volunteer Opportunities: Check the SSS website for information on volunteer positions and sports development groups looking for members by clicking here.

Apply to Volunteer: Complete the volunteer application process as outlined on the website. This may include submitting your CV or expressing your interests.

Engage and Contribute: Once accepted, actively participate in volunteer activities and collaborate with sports development groups to support student sports initiatives.

Contact a Staff Member for Collaboration:

If you’re a staff member interested in collaborating with SSS or have ideas for partnership, here’s how to get in touch:

Visit the Contact Us Page: Go to the “Contact Us” section on the SSS website to find contact information for staff members and departments or see our full contact directory here.

Reach Out: Send an email or make a phone call to the relevant staff member or department to discuss your interests and ideas for collaboration.

Scottish Student Sport offers a vibrant community of sports enthusiasts and numerous opportunities for students and staff to get involved, develop their skills, and contribute to sport in Scotland. Check out our website and social regularly to stay updated on events, programs, and opportunities tailored to your interests. We look forward to having you as an active member of our community!

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Monday 26th June 2023

Scottish Student Trampoline champion disability sport through fundraising and new disability inclusive competition categories!

The Scottish Student Trampoline development group have championed disability sport within trampoline and beyond this year, raising money for Beeslack All Stars Disability Sports Club and striving to ensure everyone had a place at the Scottish Student Trampoline Open.

Jordan, Lynne, Hollie and, Cait pictured from left to right

Through a number of fundraising events throughout the year the Trampoline development group raised funds to support Beeslack All Stars and the incredible work they do in providing young people with opportunities to participate in sport. Beeslack All Stars DSC are a grass-roots multi-ability, multi-sports, club linked with Scottish Disability Sport. They provide sporting opportunities for children and young adults with additional support needs and their siblings. At All Stars, everyone can try out new sports together, promoting improved physical and mental health, whilst developing their social and emotional skills, communication and confidence. All Stars also guide their members to pathways into SDS competitions, the Special Olympics, and have even had members go onto the Paralympics!

SST also worked hard to make their own events more inclusive, adding a disability category at the Scottish Student Trampoline Open for the first time ever!

Hollie Fullerton, SS Trampoline Chair said:

Representatives from Beeslack All Stars at the SS trampoline open handing out medals

Representatives from Beeslack All Stars presenting medals at the Scottish Student Trampoline Open

“Our donations will allow them to fund their staffing, take on new members, and purchase specialist equipment. They are also local to SSTO, training just outside of Edinburgh. The work they are doing is a total lifeline for the families they support and they are heavily involved in their local and wider community.

We selected All Stars as our partner charity this year to celebrate and champion inclusion in sport which is especially prominent since it is our first year offering a disability category within SST.”

The SST development group raised money through their social bands, donating the profits back to All Stars. Through the generosity of the Scottish Student Sport Trampoline Community, £975 has been donated to Beeslack All Stars.

Every club that attended the Scottish Student Trampoline Open purchased social bands so they are all to thank for this generous donation.

If you would like to learn more about Scottish Student Sports’ wider inclusion and diversity work then please get in contact with Inclusion & Culture Coordinator Eilidh Paterson.

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Friday 16th June 2023

BUCS AWARDS | See all the Scottish Students Shortlisted

The British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Awards are a prestigious recognition of outstanding athletic achievements within the UK’s University sport scene, held by our sister organisation.

Each year, talented student-athletes from across the country are nominated for their remarkable contributions to various sports. In recent years, Scottish students have consistently demonstrated their prowess and dedication, earning well-deserved nominations for these coveted awards. Let’s take a closer look at some of the exceptional Scottish students who have been shortlisted at this years BUCS Awards.

Special Recognition Award Shortlist

Digital Engagement Award Shortlist

Play.Train.Perform – University of Edinburgh

Recruiting the Twelfth Man – University of Stirling

Coach of the Year Shortlist

Claire Cruikshank – University of Edinburgh

Unsung Hero Shortlist

Gary McArthur – University of Edinburgh

Club of the Year Shortlist

Badminton Club – University of Glasgow

Chris Potter Student Volunteer of the Year

Regional Winner

Hannah Adams – University of Edinburgh

And a special note to GB Student’s Mens Curling team, shortlisted for team of the year and made up entirely of Scottish Students!

We’re absolutely delighted to see so much Scottish representation across the whole spectrum of awards, and it’s clear that our incredible students are helping the Scottish Student sport scene punch well above it’s weight.

The BUCS Awards are planned to take place on Thursday 13 July at the University of Leeds, read more here.

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Monday 5th June 2023

The final SSS Medal Table of the 2022/23 season is here!

The SSS Medal Table is a method for institutions to see how successful their student-athletes have been over the course of the SSS season.

The table includes all events in which SSS medals* have been awarded during the 2022/23 season.

All semester 1 and 2 events which took place have been added.

The table defaults to alphabetical but can be sorted by any of the column headings.

SSS Medal Table 2022/23

Institution	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Aberdeen University	28	24	17	69
Abertay University	4	2	3	9
City of Glasgow College	4	2	2	8
Dumfries & Galloway College	0	0	1	1
Dundee University	17	11	24	52
Edinburgh College	1	3	2	6
Edinburgh Napier University	5	4	2	11
Edinburgh University	104	91	62	257
Fife College	2	4	3	9
GCU	12	7	8	27
Glasgow University	62	57	63	182
Heriot Watt University	10	15	15	40
NESCol	0	1	0	1
New College Lanarkshire	0	1	0	1
QMU	0	2	1	3
RGU	10	8	15	33
St Andrews University	64	62	47	173
Stirling University	42	30	26	98
Strathclyde University	34	38	36	108
UHI	8	0	2	10
UWS	5	5	10	20
West College Scotland	1	0	0	1
Z-GUEST	29	28	29	86

Last Updated: June 2023

*Also includes BUCS medals won at Scottish Conference Finals

Compare how your instution got on against the 2021-22 Medal Tracker!

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Wednesday 3rd May 2023

The Scottish Highland Games are a celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and athleticism, Students can get involved throughout the summer!

The Scottish Highland Games are a celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and athleticism. The games feature a variety of traditional Scottish sports such as caber toss, hammer throw, tug of war, and many more. The games are a showcase of strength, speed, and endurance, and are held in various locations throughout the country.

The Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA) has been encouraging more female athletes to participate in the games. This drive has seen an increase in female athletes taking part in events such as running and cycling. The RSHGA has also introduced a new heavyweight championship for female athletes, giving them the opportunity to showcase their strength and skill in the games.

As a Scottish student, getting involved in the Highland Games is a great way to experience the traditions and culture of Scotland. The games are a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, make friends, and compete in a fun and challenging environment.

If you are interested in taking part in the Highland Games, the RSHGA has made it easy to get involved. Simply follow the attached link or image below to find out how you can become a part of the games. The RSHGA has created a welcoming and inclusive environment for athletes of all levels, so whether you are a seasoned athlete or a beginner, there is a place for you at the games.

Find out how to get involved by clicking here.

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Thursday 27th April 2023

Over 220 athletes from 15 universities and colleges descended on Grangemouth Sports Stadium on 22nd April to compete in the pinnacle of the Scottish Student Athletics season – the Outdoor Championships. Despite the strong winds the students gave it their all, determined to win points for their club in the John Innes Memorial team competition.

We saw a blistering Men’s 5000m where the previous student record for that event was broken not once – but twice! Peter Bradshaw (University of Edinburgh) pipped his team mate Finlay Ross-Davie to 1st place in 14:54.64 but both broke the 5-year record.

Women’s discus also saw a record-breaking performance as Kiera Maxwell (University of Glasgow) hit 44.03m – over a metre further than the record set last year in the same event.

The Outdoor Championships also included Seated Throw para-adaptive events for the first time, with University of Stirling’s Adam Donnachie furthering his PB in the discus and maintaining his top UK ranking in shot putt too.

University of Glasgow stormed to victory in the John Innes Memorial Trophy, bagging the most number of team points in the team event. Full results can be found on our website and check out our photo album here. Well done to all athletes and thank you to the officials who made it all possible.

Let us know how you found it! Please complete our Feedback Survey and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a Decathlon voucher in our prize draw

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Thursday 27th April 2023

Read all about the Scottish Student Sport College National Finals!

On April 26th, nearly 200 students from 5 colleges across Scotland gathered at Oriam to compete in the Scottish Student Sport College National Finals. The competition was fierce, but City of Glasgow College emerged victorious, winning the overall College Cup for the second year in a row. Fife College came in as runners-up.

The Sandy King Salver, a trophy awarded to individuals who display excellent sportsmanship and fair play, was jointly awarded to Kacie Fyvie and Hannah Byers from Edinburgh College. They stepped in to represent their college in badminton at the last minute when other players pulled out.

UHI’s Inverness College Men’s football team made an 8-hour round-trip to be a part of the event. The competition also championed the Football v Homophobia campaign, with football captains wearing armbands in support.

The success of the event would not have been possible without the help of the Heriot Watt Volleyball and Basketball Clubs, as well as all the officials and staff who contributed their time and effort to make it happen. Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and dedication to student sports in Scotland.

All results can be found online here (thank you to Decathlon for providing vouchers for our MVP winners).

Check out the full photo album on Facebook and our highlights video below!

Help make the College National Finals even better, complete the feedback survey here!

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Tuesday 25th April 2023

It’s Awards Season again!! We are now accepting nominations for the 2022/23 SSS Awards! Read on for more information on the different award categories, the nomination process and where the winners will be crowned.

We are delighted to announce that the SSS 2022/23 Awards are officially open!

The Awards

We are accepting individual nominations in the following five categories:

Female Athlete of the Year- Aimed at high-performance female student-athletes, whether or not they compete for their college or university. This will be awarded to a female individual for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2022-23 season (April 2022 – April 2023) while making a tangible contribution to the institution.
Male Athlete of the Year- Aimed at high-performance male student-athletes, whether or not they compete for their college or university. This will be awarded to a male individual for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2022-23 season (April 2022- April 2023) while making a tangible contribution to the institution.
Volunteer of the Year- Aimed at students and non-students who volunteer at a local level. This is not aimed at volunteers primarily in a SSS role (please see Dr Rob MacPherson Award); coaches (see Coach of the Year); paid staff going the extra mile (see Honorary President’s Medal). This will be awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to student sport at a local level during the 2022-23 year. The contribution may be in many forms such as exceptional active or administrative services to a club, college, or university; as a faithful club servant, committee member, leader; official; or purely down to their love of sport. Volunteers purely in a coaching capacity should be nominated for the Coach of the Year award.
Coach of the Year- Aimed at those who coach student sport/student-athletes at any level of performance. They may be either volunteer coaches or paid coaches. Not aimed at professional coaches based in Higher Education for whom student-athletes are not the main focus. This award will be given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to student sport by coaching during the 2022-23 season. Good quality coaching; innovative ideas; dedication to the sport; and a drive to continually improve their own skills are features of an outstanding coach.
Honorary President’s Medal- Aimed at any individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to/lasting impact on student sport at a local, regional or national level. Nominees should be regarded as wonderful examples/ advocates of student sport and their behaviour should resonate with the above SSS values.

We are accepting group nominations in the following two categories:

Club of the Year- Aimed at the all-round best performing Club, on and off the field of play. Not aimed at clubs that have had a successful competition year only. This will be awarded to a club that can demonstrate impact in the 2022-23 season. Increasing memberships, upping participation, innovative projects, developing volunteers, promoting the role of officials; fundraising, community links and involvement in institutional activity are just certain elements that would demonstrate excellence.
Team of the Year- Aimed at the most successful, high-performing student teams in the country, whether within SSS/BUCS competition or further afield. Not aimed at a team that performs to the fullest of its potential in the lower levels of competition e.g. a third team that has a 100% season is still unlikely to win this award. This will be awarded to a team for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2022-23 season (April 2022-April 2023). This can include international performances.

The final award is the Dr Rob MacPherson Award. This award differs slightly from the rest of our awards – there are no nominations, instead, the winner is selected by the SSS staff team as opposed to the Executive Committee. The award is aimed at any individual who has made an outstanding contribution to volunteering with Scottish Student Sport.

The Details

Nominations for each category should be a maximum of 250 words, in bullet point format listing out key achievements.
Institutions can nominate in as many categories as they wish, but may only put forward one entry per category.
Past winners can receive the same award again.
Only member institutions can nominate. All member institutions have been sent login details to the online portal where nominations should be submitted.
Nominations close on FRIDAY 5th MAY at 18:00 and the Executive Council will then decide on the winners.
Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner on Wednesday 7th June, as part of the SSS Conference.
Please contact Totty with any queries.

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Tuesday 18th April 2023

Relive the intense competition that took place during the Men and Women’s Scottish Student football finals held on April 12, 2023.

Relive the excitement of the Scottish Student Sport Football Finals held on April 12, 2023, where the top teams from institutions across Scotland battled it out for the Queens Park Shield and SheCanSheWill Cup’s respectively.

In the Men’s Queens Park Shield final, Heriot-Watt University faced off against the University of Stirling in a close match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the very end, with a late goal from Stirling sealing the 1-0 win.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s SheCanSheWill Cup final, the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh went head-to-head in an equally intense showdown, with the St Andrews side winning 4-1.

Both matches showcased the best of student football and were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and their coaches. Catch the highlights of these exciting games in the video from Youth Football Scotland, coming soon!

📸 For more photos from the event, check out our Men’s photo album by Andrew Leinster HERE and the Women’s photo album HERE

As always we’d like to extend a massive thank you to the volunteers and officials that made the day a roaring success, and to Oriam for providing such an excellent venue.

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