The BHGE 10k Running Festival is continuing to make significant changes year on year with a view to making the event one of the most environmentally sustainable events in Scotland.
After receiving a letter from Aberdeen South MSP, Maureen Watt, enquiring about the volume of single-use plastic bottles available at the event, organisers are keen to reassure all participants and members of the community that environmental sustainability is of the highest importance.
Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) and Sport Aberdeen continue to make improvements to the sustainability of the event and 2018 sees more emphasis placed on this than ever before.
This year’s race will see a reduced number of single-use plastics overall, smaller water bottles at the water stations to reduce waste, and biodegradable goody bags with fewer plastic items inside them.
The organisers are also working closely with Aberdeen-based One Stop Waste Solutions to ensure there is a sustainability plan in place for race day on Sunday 20th May.
All plastic debris left behind on race day will be picked up by a team of dedicated volunteers and recycled accordingly.
Jill Franks, Director of Business Development at Sport Aberdeen said:
“Every year we strive to be more environmentally friendly. We understand the importance of reducing our plastic use and are making positive changes to help make this year’s race one of the most sustainable yet.
“We are also working closely with our race village suppliers to make sure our sustainability ethos is understood and followed.
“There are small ways our entrants can help with our plans on the day too, such as using the green recycling bins provided.
“We’d like to thank our participants and spectators for their support and look forward to seeing them on race day!”
Lesley McMullan from BHGE said:
“BHGE are proud of the way we invent, develop and deploy technologies that are more environmentally friendly than ever before and we continuously improve our sustainable and efficient use of resources.
“This also applies to the community events we are involved with and so each year we work hard to ensure the race is as green as possible whilst still providing an excellent experience for our runners.”
Dionne McCombie – a teacher at Stracathro Primary School – is running in this month’s BHGE 10K race alongside her husband to raise £300 pounds for one of the pupils in her school who is battling against cancer.
5-year-old, Carson suffers from Desmoplastic Medulloblastoma – Who Grade 5 Non Metastatic cancer and has spent the last 11 months travelling back and forth to Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital with his family for surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat the tumour on his brain.
Dionne, who has herself recently lost someone close to cancer, was keen to do whatever she could to show support for Carson and his family. Her and her husband Gavin have so far raised over £350 and hope to see this number continue to rise in the run up to the race.
On her motivation to raise the money, Dionne said:
“As a primary school teacher part of my job, I believe, is to inspire the children in my class. However, sometimes, it’s the children who inspire me, that is certainly the case with Carson.”
Jill Franks, Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Business Development said:
“It’s always great to see people using the BHGE 10K to raise money for a cause close to their hearts, whilst setting new challenges for themselves in the process. The support the race receives each year is inspiring and people like Dionne are shining examples of what the race aims to bring out in the community”
The BHGE10K takes place at the Aberdeen Beachfront on Sunday 20th May and is a not-for-profit event organised by Sport Aberdeen in partnership with BHGE.
Although charities including Aberdeen Cyrenians and Alzheimer Scotland are official affiliated charities, runners are free to raise money for any cause or charity they wish to on the day.
Move More Aberdeen (MMA), a physical activity programme designed for people living with long-term health conditions, has been shortlisted as a “Pioneering Project” at the 2018 Scottish Charity Awards.
Members of the public can also vote for their favourite entry across the eight categories in the People’s Choice Award. Vote for Move More Aberdeen here.
MMA is a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and Sport Aberdeen which has been called a ‘game changer’ by participants and is the first ever cancer-specific physical activity programme in Aberdeen, offering a person-centred package of activities including walks, gentle movement classes, circuit-training, walking football and gardening.
Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the awards are open to any voluntary organisation, charity, community group or individual charity volunteer or staff member, and celebrate the life-changing work they do and their dedication to making Scotland a better place to live.
Josefine Björkqvist, Sport Aberdeen’s Macmillan Development Officer said:
“It is an honour for Move More Aberdeen to be a finalist for this prestigious award. Physical activity has been called a ‘wonder drug’ and Sport Aberdeen are passionate about creating opportunities for everyone to be active in their community in to gain the associated health and wellbeing benefits. The success of Move More Aberdeen would not have been possible without cross-sector partnership work and our dedicated team of volunteers.”
Joanne Adamson, Strategic Partnership Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support said:
“The positive impact of Move More Aberdeen has been inspiring. It is fantastic to see the hard work of all those involved within the team pay off. Congratulations to everyone who are rightly having their hard work recognised by the wider community.”
Winners of all categories will be announced at the award ceremony on 14 June 2018 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
The awards will take place on Thursday 14 June 2018 at the EICC, Edinburgh and voting closes on Friday 18 May 2018 at 5pm. To vote for Move More Aberdeen to win the People’s Choice Award, please click here.
An Aberdeen partnership project has rolled out an initiative aimed at boosting confidence in participants with additional support needs at a Granite City swimming pool.
Registered charities Me Too! and Sport Aberdeen recently launched Boost Bands, discreet wrist bands which can be worn during your visit to the Beach Leisure Centre which subtly notify trained staff of any hidden disabilities.
Boost Bands, which are free of charge and optional, are thought to be the first of their kind Scotland and have been designed by the local charities to encourage people of any age or ability to participate in sport and physical activity.
The initiative aims to create an environment of understanding and is designed to boost independence and confidence in the users with all staff at the Beach leisure Centre familiar with the bands.
The long-term plan is to see all Sport Aberdeen venues across the city taking part in the initiative.
Sport Aberdeen and Me Too! have previously taken steps towards breaking down barriers to participation, regardless of ability, by introducing relaxed swimming and skate sessions and featuring virtual tours of venues on the website which can be viewed prior to visiting.
Keith Gerrard, Director of Operations and Asset Development, said:
“Boost Bands are designed to empower those who chose to wear them by creating communication and common understanding between participants and staff.
“Sport Aberdeen is proud to be working with Me Too! to champion a move to get more people more active regardless of age or ability and we are committed to inspiring people to take part in sport and physical activity in the North East. It is our hope to eventually roll out Boost Bands in all of our venues across the city.”
Phionna McInnes, Me Too! chief executive, also commented:
“Me Too! is delighted to see our ongoing relationship with Sport Aberdeen continue with the introduction of boost bands. Boost Bands can empower parent/carers to have confidence to allow their cared for to have increased independence without having to explain to multiple staff members of their additional support needs.
“This is a discreet communication tool that allows staff to understand they may have to adapt their approach or language with the wearer. This may be beneficial for hearing impaired participants who remove their hearing aids when entering the water, for example.”
Would you like to improve your game? Increase your power or maximise flexibility? Our new golf clinics are just the ticket!
The golf clinics run every Monday night from 6.00pm onwards at the Beach Leisure Centre.
During the 30 minute appointment, you will be professionally assessed by our Health and Wellness Advisor, Briony Stewart, who is TPI qualified.
The assessment will involve running through low impact exercises and afterwards you will be supplied with a gym programme, specifically tailored to you which will target your key improvement areas.
- Improved power = greater shot distance
- Improved strength = less aches and pains while golfing
- Improved flexibility = less chance of injuries
- Improved balance = more efficient swing and transitions between back swing and follow through
Commenting, Sport Aberdeen Health and Wellness Advisor, Briony Stewart said:
“I have been playing golf for 12 years and gained my Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) qualification for golf specific training in 2016.
“Since gaining this qualification, and coupled with my Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification, I have been applying that specialist knowledge to my own training and to members of Sport Aberdeen who play golf and are looking to improve their game by also training in the gym”
For more information, or to book an appointment, please email BrioStewart@sportaberdeen.co.uk
Secondary school pupils from across Aberdeen have been taking part in the popular Aberdeen Youth Games today (Wednesday 25th April).
The annual event, held at Aberdeen Sports Village, saw Bucksburn Academy being crowned the overall winning school of the event.
The Aberdeen Youth Games gives pupils the opportunity to represent their school in their chosen sport. Eight secondary schools from across the city took part in the games, competing in five different sports, including swimming, basketball, table tennis, football and dodgeball.
Jill Franks, Director of Business Development at Sport Aberdeen, said:
“The games are designed to keep young people active in a fun environment and encourage a healthy lifestyle, with the ultimate aim to inspire people and change lives through sport and physical activity.
“This initiative gives young people the opportunity to take part in physical activity throughout the city, be fantastic roles models to their peers, and enjoy different kinds of sport.
S1 – S3 pupils from Aberdeen Grammar, Oldmachar, Bridge of Don, Dyce, Harlaw, Cults, Northfield and Bucksburn Academies took part in the sporting events, which were undertaken alongside with Scottish Swimming, Basketball Scotland, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust and Granite City Guerrillas.
Since launching in 2013, the Aberdeen Youth Games have become a hugely anticipated and staple event in Aberdeen’s sporting calendar. The initiative is delivered in partnership by RGU, Sport Aberdeen and North East Scotland College (NEScol), and is funded by the Wood Foundation and the First Aberdeen.
Nominations for the prestigious Aberdeen’s Sports Awards, now in their 25th year, officially opened today.
Tony Dawson, Active Aberdeen Partnership Chairman, joined Connor Morrison, 2017 Disability Sports Achiever of the Year, and pupils from Westpark School, 2017’s Primary School of the Year, to mark the official opening of nominations for this year’s event.
This year there will be 18 award categories recognising contributions made by local athletes, volunteers and clubs in encouraging individuals to be active.
This non-profit event is presented by the Active Aberdeen Partnership, a collective of key sport and physical activity organisations in Aberdeen who together are actively promoting sport, physical activity and health opportunities within the city.
This year celebrates the awards 25th year and Mr Dawson today urged people across Aberdeen to come forward and acknowledge those who contribute to the city’s sporting success.
Commenting, Active Aberdeen Partnership Chairman Tony Dawson, said:
“Aberdeen’s Sports Awards are a fantastic way to recognise and celebrate the people in our city who contribute towards our sporting communities.
“Whether it is the voluntary superstars who lend their time to community coaching, or the wealth of talented athletes that Aberdeen has produced, inspiring future generations to come.
“This year we celebrate 25 years of Aberdeen’s Sports Awards, highlighting the city’s wealth of sporting talent and acknowledging the many facilities, clubs, coaches and volunteers that enable participation across the city.
“The Active Aberdeen Partnership champions a move to make Aberdeen the most active city in Scotland by 2020 and these awards shine a spotlight on the people who are dedicated to bringing this vision to life.
“There is still time to sponsor some of our categories, so I would also urge any business or individual looking to support community sport to get in touch to find out more about they can get involved as we celebrate 25 years of sporting success in the city.”
The closing date for applications is Friday 24th August 2018. Click here for more information and the list of categories.
2017 Disability Sports Achiever of the Year winner, Connor Morrison said:
“The Aberdeen Sports Awards is a great way to recognise the success of athletes, coaches and volunteers across the city. The event is a shining example of inclusion with para athletes stories and successes shared to raise awareness of opportunities and show anything is possible”
Do you know a sportsperson, team, club, coach or volunteer who deserves recognition? Nominate them now!
Sport Aberdeen can confirm that the MacKenzie Championship Golf course at Hazlehead Park is to reopen on April 20th (weather permitting), and Golf Aberdeen members can make course bookings from Monday 16th April.
Alistair Robertson, Sport Aberdeen’s Managing Director announced the news, saying: “During the winter we have been doing all we can to prepare all the courses in the city for the golfing season. We have not been helped by the weather, however conditions are improving and we are pleased that the MacKenzie course will again be open for play.”
Sport Aberdeen, which manages the course on behalf of the City Council, also announced that it will be making significant investment to tackle long-standing drainage problems on the MacKenzie course and that this work will commence later in the year.
Robertson added: “in recent months our top priority has been the MacKenzie Championship course and we have been working with Hazlehead Golf Club, our golf committee and golfers to plan a way forward. We have also engaged professional advisers, renowned industry experts and specialist drainage consultants to help find the best value for money solution.
“After careful consideration, we can confirm that we are committed to a detailed programme of drainage and improvement works that will commence in July this year. This is when the weather is dryer and ground conditions are much more favourable which will necessitate the course being closed to give the contractor maximum ease of access and avoid health & safety risks.
“We are also going to leave the course closed for the remainder of 2018. It is important that we protect the investment we are making and allow the ground to recover, improved areas to establish and new growth bed in. This will also provide our maintenance contractor with the opportunity to do other essential works. Our partners at Aberdeen City Council will also undertake a strategic tree management programme to complement all we are doing.”
Sport Aberdeen is committed to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity.
Sport Aberdeen is delighted to announce the redevelopment of the outdoor tennis courts at Westburn Tennis Centre.
Funded by Tennis Scotland and sportscotland, this project is part of an overall upgrade to the tennis provision at the centre and further enhances the role that it plays as a critical focal point for tennis participation, coaching and junior development across the North East of Scotland.
Following the redevelopment works, the facility will also provide the centre with a competition standard outdoor playing surface, giving the North East the ability to host tournaments and training programmes for every level of tennis, including performance programmes. These improved outdoor courts will also play a key role in supporting the growth of the Aberdeen Tennis Academy coaching programmes.
Sport Aberdeen is committed to providing quality tennis provisions in Aberdeen, which is reflected by this improvement project and with the recent appointment of a dedicated Community Tennis Coordinator, and highlights the great progress being made with the tennis offering in the city.
Westburn Tennis Centre – Outdoor courts redevelopment project
The works start during week commencing 9th April and is estimated to last for 10-12 weeks.
The outdoor hard court will be closed to the public during the construction works and we anticipate the courts to be open to the public for play from the start of July. The outdoor grass courts will also be available for play from May 2018.
The indoor courts and all tennis programmes will continue as planned.
This is an estimated timeline which may move depending on the progress of the work. As and when we have any updates on the project we will be keeping our website and social media channels up to date.
Planned works
- Outdoor Courts – 4 porous courts will be installed to competition standard, configured to meet LTA specifications
- New floodlighting – will be installed over the 4 courts, upgraded floodlight system to LED over 4 courts
- New fencing – will be installed allowing the courts to be divided into 2 + 2 courts for multi tennis use, giving more capacity for games. A galvanized fence with Gate Access system will be installed. The fencing will allow the opportunity to divide 4 courts into 2 + 2 courts for multi tennis use & increased capacity
Sport Aberdeen is delighted to confirm renovations to Sheddocksley Sports Centre which will modernise the venue and provide customers with a state-of-the-art health and wellness experience.
The work, which will begin in May 2018 and is anticipated to take 10-12 weeks, will involve renovation and extension of the fitness gym, more than doubling the space available; improving the reception space to incorporate a comfortable seating area; and transformation of the existing squash courts into dedicated exercise studios.
Keith Gerrard, Director of Operations and Asset Development, said:
“This is very exciting news for users of Sheddocksley, the local community, and the city as a whole. We are committing expenditure in the region of £250,000 to make significant improvements at the venue which will vastly enhance the offer available to the local community with premium quality equipment and a new exciting inclusive programming of activity.
“Discussions with users and community groups, which have been quietly continuing over a number of months, will now be brought into clearer focus as we raise awareness of the project and ask for views and ideas about the facility, its programme and how it can best serve all local residents.
“Sport Aberdeen is committed to encouraging and supporting people to participate in physical activity, including those who are not currently regularly active. I am confident the centre and everything it will offer will be a real attraction to new members alongside our current loyal customer base.”
During this time reprogramming and relocation of some sessions may be required and normal service will be disrupted for a short period of time. As part of this extensive modernisation work, parts of the building will be closed to the public while the work is ongoing. Whilst there will be disruption to the day-to-day running of the facility, this is crucial work that will ensure the longevity of the centre.
Please find full project information, including estimated work timelines here.