With the announcement of an all-female candidate list for this year’s VP Sport race, here is your handy guide to the two women running to lead Strathclyde’s sporting stars.
Two of the original four candidates have dropped out of the election since announcing their candidacy, leaving a tight two-horse race in the poll that traditionally attracts the most voters in the student elections.
Maddy Watson
Watson is the current Vice-President of the Sports Union, second-in-command to the outgoing Alex Brock. She also previously served as the sports Events Officer and so has a wealth of experience.
The fourth-year politics student wants to complete her ascension through the ranks at the Sports Union before finishing her studies and has a background in running.
Despite its vilification as an overpriced panini merchant, Watson sees the university’s catering company Nourish as an opportunity to provide funding for sports clubs at Strathclyde through sponsorship. Her other manifesto policies include raising the profile of clubs through social media and providing courses such as concussion awareness and MIDAS tests.
Watson said: “In terms of club sport we are constantly trying to improve funding opportunities for our clubs so they can concentrate on training instead of fundraising.”
Natalie Scobie
Scobie, a fourth-year Sport and Physical Activity student, currently works with Active Schools to raise sport participation in Scottish schools. She aims to bring that experience to university as the next VP Sport.
A member of Strathclyde University Netball Club, Scobie encourages the growth of recreational sport within the university, such as the successful Strathactive programme, and believes it’s important that there are opportunities to play sport for all students.
This is reflected in her manifesto promises, which include improving recreational sport and increasing participation in non-BUCS sports.
Scobie said: “Strathactive this year has been so amazing. It’s such an amazing way to make other friendships and feel included in university life! A lot of the time BUCS games are played on weekends so students aren’t actually available to play competitively. Recreational sport is a brilliant way to still play and be involved!”
Voting opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday 5 March 2019.
By Steven Mair
