Last month the capital was hit with torrential downpours and flash flooding causing disruption across the city. Unfortunately, Oriam and several other buildings on the Campus fell victim to the flooding. For safety of our users, the decision was made to close the facility early on Monday 24^th June.

During the time of the down pours there were three main areas of the building that the rain breached and within a very short space of time the facility began to flood. The Oriam team worked around the clock to maintain the flooding and stop any water spreading. With the hard work of all staff it allowed Oriam to open its doors the following day, as expected areas of the building were closed down while an inspection was conducted to find out the extent of the damage. 

By the end of the week, it became apparent that the damage was worse than first feared; all squash courts, studio 1 and sports hall 2 has significant water damage under the Junkers flooring which was agreed would require complete replacement. The Strength & Conditioning Gym was also badly damaged in all 3 rooms with waters levels reaching 2.5 foot in these spaces. All of the affected areas have been completely disinfected and inspected to agree repair work.  Carpet tiles have been removed to allow the flooring to dry and we are working with our Insurers to get a programme of works agreed as quickly as possible.

At present, all Squash courts, Studio1 and Sports Hall 2 plus the Strength and Conditioning Gym remain closed until further notice. The last area requiring inspection is the equipment in the Strength and Conditioning gym, we have several companies coming in to see this area week commencing 8^th July.

We have given instruction to the agreed contractor to commence work in the Squash Courts, Studio 1 and Sports Hall 2 to dry the area and then lay new flooring. This is expected to take several weeks but we will have a firm programme within the next 5 days.

The impact of these areas closing has been challenging and we understand the frustration of our users, but Oriam have worked extremely hard to minimise the disruption were possible. Our Group Exercise Coordinator, Mandy Stott has worked tirelessly to accommodate as many group exercise classes as possible during July and August with only 5 classes cancelled per week.

Again we would like to thank you for your patience and support during this period. If you have any queries in the meantime please contact hello@oriam.hw.ac.uk

Following member feedback and the continued drive to provide the very best facilities for all our members. We have agreed a very exciting improvement to our facility by teaming of with the world leaders in fitness equipment, Technogym.

Our new gym floor is designed to offer fitness experiences for all levels. Whether you are new to exercise or training for a specific goal, our state-of-the-art Technogym kit will help you to improve all aspects of fitness, including stamina, agility and strength.

Check out the first peek of how the new gym will look:

with dedicated training zones and digital technology, you will be able to:

-Set fitness goals specific to your lifestyle

-Track activity inside and outside of the gym

-Train individually or in groups

-Personalise every workout

-Track weight, measurements and body fat percentages

The installation of the new Technogym fitness equipment will in early August and we are working on the install plan right now.

Stay tuned for more information or ask a member of the Fitness Team for more details and you too can be Powered by Technogym.

Summer is a wonderful time of the year. Whether that’s jetting off on holiday or BBQ’S out in the back garden. In amongst the blazing temperatures we can all occasionally over indulge in some of our favourite things.

Sarah’s top tips offer the best ways to keep healthy over summer and highlights some key factors to be aware of.

Where ever you spend summer, enjoy it and keep healthy.

Student Summer Membership

Student Summer Memberships are still available for the month of June. The offer is only available at Oriam reception:

£30 – 30 Days

£60 – 60 Days

£90 – 90 Days

Junior Memberships

Want to keep your Junior active over the summer? Why not join our Summer Membership.

6 weeks for £20 with no joining fee, for kids aged 10-15 JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP

Junior Open Day

We are hosting a free Junior Open Day on the 22nd June. There will be a gym circuit and inflatable assault course. Open day begins at 1300 – 1500. Keep your eyes peeled for more information.

The Scotland women’s A squad for the forthcoming world cup has recently been announced and there is a graduate of Heriot Watt University in the squad.

Kirsty Smith is an Accountancy and Finance graduate, now starring for Manchester United F.C. Kirsty recently won the Women’s Championship and gained promotion to the FA Women’s Super League.

The squad also features six players who have in previous years been part of the National Performance Academy hosted at Oriam. 

The players are: Lee Alexander, Jenna Fife, Chloe Arthur, Kirsty Smith, Lizzie Arnott and Fiona Brown. 

The squad recently defeated Jamaica 3-2 in their last warm up game before they head to Paris for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The opening game of the squads campaign is against England, followed by Japan and Argentina. We wish all the players every luck throughout the tournament.

#OurGirlsOurGame

Other Sport News

The Scottish Squash men’s team had an exceptional result at the recent club European Championships held in Birmingham finishing in third place and coming home with the Bronze medal.  The women’s team had an equally successful tournament finishing in fourth place in their first year back in the first division.  HWU and Oriam have, for many years, supported the Scottish Squash programme and it is fantastic to see them achieve notable success on this European stage.

The annual United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning conference will be held in London on the 15th and 16th of June and will see our Director for Sport, Performance and Health Neil Gibson present a talk entitled ‘don’t wait for the beep’

The colour run continues to be a staple part of the physical activity and health offering at Oriam however it’s popularity is spreading. Our Health Promotion Manager Sarah Robertson recently organised a colour run at the Borders campus which attracted over 200 participants and raised an impressive £1200 for charity. 

Earlier this month we hosted the annual Heriot-Watt Sports Union Blues and Volunteer awards.

This year several of our Talent Development Program Scholars received awards for their achievement in their sport.

Perhaps the most noticeable Scholar winner on the evening was Commonwealth Games medallist, Seonaid McIntosh, who also became World Champion in the Women’s 50 Prone Rifle Shooting in 2018 was awarded the Neil Campbell Trophy for “Top Blue”

 Seonaid’s contribution to Heriot-Watt University’s sporting success in BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) has been truly magnificent and we wish her every success as she moves on from her student days this summer when she is set to graduate with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Seonaid recently secured a silver medal in rifle three positions at the International shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Munich. She also set a new British record of 461.4.

Greg Anderson was another Blues winner on the night for his achievements in Karate. Greg who studies Civil Engineering won the Individual BUCS National title in February and has been selected for the National Team at both U21 and senior level.

His achievements have led to a current world ranking of 91 and an Olympic ranking of 87.

Winners on the night

Outstanding Sporting Achievement Award (OSA)

Gregory Bailie – Skicross

Erin Clachers – Football

Craig McDonald – Karate

Blues & Half Blues

Brad Howe – Archery

Greg Anderson – Karate

Seonaid McIntosh – Rifle Shooting

David Cumberlidge – Swimming

Defeating both the Army and the Air Force on their way to victory.

Last week we hosted the Tri-Rugby services Championships. The Royal Navy won the championship defeating both the Army and the Air Force.

Teams from all three services were in action, but two wins for the senior service meant they were crowned champions.

Eldon Myers impressed for the Navy and won Player of the Tournament thanks to two impressive performances.

Despite Andrew Chalmers scoring the first try of the tournament for the Army, it was the Navy who roared back to win game one.

Myers scored and helped his team to a 12-5 win.

The Army looked to bounce back against the Air Force and managed to pull out a win by a 12-0 scoreline.

Chalmers was on the scoresheet again in that game, but the Navy sealed the title in game three.

Myers grabbed himself two tries while Sam Benzie also went over as the RAF were beaten by 35-3.

The victory gave the Navy bragging rights on the day and until the next Tri-Service Championships.

We are delighted to announce Oriam have teamed up with Nutmeg Magazine as we embark on a sponsorship agreement for the next year. The agreement will be in relation to the Nutmeg Podcast, a fortnightly conversation about magazine content and in-depth interviews.

Nutmeg Magazine is a high class home for everything Scottish football, past, present and future. Published every 3 months, it offers opinions, reflections, insight, photography and poetry. Launched in 2016, Nutmeg has fast become a standard bearer for football-related content. It seeks to leave no reader behind, covering both science and the romance of the game.

Although paper and ink are Nutmeg’s first love, they have a strong social media presence. Producing online films and fortnightly podcast consisting of conversation about magazine content and in-depth interviews. Recent guests have included Shelley Kerr, Eilidh Doyle, Pat Nevin and our very own Director of Sport, Performance and Health Neil Gibson. Neil is delighted to team up with Nutmeg and had this to say on the partnership

“Oriam opened its doors in the summer of 2016 and since then we have welcomed people into our facility from across the sporting spectrum.  Despite there being no requirement for  ‘jumpers as goal posts’ school children, amateur, semi-professional and international level male and female players have graced our pitches.  We pride ourselves on being a facility that is accessible to all and we feel that this eclectic and inclusive mix is something mirrored in what Nutmeg have done in bringing together thoughts, comments and opinion from the far reaches of fandom in Scotland.  Their excellent podcast is something we are as proud to support as we are excited for each new edition.”

Nutmeg’s associate Editor and successful author Daniel Gray expressed his delight at teaming up with Oriam,

“We’d been aware of the high quality work and innovation that goes on at Oriam and we’d published articles in Nutmeg by the brilliant Neil Gibson, but nothing prepared us for visiting for the first time. There is this atmosphere of progress and community, and a real sense of quality about the place. The main building left us speechless. It felt as breath-taking as St Pancras Station, but with something better than trains at its centre – a football pitch. To be sponsored by a place and a cause that you believe in, and that has similar values and standards to Nutmeg, brings us great joy. We’ve got big plans for growing the podcast and Nutmeg in general, and we’re really pleased that Oriam are on board, and we’re on board with them. This will be a really fruitful, creative partnership”

Nutmeg Podcast lands fortnightly and includes conversation about magazine content and in-depth interviews https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/podcast/

All Star Events present the Inner City Schools Football Tournament 2019, a tournament for Lothian Primary Schools. All Star Events is hosting the 1st Inner City schools football tournament at Oriam on Tuesday 21st May 2019, from 10am until 2pm. The event organisers are a group of Edinburgh College Year 2 HND Students. The four-strong team at All Star Events are passionate about bringing children together in sport and could think of no better event to organise than a school’s football tournament.

Event team manager Andrew Fraser said,

“We are delighted to be using Oriam’s indoor 3G pitches for soccer 7’s school teams for this upcoming tournament. This was an event that we have wanted to do for some time allowing all levels of Primary School teams a chance to play at these facilities in the friendship of sport. On conducting research it was apparent that very few primary school football teams had either a league, cup or any competitions they could feasibly enter”

Sixteen school teams from all over the Lothian’s will face each other on Tuesday 21st May at The Oriam in Edinburgh. During the tournament there will be two Cups available based on school team abilities allowing all levels of teams to participate. The winning teams will receive a trophy and all players will take home a participation medal.

This event has partnered with “Sporting Start” which is a charity that enables young people in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s to experience and enjoy sport. They help individuals and groups who face financial or other barriers which limit their opportunity to access or participate in sport. They aim to provide funding support to help with, for example, coaching, courses, events, facilities and sports equipment.

Sporting Start was founded in memory of Martin Macari, an inspirational and talented sportsman whose life was cut short by cancer aged 47. A passionate advocate for the power and joy of sport, Martin was a role model who led by example as player, coach and leader across multiple sports.

As a father, one of Martin’s greatest hopes for his children was that they developed a love of sport from an early age and thrived from the many ways sport would enrich their lives. He strongly believed that every young person should be given this opportunity

Andrew said,

“On searching through sporting charities for this tournament the team came across Sporting Start. A charity that was unknown to us it was discovered that both the team at All Star Events and Sporting Start shared the same ethos in regards to Youth Sport in the Lothian’s and we are delighted we have partnered for this tournament”

The tournament has also received sponsorship from Football Nation providing event tracksuits, Bala Sports proving Fairtrade Match Balls, Scotmid and various other local businesses to allow this event to be a lasting experience for those pupils involved. The event is also hosting a Fairtrade Fruit and Water stand allowing all participants to enjoy this throughout the tournament.

“It is hoped that the success of this tournament will allow it to become an annual event allowing more schools to be part of a Footballing experience for their pupils”

There are a limited number of spaces still available to primary schools and if you would like further details, or wish your school to participate, please contact the organisers on allstarevents.football@gmail.com or directly on 0131 297 9625.