Honours for Sport Science

01 August 2008

At its annual congress, the European College of Sport Sciences awards 10 Young Investigator Awards for best Oral Presentation and 10 Young Investigator Awards for best Poster Defence. In order to enter, scientists must be under 32 years of age and within two years of PhD graduation. These prestigious and highly competitive awards are sponsored by Mars PLC and at this year's congress in Estoril, Portugal attracted a record entry of 330 competitors.

Staff and postgraduates from the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences were awarded 5 of these prizes, which represents an unprecedented haul and one not matched by any other institution in the history of the congress. Prize-winners included Dr James Morton and Sarah Fullick who came equal 5th in the poster defence. In the oral presentations, Dr Dick Thijssen and Lawrence Foweather came equal 5th. Toni Tinken was placed in the top 4 for her presentation entitled "Time course of conduit arterial structure and function adaptation to exercise training in humans."

Under the rules of the competition the top 4 Young Investigators are required to perform their presentation again in front of the whole congress on the final afternoon. Toni presented with aplomb and defended herself against some difficult questions. The 13 judges retired to rank the top four and returned 30 minutes later to place Toni first in the Young Investigator Award. As well as a financial prize she also receives an all expenses trip to present her findings at the Japanese Physiological Society in Japan in September. Congratulations to all prize winners and all other presenters who performed at a very high level.

Pictured are prize winners:  Dr James Morton, Dr Dick Thijssen, Toni Tinken, Sarah Fullick and Lawrence Foweather