Blues Awards for Victoria's best sportspeople

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Blues Awards for Victoria's best sportspeople

Victoria’s supreme athletes and administrators from a variety of sports will be honoured at the 42nd Annual Victoria University Blues Awards on Friday 12 October.

The Blues are the highest recognition the University can give to people who have, by their sporting achievements or contribution to sport, brought credit to the institution. They are awarded by the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association on the recommendation of the Blues Panel consisting of the representatives of the Victoria University Sports Council and two appointed members, both of which are highly respected in the Wellington sports industry.

Former Blues winners include All Blacks Graham Mourie, Jerry Collins and Conrad Smith, World Mountain Running Champ Jonathan Wyatt, and Black Stick Suzie Pearce.

The Guest Speaker for the evening is Jamie Fitzgerald – best known as the first person to complete an unsupported expedition to the South Pole in 2007 and winning the two-person rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean in world record time (both achievements with partner Kevin Biggar).

The awards will be held at the The Boatshed on Taranaki Wharf from 6.30pm. The two major awards, the 2007 Sportsperson of the Year and 2007 Sports Administrator of the Year will be presented by Jamie Fitzgerald at the conclusion of the ceremony, and 40 students will receive sports and administration Blues.

Sportsperson of the Year: Sayeqa Islam, for Debating. In July this year, Sayeqa was the first New Zealand to be titled best speaker, out of 324 debaters, at the 2007 Australian Intervarsity Debating Championships (Australs). One of the world's largest debating tournaments, the Australs are second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship. Sayeqa was a member of the Victoria University team that finished in second place, and was also named best speaker in the Grand Final.

Sports Administrator of the Year: Mark Davis, for Snow Sports. Mark has been the president of the Victoria University Ski and Snowboard Club since 2005. As manager of the Victoria University Ski Lodge he has seen occupancy at the lodge increase from 20 to 76 per cent, and the Club's turnover quadruple since the 2005/06 season. Mark is responsible for the growth in club membership from 25 members in 2005 to 80 in 2007 and for the past two years he has managed the Victoria University Snow Games.

2007 Sports Blue Recipients:

Athletics: Jessica Penney, Louise Hosegood, Alice Mason, Hayley Green, Hautahi Kingi. Badminton: Karl Dowland
Basketball: Talalelei Taufale
Beach Volleyball: Susan Blundell
Canoe Polo: Mike Taylor
Debating: Christopher Bishop, Sayeqa Islam, Stephen Whittington, Joshua Cameron, Polly Higbee.
Duathlon: Stephanie Anderson
Handball: Jeremy Clark, Nicholas Douglas, Matthew Thomson, Jessie Barwick.
Hockey: Jo Holdaway
Inline Hockey: Zachary Beardman, Lewis Taiapa-Skinnon.
Lawn Bowls: Clare McCaul
Mountain Biking: Kathryn Campbell, Connor Power.
Orienteering: Lizzie Ingham
Rowing: Kevin Simpson, James Ashley, Anna Reymer.
Shooting: Michael Grain
Soccer: Patrice Bourke
Surf Lifesaving: Chantelle Cowlrick
Swimming: Chantelle Cowlrick
Table Tennis: Hanna Squire
Underwater Hockey: Andrew Gunn
Water Polo: Eamon Lui-Fakaotimanava, Andrew Couper, Conor Lui-Fakaotimanava

2007 Sports Administration Blue Recipients:

Table Tennis: Stephan Gerschewski
Badminton: Yuen Chin
Snowsports: Mark Davis

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