Finalists for the Massey University Blues Sports Awards - the highest sporting accolade given in the New Zealand tertiary education system - have been announced.
The University is presenting 154 Blues to high-achieving students who have excelled in their specialised fields. Eight students are receiving awards for competing in two sports.
This year will also see two student athletes receive a Sport Recognition Award – a new award to recognise high achievers in sport who are not athletes, (for example managers, coaches, referees). They must have achieved at the same level as an individual athlete would to receive a Blues Award.
The combined Manawatū and Wellington ceremony will be hosted at the Sport and Rugby Institute at the Manawatū campus on October 16.
The guest speaker on the night will be Mark Ranby. Known for his long-standing career in rugby, Mr Ranby represented the Manawatū, Central Vikings and Waikato rugby teams as well as played for the Hurricanes during 1997-98 and the Chiefs until 2006. Mr Ranby played one international game with the All Blacks against Samoa in 2001, and is now the personal development manager with the Highlanders.
The Auckland ceremony will be held at the Auckland campus on October 18, where former Black Cap and Massey University sport advancement manager Jacob Oram will be the guest speaker.
Mr Oram, who is from Palmerston North and graduated from Massey in 2015 with a Bachelor of Business Studies after studying via distance, made a name for himself as a cricketing all-rounder. He played 229 internationals, and became one of only six New Zealanders to reach the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in one-day internationals.
The awards also recognise distance learning students and how their aspirations reflect the University’s reputation for being well suited to those playing high performance sport that typically comes with a fast-paced and travel-heavy lifestyle. In 2011 Massey was proud to have been named the first athlete-friendly university by High Performance Sport New Zealand.
And the finalists are …
Manawatū and Wellington Campus Sportswoman of the Year finalists:
Hannah Hawley – Archery
Anona Pak – Badminton
Hannah Rowe – Cricket
Samantha Hansen – Olympic Weightlifting
Manawatū and Wellington Campus Sportsman of the Year finalists:
Hamish Kerr – Athletics
Matthew O’Connell – Basketball
Liam Bowden – Canoe Polo and Surf Lifesaving
Felix Murray – Cricket
Mac Wilcox – Hockey
Finn Brown – Judo
Massey University Auckland Campus Sportswoman of the Year finalists:
Zoe Hobbs – Athletics
Deena Franklin – Basketball
Lauren Down – Cricket
Jessica Gracie – Fencing
Paige Satchell – Football
Massey University Auckland Campus Sportsman of the Year finalists:
Nick Southgate – Athletics
Benji Edwards – Hockey
Richard Jones – Olympic Weightlifting
Chris Arbuthnott – Para-Swimming
Matt Scott – Swimming
Massey University Distance Sportswoman of the Year finalists:
Kirstie Klingenberg – Cycling
Ella Gunson – Hockey
Rose Keddell – Hockey
Kelsey Smith – Hockey
Liz Thompson – Hockey
Brooke Donoghue – Rowing
Tyla Nathan-Wong – Rugby Sevens
Massey University Distance Sportsman of the Year finalists:
Ben Langton Burnell – Athletics
Finn Butcher – Canoe Slalom
Regan Gough – Cycling
Nic Woods – Hockey
Jamie Mackintosh – Rugby
Cory Taylor – Surf Lifesaving
Massey has a proud sporting history, including the establishment of the Academy of Sport which opened in 2006. It enables athletes to work with High Performance Coordinators, who provide individually-tailored support to assist with academic planning alongside sport commitments.
With a combination of on-campus, distance or mix-mode study options, and the choice of either full-time or part-time study, athletes can fit their study around their sporting commitments so they are able to participate on the international sporting stage.
To attend the Blues Awards click here.
Manawatū Event details
Time: 6pm – pre- award drinks followed by Award presentations and dinner
Date: Tuesday October 16
Location: Sport and Rugby Institute, Massey University, 56 Albany Drive, Palmerston North
Host: Head of School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Associate Professor Andrew Foskett
Auckland Event details
Time: 6.00 pm – Award presentations, entertainment, drinks and canapes
Date: Thursday October 18
Location: Atrium Round Room, Gate One, Massey University Auckland campus in Albany
Host: Former sports broadcaster Hamish McKay