Championing athletic excellence at 2023 Blues Awards

Student athletes, alongside their whānau, friends and sport enthusiasts, came together for the virtual celebration that recognised the excellence displayed at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, both academically and athletically.

Alongside the 151 Blues Awards bestowed, the winners of the five major categories were announced, with Erika Fairweather taking home both Distance Sportswoman of the Year and the Supreme Award.

It’s been a huge year for the 19-year-old swimmer, with her most recent accolade being breaking the World Cup series record for women’s 400-metre freestyle in Berlin, beating the previous record by three seconds at four minutes and 1.09 seconds. Erika also scored a personal best and a bronze medal at the 2023 World Aquatic Championships in the 400-metre freestyle, making her the fifth-ever woman to go below four minutes in this event.

Erika holds the New Zealand Open records for women’s 200-metre, 400-metre and 800-metre freestyle and the women’s 4 x 50-metre relay and 4 x 200-metre relay. She’s also currently working towards a Bachelor of Science. During her acceptance speech, Erika said she was stoked to be named a winner.

“It’s been a massive year in sport throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, so to be recognised with this award is super special.”

Distance Sportsman of the Year went to freeskier and Bachelor of Business student Luca Harrington, who at the start of the month won gold at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s (FIS) Australia New Zealand Cup Slopestyle competition, as part of the 2023 Cardrona NZ Freestyle Nationals. His other major accomplishments to date include placing fourth in the Slopestyle at the World Cup in Switzerland, fifth in the Big Air at the Freeski World Championships in Georgia and first place in Slopestyle at the Rev Tour Aspen in the United States.

During his acceptance speech, Luca said it was an honour to just be a finalist given the good company he’s amongst.

“We have a lot of talent here in New Zealand and in the university so it’s a huge honour to receive this award. Thank you to Snow Sports New Zealand and High Performance Sport NZ for supporting me and getting me to where I am today, and of course a big thank you to my parents.”

New Zealand representative in touch rugby and NZ junior squad member in hockey Mary Ieremia-Allan, Matautu Falealili, Lalomanu Aleipata, Sapapalii, came away with a Blue for each sport and the Campus Sportswoman of the Year award. Mary was the co-captain of the New Zealand Touch Blacks Open Women’s Team for the 2023 Trans-Tasman series against Japan and Australia and was named Most Valuable Player. She currently plays for the 07 Heat Women in the Premier Touch League and for the Waikato Open Women’s Team, while studying towards a Bachelor of Design with Honours.

Mary stated in her acceptance speech that it was a privilege to recognised, particularly given her short season as a result of knee reconstruction surgery.

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition and I want to thank my family, my coaches and Massey University. I’m looking forward to coming back next year!”

Surf Life Saver and Bachelor of Arts student Fergus Eadie was named Campus Sportsman of the Year, with an impressive list of accomplishments under his belt. Alongside being a member of the New Zealand Black Fins Surf Lifesaving team, he competed at the 2022 World Championships in Italy, winning a gold in Tube Rescue, a silver for Overall Team Placing and bronze in both the 50 Carry and 100 Rescue Medley. He also won three individual gold medals, four individual silvers and four team gold medals at the 2022 New Zealand National Surf Life Saving Pool Rescue Championships.

Upon accepting his award, Fergus congratulated his fellow athletes and reminded them that this moment is the start of something great for them all.

“Being a student athlete has proven to be immensely difficult, but through the support of Massey University, my lecturers and tutors, achieving my ambitions is being made possible. I certainly wouldn’t be in this position without the continuous support from my coaches, family, friends and loved ones.”

The evening, hosted by pole vaulter and student athlete Eliza McCartney and Dr Bevan Erueti, also featured guest speaker Anna Green who spoke about her career in professional football, being a Massey alumna and life beyond sport.

Anna represented New Zealand in the Football Ferns for 16 years, debuting in 2006 and playing 82 games for the Ferns. After playing in four FIFA Women’s World Cups, this year saw her lending her expertise in a different way as she provided radio coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™.

Outside of her football career, Anna is an accountant with Deloitte after completing a Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in Accounting and HR. Anna spoke on how study and sport can be mutually beneficial, providing both transferable skills and different outlets for focus.

“Sport can be really encompassing, so there’s real benefit having a different avenue to put time into that’s more structured and predictable than a sporting environment. Study for me was always a positive experience and I always felt super supported by Massey. Everything you are doing now as a current student athlete is setting you up for success in the workforce as well, particularly in terms of resilience, work ethic and determination.”

When asked what advice she’d give current student athletes, Anna pointed out how important it is to back yourself.

“As much as we need support networks and other people in our corner, you also need to believe in what you can do, in what you can achieve and to know not only your weaknesses, but your strengths too. Find out what works for you and stay true to that. Always be your biggest advocate.”

Watch the 2023 Blues Awards here.

2023 MASSEY UNIVERSITY BLUES SPORTS AWARDS MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Massey University Blues Sports Award – Supreme Award
Erika Fairweather – Swimming

Massey University Campus Sportswoman of the Year
Mary Ieremia-Allan – Touch

Massey University Campus Sportsman of the Year
Fergus Eadie – Surf Life Saving

Massey University Distance Sportswoman of the Year
Erika Fairweather – Swimming

Massey University Distance Sportsman of the Year
Luca Harrington – Skiing

2023 MASSEY UNIVERSITY BLUES AWARD RECIPIENTS:

ARCHERY: Emma Argyle, Chisora Hada; ARTISTIC ROLLER SKATING: Aspen Fell, Claudia McLean, Phoenix Reid, Jessica Shirley; ATHLETICS: Hamish Gill, Liam Lamb, Angus Lyver, Eliza McCartney, Olivia McTaggart, Savannah Scheen, Courtney Trow, Maddison-Lee Wesche, Andre Le Pine-Day; BADMINTON: Cynthia Fan; BASKETBALL: Coola Baudry, Ella Fotu; CANOE SPRINT: Michael Esterhuizen, Aimee Fisher, Scarlett Old, Julia Padrutt; CLAY TARGET SHOOTING: Ashling Welch; CRICKET: Georgia Atkinson, Sarah Calkin, Liam Hall, Curtis Heaphy, Caitlin King, Ashtuti Kumar, Bayley Latter, Ben Lister, Sam Mackinder, Hannah Rowe, Nathan Smith, Gemma Sims; CYCLING: Ella Harris, Nicholas Kergozou De La Boessiere, Luke Mudgway, James Oram, Callum Saunders, Emily Shearman; DIVING: Luke Sipkes; EQUESTRIAN: Sophie Daly, Tayla Mason; FENCING: Wai Ling Natalie Chan; FLOORBALL: Stella McCarthy; FOOTBALL: Brooke Bennett, Louis Fenton, Meikayla Moore, Kate Mori, Ben Old, Tim Payne, Ava Pritchard, Emma Rolston, Paige Satchell, Sam Sutton, Kate Taylor; FUTSAL: Olivia Harding, Emma Howie, Kayley Linden, Pepi Olliver-Bell, Adam Paulsen; GOLF: Juliana Hung, Kazuma Kobori; GYMNASTICS: Mathieu Clatin; HOCKEY: Kaitlin Cotter, Frances Davies, Katie Doar, Madison Doar, Connor Greentree, Mary Ieremia-Allan, Aimee Mitchell, Olivia Shannon, Charl Ulrich, Thomas Walshe, Nic Woods; INDOOR CRICKET: Micah Conroy, Bayley Latter; ICE HOCKEY: Hannah Cross; MOUNTAIN BIKING: Caleb Bottcher; NETBALL: Claudia Brown, Zalika Clarke, Storm Collings-Gilmer, Ellie Hurley-Langton, Latonya Lole, Sam Mackinder, Ana Cagi Moi, Sam Taylor, Sarah Teki-Clark; PARA CYCLING: Anna Taylor; ROWING: Stella Clayton-Greene, Sophie Egnot-Johnson, Brooke Francis, Kate Haines, Brooke Hamilton, Brooke Kilmister, Matt Macdonald, Madeleine Parker, Charlotte Spence, Ben Taylor, Davina Waddy, Phillip Wilson; RUGBY: Lucy Brown, Sam Coles, Moana Courtenay, Joseph Gavigan, Julian Goerke, Bryn Gordon, Cameron Howell, Niko Jones, Elinor King, Benet Kumeroa, Ben Lam, Paige Lush, Matt Masoe, Caterina Poletti, Ben Strang, Sam Taylor, Flynn Thomas, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Taylor Waterson, Alesha Williams; SKIING: Ben Barclay, Luca Harrington; SNOWBOARDING: James Thompson; SQUASH: Leonie Marshall, Ashlee Pepper; SURF LIFE SAVING: Louis Clark, Olivia Corrin, Fergus Eadie, Michael Esterhuizen; SWIMMING: Louis Clark, Wilrich Coetzee, Erika Fairweather, Kirsten Fisher-Marsters, Michael Lansdown, Georgina McCarthy, George Williams; TAEKWON-DO: Brenna Greene; TOUCH: Kiera Fisher, Mary Ieremia-Allan, Zoe Sosich; TRIATHLON: Austin Carter; ULTIMATE DISC: Ronnie Readings; VOLLEYBALL: Caitlin Studer; YACHTING: Erica Dawson, George Gautrey, Henry Haslett, Blake McGlashan, Molly Meech, Courtney Reynolds-Smith; SPORTING EXCELLENCE AWARD – CANOE POLO: Kate Blincoe; SPORTING EXCELLENCE AWARD – EQUESTRIAN: Ike Baker.