Blues Awards Release
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Press Release (For immediate release) June 23, 2010 Magic skipper finalist in Sportsperson of the Year There’s a big weekend looming in the life of Silver Fern Laura Langman. When the dynamic midcourter leads her Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic team-mates into battle against the Southern Steel in Monday night’s ANZ Championship semi-final, Langman may have already secured the New Zealand University Sportsperson of the Year title. “It’s a huge honour,” she said. “Just looking at the calibre of people in the category, I don’t know if I compare very well – it’s very humbling actually.” Langman is one of six finalists in line for the esteemed accolade, along with All Black and Chiefs rugby player Stephen Donald, cyclist Jaime Nielsen, rower Hamish Bond, surf-lifesaver Nikki Cox and Paralympic swimmer Cameron Leslie. Langman, who has two papers remaining in her Bachelor of Management degree at Waikato University, will earn her third Blues award, joining netballing legends such as Bernice Mene, Lesley Nicol (Rumball), Belinda Colling, Adine Wilson and Waimarama Taumanu. “Playing elite sport and studying, you definitely have your moments … but I’m quietly happy with myself for trooping on even though times did get tough,” she said. “The aspect I really enjoy about it is life can be all netball, netball, netball but when I get to uni I have to use my brain in other ways which is quite refreshing.” University Sport New Zealand received over 120 nominations across 41 sports for the 2009 academic year. This year’s Blues awards will be presented to 60 recipients at a black-tie dinner at Wellington’s Intercontinental Hotel on Friday, June 25. University Sport New Zealand executive director Louise Burns said the impressive field reflected the calibre of elite athletes involved in universities throughout New Zealand. 1 “The high standard of academic and sporting excellence is obvious when you consider that, of the 60 recipients, 16 competed at the Beijing Olympics, 34 are currently carded under the New Zealand Academy of Sport system and 28 have recently received a Prime Minister Scholarship for 2010,” she said. “Enabling athletes to achieve their sporting dreams while investing in their futures through tertiary study is an important component of university sport and the Blues celebrate that achievement.” Included in the 2009 recipients are Olympic rower Peter Taylor, Olympic sailor Jo Aleh and recently retired Olympic swimmer Cameron Gibson. Leslie is also a finalist in the NZU Maori Sportsperson of the Year, alongside hockey player Kayla Sharland, Black Fern Huriana Manual and rowing’s Storm Uru. Carolina Dillen has been awarded at NZU Distinguished Performance Award for her outstanding performance in Taekwondo, whilst 2009 World University Summer Games team captain Monique Williams and fellow athletics team-mates Stuart Farquhar, Andrea Miller and Brent Newdick receive Outstanding Achievement Awards for their medal- winning exploits at the event in Belgrade last year. Martin MacDonald has been awarded the NZU Administrator of the Year Award, recognising his solid management of the team at the world event. Ends A full list of award recipients is attached below. For further information, contact: Louise Burns Executive Director University Sport New Zealand 021 917 370 2009 NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES BLUES RECIPIENTS Andrea Miller Athletics University of Otago Brent Newdick Athletics Auckland University of Technology Lara Phillips Athletics University of Canterbury Dougal Thorburn Athletics University of Otago Oliver Leydon-Davis Badminton University of Waikato Philippa Connell Basketball Auckland University of Technology Jarrod Kenny Basketball Auckland University of Technology Victoria Hill BMX University of Waikato Olivia Spencer-Bower Canoe Polo Massey University Phillip Drew Croquet Victoria University of Wellington Aiken Hakes Croquet Victoria University of Wellington Peter Latham Cycling Massey University Jaime Nielsen Cycling Massey University Simon van Velthooven Cycling Massey University Stephanie Thompson Debating University of Auckland Ella Edginton Debating Victoria University of Wellington Polly Higbee Debating Victoria University of Wellington 2 Stephen Whittington Debating Victoria University of Wellington Monique Coleman Fencing Auckland University of Technology Emma Kete Football Auckland University of Technology Hayley Moorwood Football Auckland University of Technology Katie Hoyle Football University of Auckland Ben Wallace Golf University of Auckland Patrick Peng Gymnastics Auckland University of Technology Gemma Flynn Hockey Auckland University of Technology Stacey Carr Hockey Massey University Emily Naylor Hockey Massey University Kayla Sharland Hockey Massey University Dale Harrop Ice Hockey Lincoln University Richard (Rick) Parry Ice Hockey University of Otago Woo Su (Sean) Choi Judo University of Waikato Scott Bicknell Kayaking Massey University Jason Searle Kayaking Massey University Erin Taylor Kayaking Massey University Tania Perrett Kayaking Massey University Lauren McLain Lacrosse University of Auckland Sally Rutherford Lacrosse University of Auckland Sonjah YAW Lacrosse University of Auckland Laura Langman Netball University of Waikato & University of Otago Lizzie Ingham Orienteering Victoria University of Wellington Cameron Leslie Paralympics Auckland University of Technology Hamish Bond Rowing Massey University Rebecca Scown Rowing Massey University Storm Uru Rowing Massey University Peter Taylor Rowing Massey University & University of Waikato Emma Feathery Rowing University of Canterbury & University of Waikato Jade Uru Rowing University of Canterbury & University of Waikato Duncan Grant Rowing University of Waikato Huriana Manuel Rugby Auckland University of Technology Angela McGregor Rugby Auckland University of Technology Kendra Cocksedge Rugby Lincoln University Olivia Coady Rugby University of Canterbury Stephen Donald Rugby University of Waikato Nikki Cox Surf Life Saving University of Waikato Cameron Gibson Swimming Massey University Michael Jack Swimming University of Auckland Michelle McCarthy Table Tennis University of Waikato Mita Graham Touch University of Waikato Marie-Claire Brehaut Volleyball Auckland University of Technology Jo Qesem Ayela Aleh Yachting Auckland University of Technology Outstanding Achievement Award Brent Newdick Athletics Auckland University of Technology Andrea Miller Athletics University of Otago Stuart Farhquar Athletics Waikato Institute of Technology Monique Williams Athletics former University of Waikato Distinguished Performance Award Carolina Dillen Taekwondo University of Auckland Administrator Award Martin MacDonald Athletics FINALISTS - New Zealand Universities Sportsperson of the Year Jaime Nielsen Cycling Massey University Hamish Bond Rowing Massey University 3 Nikki Cox Surf Life Saving University of Waikato Stephen Donald Rugby University of Waikato Laura Langman Netball University of Waikato & University of Otago Cameron Leslie Paralympics Auckland University of Technology FINALISTS - New Zealand Universities Maori Sportsperson of the Year Kayla Sharland Hockey Massey University Cameron Leslie Paralympics Auckland University of Technology Huriana Manuel Rugby Auckland University of Technology Storm Uru Rowing Massey University 2009 NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES BLUES AT A GLANCE 2 NZU Blues awarded to Lincoln University student-athletes. 4 NZU Blues awarded to the University of Otago student-athletes. 4 NZU Blues awarded to the University of Canterbury student-athletes. 4 The number of medals won by the Athletics team at the World University Games – managed by Administrator of the Year, Martin MacDonald. 6 NZU Blues awarded to Victoria University of Wellington student-athletes. 9 NZU Blues awarded to the University of Auckland student-athletes. 13 NZU Blues awarded to student-athletes linked to the University of Waikato. 15 NZU Blues awarded to student-athletes linked to Auckland University of Technology. 16 NZU Blues awarded to student-athletes linked to one of the three Massey University campuses. 16 The number of recipients who represented New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 27 The number of recipients who have been awarded a Prime Ministers Scholarship in 2010. 33 The number of recipients who are currently recognised under the New Zealand Academy of Sport (NZAS) Carding Scheme. 41 Number of sports who nominated for the 2009 NZU Blues awards. 41 Student athletes receiving a NZU Blues for the first time. Notes The NZ Universities Blue is awarded by University Sport New Zealand and is based on the traditional Blue of Oxford and Cambridge. It is awarded to NZ University Students who have achieved excellence both on and off the field of play. Presented since 1919, over 2,600 Blues have been awarded to some of NZ’s most famous sporting names such as Richie McCaw, Sarah Ulmer, David Kirk, Anna Lawrence, Anthony Mosse and George Bridgewater. The NZU Blues Panel for 2009 consists of Dr Jane Skeen (Chair) Mr Barry Maister Mr Howie Tamati Mrs Mary Stewart Mr Jim Ellis Ms Liz van Welie 4.