Olympians take top University sporting awards

Two London Olympians took the major awards at the Massey University Manawatu-Wellington Blues Awards ceremony held last night.

Gold medal-winning rower Hamish Bond and Black Sticks hockey player Kayla Sharland were awarded the BNZ Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards at the event held in Palmerston North.

It is the third consecutive year Mr Bond, who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies in May, has won the supreme award. He and partner Eric Murray capped off a four year unbeaten run in competition to win the men’s pair at the London Olympics this year. Mr Bond also won the BNZ Extramural Sportsperson of the Year award.

Ms Sharland, who is studying a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise, was the New Zealand women’s team co-captain at the London Olympics, her third Olympic Games.

Special guest at the ceremony was double Olympic Games gold medallist Valerie Adams, who spoke about her experiences competing at the top level.

The women’s sports team of the year award was presented to the Massey University women’s football team, while the men’s team award went to the Massey men’s division one hockey team.

The award for outstanding contribution to sport went to Rebecca Reidy for her contribution to the Massey Volleyball Club.

Last week Blues were awarded to Massey University’s Albany campus student athletes. Paralympic swimmer Daniel Holt won Sportsman of the Year, while Olympic hockey player Gemma Flynn won Sportswoman of the Year.

Blues were awarded last night to:
Rachel Hughes (archery)
Andy Kruy (athletics)
Ben Langton-Burnell (athletics)
Ryan Tinkle (athletics)
Jasper Bats (canoe/kayak)
Carl Duncan (canoe polo)
Malcolm Gibson (canoe slalom)
Roald Badenhorst (cricket)
Dane Cleaver (cricket)
Max Annear-Henderson (road cycling)
Cameron Karwowski (road cycling)
Rachel Southee (road cycling)
Chloe Akers (equestrian)
Nicola French (equestrian)
Jenna Anderson (hockey)
Mitchell Cronin (hockey)
Michaela Curtis (hockey)
Elizabeth Horne (hockey)
Kayla Sharland (hockey)
Nick Wilson (hockey)
Sasha Smith (mountain biking)
Amber Bellringer (netball)
Kate Spencer (artistic rollerskating)
Harriet Austin (rowing)
Michael Arms (rowing)
Genevieve Armstrong (rowing)
Hamish Bond (rowing)
Genevieve Behrent (rowing)
Toby Cunliffe-Steel (rowing)
Emily Discombe (rowing)
Olivia Loe (rowing)
John Storey (rowing)
Francie Turner (rowing)
Nick Crosswell (rugby)
Sarah Goss (rugby)
Christopher Prentice (rugby)
Joseph Brown (shooting)
Shelly Gotlieb (snowboarding)
Rebecca Sinclair (snowboarding)
Jeremy Manley (softball)
Natalie Paterson (table tennis)
Kane Baigent (taekwon-do)
Michael Davis (taekwon-do)
Estelle Speirs (taekwon-do)
Hayden Moorhouse (triathlon)
Tamsin Fitzgerald (ultimate frisbee)