Sammie finished third in The Criterium National Championships road cycling event, and a month later went on to successfully defended her Elite/U23 Female category at the New Zealand cross-country mountain biking National Championships in February. She then travelled to Europe to compete in multiple international mountain bike events, finishing on the podium multiple times, then headed to the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships held in Scotland in August. Sammie competed in the Women’s U23 Cross-country and won gold ahead of her opponents by an entire minute.
The Blues Awards were first awarded in 1902 and are presented each year in partnership with Te Aka Tauira—Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA). They are the highest sporting accolade the University can give students. This year the University awarded 37 individual Blues and nine Premier Awards.
“As an institution, we are so proud of these students and I feel privileged to stand here and honour their achievements,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori and Engagement Rawinia Higgins. “These students have faced almost every challenge imaginable and risen to meet them each and every time. They have demonstrated resilience, determination, and no small amount of skill during these difficult and frequently changing times.”
For the second year in a row, Sportsman of the Year went to swimmer and Bachelor of Commerce student, Lewis Clareburt. Lewis won five individual golds and a silver at the NZ Swim Champs and attended the World Championships and other major swimming competitions across the globe.
Pasifika Sportsperson of the Year and the recipient of the Sporting and Academic Excellence Award is swimmer Kokoro Frost, who has competed for Samoa in World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia, and Japan. Kokoro is studying towards a Master of Communication.
Māori Sportsperson of the Year is hockey player Ruby Baker (Ngāpuhi). Ruby was selected for the New Zealand Māori women’s Hockey team and the Wellington women's Hockey team and has earned a call up to attend the Future Black Sticks Super Camp in October.
2023 Disabled Sportsperson of the Year is Corran Hanning who has had major success in 2023 and won two golds at the recent Australian Track and Field Championships.
Sports Coach of the Year award went to George D'Urban-Burgess. George was the head coach of Touch Rugby North Harbour U18 Boys team and several other clubs and schools.
The 2023 Sports Club of the Year went to the Lacrosse Club who have had a very successful year, winning and retaining their title at the NZ Universities Lacrosse Tournament.
Congratulations to all our 2023 Blues and Premier award winners.
The 2023 Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Blues Awards:
Premier Blues Awards:
Sportsperson of the Year—Sammie Maxwell (Mountain Biking)
Sportsman of the Year—Lewis Clareburt (Swimming)
Sportswoman of the Year—Sammie Maxwell (Mountain Biking)
Pasifika Sportsperson of the Year—Kokoro Frost (Swimming)
Maori Sportsperson of the Year—Ruby Baker (Hockey)
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year—Corran Hanning (Para Athletics)
Sporting and Academic Excellence Award—Kokoro Frost (Swimming)
Sports Club of the Year—Victoria University of Wellington Lacrosse Club
Sports Coach of the Year—George D'Urban-Burgess (Touch Rugby)
Blues Award Winners:
Josh Amyes (Swimming)
Ruby Baker (Hockey)
Sean Beresford (Futsal)
Sam Brown (Swimming)
Connor Chatfield (Rugby)
Lewis Clareburt (Swimming)
Joel Crampton (Swimming)
Thomas Currie (Lacrosse)
George D'Urban-Burgess (Touch Rugby)
Maia Flint (Running)
Kokoro Frost (Swimming)
Maggie Grimshaw (Boxing)
Corran Hanning (Para Athletics)
Mia Harries (Netball)
Aston Inwood (Basketball)
Sophie Irving (Rugby and Surf Life Saving)
Dory Kemp (Kayak)
Samson Koneferenisi (Rugby)
Luke Kuggeleijn (Swimming)
Sammie Maxwell (Mountain Biking)
Cameron Miller (Springboard Diving)
Reuben Natusch (Basketball)
Ben Paviour-Smith (Underwater Hockey)
Riana Pho (Hockey)
Georgia Plimmer (Cricket)
Dominic Ropeti (Rugby)
Eloise Sharpe (Underwater Hockey)
Wynter Tickle (Épée Fencing)
Mackenzie Tuffin (Rowing)
Kayli Tuiraviravi (Hockey)
Valini Vaka (Rugby)
Madeleine Williamson (Hockey)
Jackson Wright (Rugby)