Sport
Sporting talent recognised at annual Blues Awards
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson presents Sinead McCleary with the Individual Sports Achievement Award. Sinead was the captain of the winning Ladies Gaelic Football Team, which also picked up Team of the Year Award, at the Powerade Blues Awards at Queen’s
The achievements of Queen’s sportsmen and women during the last year were celebrated at this year’s annual Powerade Blues Awards.
The cream of the University’s sporting talent gathered at the event during which students from across the University were awarded Full or Half Blues in recognition of their sporting achievements. Joining them to present the awards was endurance athlete Gerry Duffy.
A self-confessed ‘endurance sports nut’, Gerry has completed and won some of the toughest endurance sports events on the planet. At the age of 42 he set out to run an incredible 32 marathons, in 32 counties, in just 32 days, raising over half a million euros for charity.
The theme of this year’s Blues Awards ceremony was ‘be the best that you can be’ and during the evening recognition was given to the individual and team sports success this year. This included the Women’s Rugby teams which saw success in the All Ireland League, Ulster Cup, Intervarsity sevens, with Ashleigh Baxter helping the Irish women’s rugby to their first Grand Slam in Milan against Italy on St Patrick’s Day.
The Men’s Rugby team which was crowned CUSAI intervarsity sevens champion and Queen’s rowers who competed in 13 A finals, taking home three medals.
Track athletes Christine McMahon and Jonathan Browning had a memorable year, as did the University’s equestrian team, which hosted the 2012 Irish University Equestrian Championships.
There was success too for the Men’s Volleyball team, who were crowned Irish University Champions, the Ladies Hockey Club and Ryan McKinstry’s success in golf.
The University’s camogie team won the Purcell Shield, the Fresher’s B hurlers were crowned All Ireland Champions, the Men’s Fresher’s Gaelic Footballers won the Ulster 7s, and the Ladies Gaelic Footballers won both the Senior O’Connor Cup and the Fresher’s championship.
For a full list of Blues Award winners, click here.
