Blues Award |
History of the Blues Award
In June 1827 Charles Wordsworth of Christ Church College Oxford arranged a two-day cricket match between Oxford and Cambridge at Lords, and thus began the varsity match tradition.
The first boat race between the two universities was in 1829. The second boat race was in 1836 and was from Westminster Bridge upstream to Putney Bridge in London. It was in this race that one of the Cambridge oarsmen tied a light blue ribbon to the bows of the Cambridge boat (the colours of his school, Eton College). It has since become a tradition for Blues to be awarded for outstanding achievement in university sport, a tradition adopted by English speaking universities in many parts of the world.
Blues have been awarded at The University of Queensland since 1912, when one each was awarded in the sports of rugby, tennis and athletics. Blues are awarded for outstanding performances in club fixtures, representative games, and inter-university competitions. In recent years the Sport and Physical Recreation Association (UQ Sport) through its Blues Committee, has developed a selection method and criteria to ensure that Blues and Half Blues at the university are of the highest standard. As well as a Blue, a special award is given each year to the most outstanding Sportsman and Sportswoman. Each year these awards are presented at the UQ Annual Blues and Sports Award Dinner.
2010 winners
Blue recipients for 2010:
| Danielle Prince | Gymnastics |
| Jacqui Day | Hockey |
| Joanna Sterling | Windsurfing |
| Campbell Schmidt | Triathlon |
| David Watts | Hockey |
| James Hanson | Rugby |
Half Blue recipients for 2010:
Blair Sheard
Ultimate Disk
Caitlin Sargent
Athletics
Francesca Paterson
Rowing
Marikki Watego
Touch Football
Pippa Savage
Rowing
Ian Prior
Rugby
Shane Johnston
Hockey
Tim Buchanan
Rugby
Keeping the tradition alive - Blues recipients
UQ Sport is committed to maintaining contact with sporting alumni and those that have made university sport a success. In addition to keeping in touch, we want to hear from people who are able to contribute and provide information on current and former students who have received a Blues Award. UQ Sport is interested in photographs, copies of certificates or medals and biographies, in fact everything that keeps the flame of memories burning. If you have something you would like to contribute and/or donate, please email Blues or phone (07) 3365 8205.
Blues recipients are encouraged to provide their latest information and contact details. To do so either fill out an online information form or email Blues.