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APRIL 30, 2007: Taupo motocross racer Emma Davis has just received notice that she will be honoured with a New Zealand University Sporting Blue, to be presented at a ceremony in Wellington in June.
“It is very exciting for me and also for the sport of motocross,” said the Yamaha rider.
“Last year I received a Sporting Blue Award from Waikato University for my motocross achievements. This is now a national honour. It’s so important, not just for me, but for motorcycling too. Now motocross has been recognised on a national level, alongside such higher-profile sports as rugby and swimming,” she said.
Davis (19), who lives in Hamilton and studies engineering at Waikato University, won the Australian national women’s motocross title in 2006 and also finished third in the New Zealand women’s championships last season.
She struck problems in the defence of her Australian crown at round one in March, finishing fourth on the day at Newry, Victoria, but is looking forward to taking her Yamaha YZF250 and climbing back up the standings at round two, near Sydney on June 2.
The blues awards ceremony will be held at the Massey University Campus, in Wellington, on June 29.
The NZU Blue is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious and long standing awards that recognises a university student’s performance in representing New Zealand at the annual pinnacle event of their sport, while still succeeding with their academic studies.
Based on the traditional blues awards of England’s Oxford and Cambridge universities, it is awarded to New Zealand University students who have achieved excellence both on and off the field of play. Presented since 1934, it is a reflection of the standard that a large number of successful New Zealanders have received this award.
From Black Ferns captain Farah Palmer to All Black Richie McCaw, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Danyon Loader to rowing champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, and now Davis, the blues network of achievers covers all sporting codes.
