UQ celebrates 100th Blues Awards

The annual UQ Blues Awards Dinner took place at Hillstone, St Lucia on 2 November.

Notable recipients on the night included recent Queensland Firebirds signing, Laura Clemesha, Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion, Lev Susany, Olympic gymnast, Josh Jefferis, and Paralympians, Brenden Hall and Bridie Kean.

Over the Awards’ one hundred year history, Blues have been presented to sportsmen and sportswomen in recognition of their outstanding sporting achievements, and for enhancing the reputation of sport at UQ.

The night not only celebrated modern sporting excellence at UQ but also recognised the achievements made over the last hundred years.

UQ Sport’s Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Pryde, said the Awards had grown considerably throughout the years.

“Blues have been awarded at UQ since 1912, when the only sports in contention were rugby, tennis and athletics,” Mr Pryde said.

“Since then, Blues have been awarded for outstanding performances in club fixtures, representative games, and inter-university competitions.

“It must be said that a University of Queensland Blue is the highest sporting accolade a UQ athlete can receive.”

The story behind the Blues comes from a rivalry formed between Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK.

In 1836, a rowing race was held between the two universities in which a Cambridge oarsman tied a light blue ribbon to the bows of the Cambridge boat.