To our Sports Blue Recipients

On behalf of the Mahurangi College community I would like to congratulate you for your award of a Sporting Blue, a most prestigious award reserved for those who have excelled in their chosen sport at local, national or international level.

Your dedication to training, pursuit of excellence and commitment to the Olympic ideals of ‘faster, higher, stronger...together’ is commendable, and will hold you in great stead in all your future endeavours, both sporting and non-sporting. In this day and age it is so important for young people to exercise and sweat and participate in organised sport. The benefits, as I am sure you are aware, are enormous - greatly improved health, significantly better well-being, and the development of life-long friendships.

You may be interested to know that ‘Blues’ are awarded around the world, originating from the famous Oxford v Cambridge boat race, and were first awarded in 1904. Many schools and universities around the world award ‘Blues’ to their most exceptional athletes, recognition of excellence and achievement. Here at Mahurangi College we have a proud history of sporting excellence, detailed in the gymnasium foyer. We look forward to seeing your picture on our ‘walk of fame’ one day in the future!

The great athlete Muhummad Ali once said "I don't count the sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they're the only ones that count. That's what makes you a champion." What a great quote! Champions succeed because they do more. They hustle more, they sweat more, they train longer, they do extra reps, they work just that bit harder than everyone else. Hold onto that message, and apply it to not just your sporting career, but to life in general.

And keep enjoying sport! At the end of the day, sport needs to be and should be about fun and enjoyment and friendship. Congratulations!

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Mr Giles