Two win top sports awards - again

It was a case of deja vu last night as All Black Stephen Donald and surf lifesaver Nikki Cox took out Waikato University's top sports awards for the second year in a row.

Donald, also a Waikato and Chiefs player, won the Wallace Corporation Blues Award for Sportsman of the Year, while Cox, also an ironwoman, won the Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Donald also won this year's Fairplay Award, won last year by Silver Fern Laura Langman.

Both Donald and Cox are studying for a Bachelor of Management Studies at the university.

More than 60 Blues Awards were given out to athletes and artists at the awards evening at the university's Wel Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts.

The Blues Awards celebrate the commitment and achievements of students, teams and coaches.

Awards for services to sport and the creative and performing arts are also given.

Singer and dancer Tema Kwan Fenton-Coyne took out the Pou Ahurea Award for Maori Person of the Year – also for the second year in a row.

Fenton-Coyne is studying for a Bachelor of Arts with honours degree.

Composer and masters student Lizzie Dobson won the Creative and Performing Arts Person of the Year Award.

CBD Premier Women's hockey team won Sports Team of the Year, Gareth Coakley (soccer) won Sports Coach of the Year and Tania Law won Sports Referee/Umpire of the Year.

- © Fairfax NZ News