Victoria DebSoc dominate NZ Sports Blues awards

Five students from Debsoc have been awarded NZ Universities Blues for debating for 2007: Sayeqa Islam, Christopher Bishop, Stephen Whittington, Polly Higbee, and Josh Cameron.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 whilst successfully progressing their academic studies.

Victoria was the only university to win blues for debating. Only seven students from Vic won blues; debating made up five of them. Blues were awarded on the basis of the following achievements:

Sayeqa Islam: Runner-up at Australs 2007, Best Speaker, Winner of Cambridge IV 2007, Runner-up at Oxford IV 2007, Runner-up at UCD IV 2007, 59th best speaker at Worlds 2008.

Christopher Bishop: Runner-up at Australs 2007, Top 10 speaker, Winner of Joynt Scroll 2007, Winner of Cambridge IV 2007, Runner-up at Oxford IV 2007, Runner-up at UCD IV 2007, Winner of NZ BP Champs, Octo-finalist at Worlds 2008, 29th best speaker at Worlds 2008, Top 10 speaker at Australian Easters.

Stephen Whittington: Winner of Easters 2007, Runner-up at Australs 2007, 13th best speaker, Winner of Joynt Scroll 2007, 74th best speaker at Worlds 2008.

Polly Higbee: Easters best speaker 2007, Member of NZU team, Octo-finalist at Australs 2007, Runner-up at Women's 2007, 3rd best speaker.

Josh Cameron: Octo-finalist at Australs 2007, 17th best speaker, 51st best speaker at Worlds 2008.