Every year, dozens of Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University student athletes compete across Aotearoa New Zealand and around the globe. To showcase just how far our students go, both in distance and in success, Sport Massey introduced a travel-sized version of the university’s mascot, so he could tag along and enjoy a front row seat at some of the biggest sporting events of the year.
From mud runs to world championships, Fergus discovered new landscapes, new friends and, in his own words, some of the finest grass a ram could hope for.
Fergus earned his first passport stamp in mid-June, when swimmer Chelsey Edwards whisked him to Italy for the Rossini Swim Cup. It was his first time in Europe, and he quickly decided he was very fond of the Italian grass – refreshing, especially in the 35-degree heat. Poolside, he proudly cheered Chelsey on as she became the first New Zealand woman in 15 years to break the 50-metre freestyle long-course record.
Only weeks later, Fergus was back in Aotearoa for the New Zealand Artistic Roller Skating National Championships in Blenheim. Athletes Jessica Shirley, Ben Shirley, Claudia McLean and Phoenix Reid introduced Fergus to a world of spins, lifts and sparkly costumes, watching as they dazzled the crowd and made Manawatū proud.
In early July, Fergus made a quick stop in Wellington for the University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) National Tertiary Championships Volleyball, then hopped back to Europe, this time with Nick Palmer for the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. Fergus admired the famously efficient public transport but especially enjoyed seeing Nick claim fourth place in the shot-put with an impressive throw of 19.71 metres.
Returning home, Fergus soon found himself signed up for a rather messy local tradition: the annual Massey Mud Run on the Manawatū campus. While it took a few spin cycles to get everything clean again, he maintains that the mud did wonders for his wool.
By mid-July, Fergus was back in the air, joining Anthony Massarotto and the New Zealand Men’s Canoe Polo team for a whirlwind tour of Italy, Denmark and Belgium. He loved the fast-paced games and reportedly said the Danish grass gave the Italian grass a run for its money.
At the International Canoe Federation Junior World Champs in Portugal, Fergus cheered on paddler Jessica Cleghorn before heading home just long enough to attend the UTSNZ Futsal in Palmerston North. He was keen to join in, only to be reminded that hooves are not regulation footwear.
August brought more globe-trotting as Fergus travelled to Chengdu, China for the 2025 World Games, where 4,000 athletes from 144 countries competed across 34 sports. He couldn’t have been prouder watching student athletes Hayley Austin, Alyssa Shepherd and Georgia Wheeler, who as part of the Paddle Ferns claimed silver, New Zealand’s best result yet in the sport. He also befriended a panda mascot, discovering they had much in common as they cheered on their respective teams.
Back in New Zealand, Chisora Hada and Logan Dittert took Fergus to the New Zealand Indoor Archery Championships, giving strict instructions for him to stay behind the line and out of range of stray arrows. Later that month, he headed to the mountains with skiers Alec and Toby Jackson for the New Zealand-Australia Cup and the New Zealand National Championships. Fergus encountered snow for the very first time – and immediately tried to eat it. Talk about brain freeze!
Late August and September were a flurry of domestic events, including the UTSNZ Ultimate in Auckland, clay target shooting in the Hutt Valley with Ashling Welch, and a return to Auckland for the UTSNZ 5v5 Basketball. He then jetted off again, this time to Tokyo with discus thrower Connor Bell for the World Athletics Championships. Fergus was mesmerised by the stadium and neon lights but politely declined any offers to try throwing a discus himself.
By the end of September, Fergus reunited with Chelsey Edwards for the New Zealand Short Course Swimming event, then headed to Christchurch for the UTSNZ Netball, where he refined his sideline encouragements.
October took him to Croatia for the International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championships with Brenna Greene, before flying to Japan with hockey athletes Kaea Elliot, Kate Fraser and Holly Hilton-Jones. He wrapped up the year in Chile with the same trio at the Junior Hockey World Cup, enjoying the South American sunshine.
From muddy paddocks in the Manawatū to world stages, Fergus proved himself the ultimate travel companion, always ready to proudly represent Massey and support the incredible achievements of our student athletes.
There’s plenty more to come as Fergus prepares for another year of adventure. He may not know multiple languages or how to pack his toiletries correctly for a security screening, but he does know this: wherever our student athletes go, Fergus will be right there with them.
To follow Fergus’ adventures and see where he turns up next, check out the Sport Massey Instagram page.
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