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Ultimate Frisbee teams are double UK champions … again

The University of Sussex’s Ultimate Frisbee club – Mohawks – retained two national championships last month.

Mohawks menThe Open team of the Mohawks, who won the 2012 BUCS outdoor national championships

Mohawks womenThe winning women's team

Mohawks Ashley YeoAshley Yeo catches the disc during the Open team's victory in the final against Cork

Both the Open (Men’s) and Women’s teams triumphed at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) outdoor national championships, which took place in Manchester on 21 and 22 April.

The victories mean that both teams are champions for the second year running, cementing Mohawks’ position as the best student club in the country.

The Open team started the weekend as the top seed after winning their regional heat in March. They beat Aberdeen, Warwick, Manchester, Loughborough, Edinburgh and (in the final) Cork to be crowned champions.

Visit Facebook to watch a video of the final point won in the Open final, making it 11-8 to Mohawks.

The Women’s team beat Bangor/Aberdeen (combined), Cardiff, Loughborough, Cambridge, York and, finally, Southampton to win their second consecutive outdoor champions title, and their fourth in six years.

Student Richard Roberts, President of Mohawks for 2011-12, says: “Winning the ‘double-double’ is a monumental achievement.

“Words cannot describe how proud I am of all club members for their effort this year, and to come away from a weekend in Manchester as both Open and Women’s outdoor national champions will keep me smiling forever.

“This victory means so much to so many people - but I would like to make a special mention of our long-serving coach Felix Shardlow, who continues to develop and nurture new talent year on year. And to the respective captains Ashley Yeo (Open) and Lucy Wiggins (Women’s), whose relentless hard work this year has paid off in the best possible way.”

Richard and Ashley receive ‘athlete support packages’ from the University’s sports service. The packages are given annually to a number of students competing at senior county, regional or national league level in their chosen sport.

The club’s successes a year ago contributed to Sussex’s highest-ever ranking in 2010-11 of 43rd in the BUCS national rankings, confirming Sussex as one of the most successful universities that does not run a sports-related degree.