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

Sussex’s sports clubs are celebrating after the University reached 41^st, its highest-ever position, in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) national rankings for 2011-12.

This means that Sussex has now leapfrogged the University of Brighton in the table – a major achievement considering that, unlike Brighton and many other universities, Sussex does not run any sports-related degrees.

It also represents an unlikely ‘double’ over local rivals Brighton this season, after Sussex’s win in the Varsity sports contest in April.

Head of Sport, Karen Creffield says: “Congratulations to all the teams, their coaches and all the staff who have supported the clubs over the last year. To come 41^st out of 145 universities is a fantastic result for us and our best ever placing, topping last year when we came 43^rd.”

The rankings take into account the achievements of the Students’ Union’s sports clubs and sporting individuals this year.

Achieving one of the most notable successes was the Ultimate Frisbee club, whose Open/Men’s team (Mohawks) and Women’s team (Squaws) were crowned UK champions for the second year running. A Sussex team also won the top prize in the badminton cup.

In league competition, Sussex’s men’s basketball and fencing teams as well as the first teams from the men’s hockey, table tennis and tennis clubs all won their respective groups.

Richard Mashiter, Students’ Union Activites Officer, comments: “The past year has been very exciting with record results for us. We are so proud of our final position in the table. The results reflect the hard work, determination and commitment of our teams and individual competitors.

“For a University that doesn't teach sport subjects to have done so well (and to have beaten Brighton, our local rivals) is an impressive feat which couldn't have been done without the contributions and dedication of our sports club committee members, staff and the students who took part.”

In 2003, Sussex was placed 109^th out of 145 universities before jumping into the top 50 in 2004 following an investment by the University in coaching support for it sports clubs.