Ultimate Frisbee champions Clapham Ultimate brought the disc home for the 23rd time with a win at the UKU Nationals on Sunday.
The team played in the finals on 31 August at Highfields Sports Complex in Nottingham against their biggest UK competitor, Chevron Action Flash, and came out on top with a 14-11 victory.
The 21-year national champions’ reign came to an end in 2023 when they were beaten by Chevron Action Flash 12-11, but they took back their crown in 2024 which left the championship open for either team this year.
Coach Sean Colfer, from Solihull, who is in his first year of coaching, said: “We had a plan coming in and we executed the plan perfectly. Everyone on the field executed the plan perfectly.”
When asked how he felt about the triumph, Colfer said: “It feels very nice.”
The game kicked off at 12.20pm and with a great start Clapham had scored their first point at only 4 minutes and 50 seconds.
Unphased by a five-minute rainfall CU skilfully played on, however they didn’t have it all their own way when Chevron closed the gap to 9-7 in the 54th minute.
The squad continued to score until they had a five-point advantage at 12-7, despite their number 33, Henry Brooking, being stung by a bee on his throwing hand.
Chevron didn’t give up and persisted until the scoreboard reached 13-11 before CU’s Oscar Modiano threw the winning pass to Conrad Wilson’s open palms.
Alexis Long, Club Captain said: “I’m super chuffed and happy with how we played.”
And to echo Coach Cofler, Long said: “But what I’m most proud of is that we had a plan and we executed it.”
Although they are a South West London team, they train twice a week at East London Rugby Club where they prepared for Nationals and will go on to practice for Club Euros, which they have already qualified for.
Aside from the friendship of the 28 players and two coaches, their mantra of ‘Execution and Focus’ is at the heart of the team’s training and a testament to their successes.
CU’s semi-final match, which finished at 15-3 against Bristol, won them a place in the 2026 World Ultimate Club Championships which are due to be held in Limerick, Ireland.
The National Champions, Clapham Ultimate, finished the UK tournament off with the respected Ultimate Frisbee tradition of a spirit circle, gold medals and celebratory donuts.
Manager Joshua Briggs said: “Though the win is great, it was only the beginning of what we want to do at the Worlds next year.”
Before then the club are heading to Wroclaw, Poland to compete in the European Ultimate Club Season on the 27 and 28 September 2025.
All images by Finley Adams
