If the reader has themselves a cup of tea and a comfy seat, or a while to kill on a train ride, then maybe, just maybe, they will finish my drivel. Either way, I’m writing it.

I hope that this blog comes some way close to summarising my time as a student Mohawk and the absolute joy it has given me. I’ve so many memories, some of which will feature, and have met so many incredible people who I will consider friends for the rest of forever – I hope the reciprocal can be said from them, from you. I’m not sure whether I would have gotten through university without the Mohawks. Many people say that their degree got in the way of playing Ultimate; they’re right and I wholeheartedly agree with them, but equally I think without the Ultimate I would have struggled to get through the degree itself!

Year 1. 2008-09. The start

For those of you who don’t know, officially I am a failed Sussex footballer. I came to university intending to try Ultimate frisbee out but definitely wanted to play football. I didn’t even make the third team (I still maintain that this is their loss, but I’m delighted). So I went to my first session, had a chap called RimJob teach me to throw sidearms and then had Duncan MacDonald as my captain (for the Lewes Court team). I had no idea if I was doing anything well or not, I just remember feeling shattered BUT I did score on Felix for the win in the final. Ask him about how that felt, he might come up with some story about it being a pick.

I was told that day that I was pretty good at the sport and I became hooked. I signed up to the beginner’s tournament, got given a nickname on the way to it and have been referred to as that forever more (I will exclude writing it here, for the obvious reasons and maintaining professional dignity). Despite the horror of the name, it is mine and there is a part of me that smiles everytime I hear it, because it shows me that I belong somewhere.

Something I have often struggled with in life is not wanting to be left out. So for somebody like me, who didn’t go out all that much for a while, to have an identity felt amazing. People knew my nickname who I hadn’t even met yet which was unbelievable and eventually, this acceptance into the club, made me come out of my shell and start embracing every second of Mohawks I could.

The year ended in a blur, being made Open Captain for the following season, the awards dinner and then playing my first season of Tour with Brighton Ultimate. This was it. This was now to be my life. I have to, at this point, thank Nick White for being my first ever Mohawks captain. Whilst I was always be indebted to Longface and Bob for captaining my beginner’s team, it was Nick who was Mohawks captain for my first season, and I will always be grateful for that.

Year 2. 2009-10. The Stress

The second year of my university studies will always, I believe, be the single most stressful year of my life. I was a fairly clueless Open Captain but somehow managed to blunder through and end the year with some BUCS points! This was all to be eclipsed by Beezer’s Open Captaincy the year after but hey, I am one of many proud Mohawks Open Captains.

I can look back at captains before me and be humbled to be included in the same list as them, then I can look forward through the list and see some phenomenal people and to be a part of that is incredible. I know as well that the longer the list goes on there will be so many people who I don’t deserve to have preceded, but somebody had to and I’m lucky enough one of those folks was me. And nobody can take that away.

People have complimented me on my year as Open Captaincy and said what a good job I did do, but I was just part of the machinery. The club has seen extraordinary growth since then, as demonstrated by the end of season photos, but that could have happened with anybody else in my position.

I always, always strived to put the club first, and endeavoured to ensure that the members were happy but then that’s what I assume everybody else did, too. So I don’t consider myself special for doing that. It is true that nothing came before the Mohawks that year, and still doesn’t now if I can engineer it, perhaps to the detriment of my studies and friendships outside of frisbee, but it was completely worth it when, at the end of the year, I was finally able to look from the outside and see where the club can come to. I was just a part of that year, and I’m delighted I was, but so many people had probably more of an impact.

I cannot thank Beezer enough for his support during that year. The simple act of going to the pub with me (Park Crescent, still one of my favourites) and letting me destress onto him was something I can not thank him enough for. Couple that with Callum joining the club, quickly becoming one of my best friends and reminding me that, when trying to study, frisbee was still more important made the year bearable. And it wouldn’t be far to talk about my second year with mention to an American friend of mine so thanks to Kristen to, for helping to keep me sane and grounded. These three people, along with others (particularly my three amazing housemates Becky, Carly and Kat), helped to make that year one that I am immensely proud of and will always look back on it with a big cheesy grin and tell everybody I meet that I was once Open Captain of the Mohawks, please bask in my glory.

Year 3. 2010-2011. The successful Mr. Beezer

Making Beezer my successor for Open Captaincy was a good decision. Results certainly confirm this as, finally (in our eyes) Mohawks Open won some nationals. It was tough but we had the drive, the desire, the belief, the ability and now the leadership to succeed on a national scale. That first gold medal is still one of the first things I see when I wake up in the morning and helps me start everyday knowing that I can accomplish stuff. It might take three years but I can.

I also, finally, managed to captain a team to national glory in St. Andrews in the outdoor mixed division. What a team that was and that tournament was easy, because of us. That trophy, and those memories, sit high up in my mind of achievements.

I don’t recall much else from the year, to be honest, it was massively successful on pitch with the club winning 4 of 6 national titles (never bettered? by anyone?) and a joy to be a part of in that sense, but we had also grown a fair bit and so were dealing with larger numbers. It was an exciting challenge and I know the current committee are playing a difficult balancing game with this in mind, but from what I’ve seen, they’ve done great as shown by the 50+ people at the AGM.

Ah! The only other stand out memory from the year was cycling to Burla. I’d say that ranks alongside those nationals in terms of life accomplishments. I know Beezer has taken cycling to the next level, so he would probably spend half the time getting to Italy now and so might be embarrassed by the 9 days it took us, but I’m still living off of that brag.

Year 4. 2011-12. The year of Mr. Yeo

Having been overlooked by me for captaincy the year before, Ashley stepped into the shoes left by the Scottish defector Beezer and, by all accounts, did brilliantly. We had lost Beezer, Bumfluff and Nick from the year before which are not easy people to replace. But Ashley managed to get the team playing the way he wanted, whilst showing us all exactly what sort of efforts was required off the pitch. His Open team successfully defended our outdoor national title – boom.

The year was odd for me, in many ways. The boys whom I had grown up with were gone. Callum, Robbie and Kneetu were soon to be going, too. The team of people who I had captained and had around me had left or were leaving, and I was sad. It had been, in my mind, some sort of mini-era and it seemed to be coming to a close.

That’s not to say that I wasn’t excited for the next year, my final student Mohawk year, and nor is it to belittle the pride I took in being President of the club for the year, but it was certainly noticed by me. I should definitely add that being voted as President was a huge thing for me. I absolutely love the club and wanted to help out and support in any way I could, officially or not. I was delighted to be President and hope I did the job with the respect it deserves. It’s a strange role, because for all of the grandeur in the title, the President doesn’t have all that much power and I hope, more than anything, I didn’t overstep my mark at any point.

Despite the on-field successes during the year the proudest moment for me came at the awards dinner. As much as Rear of the Year 2012 is an award I am wonderfully happy with, being told that I was Spirit of the Mohawks was without doubt the best memory from the year.

To be recognised by my clubmates as somebody who put in everything for the club whilst trying to run after plastic in a dignified manner, is something that brought an emotion I’ve not experienced before to the forefront of my being. I honestly did not know what to say, such was the humbling nature of it. Having been somebody who got to decide on Spirit of the Mohawks previously I knew just how important this award is and I still struggle to comprehend winning it.

Year 5. 2012-13. Stepping back

Having been a committee member for the previous three years, therefore having a say in how the club was run, I knew that this year, my final as a student, would be tough. Not only that I had to step back from the running, but also from seeing people due to essentially having a full time job all of a sudden. This could have alienated me, easily.

Luckily for me, the captains for the year (Lawrence & Ed and Shimmy) made me feel very welcome and like a part of their respective team and as though I could contribute on the field of play. Whilst Open results weren’t quite what we wanted I can always look back on this particular year as the year when I won my “missing” national crown – mixed indoors.

I would like to make a special mention to the job that Lawrence and Ed have done with the Open team this year. Having to captain a team containing the like of me, Frank, Ashley, Shimmy, Hayden and others whilst being less experienced on paper is not an easy task – and they did admirably. I hope that they both, along with all captains of the Mohawks from time gone by and in the future, will look back on “their” year with a smile and know that they have contributed to something special.

I don’t know how this year will end. I am writing this before the awards dinner so that I can claim that I haven’t cried when thinking back to over my time because I know that I am almost certain to that night.

A special thank you

I’m going to try and sum up my thoughts and feelings on the five years in a moment or two, first I need to thank a few people specially. There are many, many more people I should thank and I hope that everybody reading this feels some appreciation from me because chances are you’ve contributed in some way to my time as a student Mohawk, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Felix. My coach. Thank you.
Bumfluff. One of my boys and somebody who always helps me to enjoy my Ultimate.
Eunuch. My first ever Open Captain.
Beezer. One of my best friends, helped me through my Open Captaincy and then captained my to Open glory.
Jimmy OB. The nicest, warmest person I think I will ever meet.
Skinny. My first ever captain on a Wednesday. And he was great company on a drive to Glasgow.
Bob & Longface. My beginner team captains.
Ashley. The most dedicated man I’ve met, an inspiration.
Kneetu. The best hugger in existence, and he saved regionals for me in year 4.
Kristen. Became one of my closest friends despite only being here for a few months.
Megan. Another completely dedicated, inspirational person who is excellent company for cups of tea.
Easey. Lived with me for two years! Has become a truly wonderful friend.
Shimmy. Captained me for my missing national title!
Tom White. For shouting abuse at my poor play – I will always better myself when he is around.
Becky, Kat & Carly. My first ever housemates at uni, for two years as a collective! Despite not playing Ultimate they supported me no end and put up with a lot from me
Callum. I don’t know where to begin. This man is incredible.

Final thoughts. Impossible

Trying to sum up everything coherently is nye-on impossible. I know I have focussed mostly on Open but every club member who I have encountered, past or present, is a somebody I hold in high regard, because they are a Mohawk. And Mohawks are special people.

I have no idea where this final chunk is leading to. I cannot express in any words in my vocabulary what it means to have been a student Mohawk for five years. I’m not sure that they words even exist! What I do know, though, is that whenever ANYBODY asks me about my Ultimate frisbee the first thing I will say is that I AM a Mohawk.

I will always be one.

When I look back on the five years I cannot find words to begin comprehending what this club has done for me. Socially, confidence, physically. It is unbelievable. It has caused me to become me, if I’m honest, and without it I don’t really know what sort of a person I would be. I am sad to go and leave student ultimate but I do so with my head held high. Most importantly, however, whilst I have a tear in my eye, I also leave with a huge level of excitement for the future of this club.

The club has given me so much, and so much more than that, that to have been even a little part of it is something incredible. I hope that you, if you have read this far and are affiliated with Mohawks at all yourself, appreciate how fantastic the club is and revere it as much as I do whilst knowing that you, too, are always a Mohawk.

(Apologies to those receiving similar messages through other channels – need to cover all bases!)

Hope everyone’s deadlines have been handed safely in and revision is going well.

On Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2013 we will be hosting a hat tournament right here in Brighton. A hat tournament is where everyone enters as individuals and teams are drawn at random. It’s a popular format in ultimate as it makes for fun games, spirited competition and is a great way to meet new players.

So there are two things:
Firstly, you should play! Not only will it be supporting your club’s event, but it will also give you the chance to meet some great players from around Brighton. It will be great chance to meet the Brighton Ultimate captains and start to get involved with the club. There is a huge ultimate community in Brighton and I’m hoping we can help to bring more people together with this event. It’ll also be great fun and a good break from studying.

Secondly, you should help out! There’s lots that can be done to help make the event a success – both on the day and in advance. It might be as easy as encouraging another Mohawk or a Panther or someone else to sign up and play, or by sharing, liking etc on Facebook. On the day there’ll be lots of odd jobs and I hope that all Mohawks will pitch it to make it work as the profits from the event will go to help the club next year (that’s money in your pocket!).

To play you need to register using the following form:
Mohawks Hat Registration

… and also pay the player fee of £7.50. For this you get an afternoon’s ultimate played on lined pitches, lunch, great prizes and great company. (Note that payment is to a different account from normal Mohawks activity, but rest assured it’s going to the club).

After you’ve paid and signed up there’s also the Facebook event which you should help to promote.

If I don’t see you before, I hope to see you on the 27th!

Shimmy

You can now sign up for the Mohawks Awards Party 2013 by following this link.

Please can you:

• Fill in the form
• Pay Ashley by transferring £25 to the details listed in the form above.
• Once paid please email finance@mohawks.co.uk with your name AND reference of payment. We say it every time but make sure you email Ash this information!

The captains are very excited for this years event, so sign up now and don’t miss out as we promise it will be one hell of a night and quite different to previous years!

Good luck with assignments/exams and see you soon!

THE MOHAWKS AWARDS PARTY 2013

When: Saturday 8th June 2013

Where: The Prince George Ballroom at Ye Olde King & Queen Public House, Brighton

Dress Code: Smart

We have decided to make our annual celebration a tad different this year to give you a fun filled evening to celebrate the achievements of the Mohawks in style. Don’t be fooled by the venue, we will still all be dressed to impress and party on through the night royal style!

It will only cost £25 per person including a 3 course banquet, wine on your table, a personal award for every attendee, a private bar, music, dancing, the best company you could hope for and more surprises on the night!

More information regarding confirming your attendance and payment will follow in the next few days.

We look forward to seeing you all for a right royal knees up!

Your loving captains

Here is a VERY IMPORTANT information pack for all of you going to Nationals this weekend. Please read it and take it all on board.

Mohawks at Nationals Itinerary

If you need to contact drivers then please do so ASAP.

Can’t wait to go and show the country what Mohawks can do again this year!!

See you all tomorrow!

Lawrence.

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon at 4pm from the back of Falmer Bar. Please arrive at 3:45 so we can make sure everyone has arrived and all sorted.

Please try and pack as light as you can (preferably with only one bag) as the coach is going to be very tight for space. Attached is the accommodation room plan which is not going to change. Room Plan

**The rooms with 4 people in- one of you will need to bring a sleeping bag as there is only enough beds for 3 people**

I think everyone knows what to bring to tournaments by now but a few main things to remember:

• Kit- red/black top + white shorts
• Boots
• Warm clothes/rain clothes (the weather looks quite good for the weekend)
• Food

Please everyone pay Ashley!! Some people still haven’t paid. Also, get SportsFed.

Mr A Yeo

Sort Code 30-96-83

Account Number 16932060

Once you have paid make sure you email finance@mohawks.co.uk with your name, how much you have paid and your payment reference.

Any Questions get in touch via the usual methods: phone, email, fbook, telegram, fax.

NATIONALS!! LETS GO HAWKS!!

You MUST have Sports Membership with the students union. (You should all already have this but just make sure!)

You MUST have FULL or UNI / UNDER 18 FULL MEMBERSHIP with UKU. You can upgrade to this from your account on their website.

If you fail to meet either of these criteria you will not be playing nationals.

Captains, please check and chase up where appropriate.

See you all at Varsity and the AGM tomorrow

Tomorrow is one of the biggest events of the Mohawks calendar – the Annual General Meeting (AGM for short!).

It is so important that every single one of you comes, firstly to vote in the new committee for the next year, but also to voice anything you want to about the club.

Firstly, if you want to run for a position, or if you are even thinking about it, check out this link:  http://committee.mohawks.co.uk/

Here you can see a description of all the committee roles – I urge you, even if you are 10% sure that you want to run for something, do it. Being a part of the committee is one of the best things ever.

Please arrive at Lancaster House Study Room at 5pm tomorrow (there will be people to direct you if you don’t know where that is – I hope you all know where Lancaster House is).

After the AGM is the last social of the term – it’s gonna be a big ‘un! Check out all the information on the forum here…

http://www.mohawks.co.uk/forum/agm-t1509.html

I will see you all tomorrow at Varsity (2:30 at the top Sports Complex, and then at 5 for the AGM – can’t wait to see all your beautiful faces!)

Lots of Love,

Prossident Pete

P.S – Album of the Week – Daughter – If You Leave – Female Vocalist, Quite chilled, beautiful; simply an absolute masterpiece. Listen over and over and it won’t get old. Enjoy!

As most people know Nationals is finally here and many of us are heading off to Nottingham this weekend. We have paid a lot of money for travel, team fee, accommodation etc and now need people to start paying! It is going to cost people £40 which for everything we are getting is not that bad at all! (people who have already paid I will talk to you separately)

So, whether you are a squaw or 1st/2nd teams you need to transfer £40 to Ashley Yeo.

Account Details:

Mr A Yeo

Sort Code 30-96-83

Account Number 16932060

Once you have paid make sure you email finance@mohawks.co.uk with your name, how much you have paid and your payment reference. A lot of people often don’t do this which makes it rather hard work for Ash so try and remember to email!

We are getting a big coach to Nottingham which is leaving around 4pm from campus on Friday afternoon but more information about this and accommodation room allocations will follow later in the week.

Varsity is this Wednesday at 2:30pm at falmer sports complex so come and support the team and have a splendid time. The AGM will be later in the afternoon also!

So to sum up this rather busy week, PAY ASH and attend Varsity and the AGM.

Peace out,

Edwardo

So we finally have a confirmed venue for Varsity!

2.30pm at Falmer Sports Complex on the rugby pitch after the rugby game.

Come along, enjoy the sun*, and support Mo1 against Brighton Panthers

*No guarantees about the weather. If cloudy, I’m sure someone will have a copy of the popular tabloid for you to enjoy instead.

Hope to see you all there

Jas.