A UNIVERSITY of Worcester student will compete at the WFDF World Beach Ultimate Frisbee Championships in August.

Clare Avenell will travel to Italy with her Great Britain team-mates in the hope of bringing back a gold medal.

The 28-year-old, who played at the world championships in Portugal in 2004 when the team came fifth, has been playing ultimate frisbee since the age of 15.

“I was really sporty at school,” she said. “I watched a friend playing ultimate frisbee and thought it looked like fun so I gave it a go.

“I played for Great Britain juniors and now play for the current top mixed team in the country.

“The sport is getting much bigger now.

“When I started not many people knew about it but it now has quite a big following.

“I really love the fact that ultimate is so different.

“It combines athleticism and speed with skill and intelligence.

“It is the only sport of its kind I know that you can play as a mixed team at the highest level.”

The second year sports therapy student usually plays on grass so competing on the beach will be a new challenge.

“This will be the biggest tournament I have ever taken part in,” she said. “I’m a little nervous but really looking forward to it.”

Avenell has been awarded £500 from the university’s scholarship panel to help with her costs.

“We have to raise all the money to travel and play ourselves so this scholarship is a massive help,” she added.

Ultimate frisbee is a fast-moving flying disc team sport although there are no referees and games are umpired by the players.