Carys Nally

BBC News, West of England

John Gallagher A group shot of the Bristol Women's teammates wearing their black and red uniform. There are two rows of people, with those in the forefront down on one knee. They are all smiling at the camera with their arms around each other, and two women in the front are holding a wooden trophy plaque. John Gallagher

The Bristol Women’s ultimate frisbee squad was founded in 2004 and competes nationally and internationally every year

Seven members of Bristol Women’s ultimate frisbee team have helped Great Britain win gold at the European Championships in Sweden.

Returning to Bristol with a gold medal, Great Britain co-captains Carla Link and Saskia Kantorowicz, said they were “so proud” of their victory at the European Ultimate Frisbee Championships in July.

Ms Link said: “This is the first time Great British women have won gold.”

Meanwhile, Bristol Women will aim to defend their two-time national title at the UKU National Ultimate Frisbee championship in Nottingham on 30-31 August.

Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact, self-refereed team sport played with a flying disc.

The aim of the game is to score points by catching the frisbee in the opposing team’s end zone.

Amelia Durbin said she became hooked after joining a club at Plymouth University, aged 18.

“Some of the women here from Bristol Women and the GB team are people I went to university with,” she said.

“I’ve been playing with them for the last 11 years – friends for life in a community that stays with you forever.”

Bristol Womens Saskia Kantorowicz standing on the left, wearing a blue sports jersey with a blue and yellow striped medal around her neck. Her straight brown hair is tied back in a ponytail and she is smiling at the camera. Carla Link stands beside her on the right, wearing a white sports jersey and a blue and yellow striped medal around her neck. They are both standing on a football pitch, holding the gold European Ultimate Frisbee Championships trophy. Bristol Womens

Saskia Kantorowicz (L) and Carla Link said they were “so proud” of the GB team

Ms Durbin said ultimate frisbee had “shaped her life” in more ways than one.

“It’s allowed me to travel the world – I’ve been to three world championships, multiple European championships and won medals.

“It’s given me so much self-confidence and belief in myself that anything’s possible if you put your heart and soul into it.”

Ms Link said the squad had now set its sights on the world championships in 2027.

“We would love to go for a medal at that – it’s definitely something within this country’s reach.”