Squads bringing it on at cheerleader event
[gallery] One of Britain's fastest growing sports is taking centre stage in Shropshire this week as the national cheerleading championships leaped into Telford.
More than 20,000 cheerleaders were expected in the town over the Easter weekend for the largest competition of its kind in Europe at Telford International Centre.
The British Cheerleading Association (BCA) Nationals were taking place today and tomorrow, following on from the national schools' and universities' competitions which started on Thursday.
Shropshire's only representative was the 80-strong squad from Cheerforce Ten, a cheerleading group for children and adults that trains in Bridgnorth and Telford.
The cheerleading club has teams in several categories and is defending a title won last year.
Cheerforce Ten is made up of boys and girls, with ages ranging from four to 47.
It is the largest academy of its kind in the area and is the only Shropshire team at the championships.
Head coach Rachael Swinnerton said that, although the squad was relatively new, everyone had formed strong bonds with their team mates and coaches.
She said: "We really are a family more than anything else. At competitions we cheer each other on.
"When one of our teams win a trophy the mini-cheerleaders are just as excited as the senior team – often running onto the mats with us to claim them."
This weekend's competitions present a big challenge for the Cheerforce Ten squad as the standards will be high.
Mrs Swinnerton added: "All 80 cheerleaders are very excited about the upcoming competition and are practising hard day and night.
"Competition is fierce but all 'Cheerforcers' are very excited to take to the mats."
In all, there are 24,000 individual cheerleaders competing as part of 825 squads for titles across a range of age and style categories.
Competitive cheerleading is a long way from the pom-pom waving on the sidelines of American sports pitches that people know from American high school films.
It is a highly athletic competitive sport in its own right which combines elements of gymnastics, acrobatics and dance with high tempo performance.
Routines are highly choreographed and often involve daredevil stunts – which often involve the smaller members of the squad being thrown and caught by their teammates through a series of complex somersaults and balances.
The sport is growing rapidly in the UK and is offered in many schools as a way of keeping teenagers interested in exercise and fitness.
The BCA was formed by chairman Bob Kiralfy after he attended an American football game in 1984 – and his daughters decided they wanted to become cheerleaders.
Doors for tomorrow's competitions open at 8.30am and spectator tickets are available on the door. For more information about the national championships or the British Cheerleading Association visit www.cheerleading.org.uk
Cheerforce is always keen to take on new members, male or female, and there are no age limits. No prior cheerleading experience is required.
The squad trains in Bridgnorth, Stirchley, Telford centre and sometimes Birmingham. For more information call Mrs Swinnerton on 07966 966026
