Cheerleading club puts Shropshire on map
A cheerleading club from Shropshire has grown to become the biggest in the region – in just 12 months.
The Cheerforce Ten Academy, based in Bridgnorth, has been performing all over the UK over the past year picking up a host of trophies along the way.
The club is also based in Telford and already has plans to expand into Shrewsbury.
Rachel Swinnerton, 26, who set up the club and coaches the team, even won businesswoman of the year, through the Telford Business Partnership, after helping the club to grow on a monumental scale.
Miss Swinnerton, who went to Bridgnorth Endowed School, has been cheerleading for 11 years and is also one of four academy members who have gone on to represent Great Britain.
She said she was proud to be putting Bridgnorth and Telford on the map.
She said: "We showcased our talents to celebrate our first year as an academy. The team has travelled all over the country competing at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, where we took about 100 cheerleaders, as well as Newcastle and more local areas."
The team came first at the International Championships, in the adult stunt category, second with their duo dance and senior 'pom' dance, and third place with the school's team at the National School Championships with students from the Endowed School.
Miss Swinnerton said: "We have become the biggest academy of its kind in the area. I'm also on the British Cheerleading Association's national team along with three other members of Cheerforce Ten.
Cheerforce Ten practises at the Castle Hall and leisure centre, in Bridgnorth, and the Phoenix and Stirchley Centre, in Telford. For further information about the academy call Miss Swinnerton on 07966 966026 or visit www.cheerforceten.co.uk