Squad is over the moon’ at trophies

CHEERLEADERS have scooped five out of six trophies at the British and International Championships in Telford last weekend.

In the first competition the Dunmow Rumblebees Cheerleading Squad took part in, they were crowned champions of the New Squad Dance.

They went on to take third place in Junior Novice Cheer, fifth place in Junior Partner Stunts and Senior Novice Cheer, and came seventh in the Senior Partner Stunt and Pep Squad Novice.

Fiona Messer, chairman of the fund-raising committee, said: "They have done themselves proud and far exceeded any expectations we had of them. Before we left we were hoping one of our teams would come away with a place. We would have been happy with that.

"But we really didn't realise how good our teams were. They were fantastic and performed out of their skins. We're over the moon."

Their performance grabbed the attention of many people and even found themselves appearing on the front page of a Telford newspaper.

Bob Kiralfy, chairman of the British Cheerleading Association, was full of praise for the squad, saying: "For a team that has never competed before, Rumblebees were extremely impressive. They should be very proud of themselves."

Mr Kiralfy said the championships is the biggest event of its kind in Europe.

Dunmow's squad competed against 3267 entrants from 244 teams from across the UK and from as far afield as Ontario in Canada.

Their success means the New Squad Dance and Junior Novice Cheer teams have been invited to compete in the All Star Cheerleading and Dance Worlds event being held in Orlando, Florida, in America in April 2008.

"They are very excited about being able to go to the USA," said Mrs Messer.

"Now we have to raise the funds for the 36 cheerleaders in the two teams and two coaches to take over there."

Anyone wishing to sponsor or join the squad can call Mrs Messer on 01371 870739.