Snipers Cheerleading Academy smash their first ever competition

The Senior Cheer team before going on stage

DESPITE being formed just seven months ago, Snipers Cheerleading Academy placed all seven of their routines in the top three at the Autumn Allstar competition in Eastbourne last weekend.

The squad, based in Hounsdown, topped the standings in four different categories, coming first in all three pairs dance routines, as well as in the highest level senior stunt team in the entire competition.

In addition to the first placed trophies, Snipers also came home with a 2^nd and 3^rd in the open and junior level 2 stunt teams respectively, but it was the Senior Cheer routine that was the most pleasing result of the weekend for the club.

This was the first and only chance for the full squad to show their potential before Nationals in March. With only one fall in the two and a half minute routine, the 18-man squad produced a stunning performance, taking 2^nd out of eight teams, and just 0.75 away from category favourites, Vista Twisters in first.

Sam works alongside a committee to run the club

Snipers Head Coach, Sam Youren, believes her squad have achieved everything and more from their goals they set for their first competition, but wants to push the team further for Nationals. “I am completely overwhelmed by the results this weekend.

“For a brand new squad, we have exceeded every other teams’ expectations of us, and even though we had brilliant results, there are still a lot of things we need to work on for March. Nationals will be a bigger competition and we can’t become complacent, just because of what we have already achieved.”

Dance Coach Eva Newton with Junior Pair winners, Amy and Chloe

It is not just the Head Coach who is looking to improve the squad. Dance Coach, Eva Newton, who choreographed the senior cheer routine, as well as the three winning pair routines, says: “There were some mistakes and need to work on tighter arm lines throughout the dance sections, but all the hard work paid off.

“Now we have competed for the first time, we now understand what the judges like and don’t like so I know what to work on for the next event, but our team is a family. I am so proud of them.”

And this is not the first time the club has been noticed in the local community. In September, Snipers Cheerleading were recognised in a national competition run by Miller Homes, and won a £500 grant to put towards new training facilities.

Miller Homes came down to Hounsdown and got involved with the stunting!

They have all ages and abilities within the squad, as well as boys and girls, and welcome beginners and ex cheerleaders/gymnasts for training sessions. For more information about training times or queries on starting with the club, contact Sam on samyouren@yahoo.co.uk

Bournemouth Falcons Cheer Squad celebrate a great season with awesome showcase

BU Falcons’ opening number at the Showcase

Bournemouth Falcons Cheerleading Squad capped off an impressive season with a brilliant showcase of their talents in Southampton.

The event at Redbridge School was to raise money for next season’s team, going towards entry fees for competitions, costumes and cheer uniforms and travelling costs, and built up a total of £400 just from Sunday’s showcase.

Bow and Arrow in extension

Cheerleading routines involve a number of areas of gymnastics, dance, jumps and acrobatics, which the Falcons showed to family and friends, as well as moments of audience participation, where they were taught stunts and competed in dance-offs.

Georgia Daniel, a second year student and club treasurer, saw the event as a way to show family and friends how the sport can bring people together:

“Showing off the result of all our hard work to the people we love was a great way to finish off a great year. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the team for two years now and I’ll definitely be trying out again next year.

“We are all such good friends and it’s amazing to be able to spend so much time together training, at events and competing. We’re like a family!”

This isn’t the first fundraising event they have attended this year; they have also helped out at the children’s charity, Hadland Foundation and raised money for the British Heart Foundation amongst many others throughout the academic year.

Their first competitive meet in Exeter in March came with great success, coming second in their category for the cheer routine and placing third in both the level three stunt team and small pom – the first time they have attempted a dance routine.

This continued at the National championships in Telford just a month later, with the biggest surprise produced by the pom team, coming third again, but this time, out of 15 teams from across the country’s universities.

Since Anna Busby (an ex Bournemouth University student) formed the cheerleading team three years ago, the squad have gone from strength to strength, with tryouts at the beginning of each season attracting over 200 students from all academic and sporting backgrounds.

Stunt teams showing off their heel stretches

Busby still remains as the Head Coach of the Falcons, with support from Lucy Darrall, who has been captain of the squad for the 2014/15 season.

If you are starting or are doing a course at Bournemouth University in September and are interested in joining the team, follow the Falcons on Instagram and Twitter (@BUFalcons) or click on the link below for more details:

http://bufalcons.com/index.php