A WEEKEND of fun ended with a Brentwood cheerleading group returning home from a national competition with four trophies.
The Warwick Allstars and their coach Katie Warwick, 27, won the silverware at the United Kingdom Cheerleading Association's (UKCA) nationals in Manchester on May 18.
Miss Warwick said: "The girls were fantastic in their performance – they were confident, smiley and they had heaps of energy and enthusiasm.
"We all had an absolutely fantastic weekend and I'd say this was definitely the best year yet.
"The whole trip was a resounding success. The children were amazing and I am incredibly proud."
Miss Warwick, of Padhams Green, set up her group in 2008 after a cash injection from Brentwood Borough Council.
She said: "The girls worked very hard for this latest competition and have even been having extra practices without me.
"The competition involved thousands of groups and I'm so pleased with how well they did.
"Yet we go primarily to have fun and they just try their best – we make the competition into a trip and this year we went to Drayton Manor Theme Park as a reward for all their hard work on our way back from the competition.
"We all had a brilliant time."
There are 20 girls in the competing squad and although there are currently no male members they are welcome to join.
The members are aged six to 16 but Miss Warwick said that she will teach people of all ages and no experience is necessary.
Miss Warwick, who trained at UKCA, said: "There are wide benefits from cheerleading – fitness, confidence, team building and making friends.
"They also learn to trust each other and develop skills in dance and acrobatics amongst others.
"It changes their attitude towards each other and I hope it goes back into the school playground.
"The schools support the girls and recognise it's a massive achievement."
She added: "We have children from all different schools in Brentwood as well as one from Romford and one from Grays."
The group meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Brentwood Hard Court Tennis Club in Childerditch Lane.
Miss Warwick said: "We used to split the ages but now they are all together and it works really well.
"We had a mums group which was really good fun.
"Parents also come along to the performances and competitions – this weekend we had 30 going up."
The classes are charged by term each costing £100 working out as £9 for two hours of training.
Miss Warwick added: "In the summer we have a camp which lasts for a week from 9am until 4pm each day.
"We have lots of different coaches and they try different types of dance as well as cheerleading."
The camp which usually takes place at the end of July costs £120.
Warwick Allstars can be seen performing next at the Brentwood Strawberry Fair on Saturday, June 22.
Persons of any age or ability who are interested in joining the Warwick Allstars should contact Miss Warwick for more information by e-mailing her at warwickallstars@yahoo.com or calling 07595666208.
