DURHAM DIVAS RECORDED their best ever results at the British Cheerleading Association University Competition last month, as they were crowned All-girl intermediate champions.

The official DU cheerleading squad, who only became competitive in 2005, also claimed third place in both the medium dance and group stunt divisions.

The Divas sent three teams to the Championships, held at Telford over the Easter weekend, where they competed in three very different events.

The first, the group stunt, consists of five team members showcasing their most advanced and impressive stunts for one and half minutes, requiring skill, stamina and brute strength.

The next event, the cheer, consists of a two and a half minute routine combining tumbles, jumps, stunts and a dance section, which is marked by a panel of athletic judges critically marking the team against a strict score sheet.

The final discipline, also marked against a scoresheet, is the pom dance, where turns, levels and dance skill are again assessed by the panel of professionals.

This is only the third year that the squad has been competitive level, and therefore these excellent results represent an outstanding achievement for everyone involved – one which has been achieved through pure determination and hard work.

Training up to four times a week, the girls, who have had the honour of working with some of the British Team Gymnasts, have greatly developed their technique and ability.

The hard work the squad have put in from their base at a ‘centre of excellence’ of British Gymnastics outside Durham, has paid off, with the Divas now being ranked as one of the best University squads in the country.

The squad, who recently became a member of Team Durham, is looking to maintain these high standards in coming years, hopefully assuring a bright future for Durham cheerleading.

The Divas are always looking for new members, both male and female, so if you want more information contact the coach (g.l.gillie@durham.ac.uk) or log on to www.durhamdivas.com.

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