Cheerleading // 38
By Philippa ako Cheerleading may not be the university’s most prolific sport, but it has definitely become one of the most successful this year, bringing home a total of seven trophies back to Cardiff. Captain Laura Harman and Vice-captain Sarah Moore had the difficult task of forming two competition teams and a cheer squad out of the 150 girls who came to try out, all of whom showed great promise and interest in a sport that many do not realise is such a growing force in the UK. The standard at try-outs shone throughout the year, as the teams quickly picked up the routines given to them by top cheerleading coach Rebecca Parker. Harman and Moore made the decision to give both teams equal training time – three times a week, including the use of a gymnastics facility – and this decision definitely paid off, as the girls have had one of their most successful seasons yet in their 10-year history. Parker’s four-day choreography camp was as gruelling as it sounds, but it offered the girls the best routines they had ever received, with tough stunts that would max out their judging scores, and dances that showed the finesse of
the squad. The Snakecharmers were equipped with the tools to show their class this season, and had three fantastic competitions that proved it.
The Snakecharmers’ first competition at the BCA Western Classic in Newport marked a return to cheerleading governing body BCA, and the first time the squad had entered group stunt teams. The Level 5 squad impressed the crowd early on in the day and won a welldeserved first place. The trophies did not stop there, and Venom, the Level 4 squad, came first in their division, and Poison, who compete at Level 2, came third. Venom added to the silverware by coming second at a very competitive ICC University Nationals. Their inventive routine and cool edge gave the judges no
choice but to reward them with a place in the 2013 World University Cheerleading competition in Orlando, Florida. The girls are currently working hard to raise funds for such an amazing opportunity.
The last competition in the season was the ICC British Open in Nottingham, at which the Level 5 Group Stunt won yet another trophy, this time coming second. This competition features allstar squads and teams from all over the country that have members who have been cheerleading from a young age, so it was a credit to Venom and Poison that they finished 4th and 5th in their respective divisions.
The year doesn’t stop there for the girls, though. They have been lucky enough to provide pre-match entertainment for Cardiff Blues this season – a partnership that they hope to carry on in the future – and have been busy working hard to perform yet another fantastic half-time show at Varsity.
We all know that Swansea will have plenty of tricks up their sleeves, but our girls have the silverware and the moves to back up their title as the best university squad in Wales.