Bath Spa University’s cheerleading squad, the Bath Spa Rapids, have enjoyed huge success at the Future Cheer Heart of England competition.
At the competition, which took place at Loughborough University on February 17th, the Rapids competed in three divisions, Cheer, Jazz and Hip-Hop, winning two first place trophies in Cheer and Jazz, and a second place trophy in Hip-Hop.
The team have been training hard since the start of the university term in October, and the Heart of England competition was the first time performing their new routines in front of an audience. The Rapids performed each two and a half minute routine once in front of a panel of judges and an audience of other competitors and supporters, before finding out just how successful they had been later that day.
Team coach Georgie Keyes said, “It’s been a great start to the cheer season competing in Loughborough, we entered three divisions and came home with two firsts and a second place trophy, I couldn’t be more proud of everyone. Ninety percent of our competing athletes were brand new to cheerleading this year, so that just goes to show how incredibly hard they have worked in the last couple of months to get to this standard.”
In 2011 the Bath Spa Rapids had one cheerleading team, one dance team and one stunts team. Now in 2013 the Rapids will compete in with nine teams in Cheerleading, Pom Dance, Stunts, Jazz Dance and Hip-Hop divisions. They are now the largest cheerleading squad in the Bath area, with a squad of over fifty members. Many of the squad have never had formal dance or gymnastic training, let alone previous cheer experience, but the team have worked hard for their success, whilst still studying for their university degrees at the same time.
“I’m glad we expanded our teams,” said returning team member Chelsea Asher. “I thought it would spread the squad too thinly but it’s actually brought us closer together and it’s definitely paid off! It’s been great working with so many new people as well.”
The Bath Spa Rapids are now working hard in preparation for their next competition, the British Cheerleading Association University Nationals on March 28th and 29th in Telford, where they will compete against university teams from across the country in nine divisions in the hopes of repeating and building on their Future Cheer success.
For more information on the Bath Spa Rapids, visit www.facebook.com/BathSpaRapidsCheerAndDanceTeams.
