Success for the Cheerleaders at Winter Gardens

Ribblesdale High School Cheerleaders have had an outstanding first year and have achieved success beyond all expectation. They have recently taken part in their second national level competition held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens where 32 members had more difficult dances to learn from their last event at Blackpool Tower.

Complete with a brand new kit, pupils danced in a knock-out competition for their particular age category against dance schools from all over the north of England and 8 pupils reached the semi-finals with 5 going on to be placed in the finals. Lola McEvoy and Chynna Green were semi-finalists in the 12 and over Dance 1 and Sophie Hodkinson reached the semis in the age 11 Dance 2. In only her second ever dance competition, Lola stated “It was a totally AMAZING experience for us. We all did pretty well and most of us got through to the 2nd or 3rd round at least. It’s given us confidence and we can’t wait for the next competition!”

In the older age categories, pupil’s performances were absolutely outstanding throughout the intermediate dances. In the age 15 Dance 2 section, Alix Carey was placed 1st, Emma Duffy 2nd and Gabby Parkinson 4th, and in the age 16 and over Dance 2, Lucy Wilson came 1st and Chloe Hindle was placed 3rd.

Teacher, Dawn Robinson is incredibly proud of all the girls who took part and stated that “It’s really difficult getting up in front of hundreds of people at a large venue like the Winter Gardens and dancing in front of others, many of whom are much more experienced and are used to dancing competitively. For pupils to achieve the success they have so quickly, highlights the positive approach they have to learning the dances and the hard work they have to put in to practising. Not only that, they have had to raise money to enter the competitions and towards coach travel as well. They did this with equal enthusiasm when they took part in a public exhibition outside the United Reform Church in Clitheroe where together with a huge cake sale they raised £400. Pupils would like to thank members of the public for their incredible generosity. The girls will now work towards their 2 next competitions at the beginning of September and then in November where they will be back at Blackpool Tower.”