Regal Cheerleading Squad earns World Championships spot after sensational national victory

The Regal team from Rotherham Cheerleading Academy were crowned grand champions at the DC12 Cheerleading contest in Leicester last month.

Their prize was a spot in the World Championships in Orlando, which brings together the best cheer squads from around the globe.

And what makes their victory even more impressive is the fact they were only formed nine months ago and this was only their third time performing competitively.

The group of 17 girls and one boy are all aged between 11 and 17 and train at RCA’s Parkgate base.

Academy manager Terri McNeal said the parents and coaches were as shocked as the young athletes by their victory, adding: “I think it was a combination of happiness, shock and just being so proud of them.”

Terri said the team’s routine involved plenty of stunts, jumps, leaps and catches, and was “as much gymnastics as cheering”, adding: “They do a two-and-a-half minute routine with pyramids and jumps and tumbles.

“This group have been working on the routine since October and reached this level ahead of all expectations.

“It was quite a scary time during Covid and it was nerve racking getting back to it.

“We decided to give this team a shot at a competition and they went to Northern Ireland, Wales and then to Leicester.

“We never thought in their first season they would win a bid to the worlds.”