Cheer brilliance! CHAMPIONSHIPS: NIA hosts more than 2,000 for display of dancing and stunts.

Byline: By Will Oliphant

POM-POMS were flying as teams from around the country descended on Birmingham for the National Cheerleading Championships.

More than 2,000 people from around 150 clubs up and down the UK took part in the two-day event at the NIA which judged them on their ability to dance, cheer and perform acrobatic stunts.

Pat Hawkins, president of the UK Cheerleading Association, said: "It's one of our major events of the year and it's fantastic to see so many clubs making the effort to come here.

"Cheerleading is going through the roof in the UK at the moment, we're seeing more and more people taking it up every day.

She added: "One of the reasons it's so gratifying that we're holding this event in Birmingham is that it's one area of the country that really hasn't taken up cheerleading as much as others.

"Hopefully people who are interested and schools and groups which are looking to set up clubs have been here and had a look at what it is all about and hopefully they will get involved."

Despite the fact that there were no Birmingham teams competing in the event, with the closest competitors coming from Coventry, students from the Bishop Challenor School in Kings Heath volunteered to do a special demonstration.

"It's fantastic," said Pat. "It took real grit and determination for this team to show people that they wanted to take part."

This is the 16th year that the National Cheerleading Championships have been staged and the second time that they have been held in Birmingham.

"What's particularly nice about this year is that it's the first time that we've had accreditation with the British Board of Gymnastics, so it goes to show that it's becoming a popular sport it its own right," said Pat.

CAPTION(S):

CONCENTRATION... from the Newcastle team.; HIGH FLYERS... the Wild Spirit Angels.; PREPARING... make-up time. Pictures: Dave Warren;