A TEAM of Bradford-based cheerleaders have been recognised as being some of the best in the world after competing at The World Championships in America last week.

Athletes from the Elite Dance and Cheer school based in Bradford represented England at the international competition based in Florida where more than 12,500 athletes from over 40 countries competed.

Nine athletes from the Elite squad were chosen to represent the country and every one of them were placed in the top 10 in the World for their specific category.

The England Youth Pom category ranked at fourth in the world thanks to Evie Murgatroyd, 14, who is a pupil at Lightcliffe Academy and Lexie Scarfe who attends Thornton Beckfoot.

The juniors ranked at seventh in the world after Savannah Haigh, 14, a pupil at Bradford Forster Academy, Scarlett Bedford, aged 13, a pupil at Beckfoot School in Bingley, Georgia Durn, aged 15, a pupil at Beckfoot School in Bingley, Scarlet Archer, aged 16, a pupil at Appleton Academy in Wyke, Louis Bottomley, aged 15, a pupil at Leeds Apprenticeship Academy performed.

And Holly Grayston, aged 18, a student at Leeds City College and Georgina Sears, aged 18, a former pupils of Dixons Academy in Bradford represented the country at senior level, which ranked in at 5th in the World after reaching the finals.

Izzy Holmes, a coach at Elite Dance and Cheer said: "It's just so amazing seeing the girls come so far. A lot of the dancers I've known since they were so young so it's amazing to see them fulfilling their dream and seeing them compete at the highest level you can compete at. I'm so proud of them."

"To have only have been performing together since last year, and to be up against countries like America where cheerleading is a much bigger sport, and still do so well is just amazing. I think there's a lot more in store for them."

Ahead of the competition, head coach, Maddie Scarfe said: “It’s fantastic to see the hard work of so many of our athletes paying off. We are very proud to have athletes competing in Team England’s junior and senior teams, as well as the newly-formed youth team. This is testament to the depth of talent we have here at Elite and shows that we have a strong pipeline of talent coming through our ranks!”