CHEERLEADERS from Keighley’s SR Dance and Cheer Academy will travel to Spain and the USA to compete in prestigious competitions.

Owner and head coach Sian Reid and senior coach Alesha Myrtle will be in the team representing England in hip-hop at the World Championships in America this April.

And the SRD school’s young Ambassadors – Lexi Greig, Madison Slack and Elise Callaghan – will be among the 13-strong UK team at the European Cheerleading Championships in Barcelona in June.

Sian said: “Lexi, Madison and Elise will compete against the best of the best teams in Barcelona. They are my SRD Ambassadors, and role models to fellow dancers and cheerleaders.”

“We had an amazing 2019 jam-packed with fabulous memories and opportunities, including winning titles, and filming for Britain’s Got Talent ads.

“Alesha and I are immensely proud of our selection and aim to work hard with the rest of our team to do England proud. As cheer is a self-funded sport we have to pay every penny ourselves, but it’s an amazing opportunity that we can’t miss.”

Coaches, students and their parents are now busy organising events to raise money for both foreign trips with upcoming events, including a raffle for a supercar driving experience.

Sian began cheerleading as a child, and in 2015 while at Holy Family School she was part of the official cheerleading squad for the Rugby League World Cup. At the age of 16 she started her first cheerleading school.

Now a 21-year-old mother, she was chosen along with Alesha, 17, to represent England in the USA as part of the Urbanized Dance Academy Black.

Sian’s SRD academy runs lessons in the Lawkholme Lane studio on weeknights in both competitive and recreational cheerleading. 

Visit SR Dance and Cheer Academy on Facebook for further information on the Keighley sessions.

This will Sian’s second trip to the World Championships, after she represented England in 2016.

She said: “The team selection for the USA was a gruelling two-day workshop where females from all over the UK showed their talent.

Sian said that in addition to having championship coaches with more than 10 years’ experience of cheerleading, she tried to foster a family environment at a school.

“The competitive academy opens every August for tryouts, where teams are selected then compete around the UK throughout the season.

“Our recreational academy is for those who want to enjoy cheerleading as a hobby without commitment and competitions, but can earn certificates with new skills.”

The SRD team will begin its 2020 competition season in Manchester on January 25, then compete in Sheffield, Manchester and Leicester through the year.