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Soham’s Affinity Cheer and Dance sweep dozens of awards at national competition - including 16 first places!
Sohams Affinity Cheer and Dance sweep dozens of awards at national competition - including 16 first places! - Credit: Archant
Soham based Affinity Cheer and Dance shook their pom poms at the competition to win 16 first places at a national competition.
Eighty-six athletes took part in the International Cheer Coalition Welsh Open Competitions at the weekend, which saw coaches, family members and friends from Soahm travel to Newport Centre in Wales to watch the teams perform.
Nicola Saunders, of Affinity, said: “Their technical routines and outstanding performances brought back a huge amount of trophies.
“They had 16 first places, four second places, five third places, one fourth place and one fifth place.
“Eleven of the teams have received a winning bid to the Battle of the Champions in Peterborough in 2018 and Desire (youth cheer level two) were overall grand champions - scoring the highest amount of points on the day.
“The athletes and coaches have been training incredibly hard to achieve these awards and that effort has paid off.
“The teams looked incredible at the weekend with their bright green and black diamante uniforms and sparkly bows.
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“The adrenaline had kicked in so the energy and enthusiasm from everyone all weekend was at an all time high. Even the parents got up to dance in the showdowns.”
In December 2016, Affinity brought a sprung floor for the athletes to train on thanks to money raised from a number of fundraising events.
Seven-year-old Tegan Pasley cut off her hair, Lucy Saunders, also seven, completed a sponsored 2.5km run in Newmarket, and a group of girls and parents took part in a sponsored bike ride.
A sponsored leg wax also saw the male cheerleaders and coaches put through agony, some of the members participated in a swimathon and many more fundraising events and generous donations over the year.
Affinity won the following trophies
Cheerleading groups:
1st Amelia & Evie Mini Cheer duo
1st Glitter Tiny Pom*
1st Genesis Tiny Level 1*
1st Evolution Mini Level 1*
1st Desire Youth Level 2* 1 x Grand Champions
1st Fame Junior Level 1*
1st Matrix Senior Level 1*
2nd Ignite Youth Level 1*
2nd Adrenaline Senior Level 4.2
3rd Fortune Junior Level 3
4th Electra Junior Pom*
Dance groups:
1st Pebbles Tiny Hip Hop solo
1st Amelia Mini Hip Hop solo
1st Rhiana Youth Pom solo
1st Li Senior Hip Hop solo
1st Daisy & Rhiley Tiny Jazz duo
1st Maddison & Sally Junior Hip Hop Duo
1st Attitude Tiny Hip Hop
1st Storm Junior Hip Hop*
1st Fire Senior Hip Hop*
2nd Alisha Senior Hip Hop solo
2nd Keira & Rhiana Junior Hip Hop duo
3rd Sally Junior Contem/Lyrical solo
3rd Tilly & Ella Junior Jazz duo
3rd Diamonds Youth Jazz*
3rd Capture Junior Jazz
5th Ella Junior Contem/Lyrical solo
* winning bid to Battle of the Champions 2018