By Patrick Hill

Published at 11:33, Wednesday, 02 April 2008

SHIREL CROSSLEY was infected by the bug while living in Australia three years ago.

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Now she’s passing it on to young girls and boys in Carlisle. Protective parents shouldn’t worry though - its most dangerous aspect involves nothing more unwholesome than throwing her up in the air before attempting to catch her.

Shirel, 19, and her mum Shirley, run cheerleading classes under the banner of ‘Heroes’ at the Atlas Works dance studio in Denton Holme five nights a week.

They only formed the club in December but their A squad already perform their routines at Workington Town rugby home games and their high energy work outs are over subscribed.

Boys and girls aged as young as eight take part in the cheers, chants, jumps, kicks, tumbles, stunts and pom-pom routines, before drinking a bottle of water provided by the club.

Refreshingly, this mother daughter duo’s first priority isn’t winning.

Their club motto is: “The ultimate goal should be doing your best...and enjoying it.

“I love seeing the smiles on their faces,” says Shirel.

“There were girls who had never done a forward roll before they started coming to classes, now they can do bends and join in with everything. They all really enjoy themselves and they’ve bonded so well. They’re all best friends, it’s really nice to see.

Her mum Shirl, 46, has been teaching gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, and dance for 30 years while Shirel, who was coached by her mother, represented Great Britain in the trampoline.

The newly-formed squad – selected in try-outs last month – has members, including boys, ranging in age from eight to 22.

“The good thing about cheerleading is it doesn’t matter what shape you are. The stereotype is that you have to be tall, pretty and skinny but it’s completely wrong.

“Each position requires different strengths. Tumblers need to be athletic where as dancers need to have good co-ordination with their arms and legs. People doing the lifts need strong arms to lift the fliers and fliers need to be light enough to be chucked up into the air. There really is a position for everyone.

“It has been amazing how well it has gone. We’re already looking for somewhere bigger to practice because we’ve outgrown where we are. We’ve got two squads, there are 33 in the A squad and 20 in the pee wee squad. We didn’t know how it would go because it’s something new and different for Carlisle but we never imagined it would be this popular.

“It’s very demanding and keeps you very fit. It’s not all about waving pom poms, that’s what people always thing, but you can’t throw and catch each other if you’re holding pom poms!

“It’s got a certain image with boys that makes them reluctant to do it but all the boys who do it are really strong. You’ve got to be because when the boys lift me up they have to lift me right over their heads. You can’t be a wimp to do it!”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk