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Hundreds Cheer in Olympic Venue
Over 300 cheerleaders performed in Newhams ExCeL London Cheer and Dance Showcase on Saturday, 5th April 2008.
As part of Ascension Eagles World Championship preparation, London Cheerleading Academy (LCA) in partnership with Newhams Sports Development team, hosted this Showcase opportunity for the Docklands cheer community.
Newhams Sports Development Manager Fiona Miley said, This is a fantastic opportunity which gives young people access to an Olympic venue. The UKs top cheer trainers and judges ran the event, and are committed to helping our cheer and dance teams grow. As a result, we hope to see many more squads develop in our schools and communities.
England team Head Coach and London Cheerleading Academy (LCA) Coordinator Angela Brown said, Squads received six weeks of coaching from a London Cheerleading Academy instructor. Performing in the Showcase after such a short amount of time was a major undertaking. I must admit, I was quite impressed with how well all these new teams did after such a short introduction to cheerleading. We have a lot of talent in Newham.
Children and young people from new squads LCA started in Curwen Primary, Grange Primary, Scott Wilke, St. Lukes, St. Joachims, Drew Primary, Vicarage Lane, Portway Tornadoes, Cumberland, Eastlea, Kingsford, Little Ilford, Plashet, The Royal Docks Community School, New Vic, Black Ice, London Rockets and London City Stars all performed in the Showcase.
Sue Carter, Head Teacher of Grange Primary said, 'It was a great privilege for our Year 5 children to have the amazing opportunity to perform their routine at the Newham Cheer & Dance Showcase. The children rose to the challenge after only six training sessions. We are all enthusiastic to continue especially after watching the awe-inspiring performance by the Ascension Eagles in preparation for the Cheerleading World Championships.
Scott Brooks, Head of Physical Education at Kingsford Community School said, "Kingsford students have gained so much through the introduction of cheerleading in the school and we owe a huge thanks to Ascension Eagles for their superb coaching, guidance and management that saw us enter two teams into the Newham Cheer and Dance Showcase. The students really enjoyed the occasion and watching the excellent performance by the Ascension Eagles cheer squad.I hope we can continue to develop cheerleading within Kingsford as the students clearly enjoy it and have developed both personally and practically.
England team member and LCA Coach Sammie Bromley, 17, Custom House, said, It was a challenge to teach basic cheerleading skills and a routine in six weeks to complete beginners. I was very proud of Scott Wilke Swan's at the Newham Showcase; they did a brilliant job. It was such a pleasure to be able to teach in my old primary school and know I was giving back and helping to build a new legacy.
England teammate and LCA Coach Kaydia Small, 16, Custom House, agreed. I coached a new squad at Cumberland, and my girls all said how nervous they were about performing in the ExCeL Showcase. They didnt really believe in themselves until the last 30 minutes before they went on the floor. Then they went out and did their thing and totally impressed everyone! I was so proud of them!
Following the 5th April Showcase, Cheer Camps were held on April 7th and 8th at ExCeL London. Once again, members of Ascensions England team volunteered their time and talent and worked with more than 150 local youth at these camps, which culminated in a mini-Showcase at the end of each session.
In between the Showcase and the Camps, Ascension Eagles were selected to cheer on the final leg of the Olympic flame as it culminated at the O2.
The Eagles were selected for this honour because they represent the powerful potential the Olympic spirit can ignite in communities.
AEC Director Shara Brice said, "Ascension Eagles are unique worldwide in their commitment to invest their internationally recognised talent back into the community from which they have come. Ranked in the top one per cent worldwide, Ascension Eagles are firmly committed to sharing all they have learned with other young people. We are so grateful to ExCeL London for making this Showcase possible. Together, we believe the best is yet to come!"
Steven Timms MP, stands proud among hundreds of Newham young people at the Newham Cheer & Dance Showcase, held at the Olympic ExCeL London venue. Cheerleading squads from Newham primary and secondary schools displayed their skills and talents, and were recognised with medals and ribbons. Participating cheerleading squads included Curwen, Grange, Scott Wilke, St. Lukes, St. Joachims, Drew, Vicarage Lane, Portway Tornadoes, Cumberland, Eastlea, Kingsford, Little Ilford, Plashet, The Royal Docks Community School, New Vic, Black Ice, London Rockets and London City Stars. Ascension Eagles England team organised the event through their London Cheerleading Academy outreach, and performed their Worlds routine to the delight of the Newham cheer community.
COMMENTS ON THE AEC SHOWCASE
What a lovely Showcase ! What an incredible job you all do for the kids and what an incredible reward they provide for all that effort. It is such a real pleasure to be just associated with such a wonderful spirit of achievement and happiness that shone in all the faces today - even the Mum's and Dad's ! You can see what it means to everybody involved.
We all hope that you have an outstanding World Championship and that you all do your country, the Eagles and above all yourselves justice in achieving the success you much deserve.
With much affection
Michael Marx and all the guys and girls at DS.
We both thoroughly enjoyed the show and are even more convinced of great work you all do. We had a great time this afternoon with very impressive performances by the four different age/skill groups in the Eagles. It was wonderful to see them doing so well.
The seniors were just terrific. I hope the rest of the day went well too. Unfortunately we did not see the Eagles on the TV reports. Crowd trouble took up too much coverage I suspect.
Anna’s description of your life-skills training was fascinating and we need to major on that when we meet Graeme.
With many thanks for a delightful afternoon and stay well
Ian
It was great to meet all the Eagles this afternoon. We really enjoyed the performances. We hope your teams had a good time at the O2 arena this evening. Wishing you all every success at the cheerleading world championships in Florida. You are on the cover and page 3 of our latest newspaper: http://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/assets/docs/files/themonth/TheMonth%20May08.pdf
Ralph and Sarah
Communications Director
MESSAGES TO THE AEC ENGLAND TEAM
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CHEERING YOU ON AT WORLDS. HAVE A SAFE TRIP. VICTOR ROSARIO TOP GUN
Good luck from all at Excel
Best, Jamie Buchan
Good luck to all of you
Alison White, ELBA
Wow! A stunning achievement. Good luck.!
Peter Welton, Exec. Director, London Legacy 2020
Good luck and enjoy from everyone at UK Youth - we will be rooting for you!
The Lord rejoices over you with singing Zeph 3:17 – what amazing things you achieved to get to where you already are!
I pray you will fly on wings like eagles – in your performances and in your spirits.
As God said to Nehemiah ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ – keep praising and rejoicing!
God bless,
Dave Mann
Very exciting. Our thoughts are with you and we cannot wait to have you with us on the 14th June. Thanks for keeping us in touch and I hope you all had time for a holiday.
All the best, Mrs. Burrett, Head of Felsted Prep School
Goodluck from CURWEN PRIMARY SCHOOL ...
Good luck at Worlds. I'm so excited for you all and I really hope I can get down there on the day, will be keeping an eye out for the schedules!
Emma, London Rockets
I just wanted to wish you all the best of luck with the World championships. Their routine looked fantastic and I know they will do brilliantly!
Victoria Jeeves, London City Airport
Hopes, prayers and all the luck in the world go with you AEC - have fun , do brilliantly
Jasmine Danish, Newham Education
Please extend my best wishes to all of the team, I know that the Ascension Eagles will make Newham proud!
Regards
Ken Wilson, Tate & Lyle
Congratulations AEC!
Great to see more success as you set off to represent England and Newham at Worlds!
Regards
Richard Webb
Sports Development Officer
The Newham Unit for the 2012 Games
Just wanted to wish Ascension Eagles good luck for the World Championships.
I know the club will do a fantastic job as always.
Looking forward to hearing all about it.
All the best
Nicole Napier
Team Leader Sports Development
Please pass on my best wishes to Angela and all the team and tell them I am immensely proud to be associated with them and everything they have done. It is a tremendous achievement to be going to the World Championships for the third year running as British Champions. I know how hard they have all worked to get there.
They really are wonderful, worthy ambassadors not only for AEC but for Newham and Great Britain.
We will be watching out for your progress on the website.
Good luck Everyone!!
David Robinson,
AEC Treasurer
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