BASINGSTOKE Wolverines enjoyed double success at the British Cheerleading Association’s National Championships in Telford.

The club’s Panthers team won the Senior Cheer Level One crown, while the Vixens were second in the Senior All-Girl Group Stunt Level Three class.

The competition, held over a weekend, is a huge event, drawing crowds of more than 9,000 spectators and athletes from right across the country.

Some of the cheerleaders were as young as three, taking part in a championship that also saw senior World Championship level cheerleaders participating.

The Panthers saw off stiff competition from eight other teams to take their crown with a winning score of 94.6. Harrogate Hornets were second on 94.2 and Ultimate Spirit Allstars third on 93.8.

The cheer division involves a routine that includes intricate high aerial stunts, jumps and gymnastic and dance elements, all choreographed to music.

The victory means the team have been invited to America to take part in the US Finals, which take place next year.

The Vixens were pipped for first place by Surrey’s Twisters Tsunami in their class as the winners finished on 138.7 and the Basingstoke team on 134.7.

They were well clear of third-placed Airborn Nitros, who finished on 125.1 in a class of 12 in total.

The routines the teams perform are two-and-a-half minutes long and require flexibility, stamina, speed, agility, co-ordination, balance and fast reaction times.

These are all the main components of the sport, which it is hoped will become an Olympic sport in the future.

The team’s next competition is the ICC Summer Jam at Blackpool in July.

The Wolverines accept cheerleaders aged from three years to adult and currently have around 40 athletes, who train at Aldworth School on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

They represent Basingstoke at regional and national levels at competitions right across the country and they offer a free taster session.

For more information, contact the club on basingstokewolverines@yahoo.co.uk.