Hornets swarm for new members

Harrogate Hornets, made up of girls and young women aged 7-18, was set up in 2007 by Harrogate Borough Council’s Sports Development Team.

The aim was to encourage girls to stay fit, using a mixture of dance gymnastics and stunting, as well as giving them the experience of working as a team.

And the Harrogate Hornets have accumulated an impressive range of silverware in the past seven years.

Last year, the girls fought off tough competition to claim first place in the Senior Level 1 Division at the Northern Championships in Blackpool, and the Hornets came a creditable third in a major competition in Nottingham in March 2016. A number of teams who compete in the world championships in the USA took part in the Nottingham competition, so the Hornets were very proud of their third place.

The successful team is now looking to recruit new members and Coach Holly Shakespeare from Harrogate Borough Council said: “Cheerleading is a fun way to keep fit and active and the girls really enjoy the training and entering the competitions.

“We’re looking for new members to come and join the team – no experience necessary, just plenty of enthusiasm.”

Weekly training sessions are at Jennyfield Styan Community Centre, 4.45-6.45 on Thursdays, £6 per session.