Big cheer for the Tornados Allstars

The beautiful thing about sport is that it comes in so many different formats and even those perhaps considered on the fringe have participants full of enthusiasm, talent and dedication.

The world of cheerleading might not get the same headlines of football, cricket or rugby, but the amazing team at Tornados Allstars, based in Ilfracombe, are proof that this wonderful combination of dance and gymnastics is thriving in North Devon.

The club has been going for over a decade and recently enjoyed great success at national finals. Cheerleading is a sport that requires co-ordination, teamwork and a willingness to learn in a relaxed environment.

The Tornados Allstars will provide a great insight to the sport and they have a superb fundraising programme to make Cheerleading affordable and accessible for all.

Tornados Masters’ Coach, Charlotte Duce, said: “The Allstars were founded by my sister Emma Shorney, who is also the Head Coach. We have been going for over 11 years and take part in competitions all over the country.

“We compete in a variety of tournaments and there is a lot of travel. We’ve been to Bournemouth, Wales and, most recently, the nationals in Stoke-on-Trent, where we came back with a couple of firsts and a couple of seconds.

“The sport of cheerleading is a bit of gymnastics and a bit of dancing, plus a great deal of co-ordination and choreography. Most importantly, we focus on fun and enjoyment for all ages and abilities.

“Our youngest All Star is just four years-old and the oldest is 42, so juniors and seniors. The Masters are the seniors, who are 20 years of age and above. The Tornados are open to boys and girls, and we get members from every walk of life.

“We are a non-profit organisation, so we do a lot of fundraising to keep the costs down when it comes to kit and travel. We also provide the uniforms, so parents don’t have to fork out an extra expense. My two daughters are All Stars and the kit is never-ending.

“We train on a Wednesday and Friday evening at the Lantern in Ilfracombe from 4pm – 7pm. New members are always welcome to give cheerleading a try and the competitions are completely optional. Many of our members just come along to enjoy training and to get fit.”

There is a whole load of information on the Tornados Allstars Facebook page and a brilliant sport for ticking the boxes of teamwork, fitness and fun.