Leah Butterworth, Codie Barron and Abby Pickering help cheerleading team lift European title

Codie Barron, Abby Pickering and Leah Butterworth from the European Champions the Titanium Allstars

Leah Butterworth, Codie Barron and Abby Pickering helped their cheerleading team to become European Champions in Croatia.

The three Whitworth High School students were in the squad from Titanium Allstars who won the Junior Cheer all female open division.

Leah and Codie, both 14, along with Abby, 15, were delighted to be in the 25-strong squad.

Leah said: “We took part in a UK Cheerleading Association competition in Manchester and because of how well we did we got a place in the European Championships.”

The girls also competed in the Junior Group Stunt All Female Open Division. This is where a group of five cheerleaders perform a number of stunts linked together.

Codie Barron's group, Titanium Allstars Tigers, came fourth and Abby Pickering and Leah Butterworth's group, Titanium Allstars Jaguars, came third, winning bronze.

Leah said: “There were 45 people in total from Titanium Allstars that went to Croata, including parents and other adults and we faced teams from countries including Germany, Croatia, Slovenia and the UK.

“We didn’t expect to do that well because we were up against 15 teams in the Junior Cheer class.

“I have been cheerleading for two years and before that I used to do dancing. We got individual medals and a trophy that is now at our gym.

“We did lots of bag packs and fundraising to help towards the costs of the competition and coach fees.”

Codie said: “I have been cheerleading since I was about five, but I stopped for a couple of years.

“I got back into cheerleading in Year 7 and I enjoy it because I get to meet people from different high schools.”