A TROUPE of dedicated cheerleaders will represent Great Britain at the European Championships after battling through the worst weather of the winter.

The team from Bicester Elite Cheer United had to contend with the 'Beast from the East' to reach the national finals in Manchester earlier this month.

Once there the group showed off their stunts and impressed judges, who have now announced the 15 youngster are through to the continental competition, which this year is being held in the Netherlands.

Bicester Elite Cheer United founder and head coach, Kizzy Burt, said: “We go to nationals every year and that in itself was a challenge this year.

“It was on March 2 during the 'Beast from the East', so it was the day that everyone was warned not to travel.

“We had families go up the Friday before and myself and others were on a bus at 4am to get up there through the snow.

“If it was any other competition I probably wouldn’t have gone but we work all year for this, we just had to battle through.”

The competition saw about 38 cheerleaders – both girls and boys – from the Bicester club show off their moves and bring back a haul of podium places.

Now, after a nerve-wracking wait following the competition, the judges have revealed those who have qualified to represent Great Britain in the Netherlands – including the 15 cheerleaders from Bicester.

Ms Burt added: “To get the good news is fantastic and is an incredible sporting achievement for them.

“The youngest cheerleader going is 11 and the oldest is 18, all from Bicester schools.

“It is three stunt groups, which means a lot of lifting and throwing, a lot of muscle work.

“It is difficult but so rewarding, it's amazing how strong they all are.”

The team includes three different stunt groups who are now training three times a week for hours at a time to learn bigger and better stunts for the competition.

The group are on the hunt for sponsors to help with training kits and travel to the Netherlands.

The European Cheerleading Association's European Cheerleading Championship will be held on June 30 and July 1 in the city of 's-Hertogenbosch –also known as Den Bosch – in the state of the Southern Netherlands.

For more details, or to find out how to sponsor the team, visit elitecheerunited.wixsite.com/elitecheer