Four girls from the Watford area are preparing for the chance of a lifetime to compete against the best cheerleading teams from around the world in Florida this spring.
Ella Gutteridge, Evie Barber, and sisters Issy and Steph Cella are members of ‘Haste’, a team of girls ranging from eight to 12 years old, who train with Chiltern Cheetahs in Beaconsfield.
The girls travelled to Paris in November to compete against 100s of teams from across Europe, for their shot to compete on one of the most prestigious stages in all-star cheerleading at the Youth Summit Cheerleading Championships in April.
Having put the team together only three months before their first competition, the 16-strong team not only came first in their age category, but also finished in the top-three teams in the whole competition, securing their place at the championships.
Ella is the daughter of Jason and Veronique Gutteridge, the owners of the Villiers Arms pub in Oxhey, Evie is from South Oxhey while Steph and Issy live in Rickmansworth.
Chiltern Cheetahs were founded in 2012 by Jessica Goodall who said: “I am beyond proud of the girls and what they have achieved in the last three months through teamwork, hard work and real determination.
“They are fantastic athletes who let their passion shine through in Paris, and I am so excited to watch them develop and progress, both in America, and also across the years at Chiltern Cheetahs.”
With less than four months to go until the event in Florida, the team of 16 athletes will not only spend the next few months honing their skills, perfecting their tumbling and improving their stunts, but are also working hard to raise around £20,000 to get them to Tampa.
The girls have already managed to secure a donation of £1,000 from IJB Engineering Limited, an Apsley-based engineering company.
Ruby Adam, IJB’s compliance manager, said: “It is so important to enable these girls to follow their dreams. These girls have earnt a chance in a lifetime to perform and compete against teams from around the world in the US.
“I have heard how hard these girls have been training, both at home and together as a team.
“I am proud to be able to financially help these local girls and would encourage other business owners to help invest in these children's future.”
The girls are hopeful that another business in the Watford area may be able to help them reach the next stage in their journey and are keen to ask anyone who is inspired by their drive, ambition and talent to get in touch by emailing Hastecheerleaders@gmail.com.
You can also follow their journey or make a donation by following the ‘cheetahshaste’ Instagram page.
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