IT’S A GOOD JOB the community hall at Southampton’s Oasis Academy has a high ceiling.

But it’s unlikely the architect who designed the building imagined it’s lofty roof would be used to accommodate the breathtaking throws, spins and somersaults of one of Europe’s top cheerleading squads.

Every week, more than 60 male and female members of Liberty Pride Cheerleaders (LPC) use this space to rehearse their competition-winning routines, incorporating dizzying lifts, twists, tumbles, and fastpaced dance numbers.

The squad has recently returned from the British Cheerleading Association’s International Championships with an impressive haul of sixteen trophies including eight wins.

In fact, says coach Sara Al-Rashed proudly, LPC took a trophy in every category entered and never received less than a top four position.

And as member’s of the squad’s senior division put on an energetic display of backflips, cartwheels and somersaults to the strains of Lady Gaga it’s easy to see why these cheerleaders are international champions.

As an LPC ‘flyer’, 18- year-old Chantelle Phillips spends much of her time being thrown and caught by her fellow cheerleaders.

She is the girl at the top of the pyramid: the one who gets flipped and spun and lands back on the sports hall floor with a spirited toss of the head and a peppy grin to the judges.

She is also officially Europe’s top cheerleader having come first at the International Championships with her impressive solo routine.

What’s more she is part of LPC’s awardwinning senior stunt division, working with four other cheerleaders during competition to execute a series of non-stop stunts for two and a half minutes.

“It’s scary at first,” she says. “But you build up the trust gradually.”

You don’t need a gymnastic background to make it as a cheerleader, insists coach Sara “We’ve had people come to us who’ve never done a forward roll but we have a progression system.

We usually say it takes about 500 goes at something before you get it.”

Sara set up the squad in 2003 as part of the Outer Shirley Regeneration Project with the aim of “building something positive for our community”.

Since then the group has evolved from a weekly class of 15 members into a 60- strong squad with eight separate branches running on a rotation basis at schools across Southampton and Waterside.

Members range in age from six to 32 and include schoolgirls, students, beauticians, teachers, a scientist, a plumber and even a university professor.

Thanks to the ‘High School Musical effect’ more and more young people are taking up cheerleading, says Sara.

“You hear so much about the PlayStation generation and a declining interest in sport but we’re actually seeing an increase in interest. Between nine and 13 new squads are established in Britain each month and the standards are going up and up.”

From its beginnings in American schools, cheerleading has become a recognised sport in America and Sara is hopeful that Britain will follow suit.

“People have a stereotype about cheerleading but they don’t realise how athletic a discipline it is. It keeps you fit and healthy and incorporates everything from cardio and gym work to dance, weight bearing and vocal confidence.”

Now LPC has its sights set on the 2010 World Championships in Florida.

“I feel so proud of them,”

says Sara.

“They’ve all worked so hard and they deserve it. I always say, you come here and you gain 59 friends. It’s a real team effort.”

People have a stereotype about cheerleading but they don’t realise how athletic a discipline it is.

It keeps you fit and healthy and incorporates everything from cardio and gym work to dance, weight bearing and vocal confidence.”

Now LPC has its sights set on the 2010 World Championships in Florida.

“I feel so proud of them,”

says Sara.

“They’ve all worked so hard and they deserve it. I always say, you come here and you gain 59 friends. It’s a real team effort.”

● For information about Liberty Pride Cheerleaders’ open day and tryouts visit leaguelineup.com/LPC