A cheerleading academy has soared to success this year as eight of its members and coach secured places with Team England.

After hearing of this achievement, KentOnline sent reporter Alex Langridge down to train alongside the squad at Kent Cheer Academy and try not to break her neck... what could possibly go wrong?

Reporter Alex tries being a flyer

Heading down to St Georges CofE School in Meadow Road, Gravesend, I started praying some of my mediocre gymnast skills would return after more than 12 years of laying dormant.

When I arrived I was taken aback by the number of posters hanging around the room celebrating all the competitions the academy had attended including the German All Level Championships, National Future Cheer and countless international events.

As I waited for the Team England Youth squad to arrive for their session, I almost lost my nerve and turned around as I sat watching the junior level one team practice their stunts.

When the team arrived, their coach Catherine Wilcocks announced we would be having a bit of fun and proceeded to place me in the team's formation.

This is when the dread set in.

First they showed me how to bounce including a straight jump and a straddle which did not seem too challenging but it turns out was not as easy as I was expecting. I started contemplating how basic this basic training was.

It seemed my gymnast days were well and truly behind me.

We then practised "lines" where the girls complete certain tumbles in repetition until they reach the other side of the gym including back flips, walking handstands and cartwheels.

I was surprised to find I could still manage a basic hand stand but back flips was where I tapped out without even attempting, knowing it could only lead to disaster.

By this point I was trying to catch my breath but the girls were barely breaking a sweat.

The girls chosen for Team England's Youth Team train about five days a week and, as coach Catherine explains, when it comes to competitions they want to win.

"We have got so many kids now that whatever level and whatever age, they are all pushing to be the best whatever their ability," she says.

"For us we love competition and doing well and pushing them. But it is a community. They are like one big family when they come together."

And that is shown through their training where although they are all hoping to be "point" - the group at the front of the formation - they still cheer each other on and show an immense amount of support.

Still learning the "basics" I was introduced to stunts - the more advanced and complicated routines.

I was told I was to be a flyer, which is the person who is at the top of the pyramid and lifted into the air during a stunt. In this particular move there were two bases who hold the flyer up and a backstop who stands behind and acts as the safety net.

After watching a demonstration, I was thrown in and - after falling backwards once or twice - managed to be lifted into a standing position in the air by two 14-year-olds.

It was thrilling and I was amazed at the girls who were holding someone almost 10 years their senior with no struggle.

After considering a career in sport which was quickly dispelled by the fact I could barely stand and my muscles ached I sat back and watched the girls practice their routine.

Catherine talking of their success

At competitions, the athletes perform a two-minute routine which includes tumbling, dance and stunt elements with both solo and group performances.

The Team England girls, who are only 12 to 14 years old, will be competing at the International Championships in Florida next year and their coach Catherine will be joining them after being selected as one of four coaches for the same team.

She said: "It was a massive shock. We were not really sure how quickly they would bounce back [after Covid] but we had a really good year when they came back last year.

"They have just worked so hard. We thought we have quite a few kids that would be able to do this. It is a big achievement to have eight of them on that one team.

"When I first started coaching that was one of the things that I remember saying to my sister one day that what I want to do is coach Team England.

"The job came up this year for the Youth Team and it's the first time we have ever had a Youth Team for Team England so I knew I had loads of girls who would be trying out and that is an age group I really like coaching.

"I went for it and obviously it is so exciting now I have got the job. I am working with amazing coaches and they are giants in the industry so it is major for us."

You can follow the club's journey to America next year via their social media channels and website here.