On Thursday, April 22, 2004, the Post reported that...

A GROUP of Clydebank cheerleaders almost beat the Americans at their own game recently.

The Clydebank Crystals and Diamond cheerleaders travelled to Florida to compete in the US Open Cheerleading Nationals.

The girls were the first team from Europe to compete in the competition and didn’t come home empty handed.

In the Peewee category (aged 8-12) the girls took second place for their Peewee pom dance and second place for the Junior pom dance (age 13-15).

The girls also managed to take third place for the cheer section and fifth for junior hip hop. #

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Team coach Lisa Tausney said: “This is a massive achievement as cheerleading is an American sport. The girls also got a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios.”

After their win in the US the girls headed closer to home for the Scottish and European World Cheerleading Associations Championships in Dundee.

The junior team wiped the board taking first place in the cheer and dance sections.

The Peewees also made a name for themselves taking second place for dance and third for cheer.

On the big day it was not all down to team work as some of the girls competed in individual events.

Stacy McInally from Drumry was named First Junior Individual Cheerleader Champion 2004.

Lisa added: “Our local squad worked extremely hard, training up to four times a week for these championships.”

“We have put Clydebank on the map for cheerleading with many American organisations, who are begging for our cheerleaders to return to America and compete.

“They can’t believe the standard the girls have progressed to in four years.”