Alison Goulding meets up with the Skyline Cheer and Dance team to find out how they did it.

IT'S taken blood, sweat and tears." When you hear Gary Mort talk about the cheerleading squad he founded a year ago, you can believe he's telling the absolute truth.

Gary has successfully taken his brainchild from a basic gymnasium in Boldon to winning their first major league cup.

After starting out with a handful of enthusiasts, an Echo appeal bought in six new members last September and Skyline took off.

In May the squad beat off stiff competition to win at the Future Cheer Superhero Spirit Challenge in Edinburgh.

In the past they have entered competitions only as soloists and in small groups but this time they appeared as a complete team to win the Senior 2 competition.

Gary, 24, said: "To go out and do the routine we did...I'm so proud. And we've had nothing but positive comments. People think we have real potential.

"It's been nice to feel the hard work and dedication has paid off.

"Many of the team had never been to a competion before so I took them early to get a feel for it.

"I didn't want them to be put off by the 'wow' factor, the crowds and all the noise."

"Everything went really well in warm up but we all felt nerves got the better off us when we performed.

"Watching it back now I think we did a really really good job."

From Monday to Friday Gary swaps his shorts for a suit and works as a manager for Northern Rock.

So what posessed him to enter the world of the Allstar Cheerleader?

"We're one of the few teams in the North East," he said. "There are other squads out there doing a great job. But apart from school teams there aren't very many All-star Cheerleading squads.

"In Scotland and in the south there are hundreds of teams – we can't be having that!"

Gary took dance classes when he was younger but first got into cheerleading at university for the Leeds University Celtics.

He said: "I came back from university and I was bored so I started hunting around for something to do."

Now the Skyline squad meet once a week at Boldon School and do additional gymnastic training in Newcastle to boost their tumbles, jumps and stunts.

It is definitely not a sport for the faint-hearted.

Sarah Walker, 17, joined up in September. "The lead up to the competition was really hard, especially for me because I'm one of the fliers," she said.

"I hadn't done it before but my stunt group helped me get on with it. I was petrified at first.

"When I think back to September I think it's been such an achievement.
"It's nice to have an unusual hobby – it's pretty unique. I don't think anyone else in my sixth form is a cheerleader.

"I'd done gymnastics and dance before but I didn't know what to expect when I joined."

Brittany Hall, 18, joined at the same time as Sarah.

She said: "We got there and thought 'what are we doing here?' – we thought we couldn't do it.

"There was already a team so I thought I would be the new kid at school but it was fine – we got used to it and felt really comfortable.

"It's not competative – everyone just wants to show off what they've got and have fun.

"It was a shock to win in Edinburgh. We thought everything had gone wrong.

"I think next time, with extra practice, we'll get it perfect."

Both teenagers did gymnastics at Houghton Sports Centre and are keen to stress that cheerleading is a proper challenge.

Sarah said: "It's not just smiling and happy faces – there's a lot of hard work and some serious strength involved."

Brittany said: "When we can't get a move in rehearsal we fall apart for five minutes, have a break and then get on with it.

"But we always manage in the end.

"There's a connection between everyone in the group, definitely."

Skyline's next big competition will be in Loughborough where they will be going great guns to bring back their next win.

Gary said: "I won't lie. I find it stressful because I have to organise all the different aspects of it.

"It's all about trying to maximise the score sheet and make sure we can tick all the boxes.

"I like to challenge the team with things they are capable of but that they have to work for.

"Then when they pull it off there's real satisfaction.

"The Scottish teams we saw have an amazing discipline which we've bought back with us.

"They're so sharp and it's opened everyone's eyes."

The squad now has 14 members but Gary and his team are always on the hunt for new faces.

Classes which are held every Thursday at Boldon School in New Road, Boldon Colliery

The group is open to those over the age of 14. Classes are held from 7.30pm to 9.30pm every Thursday, the first session is free and classes cost £4 each after that.

* To find out more call Gary on 07823881337 or go to www.skylinecheeranddance.co.uk