Pom pom champions!

WINNERS... Knowsley primary school, Oldham, won first prize in the cheerleading festival. Pictured with the trophy is Lily Brophy, aged nine

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PRIMARY school children have come out on top after winning an Oldham-wide cheerleading competition.

Pupils from Knowsley Junior School, in Springhead, are celebrating a double victory at the Cheerleading Festival where they took first and third position.

A large trophy was handed over to the 24 children who represented the school across two teams at The Radclyffe School event.

Jena Challis (11) who attends Knowsley Junior was hailed for her success in accruing three individual medals at the competition.

Higher Failsworth Primary School team came in as the runners up while the St Joseph's Primary School team secured the Cheer Spirit award for being the "most cheery" group.

Winners were determined by United Kingdom Cheerleading Association (UKCA) judge Alison Newman.

The event is now in its fifth year and is organised in association with Oldham PE and School Sport (SSP).

Primary school teachers were invited to participate in the competition in September last year, and teams spent the next four months rehearsing their routines.

A total of seven schools took part in the event, which was organised by teacher of PE at The Radclyffe School Katie Parkinson.

Ms Parkinson said: "The atmosphere was fantastic. The routines, costumes and effort they put in was phenomenal.

"Thank you to the teachers for the effort they put in choreographing the dances during lunchtime and after school clubs."

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