Unity All Stars, which local teenager Anna Grigson is part of. Photo / Supplied
Unity All Stars, which local teenager Anna Grigson is part of. Photo / Supplied
Three consecutive winters is the price Mount Maunganui teenager Anna Grigson has to pay to compete with the best cheerleaders in the world.
The 16-year-old Mount Maunganui College student helped English club Unity All Stars to two national titles at the ICC British Open Cheer and Dance Championships last weekend.
After representing New Zealand last year, Anna joined Unity club in England – her country of birth – and has been there since October.
Anna and her mother Rebecca moved from England to Pukekohe when Anna was 3 and then moved to Mount Maunganui eight years ago.
Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times from England yesterday , just hours after the conclusion of the championships, Anna said it has been a fantastic experience.
"I was born in England and have wanted to represent my birth country for a while so when the opportunity came, I knew I had to take it. My dream is to be on an American team so this will help me get there as it is bigger in England than New Zealand and it will give me more experience."
Anna competed in the level two Jade, and level five Ruby teams who were both victorious at the British Open.
The club was crowned grand champions and she will compete for Unity at next month's USASF Cheer Worlds in Florida, which will also host the ICU World Cheerleading Championships, where Anna will compete in the England all girl premier team.
Mount Maunganui teenager Anna Grigson. Photo / Supplied
"Being in the England all girl premier team is an amazing opportunity. This is a level six team and at the moment, I am only level five, so being on a level six team as well now is great. I can learn lots from this team as there are new and harder skills."
Anna does not return to New Zealand until July and says there are some challenges to being on the other side of the world.
"The hardest part about being away from home is missing family and friends, it's not like I can just go home for the weekend. I will miss out on two summers, my favourite season, so instead I'll have three winters."
Her mother Rebecca says Anna was away for her 16th birthday and Christmas, but it is a great opportunity.
"She coaches and loves giving back to the kids and she is very humble and self-motivated. To leave her families and friends and go to the other side of the world, shows she is pretty serious."
When the family moved to Mount Maunganui there was no cheerleading club in the region so Rebecca, whose background was dance and ice skating, set up the Bay Twisters Cheersports Club.
Rebecca says since starting with around eight cheerleaders five years ago the club has grown to 90 members.
The club's major event is the Battle in the Bay which attracts 1400 competitors and is held in Tauranga in August.
