Picture Set 6

Our best year, so far, at the Nationals, was 2004 when we were named Area Champions and won a special award, the Jubilee Cup (a celebration routine to mark the UKFM Nationals’ 25^th Year At Pontins, Camber Sands), from a combined routine with the Silver Spinners and Ipswich Diamonds, designed by Georgina Head, and gained the honour of having the founding member of our Troupe, Cerys, named Miss Deputy UKFM at the age of 15

At the interim Nationals held in October 2005, 13 girls came away with 22 prizes – a great result against huge competition. Our proudest moment from the competition – WE WON BIG SILKS SENIOR (something we have been trying to do for 3 years!). We gained 5 1^st places, 5 2^nd places, 5 3^rd places and 7 runner ups!

At the Nationals in April 2006 eleven members attended and came away with 30 prizes between them – not bad for a small Troupe. Our proudest moments – coming 3^rd in Mace Groups at our second attempt of entering this category, coming 1^st in the Novelty display and having several of the competitors improving exponentially over their last outings.

At the 2007 Nationals our only two 2 baton entries (George and Cerys) came 1^st and 2^nd and Cerys 1^st again with her duo partner, Georgina Head. Sam became Colour Guard (our third for the troupe), six girls gaining places in their baton solos at all levels, group success for Majorette Senior, Military Junior and Junior Beginner Baton, 10 P&P and Princess places and best of all Cerys came 1^st in the Challenge Duo with Leanne of Dacorum (names for partners are drawn out of a hat and they have a day to prepare a baton duo of a very high standard to dubious music out of a hat!)

At the most recent Nationals in April 2008 thirteen members attended and came away with 16 prizes between them – not bad for a small Troupe. Our proudest moments – Oh so many … The parents and adult siblings getting 3^rd place in Adult Novelty, despite Jo having a broken hand (as she found out when we took her off to hospital after the event)! The Beginner Twirl Trio of Beth, Sophie and Stacey getting 1^st Place at their first attempt of entering this category, Cerys (with Leanne of Dacorum) coming 3rd in the Championship Duo, and in Lead Girl, Flag Solo and Majorette March. George and Lisa getting a 2^nd and 3^rd for Military March and the Junior Military Group of Abbie, Brooke, Stacey and Sophie gaining a Nationals 2^nd Place. Gabi getting 3^rd Place at Beginner twirl first time out, Brooke getting 3^rd place for her Novice Solo and Hannah (at her first Nationals) gaining a 1^st at Novice Solo, and a 2^nd with an innovative Nursery Rhyme routine twirling a tea towel! All of the competitors improved over their last outings and received 16 Runner Up prizes between them too as well – Well Done to you all!

Kirsty received a special trophy, the Lisa Fox Trophy, for her selfless actions in running for help for an Adult Novelty member who had fainted (and we learned later after she had insisted on taking part in the routine had broken her hand in the fall) and in the process had tripped up herself and ended up on crutches and out of the rest of the National competitions.