Friday, 4 October 2013

"It"s not all High School girls and pom poms": Former rugby player finds true ...


  • Toby Brewer, 19, played rugby for a local team as a teenager

  • Shop assistant from Fishponds quit sport in favour of cheerleading

  • Bristolian is the youngest male to compete at the highest level



By

Deni Kirkova




PUBLISHED:


13:19, 4 October 2013




|

UPDATED:


13:20, 4 October 2013



Former rugby player Toby Brewer is now dancing down the touchline – as a male cheerleader.


The 19-year-old from Fishponds, Bristol, switched sides five years ago when he took part in a school show and found he enjoyed performing.


He signed up with a local cheerleading club and became so good he has been chosen to represent the UK at the Cheerleading World Championships in Florida.


Toby Brewer, 19, from Fishponds, has been picked to compete at the cheerleading world championships


Toby is pictured here with head coach Becky Hopton


Toby Brewer, 19, from Fishponds, has been picked to compete at the cheerleading world championships. He is pictured here with head coach Becky Hopton



Shop assistant Toby is the youngest male athlete to compete in cheerleading at Level 6 – the highest there is.


He said: ‘I get it all the time – people asking why I would do cheerleading, they say its all High School girls and pom poms.


‘But there’s actually so much more to it than that. You have to be incredibly strong and skilful to be able to complete some of the stunts.



‘I practice three times a week and also train at the gym the same amount too. I do weights and also general cardio to improve my stamina.


‘I enjoyed playing rugby but it wasn’t something I had a passion for – cheerleading was something I was good at straight away and I immediately loved it.’


Toby, from Fishponds, Bristol, played rugby up until the age of 14 for a local club.


He signed up with a local cheerleading club in Bristol and became really good


He signed up with a local cheerleading club in Bristol and became really good



He is now using his strength for different purposes: his very athletic routine involves him lifting a fellow cheerleader above his head – with one hand – while she’s doing a handstand


Toby performs with Bristol’s Predator Athletics, a cheerleading club run by head coach Becky Hopton.


She encouraged Toby to try out for the UK’s cheerleading squad and he made it to the 2013-14 national squad of 34 and then the final 24 for the world championships.


Toby added: ‘Becky really pushed me last season and I went from being unable to do basic partner stunts to being capable of elite stunting in a season.


‘It’s my dream to compete on the world stage – I can’t quite believe it is going to be realised this season.’


Toby says that although the UK is still lagging far behind the US, more boys and men are taking up the hobby.


He said: ‘Once they come and watch it, boys realise that it’s a great team sport.


‘There are many men now taking part in cheerleading across the UK, and hopefully many more will get involved.’


Becky said: ‘We are so excited for Toby to compete internationally.


‘It’s always been my ambition as a coach to get my athletes to the world championships and we wish him all the best.’


Shop assistant Toby is the youngest male athlete to compete in cheerleading at the highest level - 6


Shop assistant Toby is the youngest male athlete to compete in cheerleading at the highest level – 6









Comments (4)


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Chloe,


Somerset,


3 hours ago


I joined a cheerleading club at uni as they didn’t have a dance team and I thought it would be similar – boy was I in for a shock! My arms were always covered in bruises from throwing and catching other girls (I’m quite tall so was always a base) and even broke my nose when I girl stuck her arm out mid-catch! Don’t let American teen films trick you – it’s really hard work – no-one was even allowed on the team if they couldn’t do a back-flip!




BeK,


Brooklyn USA,


9 hours ago


He just wants to work around pretty young girls. Don’t let him fool you.




KM,


Arizona USA,


11 hours ago


Good for him. Cheerleading is so much harder than it looks.




Mindy,


Lancashire,


12 hours ago


Horrible American rubbish. What a shame we have to import all the most banal aspects of American culture just so that we can be second-rate at it.



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Article source: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000087218&story_title=england-ends-kenya-s-rugby-sevens-world-cup-title-hopes


"It"s not all High School girls and pom poms": Former rugby player finds true ...
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