There are some new trophies at the home of Valley Athletics in Muswellbrook after a very successful weekend at the Aussie Gold event held in Sydney recently.
Owners Ellie Woods and Brianna Ritchie took 12 groups to the statewide competition where they took part across a range of dance styles, pom and cheer.
“We ended up having 11 out of the 12 teams place at this competition, and the 12th team came fourth, so they did pretty good and just missed out,” Ellie shared.
“We’re really stoked, for the athletes, particularly our semi comp kids, this is the first time they’ve ever competed in anything.”
It was a massive weekend for the participants, who ranged in age from four years old to their 20’s, with most of the members being a part of multiple routines over the two days on stage.
“I’d say on average they’re doing three routines each, it’s only a two minute routine for dance, cheer is two and a half minutes, and the amount of effort that they actually put in is phenomenal,” Ellie shared.
“They are here multiple times a week training, they love it, this is their favourite place, hence why they are doing up to six routines.”
When it comes to the routines they perform, Brianna explained that they start off with a basic routine that is worked constantly through the year.
“We’re super excited and can’t wait to see what the routines look like at the end of the year because they’re smashing it now, so by the end of the year, they’re absolutely going to be amazing,” she said.
“If athletes are added to the troupe or as their skills progress throughout the year, we’ll make it harder and further advance the routine.”
Feedback received from competitions also works its way into the evolution of the routines, of which the Valley Athletics team have two more left before they wrap up for 2025.
Valley Athletics won the senior cheer, junior cheer, junior lyrical, mini hip-hop, youth hip-hop, and junior pom competitions. They got second in open lyrical and mini cheer, and placed third with mini cheer, mini lyrical and senior hip-hop.
(Photos supplied)
