In fact, so popular has it become in the past 10 years, there are now more than 700 competing teams in the country, and this is growing every year.

And after its unprecedented success in this year's UK Cheerleading Association national championships in Manchester, one team has a reputation for being heads and shoulders above the rest; the South Tyneside Cheerleading Academy (STCA).

Ranked No1 for co-ed (mixed sex) cheerleading, and for female stunts at both junior and senior levels, they are hoping to do Britain proud when they travel to the European Championships in Nyköping, Sweden on Saturday and Sunday.

Having taken just five cheerleaders and a stunt group to the previous two Euros, this year the academy has upped the ante and will take an unprecedented 28 cheerleaders, who will compete in six different routines.

Not bad for a school which only started in 2006, when coach and co-founder Rachel Garbutt first picked up the poms while a student at Hatton School Of Dance in South Shields.

Instantly enamoured, she decided she wanted to teach it and so set up the academy with Debbie Said, who still acts as an advisor.

When asked if they had a realistic chance of doing well, Rachel was cautiously optimistic.

"European standard is way ahead of the UK standard. That's because the Europeans have put a lot more funding into cheerleading.

"They train six days a week, but every year we have attended we have increased our ranking. We are hoping to do ourselves proud."

The 26-year-old, mum-of-two, from Brockley Whins, who, in tandem with running the STCA also teaches cheerleading at schools around the borough, refuted the popular notion that the Americans are the best in the world at the sport.

"I think some of the European teams are definitely coming through as some of the strongest teams in the world. Sweden, Norway and Finland have all got outstanding teams who compete at world level."

Split into four groups – Teenies: 4-8 years; Juniors A: 9-12 years; Juniors B: 12-15 years and Seniors: 16+, the academy has some 70 students and is always on the look out for more.

In addition to these national level teams, Rachel also coaches the Community Angels, who train twice a week and compete at community level competitions.

"They are a bridge between school and national level teams," she said.

"If people did cheerleading at school and want to try it again, they can start with the Angels."

Now a judge for the UK Cheerleading Association (UKCA) and its north east representative, she explained what the secret to successful cheerleading is.

"A good attitude is absolutely the key. Having a good attitude towards your training, your coach, your lifestyle. These teams have got all of them."

"When you train 10 hours a week, you get battered and bruised and end up with high-quality performances that win the national championships."

One person hoping to build on this growing reputation was Liam Heslop, 25, a PE teacher at Mortimer College in Harton.

Having caught the cheerleading bug from Rachel last year when she was teaching it at his school, he is now part of the 20-person mixed cheer squad, as well as one half of the male pair in the five person co-ed stunt team.

"It should be good, but I'm nervous as well though."

Coming from a gymnastic and trampolining background, he was attracted to it because of the athleticism required, but admits that, like many men, he did have misgivings.

"Originally I did have doubts about it. Come along and give it a try.

"It is a lot about tumbling, strength and gym work, which people don't see because they think it's a lot of dancing and stuff like that. It's not like that at all."

Acting as the base (catcher) in the co-ed stunt team, he let fly with what he thought were its main core strengths.

"Commitment and team work. There's a lot of trust for the flyer, the people going in the air. They have to trust who their bases are underneath."

So what's the worst thing that can go wrong when holding your teammate 10ft in the air?

"More than likely, that's letting your flyer hit the floor."

Ouch! Has it happened on his watch? "Yes. It has a few times."

Standing at the sidelines coaching the girls' junior stunt team through a routine, Rachel called out a series of baffling instructions.

"Back tuck basket, then a reload to full extension with a 360 degree twist out."

Uhhh? The girls, though, knew what she meant and the resulting flurry of moves resulting in the flyer somersaulting into the air before being caught by her bases, looked tremendous.

I'm up next, though disappointingly it was to be a no-fly zone, for this reporter at least.

That only comes after months of being taught how to prepare your body to fly and land.

Instead, we executed a double base and thigh stand, which entailed me balancing on two girls' thighs while two spotters held me up.

Once up there, you hold your arms out aloft just like Rocky at the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

My base is Stephanie Peat, 16, assistant coach at the academy, who has been cheerleading for five years and competing for three.

The South Tyneside College student, who will travel to Sweden as part of the co-ed and female stunt teams said: "It's a really fun way to get fit and have fun with some really good friends. It's a lovely sport."

So does she rate their chances in Sweden? "Yeah. I'm really confident."

Bring it on!