The last 2 weeks have been incredibly successful for local sports club, Galway City Cougars. On March 31st, the Cougars youth and junior level 1 squads aged between 8 and 13 competed at the UK Cheerleading Association’s Northern Ireland Championships in Antrim with great results. The junior squad came in first place by 19 points and the youth squad secured a bid to the Eurpoean Cheerleading Championships which take place in Italy in June and are by invitation only.  On April 6th, the Cougars competed in Scotland with our junior level 2, senior coed level 3 and adult level 2 squads. Juniors placed 8th, seniors 4th and adults took home first prize in a competition that was a very high standard of competitive cheerleading. And finally, the Cougars coaches Jamie Byrne, Hilton Holian and Micheal Curley, who also coach at their sister club GMIT Trampolining, were delighted when GMIT students Laura Aiken and Danielle Kelly took home bronze and gold respectively in the Tumbling division at the Irish Student Open Trampolining competition in Belfast also on the 31st of March. The Cougars next competition will be at the Irish Cheer Sport Association All Irelands in May when their youngest group aged 5-10 years will be competing for their first time. For more information about how to join Cheerleading, Trampolining or Tumbling classes with the Galway City Cougars, please contact a coach

Scotcheer Nationals is now upon us. We will be leaving at 4pm sharp on Friday April 6th. The flight will leave from Dublin at 8.35pm and arrive at Glasgow at 9.25pm. Your child will be allowed hand luggage only.

Final practise will take place Friday at Renmore Gymnastics Club in Ballybrit at the following times:
Level 3 Stuntworx Group: Please arrive at 11am (please bring €5 to cover the cost of the hall rental)
Level 2 Salthill Group: Please arrive at 12pm (please bring €5 to cover the cost of the hall rental)
We will be practising and taking breaks regularly throughout the day, so please bring snacks and lunch. We will also be eating at the airport before departure. Your child will be supervised by coaches/chaperones from Friday morning though to Sunday night.
We will be staying at the Euro Hostel in Glasgow (0044 8455 399 956) and competing at the SECC Arena (0044 141 248 3000) in Glasgow.
Level 2 (Salthill) return flight will leave Glasgow on Sunday 8th at 7.45am and arrive in Dublin at 8.35am. The bus will leave Dublin early am and arrive in Galway at the new coach station on Forster Street early pm. Your child will let you know when we are leaving Dublin.
Level 3 (Stuntworx) return flight will leave Glasgow on Sunday 8th at 9.25pm and arrive in Dublin at 10.15pm. The bus will leave Dublin by 10.45pm and arrive in Galway at Stuntworx Elite at approximately 1am. Your child will let you know when we are nearing Galway. Please ensure there is a lift arranged to collect your child.
Your son/daughter will need to bring the following:
Full CLEAN cheer uniform (T-Shirt/long sleeve Tee, trousers and trainers for boys, Skirt, spanks, top and trainers for girls).
Pyjamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, and all toiletries, change of clothes for evenings/traveling.
Money for lunch/dinner and also approximately 20 pound sterling for return transport from the airport to the hostel.
Tips for packing: Wear travel clothes - something light and comfortable, uniforms will be worn all day Saturday and MUST BE CLEAN, change of clothes for Sunday and pyjamas. One pair of shoes should suffice.
Questions to Coach Hilton on 00353 85 8268428, Coach Jamie 00353 86 8800619
PS DONT FORGET YOUR STERLING!!

Map to Renmore Gymnastics below: Entrance is via the road to the Galway Races Stadium and take a right just before Brookes Hardware.

The Cougars were on the prowl again last weekend at the UKCA Northern Ireland Nationals. Our 2 newest groups, Junior and Youth Level 1s competed with the youth group placing 3rd and the Junior group placing 4th! However, the highlight of the day was winning a bid to represent the UKCA at the ECC Sunshine Cup in Italy this June. More news to follow on this....