Coach's Corner

2008 Competitions:

YCA Open Championships - 22nd June
What a busy bleeding day... OMG thought we weren't gonna make it to comp, 2 mile an hour down them country roads ha ha what a joke...
Now on to the competition - hmmmm lost it on baton drops AGAIN!!! Now then girls this is becoming our forte - we can't go out like this, over + over again our routines have been marked top + some other troupe is walking away with the trophy... Well im not having it now - we've got to get serious, i admit myself that i haven't been at my best this season - my heads just been elsewhere but im gonna get it back into majorette mode because i can see that you lot are suffering as a result of this.
Now we had a new march off, a few little bits to fit in with the theme + we messed it up big time...!!! We've been doing majorettes for what? 14 years now? Unacceptable... everyone knows where they went wrong + we know that it can be put right. Look at superheroes last season - we didn't actually get that theme on the ball til October... Then lost it AGAIN on baton drops in Big Brid, well not again - no way, we are gettin this now.
This comp our manner of performance was weak im not surprised we got 2nd, i swear i thought we were gonna get last... then we saw the score cards + found out we won overall, we must be doing summat good - so lets sort it girls.
Lets stop giving away our trophies...

Ryecroft Angels - 1st June
Hmmm what about this comp then...? Big up all you girls you did Wicked - 1st time out this season + it went alright, obviously we had nerves against us, sweaty + shakey palms - hmmm an excuse for all our drops eh...? On a level though well done it went a lot better than expected but we're the only ones who thought it went good - 4th place, arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhh!!!!
Hold your heads up high girls as we are crusaders and we will rise again... It's taking us a lot longer this season but im not worried coz____ Im not even gonna say it but you all know what i mean so lets get training hard and get some more ORIGINAL moves (not like we dnt have enough) in for cliff brid as this is the last dance comp before it starts to get serious.
Special Shout going out to sheila for not dropping her baton - Wicked missie, lets hope we can all follow in your footsteps nxt comp - lol!!

YCA Gala Championships - 25th May
Ha ha ha... Never again... OMG i think it was horrible dancing in those conditions - how windy was it? Well thought we'd ov had more batons than that i think we did well to catch the ones we did, soon as our batons were released they were blowing left right + centre...
Anyway we knew that it wasn't going to be a good performance - to be honest i was a bit shocked when we got 2nd - thought we were gonna get last - lol!!
I don't really need to say much coz we know what happened, we didn't dance our best at all, that is the worst we've danced in a long time + thats including snr dance at pontins last year... Ha ha!! Its out of our system now tho so i know it will be top stuff next time we dance - hopefully we wont have 20 points difference between our score cards...!!! Hmmmmmmmm!!!

Yorkshire Supremes - 4th May
Well done seniors another well deserved win in pom... It felt so much better than it did at pontins, energy + performance was a lot better, still not upto standard but its a new section so we will get it there. We need to work on your spatial awareness - its not too good guys - hmmm, slap them wrists.
Oh yeh those of you out of the troupe who read this will have a heads up on this information... Im changing it!!! Well bits of it anyway, feels like someone or something is missing... I am on a mission.

Pontins Championships - 18th-21st April
Well what can i say i am impressed... 1st competition + what a set of brilliant results, 5 1st places - i don't think we have had a result like that for a while!!!
Lets start with open - Cops & Robbers eh...? I must admit a couple of weeks ago i had my doubts but as always you seniors were prepared to do what it took to get it sorted. The performance was very good for 1st comp, obviously we had a lot of general faults which are just down to nerves and the fact that we have a brand new theme. In terms of the score cards we got excellent points - i feel that now we need to characterise ourselves a little more aswell as keeping the twirling smart and in time. Baton drops - Hmmmm well i supose it was expected as we haven't had a comp for 5 months, we definately need to get them down - this year i do not want us loosing out on baton drops like we have the past 2 years. Spacings were not very good, lines + that not upto standard yet and that is essential - this is text book stuff that we should be doing, i mean come on guys we don't want to be loosing out on manner of performance - you all know thats our forte, HC are all about performing...!!!
Now on to pom - Dissmissing all the disagreements we had prior to dancing i think that you all did brilliantly - im really proud of you all especially the new seniors... I must say though all of you have to work on your STAMINA - towards the end of the routine the performance starts to look flat + tired but you've got to remember that its only 9 minutes... buss out all the energy that you have got then we can recover later - lol!!! Again general faults with spacings + little timing errors, the worst thing i have to pick out is haults!!! You know how much i shout at training - seriously guys this was horrible - we will def be sorting this for next comp. See how i left out the fall...
I think all in all we all did well over the weekend + i think for us to have just danced at pontins was winning enough because we didn't have any completed routines until the week prior - so pat on the back to you all.
Bring on this season - Braaaaaaaaaaap!!!

2007 Competitions:

YCA Open Rose Bowl Championships - 14th Oct
Guys im so proud of you, the 1st place result was wicked - you all did exactly what i said + it paid off!!! Im not going to go into too much detail as this site is open to everyone - you get my drift...
Juniors again good performance, not as bubbly as your first time out but it was still good - 4th place, im gutted about that... Don't think that its you guys i think that your carnival theme is obviously not as obvious as we thought. I will sort it out don't worry.
Wicked solo cassie - you were on a roll, well desereved 1st place missie. Kerri well done, your 1st place will come in time we just need to work on your 2-baton skills.
Good day though guys... only one more comp to go!!!

Huddersfield Crusaders -7th Oct
Arrrh juniors you were wicked, what can i say i loved the atmosphere that you created it was just what your theme is about. Obviously we had faults but it was your first time out so that was expected... You all tried really hard + you could tell you all enjoyed yourselves - BIG UP!!!
Well done Kerri + Cassie first time out as leader + mascot... A little shakey in places but that will come together the more times you dance - good results all around though. Oh yeh kez next time don't pick up your own baton after dropping it - bloodyhell missie!!!

Bridlington Red Admirals - 30th Sept
Ok we'll let this one go... Its always best to have your bad comp before we go to brid so that it's hopefully out of the way. All of you know what happened so i don't have to go into much detail - this applies to both seniors + juniors. I hope that as your trainer i dont see any performances like that for the rest of the season - The only way now is UP!!!

*West Yorkshire Premiers - 23rd sept*
Whoop... Whoop!!! well done my senior girls i must say i was nervous about presentaion as we were not as strong as the first time we danced the new routine. Though i'm pleased with the 1st and hope that you all know that there is still lots of work to be done, which we are goin to sort for driffield comp sunday. Spacing's are causing us a bit of problems this year + its not normally as bad as this - we really need to start being aware of each other as a team. Drops again a bit dissapointing but it is just so hot... We are goin to have to get something for our hands as we don't want it to come down to drops in the final competition. Good effort on trying the harder moves - could be improved though. I love dancing with you lot coz its fun + i think thats what we need to keep up within our perfomances, it's just a crusaders style!!!!
Which brings me on to juniors - arhhhhh girls im gutted for you but inna way i can see where the judges are coming from. Your routine is fast and your timing has improved buckets but due to our none attendance of twirl academy you are trailing in the difficulty department. I feel that it can be improved but only if you work at it... You know how i am feeling with you all at the minute so i suggest you all have a think together + try to up your game.
Overall your performance was wicked, smiles were there and your shaking out was fab!!! Drops aswell were brilliant only 16 thats wicked + you caught all your exchanges - keep up the good work girls.
Last but not least mi ol' mukka cameal - well done on your first missie, about bloody time too!!! Well done oldface you did good to get 2nd due to you not being yourself - true crusader there!! B well done on your placing a better performance from last time though still needs a little more i would like to see you trying more difficult moves in your 2-batons coz i know you can do it.
Anyway ok day yesterday girls only one more dance comp before the big one so lets keep up the good work.

*YCA OPen Gala Championships - 16th sept*
A better performance than last time we danced in open i must say - though i am still not happy with the team as a whole. I know that our performance can be so much better. It lacks in energy + it so visable that people are going in + out of character. The drops are unacceptable and i want them down for the next time we dance. I am pleased with most of the timing throughout open, as the pace goes from fast to slow so i feel that we are working well to stay in time. Well done for the 2nd place; if we work hard at it i know that we can do better but you guys have to push that extra mile because if you don't you will be disappointed at the 'Big One'.
Well done lisa + shelley - i could tell you weren't yourselves sunday so hopefully you are over that + you can get your solo's back on track.

*YCA Dance Twirl Rose Bowl Championships - 9th Sept*
BRAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!! Thats all ive got to say to both my teams you were WICKED. Start with juniors - brilliant improvement on your deportment thats how i want to see it from now on, it just makes the routine look so much better. Drops are goin down which is good - cara i know you dropped a few silly ones but thats just becasue your nerves took over. The new march-on went down a treat; it set you all up for the rest of your performance, smiles were busting out + everything. Well done on your team 2nd and only loosing out by 1 point - thats so good guys, see what you can do when you put your mind to it?
Chanelle good to see you smiling on the arena again... you look so much more confident. Bianca you need to stop giving up - we will talk at training.
Now on to my fellow seniors - well guys what can i say we haven't danced in this section since pontins but haven't been working on it that long as we didn't really finish the new stuff till i was back from newcastle though to be fair we have had a while... But all the hard work paid off. Timing was brilliant to say it was the first time with that combination of the routine, especially our 'JB' + 'Thriller' dances they looked HOT!!! Deportment was really good, haults were good aswell, only a couple of mistakes which we know we can correct but overall well done to you all for your effort + just for going for it. I am so proud of you all especially sheila - you're a star missie can't believe you got back from your hol + came to dance, well done.
Wicked day guys, we have still got lots of stuff to work on as you know i work for 110% + im never satisfied... ha ha ha, but it was a bloody good effort - thats to both juniors + seniors. Lets keep it up now yeh...?

*YCA Open Championships - 19th August*
Well what can i say i knew we were doomed from the start dancing first thing in't morning - it was a sham guys + we all know it!!! At our standard now we should not be dancing like that + im taking atleast half of the blame coz if any of you guys did what i did i'd ov thrown you out of da team. Drops seem to be at a set number which is in the 20's though i know that this can be decreased - we don't need to have all the silly one's we are having.
Oh the new bits went really well: the 'blow bit' in superman + the 'hostage fight' in Talking batman it was really funny + gave it more of an entertainment element which we have been asked to add.
The morning just flattened the energy of the routine it wasn't as energetic as normal but it was ok... next comp we seriously need to give it our all + i promise that i will train leading upto this one as i feel i am begining to pull you lot down - arhhhhh thats not good is it...?
Well done for team 2nd place though + shelley + lisa on your first places, you were not as tight as usual but you still mashed it!!!!

*Ryecroft Angels Dance Comp - 22nd July*
Well this is a brief coaches comment as i wasn't present on the day though i have been informed on how you did... Still lacking in the smartness department in terms of baton by sides, hands in fists + fingers closed on hips - all standard stuff that should be drilled into your heads by now girlies!!
Overall though i heard you did i good performance and you got thrid place which is ok to say you had a few drops, i was with you all in spirit + glad you all liked my inspiring text message - he he he!!!
We def need to knuckle down for next comp juniors you getting through on bly's... Well done Chanelle + Bianca aswell.

*YCA Dance Twirl Championships - 8th July*
How weird was comp today us seniors not dancing... Anyway it was all about our juniors today + i must say that you did really well!!! Its so much better to watch the routine when you smile + look as though you are having a good time. We still need to work on your difficulty and deportment as always though hopefully this will come in time as i have been drumming this into your heads for years now...!!
Baton drops were a bit much today, a lot of you were just loosing control and speeding - I know you haven't danced for a while so i'll let you off with that one. We need to get it down from 33 tho thats a bit unacceptable!!!
Well done bianca you were ace today - lovely to see you smile on the arena instead of screwing up your face + it worked out better for you coz you got 2nd place. Loved your solo at the end it can still improve but you did brilliant today!!!
Well done chanelle aswell again gud to say you haven't danced for a while - just a few drops though you just need to try + not panic and calm down when on the arena... It will come tho - i know it can be nerve racking, you should have asked me for some spray... well done tho!!!

*Silver Stars - 1st July*
Arhh it was a good day today all-round - Im so glad that the venue changed coz i would not of been dancin in that rain!!! Today guys it was a good team effort off arena + on arena, it was good to see you all boosting each other up on the arena and just enjoyin yourselfs, you know thats what we are about + today it showed. The Routine is gettin better timing and characterisation, it was a lot more energetic today and i think we all played up to the theme a lot better than previously. I'd say the only bad thing was the new part in 'superman1' we need to sort that... Baton drops were another problem today + thats partly my fault coz i dropped 4 ov em... I tell ya if that were my last time out in open for a while you guys will be better of with out me - he he he!!!
Well done for the first place, good comments from the judges aswell so lets just keep up the hard work - still got a lot of things to explore with open + they will come soon!!!
Well done sheila + sila - ace as usual jus a few silly mistakes today... yeh sheila you + your misterious solo in the middle of incredibles - ha joker!!! Well done tho you two.

*YCA Open Championships - 10th june*
Well done for your 2nd placing seniors - it was a good result to say that we were one girl down and there were a lot of silly mistakes. The routine is there, we just need to work on the timing and the essence of the theme. Good spiderman faces - how funny was that, great characterisation girlies.
From viewing the score cards we have got a few bits to work on if we want to get our open back on form... we have had a shakey start to this season but i know that it will get better if we just focus. We will discuss score cards further at training.
The room was really hot on sunday and i think we all did really well to try + keep up the energy of our routine - i know i felt like i was going to pass out...! Good job though girls im not worried about the 2nd place, if we all knuckle down at training like you have been these past few weeks we will achieve what we want...!!!
Well done lisa another well deserved 1st place, shelley i don't know what to say i think your fab + did not deserve the place you got but just hold your head up high because your a crusader. (Dont go blaming it on us lot jinxing you about your back bend - ha ha ha)

*Pontins Open Championships*
Ha ha ha wot a joke... you guys know what i mean, seriously how the hell did we win senior dance...? Oh well 1 out of 2 isn't bad! How wicked did it feel to do the theme - superheroes is ace!! Massive well done to you all again for learning the new bits in a week doing a bloody good performance. Timing was really good to say that it was our first time out, we just need to work on our characterisation but that will come the more comfortable you get with the routine.
Big up to chanelle - you were ace missie, now then there was no need for the crying before hand look how gud our chuck went... you went out like a true senior well done. Lisa it's like you were never away from being a L or M you were wicked and sheila dont fink i forgot you, you work a lot better with a mascot!!
You 2 were heavy well done with your first places...

*YCA Dance Twirl Championships*
First comp of the season, what can i say juniors and seniors you both did brill - especially seniors to say we only got the routine together at the last minute 2nd place at first comp is good. We have still got a bit to do as there were a few timing errors and some bits still look a bit shakey and difficulty could be increased.
Juniors your performance could have been better to say that your routine has been finished for weeks though i will let you off because i know you were all nervous, we just need to keep them batons held tightly so the judges can see the routine... When im done at uni i will be cracking the whip with you guys i feel you need it just to smarten up!
Seniors from the scores we have still got a bit of work to do but im not worried because we haven't really worked on dance as much as open it will come when i finish uni... All round good day well done girls!!! Sarriah + Kala heavy as always you two were brill, well what i saw anyway - good results for first comp.

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*YCA Dance Twirl Championships - So crusaders good first comp, everyone tried really hard as i know that the nerves were kicking in - they even affected our babies this time round...arrh
Seniors well done with the first place it was a good all-round performance though we still need to improve on many things which will come throughout the season.
Juniors you guys were ace, ive been pushing you in training for over two years now and that was the performance i was looking for - there are still a few little things to work on but you got a well deserved first place.
Babies my little stars, you can tell that you are begining to grasp the element of competition now as you are all getting a bit of stage fright... i think that you did well though i have seen you a lot better. We need to work on you baton work as i feel that this will improve your placings 100%.
Overall guys good first comp lets hope we can keep up to the standard.

*Pontins Open Championships - Well guys what can i say... 3 first placed teams!! You should all give yourselves a pat on the back for working so hard. Seniors who knew our open theme would go down so well? It still needs a bit of work but great first time out can't wait to do it again. Juniors you're coming along now and starting to enjoy it just try not to look so nervous on the arena - you still all ace tho + channelle you're a star well done on your first place!!
Well done guys overall it was a good weekend keep up the good work.

*Silver Stars - Ok guys not a very good day for us but we know why and thats the main thing... Babies you did well to get placed with only one in the team, though we still need to work on your baton skills. Juniors not as good as we've seen you previously - you're loosing your smiles and letting the nerves take over just relax girls your all brilliant!! Seniors - oh my god what the hell happened? We know that we never do good in that hall and we didn't... oh well better to loose at this comp than at one of the big ones - no worries because we know what we have to do, let the hard work begin!!!

*Yorkshire Supremes - Well done seniors good result although we didn't think we were gonna get it... we are still having trouble with these baton drops, the hall was really hot tho so batons were really slipery we're gonna have to try extra hard to keep hold ov em. Juniors you did a really good performance but again jus like seniors baton drops let you down, i still need to see those smiles tho!!
Babies you did really well again - we didn't av any retreivals this week so thats a bonus, you performed brilliantly!!
Well done to you all and we're only a few comps in so hopefully we can only get better.

*BCM Stars - Oh my god!!! Thats all im gonna say... All teams know that we have got a lot of training to do so we better get our butts into gear.

*YCA Open Championships - Now thats more like it guys... well done seniors you did a great performance (well some of it anyway, we all know what went wrong) - we're still having trouble with the drops so we are going to have to over come this some how, very well deserved 1st place.
Juniors you did extremeley well for your first time out though i know that you can do a whole lot better and that this will come with more practice, kerri we need to get you sorted with the nerves as you are such a good majorette - next time i know you will do better, overall well done guys.

*Our Comp - Ha Ha ha... This is just not our hall is it guys? We always try to do well in this hall but it never pulls off for us. Not a good day again which is not crusaders we need to seriously pull our socks up girls as we can not honestly say that we have performed at our best this year + that is just not us. Juniors you were just as bad which is not normal for you - we have such a strong troupe with a lot of twirling ability and you guys have the potential to go all the way you all need to knuckle down.
The hard training is just about to begin...


*YCA Dance Championships - Ok my senior crew what d'ya reckon shud we jus slow down our routine? maybe that will work out better for us...Errrrrr NO!!! All this twirling that we are doing is leaving us with the most baton drops we have ever had + its not good guys - even i'm dropping bare batons, i swear thats not like me. The overall performance was brilliant though, lots of energy and crusader smiles and the timing is improving which is really good + well done on the new twirling on the march on - it was only little section but we knew it was there and it looked heavy guys!!!
Juniors i reckon that you deserved a lot better than third place - though thats just my opinion, good decrease on your drops shame seniors couldn't do the same! You performed a lot better and your timing is coming a long - it still needs to be improved as you all know though we can work on that. Just need to get out of the habit of doing these silly little mistakes on the arena - this is what pulls down your score on the day... oh yeah + kerri i loved the extra bit you added to the routine when your skirt fell down as you skipped to your place that was hilarious... poor little mite!!! Overall ok day not too bad but we know its just not been our day yet - though it will come and when it does... hmmmmmmmmm

*Ryecroft Angels - Well done seniors for the 2nd place as we had all them baton drops i didnt think we would even get placed... The energy, timing and perfomance is improving so much we are just trying a little too hard and are dropping TOO many batons. This is the last dance comp for a while so we will have everything under wraps by september - you know what i means guys...!!

*Sewerby Gala, Bridlington - Hot day oh my god how did we all cope? well done to both juniors and seniors today brilliant performances from both teams. Juniors a big improvement from your first time out and i am sure that you will improve a whole lot more as the season goes on...! Great result seniors i know it was windy but we all still performed brilliantly - timing is improving and smiles are ACE!!!
Overall good day at brid, 3 first places - shelley, Kerri + our fab senior team... Well Done!!!

*YCA Gala Comp - Well done juniors you are improving so much, all you guys had excellent deportment today and you can tell that you were more aware of it whilst you were dancing on the arena. Only 5 team drops thats brilliant!! Though Kerri we need to work on yours... i think that you just need to sort out your solos and they will decrease. Overall though good stuff guys you are coming along really well to say that you have never done military before.
Oh seniors what a day... i know i say at training go out and enjoy yourselves but oh my god i think we all went a bit too far!! It was funny though wasn't it? Well done on the result we are getting a lot better on our timing so that is good think we just need to take a bit of time to check our lines - well with the speed of the routine its hard but thats someting for us to work on, Brilliant result guys!!!

YCA Open Championships - Well done seniors another well deserved first... the routine is really getting into the swing now though you know us lot we still have a few tricks up our sleeve!! The new chuck went a lot better and it looks lots more difficult so thats a bonus, good improvement on the drops.
Juniors well done with your new routine - this section is coming along slowly you all just need to show a lot more enthusiasm + cara i know you was ill so you've got a good excuse. Keep working hard guys and you will definately get there!!!

Yorkshire Supremes Open - 1st 2nd place of the season seniors oh well we knew it was coming... we didn't exactly have a good day - the baton drops are just becoming a big problem... Shell dont worry about it everyone has there bad days so lets just hope yours is out of the way now and you can get back on form for the next one. Juniors its all about your faces again!!! Its letting you down - deportments good - routines good - abilitys good, you just need some ummf!! You all know what i mean - kerri well done you had a better day today and you looked a lot more confident, still need to work on the drops though.

YCA Rose Bowl Dance - Whooooo whooooo ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT seniors our routines increased our difficulty by 100% though also increased our drops by 50% - but that balanced out. So did not think that we were gonna get it as our drops were terrible and there were lots of mistakes. Overall though timing was good which says a lot with the speed of our routine, just need to work on the little things now and we may have cracked it - Well Done guys. Juniors again Brilliant performance - not as bubbly as ive seen you previously though it was still really good and such a shame about the drops as you won overall but came third as a result. We have got a few things to sort with your bad habits whilst on the arena which we will eventually get through hopefully... Good job guys you did well with the new routines you were ace. Babies You were wicked - so funny... you can tell that you really enjoy doing the routines - just think we need to work on your memories so that it doen't look so much like you don't know what you are doing. Good effort with all your harder moves though - well done.

Keighly Comets Open - Well the day did not start out too well and we all know that when we get annoyed we just can not be bothered... Though we turned it around!!! Seniors well done again for the 1st place baton drops went down so that was good - Im so glad we didn't get points taken off for all my mistakes (naughty me) maybe if i trained i'd do a lot better... Juniors you were ACE!!! You watched your spacings and kept your deportment up all the way through - we just need to work on your timimg and kerri your baton drops. WELL DONE though guys you got 1st place again but lost it due to head count + drops so i know that you are improving. Babies what can a say you all make me laugh... Think we need to work on your concentration levels and your memories... Good Day in the end though guys.

Universal Championships - Oh seniors what a hard season we have had... I just want to say that all of you have worked your little hearts out and it has shown, as we didn't loose that many times throughout the year and the trophies at the end clarify that. I just want to say that i am proud of you all for what we have achieved this year 2006 and it doesn't matter that we didn't get the trophies in the end because we all know that you desevered them. All you girls are brilliant baton twirlers with an extremley high ability and the versitility to work within slow and fast speeds - its just not our preference to work just slow, what the point...? I'd say its more of a skill if you can use them both and still have precision and thats what crusaders are about, we know how to mix it up!!!

2006 has been tough having to adapt to the changing difficulty levels though i feel that we have overcome it now and the only way now is UP!!!
Guys do not be dissapointed about what happened in brid, i know its upsetting but we know now to just come back bigger and better next year 2007 so lets just look to the new season with an open mind and think of this as a bad dream that will eventually go away.
Well done for an amazing year and i look forward to creating some fabulous new routines to teach you nxt year!!! Luv u lot...

Juniors Juniors - absolutely brilliant, i knew as soon as you lot had danced that you had won, you were all amazing. For the first time this season i saw you go out there and just enjoy dancing your routine - you got rid of the nerves and just shacked!!! You lot were HEAVY, i swear rite im proper proud of you because you so deserved it - it was long over due.
Anyway crusaders lots of preparation to do now as we don't want to loose face... we will work at our stuff and bring new stuff to the table - so cannot wait for training c u nxt sat!!!
BRING ON 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!