COACHES
Tasmin Steer
Tasmin’s own cheerleading experience inspired her to create a Cheer team in London. What makes this program special is that it has a place for everyone, from kids’ classes to adult-only, allowing athletes to feel valued and progress to the best of their ability.
Tasmin’s coaching career started at Bristol University, where she led the team to become Ultimate Champions – meaning they placed first in the UK!
During her time coaching Tasmin has worked with All-Star, school, and university squads of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced and athletes from ages 3 – 30+. She has also cheered on ESPN and choreographed for the Rugby League World Cup!
Her teams have been named:
Ultimate Champions (first place in the UK)!
Grand Champions
Numerous National & Regional Championship titles
…and a large percentage of athletes on these teams were completely new to Cheer!
Beyond Cheer coaching, Tasmin is also a highly experienced judge, working at Cheerleading competitions across the UK. She has judged Cheer levels 0 to level 7, Tiny to Masters, and all styles of dance. This unique experience feeds directly into her role as Head Coach, as it is invaluable when coaching and choreographing routines at Ultimate Cheer.
She holds her Cheerleading coaching qualifications for Levels 1 – 6 and is also one of only a handful of IASF-certified Safety Judges in the UK. She is DBS (Enhanced) checked, First Aid certified, and holds safeguarding certifications in Child Protection in Education & Safeguarding Young People.
Claire
Claire has been an administrator for almost 5 years and has worked for the not for profit organisation, The Soldiers’ Arts Academy CIC, and as a freelancer. She has a degree in English Language and Literature and an MA in Creative Writing. She is super organised (thanks to running around after her 7 year old son) and will keeps things running smoothly! She is excited to head into her second season with Ultimate Cheer and immerse herself in all things Cheerleading.
Izzy Mclure
Izzy does it all, she has an extensive background in gymnastics, dance, and acrobatics. Currently leading coaching Triple Threat (Open Level 3 NT) and Wild Card (Open Level 5 NT).
Izzy joined Ultimate Cheer in season 3 and has competed with Wild Card (level 3 NT, Blackjacks (open level 3), and Lady Luck (open pom). She is thrilled to be leading our highest level team this season and is passionate about development and learning fueled by her background in Psychology.
Izzy started Cheerleading at Durham University. Izzy competed with Durham Divas on their All-Girl Level 3 team and was the Dance and Team Captain, as well as becoming Club Captain in her final year. Izzy is proud to have founded the first Pom and Performance teams at Durham. She was nominated as Vice President of Team Durham and won a Half Palatinate award recognising her commitment. Alongside this Izzy also competed with the Durham Divas Level 5 team. Izzy also has competed with Loughborough University Goldrush (all-Girl Level 3).
Charlie Wilson
Charlie brings over a decade of experience as a cheerleading and gymnastics coach to our team. His impressive background includes coaching in the United States for three years with the Topgun Allstars, where he was a valued member of the six-time back-to-back world champion team, Double O. During his time in the US, Charlie achieved notable titles including the NCA, UCA, and World championships.
With extensive international experience, Charlie has coached cheerleading in countries such as Brazil Mexico and the USA in addition to working with teams across England and Scotland. His expertise spans all levels and abilities, from coaching novice teams to training national representatives such as Team Brazil and World Finalists.
Sacha Harding
Sacha brings creativity into all cheer routines. Currently lead coaching Cheat (Senior Co-Ed Level 3) and assistant coaching Jack Attack (U16 level 1). Sacha’s influence on the choreography helps take these teams to the next level.
Sacha joined Ultimate Cheer in season 3 and is a dedicated athlete and a fantastic base. This season she is competing on both Wild Card (level 5 NT). She started cheerleading at the University of Reading as an athlete on their level 1 and 2 teams.
We are super excited to have Sacha taking on the role of club Events Manager this season. We know she has some creative ideas for all Ultimate Cheer events and end-of-season tour.
Polina Popovtseva
Polina is extremely passionate about tumbling and comes from an elite powertumbling squad. She loves to help others achieve their tumbling goals and has been creating tutorials and other tumbling content on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for the past seven years on @PolinaTumbles. She can’t wait to start teaching privates here at Ultimate Cheer as well!
Evie Couder
Evie started cheerleading at the University of Roehampton, where she competed with their level 1 squad and group stunt teams, winning a National Championship title in 2018.
She then joined the Ultimate Cheer family back in season 3 as an athlete, she is now lead coach of Heartbreakers and assistant coach for U18’s Development as well as being our safeguarding lead. Evie will be competing with 4 of a Kind (Open Level 4 NT).
Roxy Harpham
Roxy has been with Ultimate Cheer from the very start, competing on their first-ever team, Wild Card! She started as a Celtic at the University of Leeds in 2012, winning first place at University Nationals three years running. She then joined an allstar club, competing in both the US and Europe, even winning a worlds bid with her Level 6 team. She is currently a backspot on Wild Card (Level 5 NT).
Roxy has taken a step back from regular coaching this season, although she’ll still be popping up to cover classes occasionally! She is also our merch manager and is your go-to for any uniform or training kit queries or ideas. You’ll never see her without some kind of Ultimate Cheer branded item!
Karina Mann
Karina started her cheerleading journey at the University of Liverpool. In her first year competing at Level 1, her team won National Champions at BCA University Nationals! In addition to competing Karina was part of their development team. She fell in love with the sport and so in her final year at university become the President of her Liverpool Foxes.
Karina couldn’t resist the buzz of the cheer world so joined Ultimate Cheer at the start of this season. Karina is lead coach for Lucky Charms and High Rollers. She especially cannot wait to work with athletes who may be new to the sport. She loves the team-driven nature of cheerleading and hopes that through her role as coach, she can support young athletes through their own journey as blossoming cheerleaders! Alongside coaching, Karina competes with Wild Card (Level 5 NT).
Caroline Bisholm
Caroline has been a part of the cheer world since she was young, both as an athlete and a coach. She is a 3 times Danish national champion in senior premier all girl level 6 (now level 7) and has competed all over the world as a part of Denmark’s leading All Girl Cheer team. But her passion for cheer truly comes from coaching and helping others reach their goals within the sport. Caroline has been a coach for 10 years and has taught all 7 levels, leading her teams to titles both nationally and internationally. Her latest achievements include leading her junior level 4 elite team to an undefeated season becoming Nordic Champions and winning a bid to the Summit in Florida.
Caroline has taken a couple of years off of cheerleading to focus on university, but she is now ready to get back into the cheer world again sharing her passion and knowledge for the sport with the next generation of cheerleaders. Caroline is so excited to be lead coaching Grand Slam this season!
Ellen Cannon
Ellen first began cheering at 7 years old and it’s been a part of her life ever since. She’s competed nationally and internationally at levels 1 to 5 and (thanks to her slow-to-hit growth spurt) has also tried every position over her 19-year cheer career! She began coaching 11 years ago and has since led multiple teams to national champ titles including coaching her university team at Loughborough and learning from the best of the best coaching in the US and Australia.
This is Ellens’s 4th season with Ultimate Cheer and she cannot wait to see all our current and new athletes grow in confidence as they perfect their skills in the nurturing environment Ultimate Cheer provides. Ellen has trained a range of very successful teams since joining Ultimate Cheer from Jack Attack (under 17’s level 1) who won National Champions to Grand Slam (senior level 2) and 4 of a Kind (level 4 NT).
Emily Danks
Emily first started cheerleading at school, before taking a break and re-joining the cheerleading world at the University of Oxford. There she competed with their level 2 and 3 teams, as well as level 3 group stunt, winning multiple national championships. As well as being an athlete, she took on committee roles including president, secretary and captain.
Emily joined Ultimate in season 5 and then joined the assistant coach pathway. She will be lead coaching our U18 Development teams as well as competing with Wild Card. She loves the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere at Ultimate Cheer and is excited to be a part of the journey into cheer for our young athletes.
Ahrian Taylor
Ahrian started cheerleading on a Junior level 1 team when she was 12 and shortly afterwards started her coaching journey with Youth level 1. She joined Bournemouth Elite when the programme was founded and stayed there for 7 more years, competing on levels 1 through 4 and helping to build and coach their first Youth and Junior teams, coaching Youth 1 to national champions, as well as coaching a Junior 2 stunt group and being a keen step-in for all other teams!
Ahrian took a break from cheer in 2017 to focus on her studies and career, but couldn’t stay away for too long and is super excited to join the UC family. She loves to see athletes grow and gain confidence through training, and having had a tumbling injury herself, she knows how difficult mental blocks can be, so is a big advocate for mental preparedness as well as drills before skills!
Anna Parker
Anna has a background in gymnastics, and has competed nationally and internationally in TeamGym until she was 18. Her highlight was winning the British Championships for Senior Mixed teams in 2017.
After starting university, she joined the Durham Divas cheerleading team, competing with the all-girl level 3 team (and winning grand champs at FC nationals in 2019!) and the co-ed level 5 team. In jer second year she helped teach correct technique to college teams, and led the organisation of the inter-collegiate cheerleading competition, for which she received a Half-Palatinate award.
Anna has coached gymnastics for over 2 years to both competitive and non-competitive gymnasts, and is excited to now be helping the Ultimate Cheer tumblers develop and progress!
Izzy Faulknor
Izzy started cheer when she was 6 years old and has fallen in love with the sport ever since. She started in Tiny level 1 and progressed to international open level 5, competing in every level in between. She’s very lucky to have had the opportunity to compete internationally many a time throughout her cheer career, becoming a 3 time summit champion, Cheersport, UCA and 2x NCA champion as well being part of the first international team to win a triple crown and score a perfect 100. She’s also competed in the World Championships both virtually (in 2022) and in person (2017 and 2023) gaining 2nd in Virtual worlds most recently 5th place in 2023.
Izzy has been coaching since the age of 12 and loves seeing athletes progress and achieve their goals! Whilst she’s officially retired from competing, she can’t wait to be rejoining the cheer world (after a short lived 5 month break) and joining the Ultimate Cheer family!
Helena Lowcock
Helena started cheerleading at university and has never looked back! She has competed on levels 2, 3 and 4 tumble and non-tumble teams. She is so excited to contribute to the positive and welcoming atmosphere at Ultimate Cheer, and develop her coaching skills on the coaching pathway.
Lily Pitter
Cheerleading has been a passion for Lily for as long as she can remember. From the age of 8 she competed nationally at levels 1 and 2 for several years with Liberty Pride Cheerleading. After a break, she reignited her passion for cheerleading at Royal Holloway University, where she competed on their level 2 stunt team and was also part of their development team. As well as being an athlete, Lily was elected the role of Secretary on the committee in her 2nd year, managing the club’s social media.
After finishing university, Lily sought to continue her cheerleading journey and joined Ultimate Cheer for Season 6. At Ultimate Cheer, she is part of the Adult Development class, contributes to the marketing team and is also part of the Assistant Coaching pathway.
With over a decade of cheer experience under her belt, Lily is excited to delve into coaching. Throughout her years in the sport, Lily has experienced the joy of teamwork, the thrill of competition and the rewarding feeling of growing as an athlete. She is particularly excited to share these experiences with newcomers to the sport, embracing the collaborative spirit of cheerleading. Lily hopes to guide athletes through their own cheerleading journeys, fostering their growth and development.
Lily Millard
Lily started cheerleading in 2011 and has competed in every position, most recently as a base on 4 of a Kind. She has competed in allstar and university cheer as well as pom and hip hop, earning both national and international titles.
Lily is super excited to return to coaching this season after moving from Australia having previously led her gym’s Cheerability program. She loves helping athletes showcase their full potential on the mat and creating a space where people can both work hard and make friends.
Giulia Onnis
Cheerleading has been a really big part of Giulia’s life for the past four years, over this period she’s had the chance to train, lead, coach, and grow as an athlete but most importantly as a person.
She believes in hard work and discipline, in determination and passion, and she is so overjoyed to be part of this amazing journey with such an amazing program.
Giulia has been deeply changed and affected by amazing coaches throughout my lifetime, and she carries that with her everyday, she is honoured and over the moon about this opportunity.