Ballarat Cheerleading, which has only been active since March this year, entered a first-level team in the World Cup Cheer and Dance competition in Melbourne.

Club owner and coach Catey Wylie-O’Brien said while the win was “absolutely amazing”, it was also unexpected.

“We work hard so we hope that they will do well at competitions. But obviously being so new, being up against clubs that have been around for years, yeah, it’s fantastic,” she said.

“I’m really proud of them.”

The team of 12 girls, aged 10 to 18, performed a fast-paced dance routine full of stunts, tumbles and human pyramids on Sunday.

Ms Wylie-O’Brien said cheerleading teams only had one chance to perform their two-minute routine.

“If you mess it up, if you don’t get it perfect, if one person falls, then you won’t win,” she said.

“And luckily, on the day, our team hit everything perfectly.”

Ms Wylie-O’Brien said she was hoping to increase the club’s competitive teams from two to five next year.

She was also keen to form teams for all age groups, including adults and under-fives.

“Next year, people are going to be expecting us to do well and come out as a force to be reckoned with,” she said.