Cambridge University gets its first ever pom-pom squad -After 800 years

Gimme a 'C': Cambridge University's first cheerleading squad in 800 years are making history by proving that beauty and brains go hand in hand

The Tab's 'Totty' section featuring 'Beautiful Becky' sparked controversy on campus at Cambridge University

From left: Robin Best, Cally Humphrey, Sarah Reid, Rebecca Grant, Tanya-Lucy Bell, Marieluise Lercher and Catherine Vincent

Their outfits, at least, are in the university's traditional colours.

But everything else about the appearance of these energetic young women is likely to have the dons of Cambridge spluttering on their port.

For the first time in its 800-year history, Cambridge University has its own cheerleading squad.

The Cambridge Cougars entertain crowds at sporting fixtures and this year cheered the Varsity rugby league team to victory against Oxford.

They have also supported the university in volleyball, basketball and hockey, belting out chants such as: 'Cambridge, Cambridge, crank it up. Cambridge, Cambridge, we're on top.'

The 45-member squad is made up predominantly of Britons but also boasts some from the U.S. Germany, Israel, Austria and Ireland.

They include four men whose strength is useful for flinging the girls into the air.

The club president, Cally Humphrey, said: 'It helps students relax and forget about their work for a while.'

Oxford's own prize-winning team, the Sirens, was founded in 2004.

Among the Cambridge girls hoping to emulate Oxford's success are the seven pictured here:

Robin Best, 21, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Natural sciences student at Gonville and Caius. Ambition: Environmental work.

Cally Humphrey, 23, from Devon. Cougars president. Materials science PhD student at Corpus Christi College. Ambition: Scientist.

Sarah Reid, 20, from Oxford. Music student at Homerton, specialising in the flute. Ambition: Professional musician.

Rebecca Grant, 19, from Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. Medicine student at Trinity. Ambition: Doctor.

Tanya-Lucy Bell, 21, from Holywood, Belfast. English with education student at Homerton. Ambition: Primary school teacher.

Marieluise Lercher, 20, born in Austria, lives in Germany. Natural sciences at Peterhouse. Ambition: Surgeon.

Catherine Vincent, 20, from Woodford Green, North-East London. Classics student at Trinity. Ambition: Primary school teacher.

The emergence of the cheerleading squad comes a week after a row erupted over Cambridge students setting up an online tabloid newspaper complete with Page Three.

'The Tab', which provides the latest celebrity gossip and sport news, proved hugely popular with 80,000 hits in its first week.

But the university's traditional student press hit out at its trenchant style and the student union called for the 'Tab Totty' section to be axed.
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