GIVE me a J ... J! Give me an E ...E! Give me a – alright I won't go through the whole rigmarole but Jessica Mortimer really does deserve a cheer.

The 21-year-old waitress has not only established Scarborough's only cheerleading team but she has taken them on to achieve national acclaim.

The East Coast Tigers are Jess' cubs. She has nurtured them from the beginning, taught them everything she kne, and put hours of work into getting them ready for major competitions.

When she decided to take on the challenge she was only 19.

As well as putting herself through an intense coaching course she had to sort out the legalities of setting up a team, register the team's name, affiliate with a governing body, secure insurance and find a place to train. And that was before she even thought about choreography a routine.

Jess had previously been a member of the Mackenzie Wolves cheerleaders, but when their coach quit after their first competition the team was faced with the prospect of folding.

Jess explains what happened: "I have always loved dancing. I watched a film called Bring It On which was about of a team of cheerleaders and decided that is what I wanted to do.

"There was a cheerleading team in Scarborough at that time called the Mackenzie Wolves. I was too old to cheer with them so I asked if I could be an assistant coach.

"Our main coach was American and coached us in an American way, which didn't really work for us. We went to one competition and came last. We just weren't ready for it and everyone was really down after that. The coach then quit on us and nobody knew what to do.

"I thought, well I'm the oldest one here why don't I set up on my own? Our old coach told me I couldn't do it, she said I was too young, but I just went for it. I didn't know if I would be able to pull it off but I just went for it. It was big risk taking the team on and to be honest I didn't feel old enough to be doing it.

"We weren't allowed to keep the name, we had to start from scratch. It was hard because at the time that was who we were – the Mackenzie Wolves.

"I sat the team down and asked who was with me, who wanted to start again. Everyone put their hands up and that was that. I told them we would have to think of a name, which we did surprisingly within about half an hour.

"I have always liked the name Tigers. There is a team in the states called the West Coast Mavericks so we though we are on the coast so why not be the East Coast Tigers. It all came together really fast."

Before Jess could legally coach the team she had to gain coaching qualifications in cheerleading. Because it is a minority sport in this country she had to travel to Surrey to do her level one and two coaching exams with the cheerleading governing body Future Cheer.

The legal contracts were confirmed on June 15 last year and the East Coast Tigers had their first training session on June 24.

Jess said: "We have gone through some hard times and it has been a struggle but for some reason it has all worked out and fallen into place.

"Financially it was hard too. Starting the team came out of my own pocket, the insurance, my exams, the rent for the room. It was hard as I was only 19 and had not long finished college, but I knew it would be worth it."

The East Coast Tigers recently competed at the Future Cheer International Cheer and Dance Championships in Brighton.

The team had managed to secure a grant to cover transport costs and new uniforms and months of training paid off when the team was awarded 4th place out of eight in the category.

Jess said: "We couldn't believe it – to go to our first international competition and come away with 4th.

"Competitions are the worst time for me – I can't sleep. I have so much to organise, and it is such a huge responsibility.

"People don't realise but cheerleading is a really dangerous sport and the whole team's safety is in my hands. The stress is worth it though and if I didn't worry it would mean I don't care.

"At Brighton all the other teams had much older coaches with much more experience. People would look at us and say 'where is your real coach?'.

"I didn't feel intimidated though, I felt proud, especially as we came above a lot of the teams who had professional coaches.

"Also, I am part of the team and there aren't many coaches who actually compete as well.

"It is difficult but other members of the team help me. I think it is important to let other people help, it is a successful way to run something like this, especially as I am not very old."

Jess, who lives in Prospect Road and works at Mojos Music Cafe in Northway, thanks her boss Steve Dickinson for a lot of the team's success.

As organiser of the Acoustic Gathering he gives the team a big slot and also helped Jess to secure the grant.

She said she has also had the benefit of having a supportive family and also encouraging teachers during her time at St Augustine's School.

However, Jess is now facing a dilemma as she is torn between the Tigers and fulfilling her own personal ambitions.

She said: "I have always wanted to be a police officer, but before I start with my training for that I have always wanted to travel.

"I was supposed to go this year but I put it on hold because the Tigers were doing so well.

"It is everything to me now, I have put so much work into it and to just stop would be stupid because we are doing so well. I will go travelling though. I just want to do everything, I don't want to miss out on anything."