Louise, Lisa & Jo !

Lisa is the founder of First Impressions. The twirling bug started when she was 7 years old and 30 years later she is still heavily involved. Lisa twirled with a local team for 25 years during which time she won various national titles with her team and individually. When Lisa was 16 she decided to take the teachers course and qualified to Teach and Judge in 1987. After this, Lisa taught various teams across the South East and they all had their successes. Lisa has won the Teacher / Judge Personality Award at the Nationals on two occaisions in 2005 & 2008.
In 1995 Lisa decided to start her own team; * FIRST IMPRESSIONS * and within one year she had taken the team to the World Championships in Italy entering in the colour guard section and becoming World Champions. The following year, First Impressions went to the European Championships in Edinburgh, entering in the colour guard section again and the pom-pon section, getting placed 2nd in both. After a year away from Europeans, First Impressions then went to Germany in 1999, again entering in Colour Guard and came 2nd again. In 2000, First Impressions went to Worlds in Birmingham for Bannieres (formerly colour guard) and came 2nd again. After that, we lost a lot of girls so First Impressions just entered Nationally, still picking up numerous amounts of individual and team titles.
In between all this, Lisa had 3 children of her own and decided to have a break for a while until 2006 when she gave it one last try to recruit girls and start competing again. It became a big success in the local vicinity so First Impressions are here again competing at various competitions across the country. Now Lisa's daughter competes as well so it looks like the twirling bug has come round again in another generation.
Strengths:- Determination and being a perfectionist. / Working on:- Trying not to lose her patience!!!
Quote from Lisa Singh:-
"I love twirling always have and always will and I hope this love passes on to all my students. We have had great times so far and I am sure there are many more to come!!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS YOU'RE THE BEST I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Louise has been a member of First Impressions since they were formed in 1995. Louise started twirling at the age of 7 and was a member of another local team, along with Lisa and Jo, before First Impressions were formed. Throughout her 19 years of twirling Louise has achieved many things both individually and as a part of the team. She has won various national titles including Solo, Duet, Fancy Strut and many team events. In 1995, Louise was a member of the team that travelled to the World Championships in Italy where First Impressions became World Colour Guard Champions. She also attended European Championships in Edinburgh and Germany and the Worlds in Birmingham 2000. At these competitions First Impressions always achieved top places in Colour Guard, Pom Pon and Bannieres events.
In 2003 Louise decided (was heavily persuaded by Lisa!!) to take her N.B.T.A teacher/judges course. She completed this and achieved a 'highly commended' award. She now judges at various N.B.T.A competitions and is hoping to pass her Stage Two judges exam in 2006. Louise went on to lift the Teacher / Judge Personality award at the Nationals in Devon in 2006. Louise has helped Lisa out with training for many years and took over teaching the girls while Lisa decided to have a break from it all. Louise has found that teaching, rather than competing, is extremely rewarding; even though the nerves are just as bad!!! In addition Louise became a Mum in 2008 to Millie Louise Strickland born on 23.6.08.
Strengths:- Patience and giving the girls lots of encouragement! / Working on:- Getting out of work early to come to training on Mondays!!

Jo has been with First Impressions since the beginning and before Lisa set up First Impressions they both belonged to another team. Jo started twirling at the tender age of 4 and in over 20 years of twirling she has been twirling she has achieved many things. Jo has never liked twirling on her own but loves competing in a team and was a member of First Impressions when they won the World Championships in 1996 and has travelled to numerous countries for European and World Championships. She also won Junior Novice Duet at the National Championships in 1996. Jo has also sung at the Nationals in Devon three times.
Jo has made up numerous routines over the years and they have done very well, most of the pom-pon teams she has set have won 1st place at the National Championship and her routines won best pom-pon performances overall in 2004 & 2007. Although Jo had a break from twirling in 2005 she was soon missing it too much and she is now back helping to train the new team.
Strengths:- Good team player & always smiling. / Working on:- Trying to lift those old creaky knees up high in Military Formation!