BRAYDEN LINDSAY

Last updated12:58, June 2 2017

TETSURO MITOMO/FAIRFAX NZ

Brenna Turnbull, Zoe Harding and Caitlin Buckley starred at an aerobics competition in Balclutha recently.

It's been a dazzling start to aerobics for Zoe Harding, CaitlinBuckley and Brenna Turnbull.

The trio, who took up the sport in March at the South Canterbury Gymsports Club, dominated their first tournament in Balclutha last weekend.

They placed 1st in the trio and pair, Harding won the singles, while Turnbull finished third, with a tumble costing Buckley a podiumfinish.

TETSURO MITOMO/FAIRFAX NZ

Caitlin Buckley, Zoe Harding and Brenna Turnbull won their first Aerobics competition that they competed at in Balclutha recently.

Aerobics coach Sally Hart, who arrived in February to coach gymnastics, has an extensive background in aerobics and decided to start it up.

"I'm just blown away with how well the girls did.

"We just sent them down there to have a crack because they were coming alongwell in the five short months they had done the sport but we didn't have any expectations on them."

TETSURO MITOMO/FAIRFAX NZ

Caitlin Buckley practising her aerobics routine at the South Canterbury Gymsports Club.

Hart said seeing the girls do so well bodes well for aerobics in the future.

"I think it's going to be quite popular. We have 15 doing it now but I'm tipping there will be more."

She said the original aim was just to teach the girls aerobics this season.

"We weren't going to send them to any competition, this year was going to be about learning the sport with a view to competing next year.

"These girls just work so well together, they get on great."

Harding is still competing in gymnastics, while Buckley and Turnbull had given it away but were encouraged to give aerobics a go.

"It's great starting aerobics brings the 15-16 year olds back, who were the ones giving it away when they were 12-13," Hart said.

She's looking forward to see how the girls progress but also if they can earn qualification for the nationals in the next couple of months.

Turnbull, who attends Craighead Diocesan, said she didn'teven know you could compete in aerobics.

"I was doing it for fun really. I had no idea we could compete."

She said it was great doing well first up.

Buckley, enjoyed her first competition and was hoping for more.

"It was so much fun. I just enjoyed the competition side of it because I wasn't doing any sport."

Harding said aerobics was a lot of fun and something else to enjoy.

"I'm loving it. We all get on well and we hope to be able to make nationals in Auckland."

Their routine is about one minute 30 long.

They train twice a week and on weekend's in the lead up tocompetitions.

-Stuff

Read more:

Aerobics trio excites as sport starts to take off in South Canterbury - Timaru Herald