Oct. 4, 2012, noon

THE Sutherland sisters, of Thornlands, have sport aerobics in Australia stitched up since winning international division titles at the recent sports aerobics national competition in Adelaide.

Grace, 17, and Meg, 14, took out the open women's and junior women's titles at the competition in July to qualify to compete at the world sport aerobics championships being held in the Netherlands this month.

Mother Marg Sutherland said the girls took up the sport through their school, Sheldon College, several years ago and have continued with it, even though the school no longer offers it. Both are members of Cass Sport Aerobics at Coffs Harbour, where they are trained twice a school term. In between, the girls train at Good Life gym at Cleveland, with training spanning about three hours a day six days a week.

"They basically train themselves. For a 14-year-old to do this is awesome," Marg said.

Marg said the girls already had a basis in gymnastics and trampolining, so adding dance to these moves was the next step. Even so, she said she was delighted and surprised at their skills.

"It's beautiful to watch. It's definitely a spectator sport," she said.

Marg said other skills learnt through the sport included self discipline and good work ethic.

"Grace is in Year 12 at school so you need to be disciplined to do everything she does," Marg said.

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Aerobics champs off to word titles