DUBBO'S Lilli Campbell has returned home an Australian champion after helping her NSW side claim victory at the recent Hockey Australia under-13 National Championship.
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Thirteen-year-old Campbell, one of three goalkeepers in the squad, did not feature in all matches during the tournament but put in some outstanding performances between the posts when she got the chance and her mother, Deb Browne, said it was incredible to be a part of.
"It was so exciting for everyone involved with NSW, they won nine games and had two draws so it was an exceptional result considering some of the other teams, a game against Victoria was their hardest and that was a game where Lilli really shone, it was a great effort from her."
While being part of a National Championship was an amazing experience in itself, Campbell also got the chance to mix with some of the leading female hockey players in the country as the tournament ran in conjunction with matches in the Australian Hockey League.
Campbell and her NSW side had the chance to train alongside and with members of the NSW Arrows side while she was also lucky enough to meet Australian goalkeeper Rachael Lynch.
"How many young kids at 13 can say they're a national champion? And be able to say the actual NSW Arrows players were there watching their games and later when the NSW Arrows won their game they thanked the under-13 girls," Browne said.
"The Arrows were down 2-0 at half time but the young girls stepped up and cheered them on and got them over the line.
Browne was hopeful her daughter's success would inspire more local players, and players from other regional areas, to push for these representative sides and have their name up in lights.
"It goes to show a girl from the bush can make it, a lot of the time girls out this way don't get picked let alone get the chance to experience something at this level but it goes to show it is achievable and she's made friends with Arrows and they'll follow her now and know she's up and coming," she said.
Browne admitted a lot of the success her daughter has achieved in recent times is down to the hard work she does in Dubbo with a number of talented local coaches.
She was keen to thank the likes of Gavin Weekes and Katie Nolan while admitting one of the more special moments of the National Championship came when one of the games had ended.
"The Queensland coach came up and congratulated her after the game and said to me he had watched Lilli train before the game and couldn't get over how brilliant she was and he had a chat to me about her and he was quite blown away by her talents so that was a real highlight for me," she said.
Campbell's focus now turns to the NSW state indoor hockey side, with trials in the coming weeks.