With her warmblood mare Goldheist, she was twice selected on the NSW Dressage team to compete at national championships held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre: the Marcus Oldham Australian Interschool Championships in September and the Thoroughbred Industry Careers Pony Club Australia National Championships in October.

Lily was competing at Elementary level, having been upgraded up from Novice in July after she came to the attention of Team NSW Dressage coach Sarah Venamore and NSW selectors while at a training camp.

"I usually attend Tarcoola Equestrian Centre every Saturday for lessons however leading up to the National events we increased our training schedule to three to four times per week," Lily said.

The training paid off, with Lily taking out a First in the dressage at the Pony Club Australia National Championships and also winning Overall Reserve Champion Junior Elementary.

Also, after some initial confusion about the scoring, her team was named Overall Champion Junior Elementary Team 2019.

"Standing there listening to the names being read out, hearing mine for 1st place I stood there stunned," Lily said. "I knew our work was good but 1st place was a bit overwhelming. I cried, I cried lots of happy tears.

"We had worked so hard through so many setbacks just to be here, I knew we deserved to be here but to take out 1st place at a National event just made all those sacrifices, hard work all worthwhile. I knew we'd done ourselves proud, our family proud and my amazing coach proud."

Going into her final year of school, Lily said her main focus over the next 12 months needs to be her school work, but that doesn't mean she won't continue working with her mare.

"Goldheist and I will continue our training and see where life takes us."

Lily thanks everyone who has helped her, including her very supportive family, her current coach Rachael Clarke and previous coach Lizzie Wilson Fellows and the "wonderful team at Tarcoola".