Big Step Up For Hogan
Despite being part of the NSW Country Open side which won silver at the Australian Championships earlier this year, Courtney Hogan never expected to be rewarded for her efforts there.
Hogan has played at a number of national outdoor and indoor tournaments and has impressed each time she wore the sky blue of her State but the thought of representing her country still seemed miles away.
That was until recently when Hogan was named in the Australian Country Under-21 side to contest the Oceania Challenge Cup in Fiji which starts on Saturday and ends on December 16. Nineteen-year-old Hogan departed yesterday to compete at the tournament, which runs from December 9-16.
“I’m looking forward to all of it and just playing in the green and gold,” she said.
“It’s always been a dream to play in the green and gold so can’t wait.
“It was a very big shock (to be selected) and I didn’t think I would make it at all.” Hogan and her Australian Country teammates will get the chance to play against a Japanese national side as well as two sides from the host country.
“It will be good to play against other international teams,” Hogan said.
“It’s definitely a big step up.”
Hogan is one of four NSW-based players in the Australian Country side which will compete at the National Hockey Centre in Suva.
The competition features both men’s and women’s sides from the NZ President’s XI and Fiji President’s XI teams as well as Australian Country.